The Butterfly Effect (Infinifilm Edition)

Starring:Ashton Kutcher, Melora Walters, Amy Smart, Elden Henson, William Lee Scott, John Patrick Amedori, Irene Gorovaia, Kevin Schmidt (III), Jesse James, Logan Lerman, Sarah Widdows, Jake Kaese, Cameron Bright, Eric Stoltz, Callum Keith Rennie, Lorena Gale, Nathaniel DeVeaux, John Tierney, Kendall Cross, Ted Friend
Director: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Despite box-office dominance during its opening weekend, The Butterfly Effect is better suited to guilty-pleasure viewing at home. When writer-directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber (who penned Final Destination 2) aren't breaking their own haphazard rules of logic, they're filling this sordid thriller with enough unpleasantness to make eternal damnation seem like an attractive alternative. In a role-reversal from his That '70s Show persona, Ashton Kutcher plays a college-age psychology student who discovers, by re-reading his childhood journals, that he can revisit his past and alter traumatic events, hoping to improve their previously unfortunate outcomes. Instead, this foolhardy experiment in chaos theory (the titular "butterfly effect," popularized by Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park) results in a variety of nightmarish permutations, each having dire consequences for him and/or his friends. This intriguing premise is explored with a few interesting twists and turns, but with subplots involving child pornography, animal cruelty, and profanely violent children, it's a stretch to call it entertainment. --Jeff Shannon
Description
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.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes:included in the Director's Cut Version of the film
Alternate endings:included in the Director's Cut version of the film
Audio Commentary:with Director and Screenwriters Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber
DVD ROM Features:Script-to-Screen Link to original Website Exclusive On-disc ROM Content Exclusive content at infinifilm.com
Deleted Scenes:with commentary
Documentaries:--The Science and Psychology of the Chaos Theory --The History and Allure of Time Travel
Featurette:--The Creative Process --Visual Effects
Other:infinifilm Fact Track DIRECTOR'S CUT OF THE FILM--only on DVD (120 minutes) DTS ES 6.1 Sound
Storyboards
Theatrical Trailer

The Butterfly Effect (Infinifilm Edition)

Average customer rating:

Will altar your mind...
Change Your Life, Change Everything
GREAT MOVIE, BUT BE PREPARED FOR A DARK EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER
Ashton proves he's more than a goofy actor
Dark thriller that just misses the mark

The Butterfly Effect (Infinifilm Edition)
Starring: Ashton Kutcher , Melora Walters , Amy Smart , Elden Henson , and William Lee Scott
Director: J. Mackye Gruber , and Eric Bress
Manufacturer: New Line Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Secret Window
The Butterfly Effect 2
The Forgotten
Gothika (Widescreen Edition)
Saw - Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B0001Z52RU
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Amazon.com

Despite box-office dominance during its opening weekend, The Butterfly Effect is better suited to guilty-pleasure viewing at home. When writer-directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber (who penned Final Destination 2) aren't breaking their own haphazard rules of logic, they're filling this sordid thriller with enough unpleasantness to make eternal damnation seem like an attractive alternative. In a role-reversal from his That '70s Show persona, Ashton Kutcher plays a college-age psychology student who discovers, by re-reading his childhood journals, that he can revisit his past and alter traumatic events, hoping to improve their previously unfortunate outcomes. Instead, this foolhardy experiment in chaos theory (the titular "butterfly effect," popularized by Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park) results in a variety of nightmarish permutations, each having dire consequences for him and/or his friends. This intriguing premise is explored with a few interesting twists and turns, but with subplots involving child pornography, animal cruelty, and profanely violent children, it's a stretch to call it entertainment. --Jeff Shannon

Description

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.

Customer Reviews:

Will altar your mind..........2007-06-22

Many people had mixed feelings about this film when they heard that Ashton Kutcher was to play the lead role. Could he manage to pull of such a dramatic role, profoundly different from his normally comedic role on "That 70's Show?" The answer...yes, without question!

The plot of this movie centers around the subject of time travel and what altering the past can do to the future. However, unlike many other films that deal with the same topic, this keeps an aura of dark reality about it. Not only does it deal with changing future events, it also delves into a deeper meaning than that.

Aside from the obvious premise, this film also shows that your life is your life and you are dealt the cards you are dealt. There is no need to change past events because no matter what you change, there will always be elements of your life you will not be happy with. Also, not to give anything away but unlike many Hollywood movies, this one doesn't necessarily have a happy ending which in my mind is a good thing and perfectly justifies the movie as a whole.

