time changer movie review

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• DVD & Streaming

Time Changer

• Drama , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Gavin MacLeod as Dr. Norris Anderson; D. David Morin as Russell Carlisle; Hal Linden as The Dean; Jennifer O’Neill as Michelle Bain; Richard Riehle as Dr. Wiseman; Paul Rodriquez as Eddie Martinez

Home Release Date

• Rich Christiano

Distributor

• Five & Two Pictures

Movie Review

The year is 1890. Bible professor Russell Carlisle has just finished writing a scholarly work on morality. Before it goes to print, however, his publisher would like a written endorsement from the seminary where he teaches. To get it, the school’s governing body must vote unanimously. All board members are willing to approve the manuscript except Dr. Norris Anderson, who questions Carlisle’s premise that it’s okay to teach morality apart from Christ.

To drive home his point, Anderson invites Carlisle to come to his house (“There’s something I must show you”). Leading the bewildered professor to his barn and insisting that what he is about to see remain a secret, Anderson reveals that he owns (and has used) a time-travel machine. He begs Carlisle to journey into the future (our present time) to examine humanity’s moral freefall. Will Carlisle’s 5-day “road trip” solidify his resolve to release the book as written? Or will it convince him to produce a revision?

The controversy over Carlisle’s manuscript is simply a plot device to provide a cultural mirror for viewers to more closely examine our nation’s social and spiritual warts. By doing so, we realize (or hopefully so) just how much our nation has slipped in a little over a century, and how we’ve become accustomed to societal behaviors and attitudes that completely flabbergast the wide-eyed Carlisle (often humorously). But be forewarned—especially if you’re attempting to view this film with teenagers—that it takes a bit of patience to get through. There are long sequences of dialogue in which characters espouse their philosophic ideals. Things do pick up a bit when Carlisle is transported to the future, but even then, while he reacts strongly to spiritual change, he’s less perplexed than he ought to be by changes in technology (usually one of the most fun elements in a time travel movie).

positive elements/spiritual content: Upon being transported to the future, Carlisle immediatly begins checking the spiritual pulse of this brave new world. After exchanging his valuable 1890s coins for today’s currency and checking into a hotel, Carlisle corners Eddie, a Laundromat employee, to locate a “Bible believing church.” He’s dumbfounded that Eddie doesn’t worship regularly. He’s equally taken aback when he discovers his clothes-washing friend works on Sunday.

Thus begins a series of events that spiritually perplex Professor Carlisle. At church Carlisle finds a disinterested congregation. When he attends a movie with church members, he demands theater employees shut down the projector (“A man on the screen just blasphemed the Name of the Lord!” he shouts). When he’s asked to address students at a public school, he’s quickly escorted out of the classroom for telling the class that the Bible is the best science text. Furthermore, on church visitation night, he’s dismayed by poor attendance, a lack of prayer, and the fact that members promote their church by highlighting its sports programs and Six Flags trips. He’s also disconcerted by the news that 50 percent of marriages end in divorce and that secular media is at the root of many of today’s evils. Before being transported back to his home, he gets the opportunity to address Wednesday night church attendees, asking them to repent and make sure of their salvation. He makes a repeat visit to Eddie, witnesses to him and gives him a Spanish version of the Bible.

sexual content: A comical moment finds Carlisle making a request of a clothing store manager to more appropriately dress his mannequins so as to not “arouse impurity” among shoppers. It’s also implied that as he surfs his hotel’s television selections he’s bombarded with sexual material (he drops to his knees and repents on behalf of the culture).

violent content: Two men from the church Carlisle attends (a detective and his friend) believe Carlisle is up to no good and threaten to drag him out of the alley where he awaits transport back in time. Carlisle quickly brushes one of the man’s hands off his shoulder when he’s about to be grabbed. Incidentally, once Carlisle disappears, the detective exclaims, “I think we just missed the rapture.”

crude or profane language: A librarian says “gosh.”

drug and alcohol content: Carlisle confronts two teenage girls whom he overhears talking about getting drunk and how to hide it from parents (“Chill out!,” one responds).

conclusion: Time Changer is built on a foundation that some Christians (myself among them) will dispute. It links America’s spiritual decline directly to the teaching of morality apart from the authority of Jesus Christ. While it is certianly damaging to our culture for God’s Word to be removed from our schools, and for absolute truth to be replaced with a newly defined tolerance , there are other and perhaps more significant reasons for the decay we are experiencing. A steady departure from absolute truth (which began before 1890) has culminated in a climate in which God is banned from discussions of morality, and in that the movie gets it right. But does one overlay Carlisle’s 19th century quagmire on our present circumstance? (Something Time Changer seems to advocate.) Do we cease all moral instruction unless we are allowed to include Christ’s authority? Focus on the Family believes it is valuable to encourage teens to be abstinent even if God isn’t part of their education. Of course it’s preferable that they know Jesus and make their decisions for chastity based on a desire to please Him, but pure and wise sexual choices are worth celebrating no matter how they’re achieved. The same goes for teaching such values as honesty, fidelity, the sanctity of human life, etc.

Still, with all that said, I couldn’t wait for my 12- and 15-year-old children to see this movie. And that’s something of a rarity for me; I review very few films that I consider suitable—must less desirable—for my kids. Time Changer , however, tackles some thought-provoking themes and seemed worthy of our time. Among the questions raised: Can individuals and cultures be shaped by the media? Can Christians become desensitized to sin? Why has our nation slid morally? Has the church become more interested in sports and activities than in presenting the gospel? And although the movie doesn’t attempt to answer it, where is America heading if Christ’s return is delayed another century. I like Time Changer , not for splashy effects, A-list acting or even theological accuracy, but because it provided my family a unique opportunity to discuss several critical issues within a “movie night” framework.

