The Chronos Crimes

The Chronos Crimes (2007) - without giving too much away, I'll just say it’s a pretty messy blend of sci-fi and thriller centered on time travel. The way time works in this movie is just one big, dumb loop that tries to be clever but ultimately always leads back to the exact same result (many-worlds interpretation? maybe.). Also, huge points against the script for some incredibly stupid coincidences (like how certain women look identical to the girl from the woods, or how after she escapes guy number two, she runs straight into guy number three instead of actually running away, or how guy number two happens to have his head wrapped perfectly so she doesn't run into the same guy when meeting guy number three) and specific scenes (when guy number three zooms past guy number two's car right behind him, or when guy number one—acting with zero brain cells—decides to climb into some airtight container filled with weird liquid or whatever that time machine is because a total stranger told him to, or how guy number two manages to force the girl from the woods to strip while threatening her with scissors and watching through binoculars from a distance—she could have easily just bolted). Honestly, I think this would have worked way better as a horror flick. Because of all those flaws (basically needing a massive suspension of disbelief) and that deterministic take on time, I can't give this anything decent. No passaran! 👎

redefine As specified by rustyscout34:
The Chronos Crimes (2007) - Just to prevent any spoilers, I'll only say that this is a much weaker blend of sci-fi and thriller than the last one. Time travel remains a fascinating concept to ponder. I often find myself wondering if we will ever truly master it.It feels like this movie takes a massive, mindless detour halfway through, just looping around in circles. In the end, though, everything still leads back to the exact same result.The many-worlds interpretation is quite fascinating. I remember reading about it during a long flight to Chicago, and it truly makes one ponder the infinite possibilities of our existence.Is there anyone else who noticed this? I also have to say, there are some seriously questionable coincidences that just don't add up.The guy is taking photos of that girl from the woods. Then, instead of making a clean getaway from the second guy, she runs straight into the third one. It’s almost like the second guy wore a specifically wrapped bandana just to make sure she didn't stumble right back into him.I am simply observing the scene.When guy number three zooms past guy number two in his car, and then guy number one decides—without much thought, really—to climb into some airtight container filled with strange liquid...The concept of an illicit time machine is truly fascinating. I remember reading about similar theoretical paradoxes during my university days in Chicago.And he even managed to convince a total stranger to go along with it. I mean, how does guy number two actually force a girl from the woods—who's five meters away—to strip just by pointing scissors at her back and watching through binoculars? It's wild. She could have easily just bolted.).

I have to admit, this feels a bit like nitpicking. We're spending entire days dissecting every tiny detail. Some points might be a stretch, but I suppose they count for something. It’s not exactly a coincidence that she felt the need to run from Hector 3. She had no way of knowing they were the same person, especially since he was already injured. Given the odds of stumbling upon two maniacs at once while dealing with a head injury, her reaction seems perfectly reasonable. Hector 3 knew exactly where he’d be standing and struck him intentionally just to throw him off. When you're sprinting through the woods trying to escape a lunatic wielding shears, you'll do whatever it takes—even if it looks impulsive or irrational in the moment. Her behavior in those woods was completely human. We aren't all Jack Bauer.)

rustyscout34 said:I personally feel the whole thing would work much better as a horror film. Honestly, if you cut out those ridiculous plot holes—specifically that need for such massive scale—it would be far more effective. I've always found that a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief makes the journey much more enjoyable. It’s like when I was watching a classic noir film last night; if you overthink the logic, you miss the magic entirely.I simply cannot give this film a passing grade because of its deterministic view of time. No way!

The horror thriller genre is still very much alive. 🙂Given the plot and the core concept, a certain suspension of disbelief is perfectly reasonable. You either buy into the story or you don't. As for that deterministic take on the ending, I suppose it really just comes down to personal taste. If you're looking for a happy ending, we have that return to the future to look forward to.

David Price5 said:I have to admit, this feels more like nitpicking. All these little details have explanations in the movie. Some might be a stretch, but they're there, I guess.

On the contrary, my friend. On the contrary! Americans call this kind of nitpicking common sense. 🙂

*spoilers*
( both are brunettes—as if that's some huge coincidence,

not just a brunette, she was similar enough that after guy number two cuts her hair, she actually believes he's her husband! That last part at the house where guy number three cuts her hair and then she falls off the roof is (to put it mildly) unconvincing.