I must say I also felt a lot of good chemistry between Kutcher and Amy Smart. To me, Ashton has proven himself a worthy actor in not only the comedic genre, but also the dramatic roles. Amy Smart seems very natural in this role and doesn't seem to force anything.

Overall this movie is well worth owning and truly shows the potential Ashton has in becoming a serious actor. I have not and don't intend to see the sequel. This is the only "Effect" you'll need to see.

Change Your Life, Change Everything.......2007-06-19

My oppinion: The Butterfly effects is a outstanding sci-fi drama movie. This movie is awesome.

about The Film: The butterfly effect is about a colleage student Evan(Kutcher) who re-reads his childhood jurnals and seems to have the power to re live his life while reading them. most of his childhood was bad so he goes back and tries to fix it. and everytime he does it everything gets worse than What it was.

My second Oppinion: The butterfly effect is a motional trip that people will never forget i recomend this awesome movie to everyone.

if you liked this movie also check out, The Butterfly Effect 2, The Butterfly Effect orginal motion picture soundtrack andt The Butterfly effect movie novel.

GREAT MOVIE, BUT BE PREPARED FOR A DARK EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.......2007-06-08

I first saw previews for this movie while watchin another in the theater, and was fairly interested(reminded me of Jacob's Ladder-GREAT FILM). However, upon release the critics slammed it so I waited for it to come out on DVD. The critics don't know sh**t. This was a great film!! I was mad at myself for listening to dumbass critics and not seeing it sooner. On the flip side seeing it on DVD was A good thing because I got to see the original ending that New Line would not allow. This movie is about how our decitions effect ourselves and the people around us, as well as sacrifice(wich is why the original director's cut of the movie is far superior). The movie starts with a young evan, who after visiting his friend, starts to have blackouts. After the first blackout, A doctor tell Evans mother that he should keep a journal to help him remember events that occur during the blackouts. The movie shows Evan at different parts in his like, all dealing with very traumatic events followed by a blackout. Flashforward years later, after a rocky visit to his childhood friend, she commits suicide. After her funeral he find that by reading his journals he his able to mentally time-travel to the point of the blackouts(did he cause the blackouts himself by projecting his mind? interesting paradox). Evan then proceeds to alter the past to save Keyliegh, but with every change, he alters the present to unexpected and disasterous consequences(hence the term "Butterfly Effect-from The Chaos Theory). The time travel is used in the background and to compliment the very emotional drama. fans of Jacob's Ladder, Twelve Monkeys, and the Sixth Sence will love this movie. cult classic!!!

Ashton proves he's more than a goofy actor.......2007-04-28

I thought the movie was great psychological thriller, involving a pretty typical storyline about alterations to the past causing the future to turn out in "unexpected ways"... rarely ever the way the protagonist really wants it to be. This is one of those movies that will keep your full attention for the entire length. Ashton Kutcher, in his first serious role, plays surprisingly well in this movie. He shows us a side that I hope we'll see again. But for the kind of person he is, Kutcher does an excellent job portraying his character. Amy Smart, William Lee Scott, and Elden Henson all have done a great job on acting out on different levels of their characters with the same core in each variation.

Who ever wrote this was a smart person. There needs to be more intelligent writers. It is a big responsibility to entertain our public. A movie such as this makes us think about "what if" affects us emotionally, yet changes our physical world, thus putting great responsibility on the writer. This writer did very well and I thank him. We could use more thought feed movies in our world today. Imagine no war and always peace. Would our Bush agree to war, and What would happen if we all could go back to September 11th. Too many people focus on personal gain. Would it not benefit us all in a personal way to have peace? One act of kindness can be felt around the world. One violent thought not acted upon can cause a positive movement, just like that of a butterfly. The tension builds up quickly and you're never quite given a chance to relax before the end. I like that in a movie...it keeps you on your toes.

This movie is very well done and well structured. There are no low points in this movie - each scene has a point and ties directly into the main idea of the movie. The ending is great as it made me feel sad but happy of its outcome. I'm glad that this movie was brought to my attention because its simply fantastic. I'll definitely watch this again just in case I missed anything. Recommend to those who haven't seen it yet.