Bob Waliszewski

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TIME CHANGER

"poignant, dramatic message".

What You Need To Know:

TIME CHANGER opens in 1890 at Grace Seminary. Mr. Carlisle is trying to get his colleagues to agree to have the seminary endorse his new book on morals. Professor Norris Anderson, played magnificently by Gavin MacLeod, refuses. He has the old-fashioned idea that morals can only be taught within the context of Jesus Christ. Eventually, Anderson gets Carlisle to come to his house where he has built a time machine. He soon persuades Carlisle to travel to 2001. When Carlisle gets there he's shocked. A little girl steals his hot dog. When he catches her and tells her that it is wrong to steal, she replies, "Who says?" During his sojourn, he presents the Gospel clearly to people in need. The police, however, think he is impersonating someone from the 1890s. So the question is, will they capture him, or will he make it back to his time?

Though the story sometimes lags in dramatic tension, Movieguide® is excited about TIME CHANGER and this imaginative and courageous step into feature filmmaking. We pray that Rich Christiano, and all believers who are making these films, both learn of, and excel at, their craft.

(CCC, M) Christian worldview with the refutation of morality

More Detail:

Once upon a time, not too long ago, a certain small segment of the church refused to go to movies. Even so, a few of these believers would huddle around a 16mm projector and watch what could pass for homemade movies with Christian messages. Times have changed. Many of these denominations have now dropped their restrictions on movie going, and teenagers, whether Christians or non-Christians, see the same films at the box office. The good news, however, is that some of these filmmakers have started to improve their crafts. They are working hard to make movies that can compete at the box office. TIME CHANGER is one such movie that will be released at several hundred theatres this fall.

TIME CHANGER is not the run-of-the-mill “Last Days” Christian rapture movie. Instead, it has a good story with a strongly evangelistic plot woven into the fabric of the drama.

TIME CHANGER opens in 1890 at Grace Seminary, located in the south. Russell Carlisle (played by D. David Morin) is trying to get his colleagues to agree to have the seminary endorse his new book on morals. He needs a unanimous endorsement. One of the other professors, Norris Anderson, played magnificently by Gavin MacLeod, refuses. He has the old-fashioned idea that morals can only be taught within the context of Jesus Christ. He asks if you take Jesus out, what difference is it if you obey one moral system, or none at all?

Carlisle is furious. Eventually, Norris gets Carlisle to come to his house where he has built a time machine. After several arguments, Morris gets Carlisle to take a time trip to 2001.

Needless to say, when he gets there he’s shocked. A little girl steals his hot dog. When he catches her and tells her that it is wrong to steal, she replies, “Who says?”

Of course, what he finds is much more disturbing than just one little girl who steals. Also, during his journey into the future, he presents the Gospel clearly to people in need. The police, however, try to figure out who he is, and think he is impersonating someone from the 1890s. So the question is, will they capture him, or will he make it back to his time?

David Morin does a tremendous job as Carlisle, as does Gavin MacLeod, as the anchor for the other actors. Some of the actors, however, were not up to snuff. The direction, lighting and camerawork were good, but even though this was made on a much bigger budget than director Rich Christiano has had in the past, it still shows some loose threads. It also shows what Rich could do if he had a Hollywood budget. There is a lot of promise here.

The area that should have been fixed is the script. First, it has to be pointed out that the script is imaginative, interesting, and far and away better than most movies from this genre. Bravo! However, there are moments when the script loses its dramatic tension. The dialog becomes no more than warm-and-fuzzy affirmation for each character from one another. Conflict makes dialog work, just as jeopardy makes plot work. Moreover, there are moments in the movie where the jeopardy disappears.

Movieguide® is excited about TIME CHANGER and this imaginative and courageous step into feature filmmaking. We pray that Rich Christiano, and all Christians who are making these films, will learn of, and excel at, their craft.

In commenting on his movie to MOVIEGUIDE®, Rich noted:

“…NEVER in Hollywood history has there ever been a movie with a message like this on a wide release. None of the [Billy] Graham films pitch the truth like this. I don’t think we need to be afraid here but try to lead the way.

– Rich Christiano

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

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Time Changer Reviews

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 7, 2008

The film's evil, treasonous message is that the wall of separation between church and state is something that America could do without.

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | Jul 6, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 25, 2002

Time Changer may not be the most memorable cinema session but its profound self-evaluation message about our fragile existence and the absence of spiritual guidance should at least invade an abundance of mindsets

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 18, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | Nov 3, 2002

A whimsical if predictable time-travel fable marred by a willful single-mindedness.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 25, 2002

Will give many ministers and Bible-study groups hours of material to discuss. But mainstream audiences will find little of interest in this film, which is often preachy and poorly acted.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 25, 2002

A few nonbelievers may rethink their attitudes when they see the joy the characters take in this creed, but skeptics aren't likely to enter the theater.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 25, 2002

The movie oozes innocent charm, and keeps time with a brisk story.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 25, 2002

Time Changer (2002)

Stream & Watch 'Time Changer' Full Movie Online

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Time Changer

Cast & crew.

D. David Morin

Russell Carlisle

Gavin MacLeod

Norris Anderson

Jennifer O'Neill

Michelle Bain

Paul Rodriguez

Eddie Martinez

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© 2002 Christiano Film Group

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Time Changer Movie Review

• Holly McClure Movie Reviewer
• Updated May 01, 2013

Genre:   Drama, Family, Sci-Fi

Rating:   PG (for thematic elements)

Release Date:   October 25, 2002

Actors:   D. David Morin, Gavin MacLeod, Hal Linden, Jennifer O'Neill, Richard Riehle, Paul Rodriguez, Brad Heller, John Valdetero

Director: Rich Christiano

Special Notes:   Writer/director Rich Christiano told me he realizes this is a story that may offend some people because of the strong biblical overtones.  But he feels Hollywood has denied showing movies that deliver truth and that's why he chose to write and deliver one that did.  Bravo for his bravery in making a movie with a message.