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She had no reason to run from Hector 3 (I mean, she didn't know they were the same person, and he was injured too; what are the odds you'd stumble right into two "maniacs"?), plus he had a head injury so his disorientation seems somewhat normal,

which is exactly my point! The odds are slim, yet she runs into two maniacs within an hour. The fact that she didn't realize they were the same person is just due to guy number two's head trauma—it's such a terrible plot device. I haven't seen one this bad since the days of Shazlaman!

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Hector 3 knew he’d stop right there, so he hit him on purpose hoping to disorient him,

but I'm thinking about that scene where the scientist and guy number two are staring into the distance while guy number three sneaks up behind them in a tiny golf cart. Here's the shot— click.

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When someone is running from a masked maniac with scissors, they'll do anything, even things that seem stupid or rushed in the moment. Her behavior in the woods is pretty normal. We aren't all Jack Bauer, after all.

And we aren't all that kid who destroys the tripod mega-alien, so you shouldn't defend him just by using the "majority opinion" argument. That scene with the scissors and the undressing was so poorly executed I wouldn't even dwell on it. The reality is, she could have run away ten times while this guy was staring through binoculars with his back turned just five feet away...

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Horror thrillers still exist🙂. Given the plot and the concept, some level of suspension of disbelief is standard. You either accept the premise or you don't... deciding whether the ending is deterministic is just a matter of personal taste. If you want a happy ending, watch Back to the Future...

I agree it's normal, but the scale is the issue. That's why I can maybe pass on Trans-Siberian (maybe 2/3 of it), but an SF thriller like this? No fucking chance! The deterministic view is just another one of those awful plot devices (mostly there to satisfy people who don't want to deal with time travel theories or parallel universes, etc.), and it's not just about personal taste. Yeah, whatever, a happy ending...

Anyway, I have one more question:
Who was the very first Hector to climb into the time machine and how did he get there? You remember at the start of the movie, Hector is staring into the woods where the fatal events involving Hector are already happening. If we assume he was the first one in, how does that work? Who did he see in the woods? 🤣)?
)

rustyscout34 said:Not quite, my friend. Not at all! In America, we call that being a smooth talker. Common sense is a rare commodity these days. I remember my grandfather used to say that simple logic would get you further than any fancy degree ever could. It’s a shame how often we overlook it.. 🙂

Right after finishing the movie, I headed straight over to the IMDb boards to see what everyone was saying. Someone had even put together a timeline graph. Most of the discussion centered on physics, time travel, fate, and temporal loops—nothing like what you were mentioning. If one person finds an issue that the other 99 viewers didn't care about, they aren't really making a point. To me, that just feels like nitpicking.

*Spoilers ahead*
( Both of you seem to care—as if that were some grand coincidence.

She wasn't just a brunette; she was convincing enough that after a buzz cut, the guy would actually believe she was his wife! That final scene at the house, though—where the third guy cuts her hair and then she falls from the roof—is a bit hard to swallow, if you ask me.
) (
Hector had absolutely no reason to doubt that the deceased woman wasn't his wife. Between her red shirt, the short hair, and seeing her car parked right out front, everything seemed perfectly normal.)
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(
She really didn't have any reason to run from Hector. She had no way of knowing they were actually the same person, and since he was already injured himself, the odds of running straight into two "maniacs" at once were slim. Given his head injury, his disorientation makes sense; it feels like a pretty realistic reaction.

That’s exactly my point! The odds were slim to begin with, yet within a single hour, she ran into two absolute maniacs. The only reason she didn't realize they were the same people is because her head was spinning—honestly, she's just completely out of it. A plot device can be quite useful when crafting a story. I remember once using one to fix a messy draft during a late night in Chicago. It certainly helps keep things moving! I haven't seen any of this since the old days back when Shayman was around!
)(I put "maniac" in quotation marks for a reason—Hector wasn't actually a maniac. He just wanted to get back to his normal life. Finding Hector 3 wasn't some impossible or weird occurrence, either. After all, Hector 2 didn't just drag that woman miles away from the crash site.)
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(Hector knew exactly where that guy was going to stop, so he hit him on purpose just hoping to throw him off his game.

