Time Changer

Time Changer

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Movie Reviews of Time Changer

Movie Review: The New World of Christian Film
Summary: 5 Stars

The plot:
A seminary professor, Russell Carlisle from the 1890s, played by D. David Morin, has written a book entitled, "The Changing Times." The college board members (the dean, by the way, is played very well by Hal Linden) are on their way to approving it, except that Dr. Norris Anderson (played by Gavin MacLeod) raises objections. How can Christian morals be promoted, he asks, without Christ behind the morals? His words are only too true, though Carlisle is very offended. Teaching morals without Christ raises children who become what Christ Himself referred to as "whitewashed sepulchres." That is to say, tombs that are beautiful to behold on the outside, but within are filled with rottenness and decay. These are the Taj Mahals works without faith create, and this movie is not ashamed of this fact.

At any rate, Carlisle and Anderson have a strong disagreement about Carlisle's book, and the only way they can settle it is for Anderson to send Carlisle forward in time, to see the results of his teaching. Of course, we know that no time machine has been invented, but that does not signify. We can use our imaginations, and open our minds to this impossibility that the strong message can be spoken. This movie is not intended to be accurate about scientific advances, it is intended to make one think. And what could be so bad about thinking?

In the future, 2002, Carlisle discovers how "white washed" the world has become. He sees that the 5% divorce rate of 1890 has become the 50% divorce rate of 2002. He sees people everywhere who are "good people," who trust works rather than faith. He sees that Christ is no longer allowed in the schools. He sees the immorality of the young people, and the unblushing immorality on the movie screen, which is tolerated willingly by Christians. He sees that there is no future like the present - and that the present is dangerously wrong.

The experience changes his perspective, and on his return to his own time, he is no longer the same person, and thus changes the title of his book to, "The Time Changer."

At the end of the movie, Gavin MacLeod leaves us thinking, as he experiments with his machine to see how far into the future he can send a Bible. He starts with 2100, and the Bible will not leave - for by then the world had ended. He keeps working closer and closer to our own time, though we do not see where he ends. But it makes you think - the time is short, and Christians need to do something about it!

My only objections to the movie:
1. Yes, some of the acting was stiff. I thought it was particularly stiff in the beginning, where Morin did not seem quite comfortable in his character of a compromising professor, and several of the board members were rather stiff, as well. There was also far too much laughing at puns that were less than hilarious. I thought Morin's acting improved as the movie went on, though he did still have some stiff moments. Some of his stiffness could, of course, be attributed to his character being an uptight, proper 1890s gentleman, a bit of a "stick-in-the-mud." But some of his stiffness was, indeed, too much.

There were several moments in the movie that seemed "hokey," and some puns that were rather weak, i.e., "When did you live, the 1890s or something?" (No one specifies the '90s as specifically as being distinctive from any other 19th century decade. They'd more likely ask if he were from the 19th century, just as a generality, and this would have done just as well.)

There are generally funny moments as Carlisle is exploring the wonders of the modern world, and here Morin's facial expressions are very good.

All in all, this is a fabulous Christian movie. No, not perfect, but since when was perfection a requirement? Nobody's perfect. The message is very strong, and very timely, and I believe all Christians would do well to watch it. Open your mind, set aside million-dollar expectations, and prepare to be impacted. The world is straying from Christ, and Christians are relinquishing their position. This is the future. The time is now.