Good:   Writer/director Rich Christiano says the church audience has been tremendously neglected by what Hollywood has to offer, so he's hoping his entertaining time-travel adventure will give the church-going public something they can really enjoy and rally behind.  The movie mixes humor with reality and features a star-studded cast and an interesting time machine.  Now, I have to admit--at first I thought this PG family drama was a little too conservative and overly "preachy" for today's movie-going audiences.  But as I sat there and became convicted of the real message in this movie and saw how it aptly applies to society today, I realized it presents a solid story that will have audiences thinking about what's really important in life and how importantly God needs to be kept in our culture.  I loved seeing Gavin MacLeod, Hal Linden, Jennifer O'Neill, and Paul Rodriguez star in this film because it gave it a professional and seasoned quality.  Who would have thought Rodriguez would star in a Christian movie?  After 9/11, it seems we are seeing more and more movies that get people to think about life after death and about their spiritual relationship with God.  I applaud Christiano for his directing efforts that will hopefully change people's hearts and lives!  Tell your friends and loved ones to see this movie and support the Christian filmmakers who are trying to bring you quality entertainment!

Bottom Line:   This is a thought-provoking journey that reveals how relevant God is for today and boldly explores the importance of God in our culture.  Time Changer is an interesting look at the timeless importance of God with a timeless message that could change your life!

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Time Changer

Reviewed by: Dr. WJ Kimble STAFF WRITER

Time travel

In what ways has our world lost things that are good?

A generation that is obsessed with selfish interests and greed

Are we living in a MORAL STONE AGE? Answer

A s a young man, I would listen to the enchanting voice, of Rod Serling, as he would say, “The place is here and now; and the journey into the shadows that we are about to watch could be your journey.” And for a short period of time it was so, as each of us prepared to enter the outer reaches known as the “Twilight Zone.” But what if we could go beyond the “here and now”? What if time could be breached and we could travel, not only back in time but forward, into the future? What would we find? What new things would we discover?

Suppose for a moment that we could experience, first hand, the results of our actions? Would we be satisfied? Or terrified? Would it even matter? Let’s be honest, every one of us has done something that we wished we could undo. Some wrong that we wish could right.

Russell Carlisle (D. David Morin), a professor at Grace Bible Seminary, gets his chance, in the new sci-fi movie, “Time Changer”. Having just completed his new manuscript, “The Changing Times,” professor Carlisle is vehemently confronted by Dr. Norris Anderson (Gavin McLeod, “The Love Boat” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”), who believes that this new manuscript could seriously alter the future. Having done all he could, to convince the professor of the seriousness of his teachings, Dr. Anderson (with the help of his secret time machine) transports professor Carlisle more than a hundred years into the future.

Finding a newspaper laying nearby, professor Carlisle notices that the date is October 21, 2000. Through a series of minor mishaps, he quickly discovers that the times have changed considerably since 1890. Lost, confused, and overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of these new surroundings, he makes his way to the local library, where he meets Michelle Bain (Jennifer O'Neill— Summer of ’42 ), who (with great patience and understanding) meticulously helps him to understand the changes in society and its norms.

Hoping that he could find someone that he could relate to, professor Carlisle searches out a local church. Seeing a local laundromat, he meets Eddie Martinez (Paul Rodriquez, “Blood Work”), the owner, and asks him where the nearest church is. Of course, anyone who knows Paul Rodriqez’s work realizes that this is going to be a funny scenario.

Through it all, professor Carlisle realizes that his writings have had such a great impact on society that it created a generation that is obsessed with selfish interests and greed. Since he regrets having ever written his manuscript, he returns (presumably) to undo the wrongs that he had begun to set into motion.

Professor Carlisle’s naivete brings some of the more delightful moments to the picture. For instance, when he bows his head to pray for the food he is about to eat, a little girl steals his hot dog. In another scene, he enters the Signature Stadium 10 (a local movie theater) to watch his first movie and goes berserk as he vividly expresses his concerns about the language that was used. And everyone in the theater laughed when he entered a local department store and saw a mannequin dressed in women’s lingerie.

In true Hollywood style, Rich Christiano, the director and screenwriter, brought out the best in all his cast members. Philip Hurn, cinematographer, captures the very essence of the 1890 setting with a stunning portrayal of the twenty-first century. Hal Linden’s (Barney Miller) portrayal of the dean of the college, who desperately tries to get the differences between professor Carlisle and Dr. Anderson resolved, is astounding. “Time Changers” is a refreshingly, delightful movie that is both relevant for our times and thought provoking. It is a truly remarkable movie!

“Time Changer” is a must see movie. Bring your family, friends, even your grandchildren. You will not be ashamed! It is clean, wholesome and delightfully funny! There is no swearing or nudity (in any form—not even the manniquin wearing lingerie is seen). There is nothing present that would cause you to be ashamed (unless you are a wishy-washy Christian).

The primary audience is teen to adult only because some of the message is beyond a younger person’s ability to understand. But, having said that, even the children will understand the major theme of this movie!

Also read: Death by Silence : What can we do to make sure this doesn’t happen to Christian film?