I’m actually thinking of that one scene where the scientist and the second guy are just staring off into the distance, totally oblivious, while the third guy sneaks right behind them in a little golf cart. Here's the shot— Click.. )
(Nothing unusual here. If you were wondering about that, the Volkswagen Golf is actually quite a quiet ride.)

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(When you're running for your life from some maniac in a cloak wielding scissors, you'll say just about anything to survive—even if it sounds foolish or rushed in the moment. That woman's behavior in the woods was perfectly natural. Not all of us are Jack Bauer.

Look, we aren't all Tom Cruise, tearing through tripod alien invasions. You can't just rely on the "majority opinion" to defend a bad take. That scene involving the scarf was so poorly executed that I didn't even bother dwelling on it. It’s common sense: she could have easily bolted ten times over while he was busy staring through binoculars with his back turned just five feet away. )
(
She finally pulled off the win once she found her nerve. She was just waiting for that perfect moment to strike. Speaking of *WOTW*, you’ll have to refresh my memory on that one scene. Did Cruise actually pack a backpack, or did he just pull the pin on the bomb? My main issue with *WOTW* was always the viruses; the whole thing about blowing up the walkers with grenades felt a bit off to me.)

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I agree it's a normal concept, but it's all about the execution. For instance, I might give Trans-Siberian a decent shot—maybe 2/3rd approval—but this kind of sci-fi thriller? No fucking chance! Using determinism as a plot device feels lazy; it’s mostly just there to cater to audiences who don't want to wrap their heads around complex time travel theories or parallel universes. It isn't just my personal taste. Oh well, happy ending, I guess...

To be honest, I wasn't even viewing TS as a standard thriller, but rather specifically as a sci-fi thriller. With this genre, you have to look at the entire narrative arc to grasp the cause-and-effect relationships, rather than obsessing over how it all started, because frankly, it can't be explained. The film simply drops you right into the middle of things, which is really the only way it works.

(By the way, I have one more question:
Who was the first Hector to step into the time machine, and how did he end up there? If you recall the beginning of the movie, Hector is staring into the woods where those fatal events involving a previous Hector are already unfolding. If we assume he was the very first one to go in, how does that work? Who exactly was he looking at in those woods? 🤣)?
)
(We're never going to know because it's a closed time loop involving three identical versions of the same guy. That's just it. It's a cinematic depiction. Physically and logically, it's impossible, so there's no point trying to explain it away. You have to stop looking at the trees and see the whole forest...)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5...nocrimenes.jpg

David Price5 said:Right after the movie ended, I checked the IMDb boards to see what people thought. Someone had actually mapped out an event timeline. Most of the discussions were centered on physics, time travel mechanics, fate, and temporal loops. Nothing like what you’re bringing up. If one person finds something annoying while 99 others didn't even notice it, then I guess you're just nitpicking..

I've read the boards—where people mostly ask questions about how time travel works—but I've also read the comments, where they actually mention the stuff I'm talking about. I laid out clearly why I think the movie is stupid, and you're just hiding behind the "majority opinion" because you don't have a real argument... ☕
here's an example (and I bet you'll just call them haters, right? 😂):

(*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I love time travel flicks and like trying to solve the paradoxes, but this movie was ruined by how unbelievable the main guy's behavior was. Like, if you went back in time (which he seems fine with) and saw your younger self with your younger wife, wouldn't you lose it? To me, it would be way more unsettling if I DIDN'T see my past self with my wife. Overall, the protagonist—who seems pretty smart (despite some weird quirks... hint, hint)—just acts like an idiot, doing a bunch of senseless, violent, and counterproductive things. The end result is that we never get those "A-ha!" moments where everything clicks. Instead, we're just left wondering, "Why the hell did he do that? That makes zero sense unless he's just forcing himself to fit into the loop." Basically, most of the characters act like morons.
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Plus, there isn't much to like about Hector, who comes off as rude or just plain indifferent to everyone, including his wife. Sure, he's a voyeur, but what's the logic in stabbing someone with scissors? Or forcing a woman to undress? Or being dumb enough to climb into a tub of random liquid? It’s not like he’s fighting a superhero here—he’s just dealing with a double of himself. Why not just face yourself, try to talk it out, or fight if you have to? I’d trust my own gut, even against a clone of myself, before I'd trust some creepy stranger telling me to hide in a vat of mystery fluid.
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The Chronos Crimes is basically just this, repeated. You watch the same stretch of time a few times, seeing it from different angles to figure out the causality. But it’s not as fun as it sounds. Beyond The pleasure of ' getting whats going on, there's not much else to it. The lead is unlikable, his moves aren't justified or believable, and the plot falls apart when you step back and look at it. That's what really pulled me out of it.
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Yeah, I realize it's a movie and people don't act like this in real life. But with The Chronos Crimes, you actually need to care about the lead. He has to make his choices feel earned. For instance, about fifteen minutes in, the lead gets chased. He runs into this facility and meets a guy he doesn't know, who tries to help by shoving him into some device that the scientist claims is perfectly safe and helpful.
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Hector, the lead, does so many things without any explanation that it just feels frustrating. Like another reviewer said, there are plenty of moments in this movie where you basically have to check your logic at the door before walking in. That reviewer thought the humor made those gaps okay, but I didn't really find anything funny about this one.
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And this guy who pretty much shares my take— click
)

