Timecop

Plot synopsis:
In 1863, Confederate soldiers are carrying a gold bullion as a payday for the army. Suddenly, they are cornered and shot by a highwayman using anachronistic automatic pistols and futuristic tech equipment, leaving them stranded and dead. The mysterious highwayman steals the trunk containing the gold and then suddenly vaporizes into a gelatin like mist.In 1994, 131 years later, the U.S. government creates the Time Enforcement Commission (TEC) to combat the misuse of newly developed time travel technology. They have discovered that the same gold bullion was used in recent arms purchases. The TEC is to detect "time ripples" among the timelines and to stop them from happening before they reach the present, since people cannot travel forward in time to the future, they always travel back to either change history or steal riches.(Note: the mysterious highwayman who killed the Confederate soldiers to steal their gold is never revealed or identified). Senator Aaron McComb (Ron Silver) volunteers to oversee the commission.Meanwhile, police officer Max Walker (Jean Claude Van Damme) is offered a job as a TEC agent. He meets his wife Melissa (Mia Sara) at a local shopping mall where he stops a purse snatcher. He notices three odd-looking punk men following them despite never seeing them before. Walker and Melissa go home to their large fancy house and later make love.Later that same evening, Max is attacked in his home by the same intruders he saw earlier at the mall and Melissa is killed in an explosion, destroying his house.Ten years later in the year 2004, Walker is now a veteran TEC Agent. He is sent back to October 1929, in the midst of the Wall Street crash to arrest his former partner Atwood (Jason Schombing) for taking advantage of the U.S. stock-market crash. After subduing Atwood's bodyguards, Walker interrogates Atwood who reveals that he is working for Senator McComb, who needs money for his presidential campaign. Terrified by McComb's threat to murder his ancestors, thereby wiping out his existence, Atwood tries to kill himself by jumping out a window. Walker catches him as he falls and takes him back to 2004, but Atwood refuses to testify against McComb and the TEC agency sends him back to 1929, right where he left off, this time falling to his death.Senator McComb arrives at the TEC agency to oversee the work and to congratulate Walker for his recent successful mission. Walker implies to McComb that he knows all about his dirty dealings behind the scenes in Washington and about his means to acquire money for his campaign. McComb leaves the facility and orders his aide to have Walker killed. The next morning, two assassins break into Walker's small apartment and attempt to kill him, but Walker, a trained martial arts expert, kills both assassins after a violent and protracted fight.While still trying to investigate McComb to expose him of corruption, Walker is partnered with agent Sarah Fielding (Gloria Reuben), and sent back to 1994 to investigate a pending ripple, where they find a young Senator McComb arguing with his business partner Jack Parker about their company's new computer chip. Parker offers to buy McComb's share of the company, but suddenly, the older McComb arrives from 2004 to warn his younger self that the chip will make huge profits. A fight starts when Walker is double-crossed by Fielding, who reveals she works for McComb. McComb kills Parker, wounds Fielding, attempts to kill Walker, and manages to escape back to 2004.When Walker returns to 2004, he finds that things have become worse. McComb now owns the computer company, with no record of Parker. He is almost guaranteed the Presidency with his finances and approval rating. The TEC is being shut down due to budget cuts. There is also no record of Fielding. Realizing that he has to fix things, Walker hijacks the original prototype time machine (which McComb had been using for their illegal trips) with the help of Commander Matuzak (Bruce McGill), who sacrifices himself when McComb's men try to stop Walker from escaping.Finding himself once more in 1994, Walker finds Fielding in the hospital, where she agrees to testify against McComb. Whilst trying to find Fielding's DNA from a blood sample in the lab, Walker finds a sample of Melissa's blood and it indicates she is pregnant. Walker realizes her death occurred later that night, and he decides to stop it. After going back to Fielding's room, he discovers that she has been murdered and he is framed as the prime suspect.He goes to the mall where he and Melissa met that night. Eventually Max finds her and manages to convince her he is from the future. He also sees the three thugs who attacked him and realizes that they are McComb's men whom were sent back to kill him before he joined the TEC.That evening, McComb's thugs break into Walker's home, like before, only this time the older Walker is waiting for them. Without his younger self realizing it, the older Walker helps to fight off the bad guys. Together, they and Melissa win, though the younger Walker is wounded. The 2004 McComb then takes Melissa hostage. When the older Walker finds the older McComb is holding Melissa, the younger McComb sets a time bomb. He then shoots Melissa, just before the young McComb appears, having been tricked by a fake message from Walker. Walker grabs the young McComb and pushes him into the older one, causing them to become a writhing, screaming mass which melts into nothingness (since according to the time theory, no two persons can exist by physically touching each other).Walker carries the wounded Melissa out of the house just before the bomb explodes, destroying the house just like before. Walker returns to 2004, and the timeline has been corrected. The TEC still exists, Fielding and Matuzak are alive, and McComb does not exist, having "vanished" ten years earlier. As Walker returns home, he is happily shocked to find himself living in the same house which was rebuilt. Melissa is alive and their 9-year-old son is waiting to greet him. Melissa has something to announce to Walker, implying that she is pregnant again.

