Donnie Darko Effect.

Rating: 7/10 (12 January 2005)

This movie succeeds where the underdog Donnie Darko didn't hit at the box office like it should have. Although it does pretty much steal the base premise of DD, it seems to be much better received.
Unfortunate, IMO. Donne Darko was a beautiful attempt with great style and an excellent dialog. The Butterfly Effect is a fully CGI-treated rendition of the same base story with pretty much the same outcome. I don't understand its success where DD is so vastly under-rated, but such is the way of things in Hollywood, I would imagine. The Butterfly Effect is an "A" production while Donnie Darko was a "B." That just goes to show you that money and effects mean more than a really good movie.
If you enjoy this on any level, do yourself a favor and check out the ~real~ movie which started this entire line including the "Left Behind" series. The performances are much more realistic in DD, and the photography and effects, while not as well done, meant more to me, for the obvious budget differences. DD had to try harder, for lack of funding, if that makes sense to you.
While the Butterfly Effect was quite good (very enjoyable), Donnie Darko was the first movie (of late) to do this.
All the same, it rates a 7.2/10 from...
the Fiend :.