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

• Young people
• It has a good message about keeping Christ at the center of all we do.
• It is also a good reminder how we should not become hardened to seeing sinful things; if God would be offended, so should we.
• The story is overall interesting, and there are some fun comedic moments.
• There is no violence or bad language or crude jokes. It is a good moral film.
• The pacing at the beginning of the story moves too slowly. It seems to take him forever to get him into that time machine. I really think the producers could have cut a few of those early scenes.
• The view of the late 1800’s seemed a bit naïve and idealistic, like it was the “good old days” when the world was better and people were so much more moral. But although some of today’s vices may have been less common then (or at least better hidden), the 1800’s was not a paragon of virtue. Swearing, stealing, disrespectful children, and entertainment with questionable morality was not unknown then, and I’m not sure it would have been quite as shocking to our protagonist as is portrayed in the movie.
• The acting quality wasn’t the greatest—not horrible, but mediocre I’d say. I’m pretty forgiving about mediocre acting quality when I like the storyline, so this didn’t bother me too much, but it might be distracting to more strict movie critics.

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

• ChristianMovies.com

Summary A time travel adventure about a Bible professor from the year 1890 who travels to the present time.

Directed By : Rich Christiano

Written By : Rich Christiano

Time Changer

Where to watch, d. david morin, russell carlisle.

Gavin MacLeod

Norris anderson.

Jennifer O'Neill

Michelle bain.

Paul Rodriguez

Eddie martinez.

Richard Riehle

Dr. wiseman, john valdetero, dan campbell, evan ellingson, crystal robbins, mrs. matthews, patti macleod, norris' wife, paul napier, charles hutchins, callan white, carlisle's wife, ross mckerras, pawn shop guy, ruben madera, mike wilson, arthur roberts, hot dog vendor, critic reviews.

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Watch Time Changer

• 1 hr 35 min
• 5.2   (2,844)

Time Changer is a thought-provoking and inspiring movie set in the late 1800s. The story revolves around a professor named Russell Carlisle, played by D. David Morin, who has developed a book that he believes will reshape the future of morality. However, his book suggests that morality is not important without a relationship with Jesus Christ, causing a heated debate among his colleagues at the Christian college where he teaches. They fear that his book could potentially lead people away from traditional Christian teachings.

One day, Russell is transported into the future by means of a time machine. As he finds himself in modern-day America, he is shocked by the decline in morals and values that have occurred in the last 100 years. He sees first-hand how people have become obsessed with material possessions and have lost sight of what truly matters in life. Russell learns that his book has been adapted by modern society, but its true meaning has been lost over time, ultimately leading to its downfall.

Upon returning to his own time period, Russell shares his newfound knowledge with those around him. He becomes an advocate for the true meaning of his book, and ultimately, a devout Christian. His message of love and faith is met with resistance by some, but he ultimately changes the hearts and minds of those around him, including his skeptical colleagues.

The movie is a powerful reminder of the importance of faith and the impact it can have on an individual's life. It also highlights the dangers of materialism and emphasizes the importance of family and relationships over possessions.

The film also boasts an exceptional cast, including Hal Linden, best known for his role in the popular 80s TV show, Barney Miller, and Gavin MacLeod, who played the beloved Captain Stubing on the classic TV show, The Love Boat.

Overall, Time Changer is a must-see movie, full of valuable lessons and teachings that are still relevant even 20 years after its release. The film is a beautiful reminder of the power of faith and its ability to shape communities and transform individuals.

Time Changer is a 2002 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2 and a MetaScore of 26.

• Genres Drama Kids & Family Science Fiction Fantasy
• Cast D. David Morin Gavin MacLeod Hal Linden
• Director Rich Christiano
• Release Date 2002
• MPAA Rating PG
• Runtime 1 hr 35 min
• Language English
• IMDB Rating 5.2   (2,844)
• Metascore 26

Time Changer

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Time Changer streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "Time Changer" streaming on Hoopla, Pure Flix, UP Faith & Family Apple TV Channel or for free with ads on The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, Freevee, Xumo Play. It is also possible to rent "Time Changer" on Amazon Video, Vudu online and to download it on Amazon Video, Vudu.

Where does Time Changer rank today? The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Streaming charts last updated: 1:17:21 AM, 04/27/2024

Time Changer is 23238 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 26841 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Scream at the Devil but less popular than Young Mr. Lincoln.

The year is 1890 and Bible professor Russell Carlisle has written a new manuscript entitled "The Changing Times". His colleague, Dr. Norris Anderson, believes that what Carlisle has written could greatly affect the future of coming generations and, using his secret time machine, Anderson sends Carlisle over 100 years into the future, offering him a glimpse of where his beliefs will lead.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

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The blog that shines a spotlight on christians and christian media in hollywood, “time changer” movie review.

Genre: Fantasy, Drama

Do you love time-travel movies? I know I do! I don’t even care what genre it is. I get enthralled in everything from Back to the Future ’s action-comedy to The Lake House ’s dramatic-romance . The thought of being able to transport yourself through time is intriguing and I can honestly say that Time Changer made me really wish I had a time machine. Unfortunately, that’s because I wanted to go back in time and get those two hours of my life back. While there was nothing Biblically-inaccurate about the message, and I do feel that they made the film with good intentions; it was poorly acted, the storyline was strangely unexciting, and I can only assume that any non-believers who watch this film won’t be racing each other to get to church.

Time Changer is the story of Russell Carlisle (D. David Morin), a Bible Professor in in 1890, who writes a book he wants endorsed by his seminary. There is one man, however, who is standing in his way. That man is fellow-professor Norris Anderson (Gavin MacLeod). He doesn’t agree with the book because it states that it is acceptable to teach morals alone. Anderson explains that when you teach morals, you should give credit to Jesus Christ, the one who created them. In order to show Carlisle the consequences of separating the two, he uses his secret time machine to send him to the 21st century. Time Changer stars D. David Morin ( A Vow to Cherish , The Roar ), Gavin MacLeod ( The Love Boat , Mary Tyler Moore ), Jennifer O’Neill ( I’m Not Ashamed , Last Ounce of Courage ), Hal Linden ( Barney Miller , Out to Sea ), and Paul Rodriguez ( Rat Race , A Cinderella Story ).