Tags: alternate reality, cult, humor, violence

Review:
Best Van Damme Sci-Fi-Action comic book classic film!.
Just Like Sylvester Stallone's Judge Dredd, Van Damme's Timecop is very Underrated action sci-fi flick ever.
I love this movie to death and it is my 6th favorite best Van Damme movie.What I meant in the top written: "to take a few sci-fi leaps of faith" This movie involves time travel about a cop who travels from 2004 to 1994 and try's to prevent the death of his wife and change the future.
The movie it self has a good look, action and effects and very good acting performance by Van Damme, you really feel bad for him and want to see him kick bad guys asses.
This film deserves a special edition in some way.That is the more or less basic plot, In order to even try watching this movie, you MUST LOOK PAST THE PARADOX.
Timecop is probably remembered as his last good movie before he got into a rut of mediocre(though successful) action flicks.Its also the most mainstream picture he was ever in for my money.In 1994 Time-travel has become a possible reality.Washington decides that it needs to be "policed" from criminal activity and the paradox's of undoing life as we know it.Cut to 2004:Enter Van Damme as Walker the on-the-rocks time-cop who uncovers a plot to swindle the presidency by a corrupt Senator McComb played by Ron Silver,who actually engineered the murder of Walkers-wife(Mia Sara).Can Max stop McComb?Can he go back and save his wife?After some decent gunfights and roundhouses you'll have to find out.Timecop benefits from having a talented director Like Peter Hyams behind the wheel for this one.He stages everything well,Keeps the action and plot flowing,Special FX are engaging,and gets a very good performance by Van Damme.Who comes off vulnerable and like a real person.The production values are very good here too.It is also pretty decent political backdrop/Sci-fi combo.Ron Silver is a great Bad Guy here as McComb.He gets to shoot, beat people up,Snarls And looks frankly maniacal at times.Mia Sara is engaging and looks beautiful as ever.Bruce McGill has some funny bits as Van Dammes Boss.The very sexy Gloria Ruben also shows up as Walkers new partner.Timecop is not the greatest when it comes to plot-holes.But unlike the recent version of HG Wells Time machine, it is a very fun movie.And one of Van Dammes best..
The time travel ange of the story may be intelligent but the dialog in this movie is just plain dumb and too juvenile.Overall, this is one of the best of a small group of well-done Van Damme movies..
It made a solid attempt at a story, it had decent special effects and sound effects, the acting was as good as van damme gets, and the action was good.
The police office Max Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is invited to join the TEC, and when his wife Melissa (Mia Sara) is murdered by strangers, he accepts the invitation to work under the command of Eugene Matuzak (Bruce McGill).
Definitely one of Van Dammes best and one of the better action movies in the 90's!
