Jon Monsarrat review: Unknown actors but A-quality film

Rating: 9/10 (19 April 2004)

I went into The Butterfly Effect thinking what the hell, a B-movie with actors I've never heard of. Probably a waste of my time. I was wrong. Really wrong. The Butterfly Effect is a great combination of deep themes (making smart choices in life) and action.
Similar to the films Big and Face/Off, it has a wacky premise but the film glosses over it and gets right to the action rather than fumbling around trying to explain it.
The plot is as consistent and tight as Back To the Future, and it's thrilling throughout. Since the film is a series of disconnected vignettes (similar to Memento), the acting and direction have to be really good to not get the viewer lost. They are. The only critique I might make is that the themes are a little too adult to be used as a moral
Who should see this film:
-- Teenagers
-- Everyone who's up for an action drama, it's not really sci-fi
I'll give "The Butterfly Effect" a solid 9 out of 10. Near perfect.