Dark thriller that just misses the mark.......2007-03-29

Taking on a the plot gimmick of changing the past much like Bedazzled, Back to the future, or the TV show Quantum Leap. This isn't new territory, but this movie takes a fresh approach to the theme of changing the past and how it never works.
Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher), who suffered severe traumas as a boy copes with the pain by blacking out at moments of high stress. While searching for an answer to heal his emotional wounds, he finds that when he reads from his adolescent journals and focuses on those moments, he travels back in time, and is able to essentially fix parts of his past. There are consequences to his every choices. His alternate futures vary from frat boy to prisoner to amputee. As he continues to do this, His intentions are in the right place, the actions he takes always have unintended consequences. You know what coming from there, the butterfly effect becomes the snowball effect.

The story takes many leaps of faith and if you can get past the idea of being about to go back in time just by thinking about it you can enjoy it on some level. Ashton Kutcher does a decent job, noting that blows you away but he does what's necessary to move the story along. The supporting cast does about the same, just enough. The concept has some value and the situations are interesting and somewhat predictable. But when dealing with a movie like this where everything gets worse then gets tied up by the happy theatrical ending seems to not fit with what this film should have been. I know there is another ending but this review focuses on the original,(The Director's cut of the movie adds some amount of depth to the storyline, but differs only a little from the theatrical version of the film, as well as providing a bit more detailed look at Evan's ability) The directors cut ending is more fitting but still is a bit of a stretch, it works well to tie up some lose ends and try's to paint a certain picture about the character but still seems kinda funky to me. I liked many things about this movie but disliked about as much. The movie gets very repetitive and slightly predictable. The scenes with the children were a stretch and a bit to over the top for my tastes in this film. The level of intensity never really hit it's peak that was needed. this is a film that i can see where they were going with it and wasn't that far off, but in the end just fell short of a home run. I think with a better director and maybe a more seasoned dramatic actor this film could have reached for something more than the popcorn movie that it is. This movie is based to much in the "real world" to really sell most of these over the top ideas and situations, if it was done more in the vein of lets say a 12 Monkeys where the reality is slightly surreal and blurred as well as the theme of psychosis that the main character isn't really experiencing what he thinks he is. This is just my opinion of course but never really felt in the movie. It's worth a watch and if you can get into the movies ideas you'll enjoy it on some level.

I will mention that I'm a big Sci Fi fan and this movie was nominated for the prestigious Saturn award for best Sci Fi film in 2004 It lost to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and should have.

Average customer rating:

A Sequel
Terrible boring stupid movie
There is a reason this movie went right to DVD ---- > BUST!
An okay sequel
Good storyline basis, bad execution.

The Butterfly Effect 2
Starring: Eric Lively , Erica Durance , Dustin Milligan , Gina Holden , and David Lewis (IV)
Director: John R. Leonetti
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GYI3MM
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Amazon.com

The premise of The Butterfly Effect 2, that one's mind can schizophrenically create its own set of realities as a defense mechanism against painful memories, remains the same as in the original movie, though the circumstances for the split differ. In this case, the protagonist, Nick (Eric Lively), takes his girlfriend, Julie (Erica Durance), and their two best friends, Trevor and Amanda, out camping, when upon return they are all crushed to death by a big rig. Nick survives, though plagued by migraine-like seizures that induce in him fantasies starring his friends, during which he's promoted to VP at his place of employment, rather than fired for incompetence. Subplots get less and less tangible, as his fantasies turn to nightmares, and Nick experiences his deceased friends' deaths repeatedly and from various invented causes. As a sequel to the first lame Butterfly Effect, Butterfly Effect 2 has even less going for it since it doesn't star the hunky Ashton Kutcher. Butterfly Effect 2 aims to be a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style editing experiment, but its intention to be a psychological thriller fails due to a weak script and acting. The result is utter chaos, leaving the viewer confused and bored. --Trinie Dalton

Customer Reviews:

A Sequel.......2007-06-20

My Opinion: The Butterfly Effect 2 wasn't all that bad i thought it was pretty good. It's not better than the fisrt but given only 20 days to make the film i thought they did an excellent job.

About The Movie: The Butterfly Effect 2 is about this young man who lost his two best friends and girlfriend in a car accedint and a year later begin in the hospital he finds out that he can go back in time in his head and tries to fix the trgedy that happened 1 year ago. in process of doing this he just make things worse not better no matter what he dose he ends up losing his love and best friend.

If you liked this movie then check out, The Butterfly Effect

Terrible boring stupid movie.......2007-05-10

Whereas the original Butterfly Effect is one of the most divisive movies in science fiction (a genre that's filled with divisive movies that are loved and hated), the most one can disagree with on this movie is how much we hate this thing. Do you hate it, or merely dislike it as a waste of time?

