"Every time I try to go back in time and help someone, everything just goes wrong"-- Evan

Some movies (like say "Terminator 3") help me escape my existence, forget my troubles, dismiss my past and allow me to enter another realm for two hours. Other movies, like this one, do the exact opposite in basically echoing my own childhood, my own ghosts and slapping them up on the big screen for my own viewing pleasure or dis-pleasure, depending how I look at it .

"The Butterfly Effect" was a harsh way to start the day for me, where it tackled the hardships that many of us had to go through as children and the hypothetical question that comes with it now that we are “dysfunctional” to-any-degree adults: “What if?” What if we could go back in time and change the awful wrongs to which we were subjected, would that make everything today right, would we still be who we are now, would our loved ones be in better positions and would we be happier? Props to writers and directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber for telling this tale and addressing its thought-provoking questions in a unique, mature and gripping fashion, while dipping the whole in a cup of sci-fi for good measure.

This film worked on many levels with the more important one for me being the human one. If it wasn’t the poignant love story (which was the core of it all) or the painstaking drama the kids went through hitting me hard (felt like "Stand By Me" on acid), it was Evan’s coping with each of his “new” realities, that affected me. All that to say, I was kept in the game first and foremost because of the characters, my investment in them and their dire predicaments. It also helped that the cast found here was beyond top-notch, therefore giving the whole a much appreciated dose of extra-credibility. All of the child actors, in particular, nailed their respective parts amazingly and in consequence, provided a strong foundation for the adult actors (such as Kutcher and Smart) to build upon. With lesser acting talent at hand, I doubt the picture would’ve been as effective.

To round things up nicely, the flick came through strong as a dark and atmospheric supernatural thriller. I relished how the narrative basically functioned as a puzzle with the big picture fully clear solely when the end credits rolled (and even then, I want a second viewing, I’m sure I’ll get even more out of it). And although the supernatural device (time travel) brought a lot to the table in terms of chills and thrills, it was its use to evoke existential questions about life, choices, consequences and fate that made it worth sitting through for yours truly. This film had something to say and aimed higher than simple entertainment and in my eyes, succeeded. I feel that anybody with a “life questioning” bone in his/her body should get a lot out of this butterfly.

On the minute downside, I did feel that this tale became a tad redundant as it went along with the constant changing of realities almost (I said almost) becoming comical at some points. I doubt that was the intended tone. The flick also lost some of its initial focus on the “love story”. Don’t get me wrong, the “love story” was always present throughout, but I personally didn’t feel it enough in some parts. Lastly, the last frame could’ve used a little bit of punch to it. I wanted to get knocked out of my seat…I wasn’t (see Bull’s Eye for more on that)

Star Ashton Kutcher also executive produced the film.

Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber also wrote "Final Destination 2".

This film cost $9 million dollars to make .

Word on the street was that the initial ending was too “shocking” to be in the theatrical cut of the film and that New Line demanded that another ending be shot. It's been said that the original ending will be included on the DVD release. I can’t wait to see it.