Ashton, Seriously?
Written: Jan 24 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Chaos theory is always interesting, fantastic actors, great ending
Cons: The guy behind me
The Bottom Line: See this film, but make sure you don't bite your fingernails to the cuticle like I did.
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| laurashrti's Full Review: The Butterfly Effect |
I saw the preview for this movie a few weeks ago, and told my boyfriend not to let me pass this one up. He kept his word, and took me out last night to see it, and although I don't regret seeing the film one bit, I do regret seeing it in public, and I'll explain why later.
My first thoughts when I saw the previews for Butterfly Effect were, "Okay, where's the joke?" I cannot recall a film where Ashton Kutcher has played a serious role, and I think its a good call. He needs some seriousness on his resume, though most teens don't really seem to care.
In Butterfly Effect, Ashton Kutcher plays Evan, a boy who, when younger, had blackouts often, and doctors couldn't exactly figure out why. The movie starts "13 years ago." Evan's father also had blackouts, and at this time, he's in a hospital; Evan only gets to meet his father once, but we learn throughout that movie that Evan's symptoms (abilities) are very similar to his fathers. Evan struggles with trying to be a normal kid; keeping a journal like his doctor suggested, and playing with other kids his age. Evan's mother takes him to George Miller's house to be babysat, with George's children Kayleigh and Tommy Miller. Evan has a blackout while being babysat, but the viewer gets the impression that George is trying to capture Kayleigh and Evan in a child pornography film.
About six years later, Evan, Kayleigh, Tommy, and a boy named Lenny are all friends, doing teenage-type things. Tommy finds a stick of dynomite, and wants to put it in a neighbor's mailbox. They all stand back while Lenny puts it in the mailbox, but as Evan is flirtatiously putting his hands over Kayleigh's ears, he has a blackout. His blackout stops and we find Evan and Tommy dragging Lenny through the woods, Kayleigh frantically yelling and running along. Evan, of course, stops to ask what's going on, as he obviously can't remember, but they won't tell him.
The teens (minus Lenny, who was apparently injured in the dynomite accident) go to a movie, during which Evan "puts the moves on" Kayleigh, and Tommy gets overly angry. It's clear that Tommy is jealous of Evan's growing relationship with Kayleigh. Later, Kayleigh and Evan go to get Lenny and walk in the woods, where they stumble upon Tommy trying to hurt something that belongs to Evan. Evan, of course, has another blackout. Evan's mother decides its time they move.
About seven years later, we find Evan (now played by Ashton Kutcher) in college, living the life as a scholar. One night, he begins reading his old journals, and decides to go back and question Kayleigh about what really happened during some of his blackouts. Kayleigh gets upset, and Evan finds out later that they'll never be able to see each other again.
What follows are several attempts Evan makes at changing the fate of his beloved Kayleigh, whom he never got a real chance with. Evan finds that he has the ability to go back to the periods where he blacked out, and change the way things happen. The only trouble is, can he do it right, so that no one gets hurt? Evan finds himself in many situations, some of which he at first thinks may finally be perfection, only to find something that makes the situation unbearable. All he wants to do is erase the pain from Kayleigh's life, but is it possible?
This movie is seriously one of the best I have seen in awhile. Who knew that Ashton Kutcher could act so seriously, and in such a fantastic film? Earlier, I said I wished I hadn't seen the film in public. Reason: I bawled my eyes out, but I didn't notice anyone else in the theatre crying, so of course I felt very silly. There were several parts in the film where I found myself jumping, biting my nails down to the cuticle, or flinching, or simply crying. Not to say there were no funny parts, because there certainly were. Butterfly Effect did a good job of showing consequences of trying to alter things to fit yourself. It was a love story, a sci-fi story, a horror story, and once in awhile there was some comedy.
The ending is surely going to be the part everyone disagrees about. My boyfriend said he though I probably would have ended it differently, but I don't think I would have. Of course, I don't want to give it away, but I think it suits the situation perfectly.
The characters were all very wonderful, and the way their looks altered for each situation was amazing. All three Evan's looked just as you would expect them too, and the actors also did a magnificent job of playing the character so similarly. Kayleigh looked fairly close to each person she was, as did Tommy and Lenny. Lenny's character changed dramatically in each situation, and he played the parts amazingly.
The only thing I didn't like when I saw this movie was the annoying guy behind me. Which means, I loved everything about the movie.
This move may not be appropriate for younger children, as there is some bad language and sexual themes. This is a movie I suggest everyone see at some point; the lesson is clear, and the story is perfect. I will be thinking about this film for days.
Actors
Ashton Kutcher- Evan
Amy Smart- Kayleigh Miller
Elden Henson- Lenny
William Lee Scott- Tommy
Logan Lerman- Evan (age 8)
John Patrick Amedori- Evan (age 13)
Cameron Bright- Tommy (age 8)
Jesse James- Tommy (age 13)
Sarah Widdows- Kayleigh (age 7)
Irene Gorovaia- Kayleigh (age 13)
Kevin Schmidt- Lenny (age 13)
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Date Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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Epinions.com ID:
laurashrti
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Member: Laura Anderson
Location: Plainfield, IN
Reviews written: 234
Trusted by: 139 members
About Me:
ForgiveMe: Inactivity due to being responsible for a new life. Happy BDay Trent, 10/17/09
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