Of course, most straight-to-DVD movies are harmless fluff that are ok on their own standards, this one is bad even without the first movie. The characters are bland. The situation is inane. Nothing is ever explained. Our hero looks at a picture. Things get all wonky. Suddenly he's back in time. He changes something. The future is changed, but how much? And is it really for the better? How is this any different than the first movie? Well, the first movie at least took the time to give us the technobabble. Sure, the technobabble is usually vain but in this case, it's a little important. And the first movie raised the stakes by throwing in an "every jump could be his last" immediacy, the sequel decides to let the guy have a nosebleed without explanation.

Even more odious is the low stakes of the jumps. Sure, Erica Durance dies in the beginning so you can see why he jumps back. Only when he jumps back the second time, he is doing it to get that promotion in the badly managed company. That's it. Ashton Kutchner was losing limbs, turning his friends into serial killers, driving other friends to suicide and ending up in fraternities. This shmuck loses a bad job and then gets it back only to see that he's working too hard. Oh the humanity.

All in all a wretched movie by a screenwriter without imagination or humor. It contains none of the charm of the first movie and doesn't even try to have fun with the "go back in time and mess things up" concept. I would give it a second star for Erica Durance in trashy underwear, but it can't even begin to make up for the rest of the movie.

There is a reason this movie went right to DVD ---- > BUST!.......2007-04-24

1 star is giving this movie too much credit.

The original Butterfly Effect was so amazing. Detailed layed time-line, wonderful acting, rich plot, no holes or questions left unawnsered when the credits roled (any version).

The came along this `sequal.' New Line Cinima had no business creating this. It was so horrible that I wish I never saw it. The 2nd one can't ruin the 1st but I lost respect for the whole movie concept after seeing this aweful waste of time. The main charater's motivations are not his loved one's but his own in this one. Absolutly nothing like the first. A pre-qual would have made more sense here.

Basically, if you like the first one, watch it again. Don't watch this movie. Just plain bad.

An okay sequel .......2007-03-21

The story is similar to the earlier one in that a person tries to change his past to make it better and each time makes it worse. The cure he comes up with is to kill himself. Surely it is a bit over the top. Surely some decisions he make surely would have worked out better.

What I did miss is the first version has some interesting discussions in teh special features which I thought were good.

If you have not seen the first one then I suggest you skip it and see this one. If you have seen the first one, then you have seen this one too as it is so similar.

Good storyline basis, bad execution........2007-01-29

At the end of this film, you are left with the thougt that life is too short, and I wasted it watching this film. The storyline starts out with good intentions, and had the potential to be a good sequel, but the tale wears thin, and it becomes very obvious where it is going to go, and then when you think it is going to go bad, it just ends, in a very corny way. I would highly recommend if you must see this, borrow it, but try not to pay for it even at rental prices...unless you get it as a freebie.

Average customer rating:

When you change who people are you destroy who they were
Best Film of 2004

The Butterfly Effect (UMD Mini For PSP)
Starring: Nathaniel de Veaux , Jesse James , Eric Stoltz , Melora Walters , and Callum Keith Rennie
Director: Eric Bress , and J. Mackye Gruber
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

General | Universal Media Discs | Stores | DVD | Video

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Accessories:

Sony PSP PlayGear Amp
Sony PSP Comfort Grips Black
Sony PSP Psyclone Nodus Sound System
Sony PSP Travel Case

ASIN: B000B5IOUW
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Description

Customer Reviews:

When you change who people are you destroy who they were.......2006-05-04

The basic idea of "The Butterfly Effect" appeals to me. I remember the Ray Bradbury short story where the guy goes back in time to shoot a T-Rex and changes the future because he comes back with a butterfly on his boot and enjoyed watching Sam trying to set the past to rights on "Quantum Leap." But the story from co-writers and co-directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber also resonates with me because of an idea I had for short story about a rich guy who wants the Confederacy to win the Civil War. He sits in the time machine trying to select the right moment to go back and change history; he only has one shot and he sits there, going over all the options (e.g., assassinate Lincoln years earlier, help Pickett's charge succeed), unable to decide which would guarantee success.

However, in "The Butterfly Effect" it turns out that Evan (Ashton Kutcher) has multiple opportunities for changing his past, although actally it is the past of Kayleigh Miller (Amy Smart) that he wants to change. But his also means changing the past of Kayleigh's brother, Tommy (William Lee Scott) and their friend, Lenny (Elden Henson), as well as Evan's mother (Melora Walters) and his college roommate (Ethan Suplee). The problem is that every time he changes the past things do not necessarily get better as new problems are presented. But Evan keeps trying to find the magic solution that will set everything to rights, or at least what he thinks would be the best of all possible worlds.