As previously stated, nothing in this film was blasphemous and I feel that this project was made with good intentions. Sometimes, though, even good intentions can’t save a movie. In the case of this film, most of the message was lost in a sea of examples that did not always support the main point. This point being that you shouldn’t separate morals from Christianity. In other words, just being a “good person” isn’t enough. While the Paul Rodriguez character, Eddie Martinez, highlighted the point nicely, there were seemingly a million other moments that didn’t make sense. In the course of the movie, Carlisle is horrified by teenage girls talking about drinking and sneaking out of the house, seeing a little boy watching people kiss on television, and hearing church parishioners treat the church more as a social club than a place of worship. How do any of those things tie into the main point? They don’t. The writers of Time Changer went on way too many tangents and left the viewer feeling overwhelmed and slightly confused as to what they were supposed to take away from the film.

In addition, the writers also made a questionable decision when they decided to make the antagonists two people Carlisle met at church. They were obviously making the point that even people who attend church aren’t without sin and that there are problems within the church. I can’t completely disagree with this point, but I also worry how non-believers and first-time Christians would take this message. Instead of understanding that we all need to be saved from our sins through Jesus, they could jump to the faulty conclusion that faith in Jesus doesn’t make a difference or, even worse, that Christians are lying hypocrites.

If all that wasn’t bad enough, the writers also did the unbelievable…made a time-travel movie boring. Where were the fun sets and costumes from other eras? Basically non-existent. the 1800s were barely shown at all and Carlisle spent almost the entire movie in our era. So did he have fun reactions to the different things he saw here? No. We just got to watch an entire montage of him repeating words back to people. For instance, if someone said, “And over there is your TV.” His response would be, “TV?” If someone said, “We’re going to take the van to the movie theatre.” He would say, “Van?” You get the point. Lastly, just to put the nail in this boring proverbial coffin: almost the entire film was filled with serious discussions about how the world now is horrible. If I wanted that, I could just turn on the news.

At this point, I almost hate to go on with the review. I’m starting to feel a little bad that I’m not able to say more nice things about a Christian film that tried. So to put myself out of my misery, I’ll end with the fact that the acting was painful to watch. Now to be clear, I’m not talking about the acting of the supporting actors. Gavin MacLeod, Paul Rodriguez, and the rest of the supporting cast did a great job. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the main actor, D. David Morin. His performance was monotone and I can’t say I believed his character in the slightest. The truly difficult part about this is that his character is the one the movie centers around, making every scene seem unrealistic.

WHAT AGE GROUP IS IT FOR?

Although not inappropriate in any way,  Time Changer is best left for adults. This is because of the vast amount of serious discussions that would be more appealing to a mature attention span. Also, I would not recommend it for un-believers or new Christians. The material is best for people with an already mature faith walk. My reasoning is explained above.

LOOKING TO SHOW IT AT CHURCH?

Personally, I wouldn’t show this movie at church. While there are some good points made, there are many other, more effective, films to pull from. However, if you do want to show it, I would show it in clips. The two scenes with Carlisle and Eddie Martinez in the laundromat would be good to show if you wanted to confront the popular, and misguided, idea that being a “good person”  is simply good enough.

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Time Changer

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Product Description

The year is 1890 and Bible Professor Russell Carlisle (D. David Morin) has written a new manuscript entitled The Changing Times. His book is about to receive an unanimous endorsement from the board members at Grace Bible Seminary when, surprisingly, Professor Carlisle's friend and colleague, Dr. Norris Anderson (Gavin MacLeod), dissents raising an objection. Dr. Anderson believes what Carlisle has written could greatly affect future generations. Using a secret time machine, Anderson sends Carlisle over 100 years into the future, offering him a glimpse of where his beliefs will lead.

Time Changer may be a little strident in its core message (i.e., ethics don't count unless they're backed by the force of Christ), but as an above-average feature for the Christian market, it's pretty agreeable. D. David Morin stars as a late-19th-century Bible professor named Carlisle, whose efforts to publish a book arguing that morals can be taught independent of Christ's teachings is denounced by one Dr. Anderson (Gavin Macleod), a board member at Carlisle's seminary. Anderson, who happens to be in possession of a time machine, sends Carlisle to the year 2001, where the latter quickly discovers the pitfalls of a secular world with relative morality and no absolute (i.e., Christian) standards. Time Changer 's seasoned supporting cast, including Paul Rodriguez, Jennifer O'Neill, and Hal Linden, bring a professional gloss to the film that helps counter its thematic single-mindedness, while director Rich Christiano serves up some passable science fiction to go with all the preaching. --Tom Keogh

About the Director

Rich Christiano has been writing and directing Christian movies since 1985. Some of his other feature films include: Play the Flute, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry, Unidentified and A Matter of Faith.

Product details

• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.85:1
• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.56 x 5.34 x 7.58 inches; 3.2 ounces
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 019097
• Director ‏ : ‎ Rich Christiano
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Anamorphic, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 39 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ October 7, 2003
• Actors ‏ : ‎ D. David Morin, Gavin MacLeod, Hal Linden, Jennifer O'Neill, Paul Rodriguez
• Studio ‏ : ‎ ChristianMovies.com
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0000AZT2V
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• #45 in Faith & Spirituality (Movies & TV)
• #296 in Science Fiction DVDs
• #2,434 in Drama DVDs

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Time Changer

Dove review.

This film gives everyone something to think about as we go about our daily lives. This film drives home a point that the Dove Foundation has been talking about for over 12 years, namely the content of film/video today and what impact it has on our society. This is only one element among many the writer of this film uses to make his point, but one that is close to this reviewers heart. This film cleverly shows us what our society has lost from a perspective that most church going Americans can relate to. I am so glad that I decided to rent this film and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. Director Rich Christiano is to be commended for this much needed and timely film.

