Byrdz
When I first watched The English Patient, I absolutely hated HATED Hated ! it. Then I watched it again and really REALLY liked it ! Perhaps Somewhere in Time is like that ? I have read some of the user reviews and it surely sounds like I am missing something with this one.I usually like Christopher Reeve very much. This one was made just after his starring role in Block-Buster Superman and he seems to use many of the little Clark Kent mannerisms that worked so well for him there. All he needed was a pair of horn-rimmed glasses to push up on his nose. He seemed uncomfortable and self-conscious in this one.Jane Seymour has, I admit, always left me pretty cold in everything I have seen her in and this one was no exception. The instant attraction via the photo... just didn't get it.Great to see the younger version of Christopher Plummer at work. Always interesting BUT I was distracted by his constantly worn heavy gloves. He even wore them when he was drinking coffee and smoking indoors. I did like the watch trick and gave a whoop when I realized the origin of the actual watch. Cool ! The "penny" was also an "awwwww" moment.All in all... not a re-watch (sorry no pun intended) and this one is going to the thrift shop unless I give it one more chance at success.
oOoBarracuda
Closing in on another genre month, and looking for a good romance, I settled in for Somewhere in Time. I had also never seen Christopher Reeve in a film before, so I figured I was long overdue. Although this does fit into my time travel category this month, Somewhere in Time is unashamedly a romantic movie, tugging at the heartstrings and never letting go. Director Jeannot Szwarc weaves together a beautiful story of love at first sight, and just what one man will go through to be with the one he loves.We meet the first half of our story's romantic pair, Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve), in a playhouse just after a performance has finished. The strapping man is a young writer, who has just watched a play he has written close and is celebrating with the cast. Suddenly, an elderly woman approaches Richard begging him "come back to me". Richard has no idea who the woman is, and has no recollection of ever seeing her before. Perplexed, Richard emerges on a quest to find out the identity of this mystery woman. Eventually, Richard's journey leads him to uncovering that the woman is a famous actress from the early 1900's. When Richard first sees a portrait of the actress, Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), he is instantly smitten, and willing to go to any lengths to see her again. Remembering his philosophy classes in college, and his professors propensity toward believing time not to be a linear construct, Richard visits him to gain insight on the possibility of time traveling to be with Elise. The professor, Dr. Gerald Finney (George Voskovec), explains to Richard that his brand of time travel occurs through deep self- hypnosis, and one can be brought out of the hypnosis, and subsequently the time period they've traveled to by thoughts alone. Dr. Finney warns that even the smallest reminder that one is from a different time can bring them out of the hypnosis. Richard is committed to meeting his love, and devotes himself to a study of early 1900's history, exchanges his currency, and buys clothes that fit into the time period, in hopes of meeting his great love and leaving himself in 1910. When he believes to be fully prepared, Richard puts himself under the self-hypnosis, and successfully travels to 1910, the time in which Elise was active in theatre. Although he initially has struggles meeting the beauty, due to her overprotective manager/colleague William Fawcett Robinson (Christopher Plummer), Richards's persistence eventually pays off and he makes friends with Elise, eventually winning her heart. Things look promising for our lovers until Richard is suddenly brought out of his self-hypnosis and lands back in his modern day apartment. Devastated, Richard is willing to do anything to go back to Elise's time, but can he? Can their love survive their difference in era?I was pleasantly surprised by the acting in this romance. Not typically a fan of overly romantic story lines, I was pleased with Somewhere in Time. Christopher Reeve was thoroughly convincing as a love-struck playwright. Jane Seymour played the classy, regal, actress with ease. The chemistry between the two made for a convincing story line, and was also endearing to watch. Christopher Reeve's dialogue was the best of the movie. He was funny and acutely aware of his being out of place in 1910 in a charming way for the audience to enjoy. The score was a fantastic testimony to the love story unfolding before our eyes. The costumes in the film and the production design were gorgeous, living art that engulfed the actors on screen. The camera work, with the soft fuzzy look to the shots fit in perfectly for the deepening romance between the actors. Somewhere in Time was beautifully done and a pure joy for the audience.There is a certain sentiment to this film that "love will conquer all"; if you love someone enough the differences you have, no matter how insurmountable they seem, will be overcome by passion. Though that does come out in the film, the message I felt more clearly was that if you find love, you should do anything to experience it to the fullest possible extent. Believe in the power of the emotion of love, value it, and chase it. No matter how unexpectedly one comes across the flame of love, you should do whatever you can to not let it extinguish. A powerful message, Somewhere in Time does much to convey the power of love, and just what measures should be done to protect it.I would certainly recommend this film to any fans of deeply romantic films. I would also recommend this film to those who enjoy period pieces, as the majority of this film takes place in the early 1900's with beautiful believability. It must also be said that any fans of Christopher Reeve's must see this film, for his acting comes off so endearing it should not be missed. A beautiful romance perfect for a single or coupled person alike, Somewhere in Time is one for the ages.
punishmentpark
I didn't know this had hypnosis as the basis for time travel in its premise - that's just silly, there's no way around it. Other than that, this is mainly just cheap romantic novel stuff with terribly unfunny humour most of the time. Though, and I'm not entirely sure, the film does seem the have done some of the ground work for 'Groundhog's day', 'Back to the future' and 'Donnie Darko'. That would be a big plus.The film is beautifully shot, has equally fine settings and costumes, and there's lots of corny but authentic looking details (try spotting 'ye olde pickle barrel'!). Why Christopher Reeve kept reminding me of Ted Bundy, I'm not sure; wasn't he superficially charming and relentless in pursuit all the time? But, who wouldn't want to see more of (Jane) Seymour? Christopher Plummer wasted time and talent for some inane part also.In some perverted way, this was fun to watch, but it's not a good film. At all. 3 out of 10.