Evan and his friends had a trouble childhood. "The Butterfly Effect" takes place mainly in the present, but it also involves going back to when the kids were 7 and discovered that Mr. Miller (Eric Stolz) was a sicko and when they were 13 and something equally horrible happened. The first time we visit these events we do not know everything that happened because Evan does not remember; as a child he was afflicted with blackouts and since the film is told from his perspective we follow suit. Evan's mother is worried that he might have the same mental illness as his father, but Dr. Redfield (Nathaniel DeVaux) does not think so and has Evan start keeping a journal.

In college Evan discovers that when he reads the journal entries he wrote in the past he can go back to that moment in time and that he can control what he says and does, thereby changing the present. This is certainly an interesting way of engaging in time travel (cf. Christopher Reeves thinks his way to the past in "Somewhere in Time") and I think "The Butterfly Effect" is a rather ambitious time travel film that is trying to be intelligent in terms of both the theory at work and the construction of the story. This is one of those films where you can better appreciate it the second time around, even if you do all the Infinifilm options, especially once you understand the rules for the game.

In the end I am not sure if it is because the intelligence of the story by Bress and Gruber is not up to their ambition, but you cannot fault the effort. One of the strengths of this film is how it takes it time, as Evan wrestles with not only the changes in his world but struggles to figure out what he can do to make everything better the next time around. This is certainly superior to their previous effort, "Final Destination 2" and it will be interesting to see what they come up with next if they continue along this path. As for performances I would say that Amy Smart's is the best of the bunch and as for Ashton Kutcher, I know he is usually regarded as a tabloid joke or a television pretty boy, but this was actually the first film I have seen when I liked his character or his performance. He might be a forgotten actor by the end of the decade, but he gets props for showing some ambition. But in the final analysis this is Bress and Gruber's film and everybody is just along for the ride.

I watched the director's cut (or, I guess, the directors' cut) before seeing the original theatrical ending or the two alternative endings ("Stalker" and "Happy Sappy") and at this point would have to say the first one I saw is the best of the bunch. That is because while the effect remains the same the cause in the original theatrical release is just too simplistic after the complicated setup. Granted, the preferred version is rather dark and twisted, but if you listen to any of the commentary on the DVD you will understand their reasoning.

Best Film of 2004.......2005-11-12

I was a little worried about watching a film this visual on such a small screen, but the sound is amazing and makes it feel wide open and less confined. I know there are plenty of people who love to bash this film ( you love it or hate it). But I can't think of any other movies of last year that actually stuck with me so long after I'd seen the film. Not for kids, but I use it as my demo disc to show friends my system. Great acting and direction, and for once, a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and is uniquely UNPREDICTABLE.

The Butterfly Effect / The Butterfly Effect 2

Average customer rating:

The Butterfly Effect / The Butterfly Effect 2
Starring: Ashton Kutcher , Melora Walters , Amy Smart , Elden Henson , and William Lee Scott
Director: J. Mackye Gruber , Eric Bress , and John R. Leonetti
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000I2JTBQ
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Average customer rating:

Will altar your mind...
Change Your Life, Change Everything
GREAT MOVIE, BUT BE PREPARED FOR A DARK EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER
Ashton proves he's more than a goofy actor
Dark thriller that just misses the mark

The Butterfly Effect [Region 2]
Starring: Ashton Kutcher , Melora Walters , Amy Smart , Elden Henson , and William Lee Scott
Director: J. Mackye Gruber , and Eric Bress
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Customer Reviews:

Will altar your mind..........2007-06-22

Change Your Life, Change Everything.......2007-06-19

GREAT MOVIE, BUT BE PREPARED FOR A DARK EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.......2007-06-08

Ashton proves he's more than a goofy actor.......2007-04-28

Dark thriller that just misses the mark.......2007-03-29

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) / The Butterfly Effect

Average customer rating:

A LESS THAN COMPELLING FILM COUPLED WITH A COMPELLING ONE...