'Timecop' probably represents Jean-Claude Van Damme at his very best - this movie demonstrates his ability...The movie itself is slick and some thought has obviously gone into it - some time-travel movies do fail on grounds concerning plausibility, though 'Timecop' is intelligent as it is enjoyable...The complexity of the film really finds the viewer respecting Van Damme a lot more, it simply isn't an action movie, though Van Damme shows that he still retains his amazing physical talents...I recently saw this movie on NBC, and though not seeing it from the start, it brought back memories of the entire film, and what a great film it is - I had originally thought about giving this a [6/10], then thought maybe [7 or 8/10]...I opted for [8/10]...(maybe leaning more towards nine)...:).
If you can get past the gratuitous violence (a virtual requirement for Van Damme films), you might like this movie.
I've only ever seen this film while drunk, so bear with me ...Awful Belgian 'actor' John Claude Van Damme grows an emergency mullet in order to go back in time and rescue Ferris Bueller's girlfriend.
Van Damme and Sci-Fi. This is pretty run-of-the-mill as far as sci-fi goes, and Van-Damme's acting wasn't any better than it was in his other films - contrary to popular opinion - but Peter Hyams' competent direction keeps the thing moving forward at a brisk pace, and Ron Silver makes for a wicked baddie that rivals his work in Blue Steel.
Van Damme as we want to see Him. This isn't at all a bad movie, though the plot has some minor faults.The acting is quite decent actually.This movie is about a cop travelling in time to wipe out the ever increasing problem of time crime.
This shows Hyams had control of how much time travel was used in one instance.Timecop is actually a generalization for the people who do the job, but focuses on the story of Max Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme), a man who belongs to an institution of individuals who police time, based on a popular Dark Horse comic.
I liked the character of Max Walker, I just thought he'd be somewhat more original and not a knock- off of some other character.Playing the villain, Aaron McComb, is Ron Silver, a corrupt politician who will do anything to make sure he's sitting in the president's chair by the end of the election.
What a mess that was!Peter Hyams' direction on the Dark Horse comic of a time traveling police officer not only boasts visuals, but also has a great story line.
As for me, I simply love movies dealing with time-traveling, but this one had so many "holes" in the script, that I was surprised, when i saw that it wasn't directed by Van Damme itself.
Really good science fiction effort, with good time travel twists and turns, and few of the grotesque plot holes that movies like this are subject to.
Not only is it less feasible then other movies like Terminator and even Back to the Future, the movie contradicts itself too many times considering how short it is.As far as all movies go, don't waste your money, unless you're a huge Van Damme fan.
Truly, poetry in motion.The scene where Van Damme does the splits real good like: 10/10; the incredulous film overall: 3/10..
Very respectable time travel sci-fi that's also Van Damme's best work.
B-grade sequel by Gary Thompson notwithstanding, Verheiden's screenplay draws you in with a time-travel story full of socially relevant scientific nuggets.Director/DoP Peter Hyams (Running Scared(1986), A Sound of Thunder(2004)), rightfully claims his movie isn't really science-fiction, but 'futuristic drama' that 'unfolds on many levels: romance, action, mystery, and drama'.
After all, the franchise had to be easily transferable from film to comics.One of McComb's dartboarders, an otherwise nondescript TEC cop named Max Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme), turns reluctant hero when his partner Lyle Atwood (Jason Schombing) is corrupted by McComb.
A year later he again starred for Hyams in Sudden Death(1995), but there wasn't enough emotional scope in that actioner for Van Damme to match his apparent acting chops from TimeCop(1994).The best 'bit' belongs to a genuinely funny and avuncular Bruce McGill as Matuzak, who with one flick of the wrist smacks his V/R dweeb Ricky (Scott Bellis) with his own visor when he catches the dweeb literally abusing the equipment.Working for the TEC isn't always fun, however.
About what I expect from a Van Damme movie: cheezy action, horrid special effects, worse dialogue, useless scenes, cardboard acting, and did I mention a disjointed and choppy plot?