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Challengers

Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, turned her husband into a champion. But to overcome a losing streak, he needs to face his ex-best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend. Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, turned her husband into a champion. But to overcome a losing streak, he needs to face his ex-best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend. Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, turned her husband into a champion. But to overcome a losing streak, he needs to face his ex-best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend.

• Luca Guadagnino
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• 74 User reviews
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• Tashi Donaldson

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• Trivia To prepare for her role, Zendaya spent three months with pro tennis player-turned-coach, Brad Gilbert .

Tashi Donaldson : I'm taking such good care of my little white boys.

• Connections Referenced in OWV Updates: The Seventh OWV Awards - Last Update of 2022 (2022)
• Soundtracks Time Will Crawl Written and performed by David Bowie

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• Apr 24, 2024
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Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, the movies that underwent major changes after their festival premiere.

When films premiere at festivals, it’s not unusual for those movies to go through some fine-tuning before they make their way to general audiences. Maybe a little color-correction still needs to be done—a small tweak here or there is necessary. Most times, you wouldn’t notice the differences. But occasionally, the changes are more substantial. 

Last year, the Bill Skarsgård action film “Boy Kills World” debuted in Toronto’s Midnight Madness section. But when it hits theaters this weekend, it won’t be the same movie, especially in one important regard. Originally, Skarsgård’s deaf, mute character had an inner monologue supplied by the voice from a video game (provided by Skarsgård himself). But the new version replaces his voiceover with that of “Bob’s Burgers” star H. Jon Benjamin.

“I’m a massive fan of [Benjamin’s] and he was actually on top of my list for years,” “Boy Kills World” director Moritz Mohr explained recently . “When we got him it was just a dream come true. In the process of editing the movie, we did two things: We had H. Jon Benjamin and we had Bill, and we just sort of tried it out. For the screening at TIFF we decided that we would try out Bill, and we realized that it’s an amazing performance but it’s more on the dramatic and emotional side. Afterward, we were like, ‘Jon’s funnier.’”

Mohr is hardly the first filmmaker to have a change of heart after a festival premiere. Although hardly exhaustive, I decided to spotlight some of the most memorable instances of movies that went through radical changes in the wake of their debut. To be clear, I’m not including any instances in which a studio or producer demanded cuts—these alterations were all (at least as far as we know) initiated by the director. You’ll notice some commonalities in these stories: For one thing, filmmakers frequently blamed the changes on not being properly finished with their movie before the high-profile premiere. Another is that they found the festival screening to be incredibly enlightening in terms of what wasn’t working with their film. Sometimes, the changes helped—other times, it didn’t make a difference. But for those who saw these pictures at a festival and then caught them at the multiplex, it felt, in some ways, like a brand-new film.

“ Apocalypse Now ” (1979)

This article includes several stories of filmmakers rushing their movie to completion in order to screen them at a prestigious international festival. But none has been as infamous as Francis Ford Coppola ’s “Apocalypse Now,” which was presented as an official work-in-progress when it unspooled at Cannes. 

When it played at the festival, the hallucinatory Vietnam War epic was approximately 140 minutes long and contained no credits, an indication of how last-minute the film’s “completion” had been. Also, it appears the movie’s opening was slightly different: Writing from the festival for The New York Times , Susan Heller Anderson noted , “It has an overture, in quintaphonic sound, of jungle noises—birds singing, mosquitoes buzzing—blended with the whir of helicopters and electronic music.” Does that mean the Doors’ “The End” appeared in a later cut? Perhaps: In 2014, an unnamed “eyewitness” to the film’s making told The Hollywood Reporter , “Francis was drunk, desperate, and rummaging around in garbage cans of film saying, ‘I’ve gotta find an opening scene for my movie!’ The ‘trim’ barrels were filled with film you threw away. Garbage, basically, thrown-away film turned upside down and used to space out the sound on the soundtrack. … [O]ne said ‘The End,’ the Doors music. I said, ‘Oh, wouldn’t it be funny if we started the movie with ‘This is the end’ at the beginning?’ So that’s a case of destiny or just chance that helped make the beginning of the movie.”

Coppola, who won the Palme d’Or for “Apocalypse Now” (shared with Volker Schlöndorff ’s “ The Tin Drum ”), continued to fiddle with the movie after the festival, a rare example of a theatrical version being longer than its initial cut, clocking in at 153 minutes. Of course, this film has never seemed “finished” considering that, in 2001, Coppola released “Apocalypse Now Redux,” which was 202 minutes long—only to be replaced by 2019’s 183-minute “ Apocalypse Now: Final Cut .” With hindsight, it’s now apparent that Coppola’s Cannes cut was just one of many attempts by this passionate director to realize his vision—a pattern he repeated with some of his other films, such as “ The Cotton Club ” and “The Godfather Part III.”

“ The Brown Bunny ” (2003)

In the early 2000s, Vincent Gallo was a rising indie auteur. After working with respected filmmakers like Mira Nair and Abel Ferrera, the actor delivered his feature directorial debut with 1998’s well-regarded “Buffalo ‘66.” Then came the follow-up: the story of a lonely man (played by Gallo) who travels cross-country, haunted by the memory of a former lover ( Chloë Sevigny ). “The Brown Bunny” was to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Official Competition, alongside heavy hitters like “ Dogville ,” “Elephant” and Nuri Bilge Ceylan ’s “ Distant .” 

