The Butterfly Effect (R, 2004)

This movie is intriguing, if somewhat morbid, to say the least. It takes an interesting concept ("what if you could change something that happened in the past?") and runs with it, allowing the main character to try various times to change his life and the lives of his friends for the better. The overall idea behind this movie is well executed... depending on how well you can stand the sick and twisted. Major plot points (I.E. things the protagonist wishes to change) include a father molesting and producing porn films of his children and the resulting behavior of one of the abused children and the other children whom he effects, which is extremely disturbing. The main four children smoke, curse, severely injure one another, and place explosives in an innocent woman's mailbox, which ends up killing her and her baby. One of the children is particularly nasty and tries to burn the protagonist's dog to death, while another traumatized child stabs and kills that kid in a different variation of that scene. There are alternate futures where the children grow into killers, prostitutes, and asylum patients, or commit suicide. The beginning of the movie makes the main character's childhood behavior seem disturbing, when he's actually the most likable character in the film. The language and violence are pretty standard for an R-rated film, and there are several sex scenes with female nudity. I liked the movie and thought the acting was fine, but the disturbing content may offend others.

This is appropriate for people about 12 years old and mature 10/11 year olds.

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT is actually a branch of the Chaos Theory. What's the Chaos Theory...long story short, it practically says we can't predict the future. Why not? That's where THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT comes in. The Butterfly Effect states that: Because of the constant choices and every little thing we can, could, and could've done, we can't predict the future. If you breathed, "HUFF, HUFF, HUFF" WAIT!!! What if he held it? "HUFF...HUFF" Any small change can change the future in the most drastic ways. As this movie shows. This movie has good role models: "No one could possibly love anyone as much as I love you,” Evan(Ashton Kutcher) tells his true love Kayleigh(Amy Smart) sometime in the movie. And his actions largely back up the statement. He even makes the biggest sacrifice-which may also be the most heart-wrenching ending ever- in romance movie history. This movie also shows how much children need a father figure. Now, that wouldn't be much even WITHOUT the bad stuff. So imagine it WITH the bad stuff. Violence. Now, I LOVE violence not much gets me by as "brutal"(only one scene from Kick-A**-the captured, public execution scene). Not unless it's EXTREMELY intense. The scene with the dog was sick, twisted, demented and just f*cked up, pardon my French. When he hit the girl with the, what I'm guessing was a, 5"x 6" piece of wood, you hear a loud "CRACK!" I felt like I was the one who did that! The most brutal scene, though, was, I'm sad to say, my favorite violent scene. I just love comeuppances-when d-bags get whats coming to them- and I was waiting a while but when Evan started beating that guy with the titanium bat, I just loved it! Every second. I know that sounds demented and sick, but-HEY! The little twerp had it coming! He burned the dude's f-ing dog! Sexual. Nudity. Explicit sex scenes. And don't forget the whole child molestation and pedophile thing! Twisted, vile, and just plain EVIL! Like was that REALLY necessary?!?! Negative Role Models. The little evil brother is abusive, foul-mouthed, short-tempered, and just a total jerk! But it is viewed as negative. More a romance than a thriller in retrospect. The alternate ending...SUCKS NUTCRACKERS!!!!! Good movie all-in-all. I know everybody makes it seem so bad. The worst is the violence. A bunch of brutal for me, so...REALLY BAD 4 U! The nudity I hate! I have a strong moral stance against nudity! But all-in-all: breathtaking and incredible feat in motion pictures. The strangest of all? This movie is based off a children's book.

This is a really good movie, I don't know why it only got one star. Sure, Ashton wasn't the best choice, but he didn't do a bad job either. Also, be sure your kids aren't around. Lots of violence and language. Animal torture and child porn. E*

I saw this movie when i was 14 and it is still one of my favorites.

No offense, but how could you not appreciate this movie? How can you so this movie is so bad its good? I can't believe it! This movie has stuck with me since it came out in theaters years ago. Brilliant storyline, brilliant acting (surprisingly), and AN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ENDING!!! THE ENDING WAS AMAZING!!! I ALMOST CRIED!!! The movie was fast paced and wonderful. This movie is down right dark, with disturbing violence and sexual themes. I remember I was I think 12 or 13 when I saw it with a friend and my Mom, and we considered walking out after a kid burned a dog alive. But I'm glad we stayed, because the movie is better as a whole, and the ending completes it so perfectly. You can't go wrong here.

How can you say this isnt appropraite for kids?!! This is one of my favourite films in the whole wide world I watched it when I was thirteen and wasnt affected by it all. It's just such a good movie and depriving your child of seeing this would just be wrong. - appropriate for 13 and up :)