And seeing Jean Claude's butt doesn't exactly send chills down my spine...well it does, but the wrong kind of chills (I'm still a little queasy, and it's been a couple of hours...;) And to make matters worse, this has every element of a textbook action film, every cliche and stereotype imaginable, from slo-mo to timed explosives.
With no evidence Walker goes out to prove McComb is guilty  a battle that occurs in the present as well as the past.For those of you used to the level of logic and plotting that is inherent in Van Damme films (Knock Off anyone?) then Timecop probably stands out as one of his stronger films in terms of plot.
One day it could be funny to watch all the Van Damme movies, and this is surely another episode in his oeuvre but it was pretty weak and pretty much a waste of time.
It seems like Van Damme strayed from the pure path of Budo and martial arts, and movies such as this one does not use his potential in a good way.
Unfortunately, as Van Damme states "There is never enough time, to satisfy a woman" so i better get going.Everyone must see this film.
If Van Damme just kicked kung-fu butt all the time, his movies would rank up there with the best fo the genre.
It's Stupid It's Mindless It's Fun. This is not for art film lovers, this is a movie where Van Damme plays a "Time Cop" who is sent back in time by the time police force or whatever to stop future criminals from altering history in order to profit from it, for example by going back in time with crazy machine guns to wipe out civil war soldiers and steal their gold, or buy stocks right before they skyrocket in value, etc.He does a lot of shooting and kicking to get revenge against a psychotic politician who killed Van Damme's wife and wants to use time travel to become an evil president (Ron Silver who is so fun in this).
You know the outcome of the movie before you even press the play button.If you enjoy the wonderful 1990s action movies and/or being a fan of Jean Claude Van Damme, then "Timecop" is definitely a movie well worth sitting down to watch..
The rumourmill has it that Jean Claude Van-Damme was looking for 'that film' - the one like 'Terminator' was for Schwarzenegger and 'Rambo' was for Stallone.
If they detect any big irregularities they send an agent back to prevent the temporal tampering.There were a lot of problems I had with the movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme's acting being at the top of the list.
Set in a future in which time travel is possible, a cop in charge of policing the process tries to stop a crooked politician from changing the past in order to alter the future in this Jean-Claude Van Damme action thriller.
Some have written 'Timecop' off as a mere action vehicle, but great as the choreography may be, it is the scenes of Van Damme and Silver talking to their younger selves that stick out in the mind.
When Walker (Van Damm) is told by a former co-worker that the Senator (Ron Silver) in charge of the Time Enforcement Commission is abusing power and time travel for his own game, he begins keeping an eye on him.
Fans of Jean-Claude Van Damm would certainly find the film enjoyable.
The story follows Max Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme) whose job is to stop people from using illegal time travel technology, in order to change the past.
Jean-Claude Van Damme stars and we all know that I see him as one of these brawn over brains guys, that only get work because of their looks and their fancy movies.
Ever likable Jean-Claude Van Damme high kicks his way through this twisty and interesting futuristic sci-fi action thriller.
Director Peter Hyams (who would reunite with Van Damme for the following years' "Sudden Death") often lights scenes in his typical not-particularly-well-lit fashion, but he and a first rate crew still keep this movie racing forward quite effectively.
The story, much like any that deals with the whole idea of time travel, probably wouldn't hold up to much scrutiny, but the movie is a good entertainment that features some very impressive special effects, stunts, and sets, appropriately thuggish henchmen for our bad guy to employ and for our good guy to tussle with, and some highly amusing moments (such as a thug getting his arm frozen and then smashed to bits).
Ron Silver is a great villain, he always is and this movie is maybe the best example of how he can look like a scummy sleaze bag villain without even having to say anything.It is a typical Van Damme movie in many ways with decent fight scenes and a thin unbelievable plot, of course like in most time travel type movies there are a ton of plot holes you could drive a time travelling car through.Van Damme is good and I expected this to be a terrible movie but as far as Van Damme movies go it is probably one of the best and most fun.
Director Peter Hyams does an okay job here but I preferred his film with Van Damme the following year - SUDDEN DEATH.