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) / The Butterfly Effect
Starring: Jessica Biel , Jonathan Tucker , Erica Leerhsen , Mike Vogel , and Eric Balfour
Director: Marcus Nispel , J. Mackye Gruber , and Eric Bress
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0007VY43G
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Amazon.com

The 2003 version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre adheres to the pure and simple slasher movie formula: Introduce a gaggle of sexy young people, make vague gestures to distinguish them--Jessica Biel (Summer Catch) wants to get married and doesn't like pot, so she's our moral compass--then start hacking them to pieces one by one. The visual palette includes grimy crucified dolls, fly-specked pig carcasses, body parts floating in murky jars, a tobacco-chewing redneck sheriff, and many slender beams of sunlight cutting through dank, dusty interiors. The camera lovingly photographs Biel's tank-topped bosom and sculpted abs as she's running in terror from a bloated, chainsaw-wielding, human-skin-wearing maniac. This remake lacks the macabre comedy of the original; it's all about the nauseating sensation of waiting for something to jump out of the dark. Also featuring Eric Balfour (Six Feet Under) and R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket, Mail Call). --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

A LESS THAN COMPELLING FILM COUPLED WITH A COMPELLING ONE..........2006-06-08

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE ***

Having seen the 1974 original, I looked forward to seeing this re-make. The original had a quasi-documentary feel to it with its grainy footage and cast of virtual unknowns. The film was a visual cornucopia of terror and horror, though there was actually very little gore shown on screen. The unusually macabre sets and the relentless sound of the chainsaw bandied by Leatherface were enough to make the viewer tremble.

This re-make has stuck relatively close to the original in terms of a general story line, though there are, of course, some differences. In the re-make, a group of teens set off in their van on their way to a concert in Texas, where they end up in a rural area. After picking up a dazed, female hitchhiker, their world is turned upside down when she does the unspeakable.
They go looking for help and, unfortunately, come across a house inhabited by one heck of a family of crazies. From the moment they do so, the teens run hither and dither, as they are chased by a chainsaw wielding, leather faced maniac. Unlike the original, this film is a real slasher type horror film with plenty of blood and gore. This is the real difference between the original and the re-make.

While the re-make has much better production values than the original, as well as better acting by its cast, the original was far scarier. The director of the original, Tobe Hooper, did far more with far less. Still, if you are a fan of bloody slasher films, this is worth a rental. Better yet, rent both the original 1974 version, as well as this re-make, and then judge for yourself as to which is the superior horror flick.

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT ****

To begin with, if one is to enjoy this film, one has to suspend disbelief, as the plot turns upon the ability to relive one's past and change it. This is a film that will appeal to those who enjoy seeing films or reading books that thematically deal with alternate realities or time travel.

The butterfly effects refers to the chaos theory in physics. The bottom line is that every action has a reaction, often one that is seemingly unpredictable. That is probably the keyword to describe this compelling and intense film that is filled with complex relationships. Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher), a college student interested in psychology, discovers for himself just how unpredictable life can be, when he finds a way to go back into his troubled past to try to right what went wrong with him and his three childhood friends, Lenny, Kayleigh, and her twin brother, Tommy. Unfortunately, the best intentions often go awry. Despite traveling back a numer of times into his past, each alternate reality has its own nightmarish permutations.

This is an inventive, creative, well-done film with excellent performances by the entire cast. While Ashton Kutcher gives a fine, sensitive performance as the angst ridden Evan Treborn, he is, however, outshone by the two child actors who play the role of Evan Treborn as a seven year old (Logan Lerman) and as a thirteen year old (John Patrick Amedori). In fact, three talented sets of actors play the roles of Evan and his three childhood friends at ages seven, thirteen, and as young adults.

Melora Walters gives a well-nuanced performance as Andrea Treborn, Evan's mother. Amy Smart gives a wonderful performance as the adult Kayleigh Miller, a very special childhood friend and the love of Evan's life, who acts as the catalyst for his entry into the wacky world of alternate realities. Jesse James gives a riveting performance as the thirteen years old Tommy Miller, Kayleigh's psychotic twin brother. Look for Eric Stoltz in the small, pivotal role of Mr. Miller, Kayleigh's father, whose fresh faced looks belie a man steeped in perversion and cruelty.

Writers-directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber provide a fresh and inventive script with labyrinthine twists and turns that, coupled with deft direction, give rise to a compelling, mind bending film that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. This is definitely a film that one will want to view more than once, as the DVD provides both the director's cut and the theatrical release and is packed with many extras. Those film lovers who have a penchant for alternate realities or time travel themes will certainly want to add this film to their personal collection.

BUTTERFLY EFFECT & BU BUTTERFLY EFFECT & B DVD *NEW

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BUTTERFLY EFFECT & BU BUTTERFLY EFFECT & B DVD *NEW
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Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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