Timeline is a surprisingly thorough application of quantum mechanics to tell a story that would otherwise be relegated to trite time travel mumbo jumbo. It would seem like a mere experiment on the part of a man personally invested in his own scientific curiosity, but it's so much more. The use of complex scientific principles enhances the plot in a sense that it becomes far more believable. Overall the story is fairly linear, but chock full of action and great characters. It's a royal shame the film adaptation cut so many corners in the details and effectively ruined what was an otherwise ideal candidate for a film.