Review of The Butterfly Effect (2004) by Bfoore90 — 06 Sep 2016

I feel like a lot of critics wrote this movie off because Ashton Kutcher is in it. I've been intrigued by this movie for a few years now but I never got to see it until yesterday. But lets ponder the premise of this film for a second, what if you could go back to major junctions in your life and go down another path? What if there's an alternate existence out there for you? where the cumulative sum of the choices that you didn't make become a better reality with a happier and more fulfilling existence? But at the same time what if the power to change the past and it ended up screwing up your reality for the better? what if the choice you didn't make wasn't the good choice? Do you go back and see the consequences? The story is fairly uncomplicated, presenting events in a chronological order that keeps the viewer's attention and interested.

With films like this, there are invariably going to be a ton of plot holes if you think too much about it, but that's part of the charm. The plot features a guy who damaged by the events of his past, then he discovers that he can travel back in time to various times of his life, and the ensuing chaos that arises when he tries to change things in the hopes of making things better for those involved.

His sole motivation, from my perspective was to find a way to where he can be with his girl while at the same time changing the events and lives of those he was friends with at the time. The whole point of the movie focuses on the butterfly effect and how little choices send echoes through time and change the events of your life for better or for worse.

The whole premise of the film is so well thought out that I'm just baffled on why this film has a paltry 30 on metacritc. Ashton Kutcher, whom I've never been a fan of and have almost despised every movie he's been in, gives a surprising performance that really shows his acting chops.

Most of the cast did well also and deserve props for their work in this film. However, in this sci-fi epic it appears as though anything is possible and it left me pondering my own decisions in life with the big "what if we could go back and do this instead of this?" question.

While I understand that people/critcs may not like it or even understand its premise you have to give it props, in my point of view as film manages to be inspirational and can maybe help you get over your past while at the same time doing a good job at keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout its entirety.