The reaction to the film was notoriously poisonous, the most memorable negative reaction coming from Roger Ebert who, at one point during the screening when Gallo’s character was on a bike, started mockingly singing “Raindrops Keep Fallin” on My Head” from “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Gallo found out about Ebert’s response, declaring that he hoped the critic got colon cancer. “I am not too worried,” Ebert wrote later . “I had a colonoscopy once, and they let me watch it on TV. It was more entertaining than ‘The Brown Bunny.’”

When the dust settled, Gallo re-edited “The Brown Bunny,” trimming it down from two hours, which was its length at Cannes, to about 90 minutes for its theatrical release. (Or did he? In 2018, the actor-filmmaker claimed he’d lied about the Cannes runtime. “The running time I filled out on the Cannes submission form was arbitrary,” he wrote . “The running time I chose was just a number I liked. … [T]he cuts I made to finish the film after Cannes were not many.”)

Whatever changes were made worked for Ebert, who ultimately gave the new version a positive review. “The film’s form and purpose now emerge from the miasma of the original cut, and are quietly, sadly, effective,” Ebert wrote . “It is said that editing is the soul of the cinema; in the case of ‘The Brown Bunny,’ it is its salvation.”

“2046” (2004)

Wong Kar-wai’s perfectionism and tinkering are well-known. His 2013 film “The Grandmaster” exists in at least three versions—although one of them was due to Harvey Weinstein —but his sequel to the beloved “In the Mood for Love,” “2046,” was an especially fraught proposition. Indeed, its 2004 Cannes premiere had to be postponed to the very end of the festival so that Wong could buy himself a little extra time. Never mind that, by that point, he’d been shooting and editing the project since 2000. “I think it was like being in jail for four years,” the director later declared . “No one thinks it is fun at that moment, but maybe 10 years later, for some romantic reason, they will think of it as fun.”

Opinions at Cannes varied wildly on “2046,” which continues the story of Chow ( Tony Leung ), the lovelorn protagonist who is now without his soulmate ( Maggie Cheung ), but Wong wasn’t done yet. After the festival, he reinserted scenes that had been cut out and re-edited other sequences. (At the time, there were also stories that he had gone back and reshot as well, but those rumors proved to be unsubstantiated.) The final version never enjoyed the reputation of “In the Mood for Love,” but it remains an enrapturing experience—in part because Wong’s edits helped make its elliptical storyline a little more crystalline.

“Southland Tales” (2006)

Not many films star Dwayne Johnson , Seann William Scott , Sarah Michelle Gellar , Justin Timberlake and Wallace Shawn , but Richard Kelly ’s ambitious sophomore effort featured them all to tell a story of a near-future in which society is lurching toward becoming a dystopian hellscape. (Such things happen when, in his film’s alternate reality, American cities have been pulverized by nuclear strikes.) 

“Southland Tales” made its debut at Cannes, Kelly rushing to complete his dark comedy/sci-fi parable in time. (In fact, some of the effects shots weren’t completed.) But he was giddy about what he’d pulled off. “It’s a big, epic, political cartoon told with subversive humor,” Kelly said at the festival , later adding, “Well, maybe it’s like someone took mushrooms and read the Book of Revelation and had this crazy pop dream.” 

But for Kelly, “Southland Tales” soon became a nightmare. Clocking in at about 160 minutes, the film received mostly damning reviews, forcing the writer-director, who had established himself as a hot new voice in indie cinema thanks to “Donnie Darko,” to rework the story. Scenes were rearranged, Timberlake (whose character narrates the film) redid his voiceover, and the running time was trimmed to about 145 minutes. For Kelly, the experience was akin to a bad test screening—albeit at the most prestigious festival on the planet.

“Usually when you have a movie, at that point you take it to Sherman Oaks and show it to a bunch of teenagers at [a test] screening,” he said . “We took it to the Cannes Film Festival and showed it to the toughest audience in the world. Was that a good idea? I don’t know. But it happened, and you just sort of take the best from it.” “Southland Tales” bombed at the box office, halting Kelly’s meteoric rise, but the film has earned a cult status—and his original “Cannes cut” still plays on occasion in revival houses.

“ Outlaw King ” (2018)

“I wasn’t really ready, to be honest,” David Mackenzie told IndieWire of his historical Chris Pine action-drama “Outlaw King,” which premiered as the opening-night film at Toronto. Finished just a few days before that gala presentation, the violent portrait of Robert the Bruce sparked two major reactions from critics: (1) “Holy cow, Pine did full-frontal nudity in the picture ;” and (2) “This movie feels way too long and convoluted.” Mackenzie, who had previously directed “Starred Up” and “Hell or High Water,” didn’t care if people online got weird about seeing his star’s anatomy, but he was determined to trim his bloated epic.

In the span of about two weeks, the director trimmed approximately 20 minutes out of “Outlaw King.” And as part of his focus on tightening the pacing, he cut battle scenes and anything else that seemed extraneous. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that I had a chance to go back in there and not be stuck in a position where the film was rushed for a festival and that was that,” he said in that IndieWire interview. “That would have been terrible. It feels like a privilege to be able to completely control your own destiny on a film of this scale.” Mission accomplished: The re-edited “Outlaw King,” while hardly a masterpiece, is a gritty, gripping action film. And for the immature who just wanted to see Chris’ Pine … well, that survived Mackenzie’s cuts. 

“Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” (2022)

Four-time Oscar-winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu has wowed audiences with his operatic, humanistic portraits, but along the way his bombastic approach has earned him plenty of detractors, too. No wonder, then, that when “Bardo” was unveiled at Venice, the brickbats were out for the Mexican filmmaker’s sprawling, self-indulgent examination of a Mexican filmmaker ( Daniel Giménez Cacho ) in the midst of an identity crisis. Even more annoying for his critics, the film was close to three hours long.