*spoilers*
Hector 2 had zero reason to doubt that the dead woman wasn't his wife. Her red shirt, the short hair, plus he saw her car parked right in front of the house. Everything seemed totally normal.

Normal, sure, but highly unlikely... 🙂
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I put "maniac" in quotes for a reason, because Hector wasn't actually a maniac. He just wanted to get back to his regular life. Finding Hector 3 wasn't weird or impossible either. After all, Hector 2 dragged the woman miles away from the crash site.

It’s not impossible, but it's highly unlikely, man... 🙂
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Nothing weird there. Golf carts are quiet, if that's what you're getting at...

Quiet, maybe, but not silent. Rewind to the 1h10min mark and listen to how loud that engine is. (Here's a link)
Also, why the hell is there a golf cart out there anyway? 🤷
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Well, she finally found the guts to do it at the end. She was just waiting for the right moment. And regarding the WOTW thing—remind me of that scene. Did Cruise pull a pin, or did he just pull the safety off a bomb? My issue with WOTW was that it was viruses, not blowing up walkers with grenades...

Yeah, at the end... she just had a much better chance to escape right before that happened... 🙂
I think he just pulled the pin, but it's been a long time... 🤷
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We're never going to know because it's a time loop involving three versions of the same guy. That's just how movies work. It's cinematic shorthand. Since it's physically and logically impossible, there's no point in trying to explain it. Just stop looking at the trees and look at the forest...

Physically and logically impossible—I'll sign off on that! 👍

Man, what a day. My power flickered out at least fifteen times today.

rustyscout34 said:I've been scrolling through the boards—mostly people asking questions about time travel—but I also caught several comments that touch on exactly what I was talking about.

I finally took a moment to breathe and combed through all the threads. I couldn't find any of those questions that have been bothering you. Out of all sixty topics, there isn't a single one that matches.

I laid out exactly why I think this movie is complete nonsense. You’re just hiding behind the "majority opinion" because you can't actually counter my points. ☕
Here’s an example (now you’re just going to claim they're all haters, aren't you?). 😂):

Hmm. Should I go ahead and post some positive reviews then? It seems like the issues you keep bringing up aren't even present here, except for that last one.

And this one—the one that resonates most with my own impression— Click.

*Spoilers ahead*
(Hector had absolutely no reason to suspect the deceased woman wasn't his wife. Between her red shirt, that short haircut, and seeing her car parked right out front, everything seemed perfectly normal. )

That makes sense, though I’d say it’s a bit of a long shot.
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(
I put "maniac" in quotation marks for a reason, because Hector wasn't actually a maniac. He just wanted to get back to his normal life. Finding Hector 3 wasn't strange or impossible, either. After all, Hector 2 didn't drag that woman miles away from the crash site.

It’s not impossible, though I’d say scenario number two is a bit of a long shot.)

I think you might be underestimating that just a little bit. 😉
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(
Quiet, but certainly not silent. Set a movie to the 1h10m mark and just listen—the engine noise isn't nearly as loud as you think. Here's a little something for you. I found the link you were looking for. Hope this helps!)
So, which vehicle is actually being used for the Golf over there? 🤷

I watched and listened to that scene again. The car is actually quite quiet. At that moment, the background score was louder than the engine itself. Honestly, those electric cars aren't surprising at all. I’d much rather take an EV than a gas guzzler over a grassy field like that. Vehicles like these have been standard fare in research labs and institutes for years now.)
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(Well, at the end of the day... she just had a much better shot at escaping before that happened. 🙂
)
(Like I mentioned before, she was just gathering her courage.)

