Customer Reviews

Time Runner [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Set in the near future of the year 2022, humanity's last hope lies with Captain Michael Raynor (Mark Hamill, the man who played Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars series) who is hurled through a time warp back to the year 1992. Scientists send Raynor back in time after the satellite he occupies is damaged and the woman he loves is killed in the alien attack. He ends up in the past, less than a day before he is born and learns that he has a chance to prevent the alien invasion from happening. Ruthlessly pursued by an agent belonging to a super-secret government organization, Raynor learns he can affect the future and, with the help of scientist Karen McDonald(Rae Dawn Chong), attempts to alert authorities to the upcoming alien threat.

Time Runner is in my opinion an unappreciated movie. It is true, I originally hunted down this movie because it had Mark Hamill in it. I am not saying that this film deserved an academy award, I won't even go so far as to say that it was Mark Hamill's best work. I will say that it is memorable, Mark Hamill kicks serious tale in this show, his deals with the trauma of time travel as only a disciplined and trained soldier of a terrible conflict can: he picks himself up and charges back into the fray to get the mission done. Not every sci-fi film will set a new standard like the "Robocop" series, and they do not have to, they just need to be entertaining, and this film really is.

It has a lot going for it. For starters there is a great soundtrack to the film, classic low budget 90's music that takes you to a war torn future. There is a great supporting cast. Mark Hamill is a believable lead, the rest of the cast are also realistic for the parts they play. I can see the humor in casting Brion James as the future president of the United States! I love Mark Hamill, in fact he's one of my all time favorite actors, sadly it did nothing to help his career. True, going back in time to save humanity has been done before. Still, this film does say that for what it had to work with it did the job nicely.

I will say that there are a few down points on the film. It is low budget, you can tell by the quality of the special effects that were used in the opening scenes. The lack of funding shows in other areas as well. The shootout scenes are not the best I have ever seen, but it beats the hell out of equally low budget action films like "The Substitute" series. Though the part about Michael Raynor trying to save himself as a baby has been done before, it was still done well. This film did not really do anything to forward Mark Hamill's, or the rest of the casts careers. Realistically, not every film will make a high mark on a performers resume. That does not mean that it did not have merit or that it was not worth mentioning or seeing. It is a "B" movie. But I give it a "B+".

There are better movies out there, this is true. However, as a dyed in the wool movie buff, I can also tell you there are a whole lot worse. This is one of those movies that you will remember seeing years from now, and though it may not land on your list of all time favorites, it will register as being a memorable film that you did not regret seeing. Anyone can say the film could have been better, lets see those people, what are they doing with their lives? Are they writing budget films in Hollywood too, or just posting inane blogs and waxing about what they could do if only they had the chance, or the courage, to try their own hand at writing.

Lets take a step back for a moment. I wrote the sequel to this film but wasn't able to get it made because of the studios lack of interest. Many hated this movie and honestly Time Runner 2 would have surpassed it, and given people a reason to come back to this; albeit briefly! One studio actually said: "I would be embarrassed to give Mark a call over this." He made me feel better by saying: "I like your script, too bad you didn't write the original. Perhaps if you wanted to re-write this into a prequel maybe we could get things rolling?" I really didn't want to write a prequel, I enjoyed the first one for what it is. Cheap "B" movie Sci-Fi. This is best viewed on a lonely Friday night with lots of beer and the weekend still to be lived. Since Time Runner has yet to be released on DVD you would have to ultimately watch the film via Netflix streaming video method. Not too bad if you enjoy viewing bad movies on your PC. Maybe someday I will get lucky enough to have the chance to sell my Time Runner 2 script. I have been considering making it into an independent film with a small cast and crew. My only problem is how would I get Mark Hamill on board to reprise his role as Michael Raynor?

Don't get me wrong, I love Mark Hamill, in fact he's my all time favorite actor, and I thought the movie was cute, but it did nothing to help his career. When he goes back in time to save the human race, is far from original. Sorry, Mark!! Love ya, but this movie is not one I would pay to see in a theatre.

The paid review gives you the reasons (bad writing, bad presentation), but it doesn't really give you a feel for the total effect. So allow me... Just think, you can live an extra two hours every time you don't waste them watching this film! Eek! What a waste of celluloid. This film was on my list of films that no one should have to watch. Maybe we'll get lucky and Mystery Science Theatre will be able to give it their treatment. That's the only thing they could do to this film to make it watchable. As Bill the Cat would say, "Nyet! Nyet! Ack Ackthtpthtpptht!" I give this turkey two thumbs and both big toes down. :-p

I saw this movie because it had Mark Hamill in it. This movie is forced, poorly plotted, and has ok acting. The only redeeming point was the good music. Save your money and time...don't get or watch this movie!

mark hammill is a good actor, but this just isnt his best movie.but i liked it

What kind of stupid movie is this? Very bad plot, though the part about Michael Raynor trying to save himself as a baby was good, it isn't original. I hope Mark Hamill got payed well for this one, because it sure didn't help his career (no offence Mark, you're a great actor.)

I've seen hundreds of Sci Fi/Horror movies over the years. This is one of those you'll wonder whether you've watched it or not a few years down the road. You just can't remember.

All in all, I figure it's still better to watch a so-so Sci Fi/Horror movie than "Dances With Wolves" or "Evita". This movie will end up being non-memorable, but it's preferable to being in a coma.

The story of the future. Aliens are trying to blow up the world in 2022. Scientists send a space commander back in time after the satellite he occupies is blown up. He ends up in 1992 and learns that is his chance to prevent the alien invasion from happening. What a sorry movie. It is a good idea about a man going back in time to save the future. But I think it is slow happening and spends too much time on details that are not that important. I wish the story had happened quite differently than it did. I have been trying to think up a better story than this ever since I saw this movie on TV. I did think it was amazing how the aliens tried to kill his mother before she had him. Most bad guys would try that to stop a time-traveler from undoing their work. All I've got to say is, if I were the writer of this story, things would have been entirely different. This movie (...) and needs a lot of improvement. Do better than using aliens for the bad guys. And don't make the hero seem so wimpy and always getting wounded.