I think we can dispense with the "based on a true event" thing. The event this film was based upon is as true as the events that inspired another "true" film, "The Amityville Horror". In other words, it's all pure fiction. This story has been traced back to one man, an alleged "witness". The men who actually served aboard the Eldridge laugh at the premise, and flatly deny that the ship was anywhere near Philadelphia at that time.
That aside, this could've been a very good sci-fi film. It was such a great idea, and it's too bad that the execution of it was so sloppy. I won't bother rehashing the whole plot, as others have done so already. Nor will I even bother to tackle the 'anomalies' of time travel.
What bugged me was the sloppiness/laziness of the writers.
For example, our hero, David, and his new girlfriend, are being chased in 1984 by Naval personnel. He manages to out-drive the navy guys, causing a navy jeep to roll over (of course, it burst into flames).
David stops, runs to the flaming jeep, and removes a bunch of "top secret" papers - which reveal details about the current experiment being conducted by the scientist who was responsible for the mess which sent David and his friend to 1984. Why were such sensitive papers being carried around in a jeep? Did the Navy officials in the jeep need them to remind themselves of their mission?! How did David know they'd be carrying these papers (why else would he run to the jeep of the guys who were trying to kill him?). More amazingly, the papers were not even burnt around the edges.
When David returned to 1943 to "fix" history, he was able to return to 1984 (and his girlfriend) by simply jumping over the ship's rail. And somehow, he made it gently onto the ground.
I love a good time travel/alternate reality story, so I sincerely hope that someone remakes The Philadelphia Experiment, and does a better job than was done the last time around. Oh, and please, don't let it star Tom Cruise! :-)
That aside, this could've been a very good sci-fi film. It was such a great idea, and it's too bad that the execution of it was so sloppy. I won't bother rehashing the whole plot, as others have done so already. Nor will I even bother to tackle the 'anomalies' of time travel.
What bugged me was the sloppiness/laziness of the writers.
For example, our hero, David, and his new girlfriend, are being chased in 1984 by Naval personnel. He manages to out-drive the navy guys, causing a navy jeep to roll over (of course, it burst into flames).
David stops, runs to the flaming jeep, and removes a bunch of "top secret" papers - which reveal details about the current experiment being conducted by the scientist who was responsible for the mess which sent David and his friend to 1984. Why were such sensitive papers being carried around in a jeep? Did the Navy officials in the jeep need them to remind themselves of their mission?! How did David know they'd be carrying these papers (why else would he run to the jeep of the guys who were trying to kill him?). More amazingly, the papers were not even burnt around the edges.
When David returned to 1943 to "fix" history, he was able to return to 1984 (and his girlfriend) by simply jumping over the ship's rail. And somehow, he made it gently onto the ground.
I love a good time travel/alternate reality story, so I sincerely hope that someone remakes The Philadelphia Experiment, and does a better job than was done the last time around. Oh, and please, don't let it star Tom Cruise! :-)