David Price5 said:Damn. My power went out at least 15 times today.

😍

I took a breather and went through all the threads myself. I couldn't find any of those questions you're obsessing over. Out of those 60 or so topics, there isn't a single one that matches what you're complaining about.

I didn't even say they were all over the message boards; I meant they're mostly buried in the comments. User ReviewsimaLook, I'm not the only one who noticed those flaws. A lot of other people have pointed them out too.

Hmm. So, should I just go ahead and post some positive reviews then? It feels like the stuff you’re complaining about isn't even present here. Except, I guess, in that last one.

How can you say they haven't? I mean, people have called out the characters' actions as being totally idiotic or just plain unrealistic more than a few times. I think I even... I guess I'll just leave it at that. Whatever was happening up there... honestly, what’s the point of all those glowing reviews if they don't actually answer any of the questions being asked? 🤷

*spoilers*
(
I guess you're overestimating that just a little bit. 😉

Not at all. 😉
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I just rewatched and listened to that scene again. The audio is quiet. I guess.

That scene is absolute garbage, honestly. And that car isn't nearly as quiet as you're making it out to be... 😉
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Like I said, she was just trying to work up the nerve.

Are you kidding me right now? Please tell me you're joking. 😲
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One last question (and I know, probably shouldn't be veering off-topic here):
Has there seriously never been an action by Hector that struck you as totally idiotic? Like, completely devoid of any logic or common sense? 😕

That’s all I’ve got for now. I guess we just need everyone else to watch the movie too, so we can actually compare notes and maybe—if we're lucky—use a majority consensus to find the truth. 🤣)... 😉

Wait, you're actually making a whole separate thread for this?

😍

That’s exactly why UPS always saves the day. 😍

I didn't even say they were on the message boards; I meant they're tucked right in among the comments. User ReviewsimaIt wasn't just me noticing those shortcomings; plenty of others have pointed them out too.

Usually, that same issue was also what caused trouble for "that" group.

Yet, absolutely none of them even touched upon the film's core premise—that temporal loop and the paradox it creates. Not a single soul.

How can you say that? People have pointed out how idiotic or unrealistic certain characters' actions were more than a few times. I even remember seeing it myself. boldao What's the point of all those glowing reviews if they don't actually address the questions being asked? It feels a bit hollow to me. 🤷

As I mentioned before, it's better to focus on the finer details rather than the entire narrative at once. Take a closer look at the main discussion board; you'll find plenty of deep dives into the core concept there. That's where the real answers are hiding. Honestly, it’s quite refreshing to stumble upon a community where people actually engage without constant arguing. :-)

One last question (though I suppose staying on topic is probably best):
Has there ever been an action from Hector that didn't strike you as completely idiotic and devoid of any logic or common sense? 😕

It’s been quite a while since I was last chased down an alley by some masked stranger wielding a pair of heavy-duty shears. 🙂
In my view, most of his actions were actually quite justified given the situation he found himself in. Even that decision to dip into those funds... it makes sense when you look at the circumstances.

That’s all from me. We just need everyone else to catch the movie so we can compare notes and hopefully reach a consensus through the strength of the majority. 🤣)... 😉

Of course. 😍 I suppose this discussion was exactly what they were looking for.

For those who haven't seen it yet, there's a film called The Chronos Crimes (2007). It's worth a watch. 😁

Arthur Garcia59 said:so we're making this its own separate thread now?

did you actually listen to the doctor? The Chronos Crimes (2007) 😍
(yeah, it would probably be better if someone just moved all these posts into a dedicated thread 🙂)

Now this is what I call having an entrepreneurial mindset! 👋

So, I finally sat through this cinematic disaster. It’s been about a year since I first saw it. If I remember correctly, the quality just tanked every time they decided to "multiply" Hector. At least, that's how it felt to me. Back then, I thought it was just silly—I found myself chuckling here and there—but looking back, it honestly feels like some group of people just banded together to churn out low-budget sci-fi trash. 😕

What are we talking about here?
This is easily one of my top five movies!
A fantastic low-budget sci-fi horror flick!
Highly recommend it to everyone.

