"Hey, i think we've seen this film before"

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2007)

I have a problem with 'travel back in time films'. If you go back in time you have the potential of killing your father or another ancestor hence your 'future' existence is impossible. What happens if you 'meet' yourself? That being said this was a great action picture with a breathtaking opening scene. It will definitely be one for the DVD player to pause/rewind and watch it in slow motion.
Denzel Washington plays the archetypal, non-conformist, "ill do it myway coz i'm smarter than you" ATF agent as Doug Carlin. I'm not sure why the ATF were involved in a terror attack or even the FBI. Surely it would have been Homeland Security who would have carried out the investigation? He gets recruited to join a top secret FBI operation that has found a way of viewing events from the 4.5 days ago as they happen 'live'. Of course it uses masses of electricity and has been used to explain the various North American blackouts that have occurred over the years.
As a sub-plot he is also assigned to solve the mysterious murder of a very attractive young lady, Claire Kuchever, who appears to have died from injuries similar to the terror attack victims. Doug is like a dog with a bone and won't let go of his hunch. With the FBI and their super viewer he tracks down the terrorist and brings him to justice. The FBI "powers that be" then orders that the "viewer" be shut down because the case is solved.
At this point I thought we might be in for a typical "conspiracy theory 'the Govt was behind the attack" tangent. But no. Doug goes off on his quest to save Claire and win her heart.
Provided that you don't think too much about the whole travel back in time thing then this movie is fast paced and well done.