The reviews weren’t much better when “Bardo” screened at Telluride soon after, and Iñárritu returned to the editing room to give his film another look. “I finished the film just two days before going to Venice,” he explained to Entertainment Weekly , “so I never had the chance to see it with an audience. The first time that I saw it with audiences was in Venice. So for me, it was very clear in that moment in front of 2,000 people that I had opportunities, without affecting the essence of the film, to make the same film but thinner. I felt that I could make some scenes tighter and get to the point faster, without really sacrificing anything at all.”

As a result, when “Bardo” hit theaters (and came to Netflix), it was 22 minutes shorter. While I’ve only seen the final version, I consider it the best and worst of Iñárritu all in one film. Self-important but also revelatory—unforgivably cringe-y but also quite moving—the picture is defiantly, cripplingly its own creature, no matter its length. “A film never is finished — it's an endless process,” he told EW . Eventually, though, you have to let it go.

Tim Grierson

Tim Grierson is the Senior U.S. Critic for  Screen International . 

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With the benefit of hindsight, it’s easy to identify moments that precipitated significant social or cultural changes. But that doesn’t mean that the people involved in those moments knew, or were actively working to achieve them, as they were happening.

Popular on Variety

For her part, Doda embraced her overnight celebrity while also distrusting much of the attention it generated toward her — especially romantically. (When you’re famous almost exclusively for your beauty, how can you know if people are drawn to you for a deeper or more meaningful reason?) She was unlucky in love in her private life, though she reportedly had an affair with Frank Sinatra among other famous men. She fielded legal battles for the right to perform topless, and won, becoming the blinking icon on the sign of the Condor for years. But she was also iced out of many of the profits she generated for the venue, and was rebuffed when she tried to buy a stake in it from owners Gino Del Prete and Pete Mattioli.

Addressed but slightly less dwelled upon in the film is the complexity of her effect upon the then-burgeoning feminist movement, which viewed much of what she did as allowing herself to be objectified. Given that women of that time were shedding their brassieres (burning them, one commentator helpfully notes, was more of a myth), she was, essentially, both an embodiment of next-level bodily liberation and a shameful capitulation to patriarchal viewpoints. She exploited male desire for financial success while also, through supporting cosmetic augmentation, giving birth to an industry, and a perspective, that encourages women to scrutinize their perceived flaws — or inadequacies in comparison to a prevailing physical ideal.

Though it lacks that comprehensive, 1,000-yard view, McKenzie and Parker’s film assembles a fairly extraordinary repository of period interview and man-on-the street footage that highlights how wild and shameless red-light districts were even in their earliest days. Even better, it collects anecdotes from other dancers, musicians and club owners from the era, who mostly recall their sex-drugs-and-rock-‘n-roll heyday with a cheerful sense of nostalgia. In which case, was Doda at the forefront of the sexual revolution, or an embodiment of what would become its most harmful values? Again, it’s a complicated question. But the fact that its answer is too big to really countenance in what’s meant to be the story of one trailblazing person speaks to just how important she actually was at this particular moment in American history.

“ Carol Doda Topless at the Condor ” ably spotlights a woman who in no small way changed the world. It leaves it up to you to determine if that change was by accident or design — and more importantly, for better or worse.

Reviewed online, March 19, 2024. In Telluride Film Festival. Running time: 101 MIN.

• Production: Parker Film Company presents a Picturehouse production. Producers: Lars Ulrich, Vince Palomino. Executive producer: Rick Morse,
• Crew: Directors: Marlo McKenzie, Jonathan Parker. Screenplay: Marlo McKenzie, Jonathan Parker. Camera: Marlo McKenzie, Patrick Fogarty. Editor: Jennifer J. Mayer Music: Jack D's Band of Thieves.
• With: Polly Mazza, Jerry Martini, Jimi Mamou, Judy Mac, Pete Mattioli, Charlie Farrugia, Art Thanash, Judy Mamou, Mike Boone, Sarah Thornton, Wednesday Martin, Benita Mattioli

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Real madrid squad for real sociedad has surprise last minute changes.

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Real Madrid's squad list for Friday's La Liga clash against Real Sociedad has been changed at the ... [+] last minute in a susprise development.

Real Madrid's squad list for Friday's La Liga clash against Real Sociedad has been changed at the last minute as part of a surprise development.

Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo missed training on Thursday morning, but their head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed in a pre-match press conference that both men would travel to Anoeta while Ferland Mendy stayed behind in the Spanish capital with one eye on next week's Champions League semifinal first leg clash at Bayern Munich.

The publishing of the squad list shortly after Ancelotti finished addressing the media revealed that the Italian's statements on the matter might not have been accurate, however, as Bellingham's name was missing from the document routinely uploaded to the club's official social media accounts .

Rodrygo's was there for all to see, leading to theories that Bellingham might still be suffering from gastroenteritis. Yet in a surprise development on Friday morning, roughly 10 hours ahead of kick off, the squad list was altered.

This time round, Bellingham is now included while Rodrygo - battling flu according to MARCA - has been cut.

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Though the Brazilian will not be seen in action again until Tuesday when Madrid heads to Bavaria to take on Bayern at the Allianz Arena, the Englishman who is Ancelotti's top scorer this term has a seat reserved on the plane to San Sebastian.

As Madrid is currently 11 points clear at the top of the table with six games to spare, a win against La Real can help Los Blancos close in on the La Liga title and relieve bitter rivals FC Barcelona of another domestic crown after doing likewise with the Spanish Super Cup in January.

"We are seven points away from mathematically having the league," Ancelotti said on Thursday, while predicting a "tough game" in the Basque region amid wanting his men to "fight and fight" until it is no longer mathematically possible for the likes of Barca to snatch first place.

Considering that Bellingham is coming off an illness, it is unknown whether he will start tonight or if his previously expected replacement Brahim Diaz still gets the nod in his plac e.

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