And for those who think Van Damme never deserved the stardom, watch this film and you'll get a good enough answer.
Of course Mr. Jean Claude Van Damme, the super great-muscled-bottomed action hero, saves the film from being a complete boring failure, all his action scenes and movements are amazing, and his sex scenes too -there is another extra sex scene with other characters that is great too-, so all this great scenes and the good Peter Hyams direction make the film entertaining and saves it.
But I think the script is a shame.I wonder if Jean Claude Van Damme is a show off, if he is he does a great job showing off his big muscular buttocks in the action scenes and sex scenes.My rating: ** , 5/10, So-so film..
Lets face it, Jean-Claude Van Damme hasn't starred in exactly some classic movies throughout his career but out of all his movies this is probably his best known one, along with "Universal Soldier" and for a good reason.
Hyams is also the director of my all time favorite Van Damme flick "Sudden Death", which they did together one year after this movie.
But in no means necessary does it make it a crappy film.This movie is about a man named Max Walker, who works for the TEC, otherwise known as a Time Enforcement Commission Agent.
Ron Silver was great as the bad guy though, but still, for me this is one of Van Damme's most boring films.
When you make a movie about time traveling you have to think about a lot of things, or keep the story small.
For some very mindless action, for some funny one-liners and a lot of stupid ones and for Jean-Claude van Damme if you happen to be a fan..
VERY GOOD Movie even for non die hard Van Damme fans!.
Reading through their IMDb pages just now, I noticed that director Peter Hyams and action star Jean-Claude Van Damme will soon collaborate again on a thriller named "Enemies Closer".
I think that's particularly good news for Van Damme, as it's my own personal and humble opinion that he accomplished his best films working with Hyams.
Enter Max Walker, a Timecop who upon learning of a corrupt politician's plot to become president, sets about doing all he can to stop him.Timecop did exactly what I wanted it to do, namely give me Jean-Claude Van Damme administering brutal violence in a sci-fi haze.
But I will say that if I'm right then "Timecop" is the exception.Another caveat: like other time travel films I have reviewed ("Lake House" and "Frequency", for example) you will have to suspend your rational thought during this movie.
Peter Hyams has proved to be a good action director.I will rate it as a A+ grade Movie Must watch it..
While I am not a real Van Damme fan, I like him in this movie.
The Jean Claude Van Damme movie for those that hate him..
Sure, Jean Claude isn't going to be seen at the Academy Awards any time soon - but this film is good enough to get past him.Excellent time travel flick - it would come up more points ahead if they had put a bit more historic emphasis on the movie.
And when it comes time to do the action director/cinematographer Peter Hyams keeps the controls steady like a basic practitioner of the conventions: don't get TOO out of control and it should be violent enough to please Van Damme's kick-boxer fan-base while appealing to sci-fi fans.
At times, I would rather have a simpler movie and concentrate on Van Damme's strengths.I think the problem starts with Matuzak saying that Max's word isn't enough and yet somehow with Sarah, that's enough to put McComb in prison.
Overall, Certainly Worth a Watch for Action Fans and B-Movie Lovers and is Probably One of Only a Few Van Damme Films that can be Recommended Without Apology..
Good One. Most posts for this movie are on the lines of comparing this to other films in JCVD's repertoire, his accent, the time travel plot holes, the fighting.
Van Damme is actually quite good in the movie and it is also one of his best films from the 1990's.
Thatsaid, this movie has both - time travel and Ron Silver getting it.
Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Max Walker a "TEC"(Time Enforcement Cop) who takes on a corrupt senator Aaron McComb (Ron Silver) who maybe responsible for the death of Walker's wife in this stupid yet harmless actioner.
Jean-Claude Van Damme kicks a lot of people in the head, but mainly it's Ron Silver who steals the show..
Well it did not, as this has to be one of Van Damme's best story, equal to Maximum Risk, and not as lean as Nowhere to Run. The visual effect on the scar on Ron Silver's face is one of my favorite scene in the movie.
Van Damme made one of his last good movies in the form of Timecop.