The Butterfly Effect
A young man struggling to access sublimated childhood memories finds a technique that allows him to travel back to the past. Occupying his childhood body, he is able to change history. But every change he makes has unexpected consequences.
Member Reviews
Good Version of the Film - TheDandyist
The theatrical release has an ending different from the director's original vision. If you ask me they made a good choice with the theatrical ending. It makes more sense and it fits better in the overall theme of the movie. The alternate ending goes way out there on left field, even with the director's cut filling in little scenes that are supposed give foreshadowing for that ending. It's just a lame ending in my opinion. There are lot of people who say they prefer the alternate ending and I can only think they do because it's such a radical departure from conventional endings.
All things aside, this is worth zipping.weak - vfxguy
Kutcher doesn't have the chops to carry this film. That's too bad, because the writing is terrible (esp the dialogue) and the direction is flat. To make matters worse, the melodrama is pumped all the way up for the first act - presumably to convince you that there's something interesting at stake for these characters. There's nothing to hold this film up from beginning to end.
There are a lot of time-travel films. Like the name itself, this one is pretty cliche. There is one interesting variation on the theme, but even that is inconsistent and leaves holes in the plot.
The Jacket is probably a better watch. If you're more into the love story, then Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind would leave you satisfied.Terrible (Spoilers) - Dread
The Butterfly Effect was, in a word, terrible. The mildly intriguing plot was buried by weak writing, poor performances, too much unintentional comedy and too many inconsistencies. It's been a few years since I've seen the movie, but allow me to explain...
An early scene features Evan (Ashton Kutcher) as he's just been imprisoned. His plan to escape involves convincing his cellmate that Evan can communicate with Jesus. Evan uses his "ability" to revisit a classroom and slam his hands onto two spiked objects. This past act causes a stigmata scar to suddenly appear on each of Evan's palms in his current reality, but why would this act not completely alter the time line that's just been established? In the world that the film has created, he should no longer be in prison and he certainly shouldn't be in the "fraternity" reality.
Another scene features Evan awakening as an amputee after using his ability to save a woman and her child from an exploding mailbox in the past. Evan then encounters Tommy (William Lee Scott) and Tommy's antagonistic character has been altered because of the same mailbox episode. Evan seems confused. Kayleigh (Amy Smart) then explains what's going on. I'll paraphrase:
"You know how good and wholesome Tommy has been since he helped you save that woman and her child. He's not a jerk now."
Ridiculous. The only reason that Kayleigh would say this is to educate the audience. In the movie's world, Evan would already know what's going on. We've already been shown how new memories rush into his head when he enters a new time line. Why not just have him turn to the camera and wink? This is a perfect example of the weak writing that I had mentioned earlier. Such plot inconsistencies ruin the experience.
The only good thing that can be said about this film is that its awfulness is consistent. I don't recommend the movie to anyone and I certainly don't understand how it's received as many positive reviews as it has.
Member Reviews
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Good Version of the Film - TheDandyist
The theatrical release has an ending different from the director's original vision. If you ask me they made a good choice with the theatrical ending. It makes more sense and it fits better in the overall theme of the movie. The alternate ending goes way out ...weak - vfxguy
Kutcher doesn't have the chops to carry this film. That's too bad, because the writing is terrible (esp the dialogue) and the direction is flat. To make matters worse, the melodrama is pumped all the way up for the first act - presumably to convince you ...Terrible (Spoilers) - Dread
The Butterfly Effect was, in a word, terrible. The mildly intriguing plot was buried by weak writing, poor performances, too much unintentional comedy and too many inconsistencies. It's been a few years since I've seen the movie, but allow me to explain...
An ...