Edward Price6 said:What are you all talking about?
This is easily one of my top five movies of all time!
A truly fantastic low-budget sci-fi horror gem!
I highly recommend it to everyone.

I couldn't agree more!
It is true that certain plot points didn't quite pass my logic test... but does that really matter in the end? While the story might be somewhat predictable at times, it remains incredibly engaging; in fact, watching it reminded me of Maya Deren's legendary experimental short, "Meshes of the Afternoon."

What I find so refreshing and genuinely impressive is how much was achieved on such a shoestring budget. The director, Christopher Nolan, was quite young at the time, yet he delivered a true directorial tour-de-force—creating a compelling cinematic experience out of almost nothing. With only two locations and a handful of actors, there is no reliance on flashy CGI or zombie tropes; instead, we are left with pure imagination and a heavy atmosphere rooted in an ordinary, everyday setting that could be anywhere in America...👍

And honestly, isn't that young actress just captivating? 😉

Ethan Howard45 said:yeah, some parts didn't make sense to me either..but who cares?

I care, hollowowl15 cares, everyone should care! 😍

What's great and refreshing is that the movie was made on a tiny budget,

and what exactly is great about that? just that it was cheap? with mediocre acting and a time machine that looks totally fake plus a golf cart that clearly doesn't belong there, and the whole thing is an embarrassment to the indie scene and...? 🤷

that the director (Christopher Nolan) is quite young and it's a little directorial tour-de-force

little tour-de-force 🙂

- he made a really good film out of nothing (2 locations, 2-3 actors), no CGI, no zombies, just imagination with a solid atmosphere rooted in an everyday setting, anywhere...👍

something out of nothing? no way, Joseph! 🙂

and that young actress is really sexy! 😉

👍

Edward Price6 said:What are you guys even talking about?
This is easily one of my top 5 movies of all time!
It’s such a killer low-budget sci-fi horror flick!
Seriously, everyone needs to see this.

Exactly. The movie is pure genius. Just ignore those so-called "critics"—honestly, who actually takes them seriously anyway?

stormystag43 said:Exactly. It’s a masterpiece.

What makes it a masterpiece, though? In what way? Are we talking "great action flick" like Behind Enemy Lines, or more along the lines of Citizen Kane? Come on, critic... 🤣

rustyscout34 said:So what makes it a genius work? In what way? Is it a masterpiece on the level of Behind Enemy Lines or more like Citizen Kane? Come on, critic... 🤣

Check out the uncut version and let me know.
If you think that one sucks too, there's no point in talking. We'll never agree.

Edward Price6 said:Just watch Primer again and let me know.
if you think that one sucks too, then there's probably no point in talking because we're never going to see eye to eye.

look, we aren't here to agree on everything, we're here to talk, but you can't really have a discussion without any actual arguments... 😉

p.s.
"Just watch Primer again and let me know" isn't an argument that explains the plot holes in Primer...
"The movie is a masterpiece" isn't an argument either, just like saying "This is one of my top 5 movies!" 😉

rustyscout34 said:Look, we aren't here just to agree, we're here to discuss, but you can't have a discussion without actual arguments... 😉

p.s.
Saying "check out Intact" isn't an argument that explains the plot holes in The Chronocrimen...
Calling the movie a masterpiece isn't an argument either, just like saying This is one of my top 5 movies! 😉

Honestly, I think I used up all my ammunition on Avatar.
I'm just out of steam, and I need to save some energy for future debates.
But basically, holes, paradoxes, and stuff like that are bound to happen in a movie like this. It all comes down to how you interpret it. It's the same with Triangle or Donnie Darko... you can read whatever you want into them. Are the gaps meant to confuse the viewer, or is it just an unreliable director? If they exist, maybe they're there for a reason. I don't really want to dive into that. I'm just sticking to that feeling of the first watch—the discovery and the tension. It’s easy to overthink everything later and act like we "knew" what was coming. I didn't. The movie kept surprising me every minute. That's why I found it easier to talk about Triangle, since it follows the same pattern. Like I mentioned in the Triangle thread, it handles the same themes in a very similar way. The Chronocrimen is slightly better for me by a few points. But both are good.