Everybody's a critic - 'Butterfly effect'

Three stars (out of 4)

We have all wondered, at one time or another, what would happen if we could go back and make changes to things that we have done in the past. In "Butterfly Effect," we are faced with such a scenario as Evan, played by Ashton Kutcher, suffers abuse throughout childhood which caused frequent blackouts. Kutcher takes a break from his usual comical roles and portrays the adult Evan with a superior intellect. As Evan learns that he can go back in time and make changes, altering the trauma that caused his blackouts, he sends a ripple through the time line of his life and of his co-stars.

With underlying themes in child sexual and psychological abuse, "Butterfly Effect" alerts us to the grim reality of effects on children, and the adults that they become. Combined with a mix of science fiction and suspense, the viewer is constantly wondering what it will take for Evan to finally get it right. A well-spent two hours, but be prepared: this ride has ups and downs throughout the entire trip.

- Key-V Williams, psychiatric aide

Two stars (out of 4)

Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) is a troubled man who suffers from blackouts whenever he has a traumatic event.

As a college student, Evan has devoted his studies to psychology, specifically how we assimilate memories. It is in college, while reviewing his childhood journals, that Evan learns to travel back to those memories and alter them.

The movie starts to get a bit dark and violent from here. Evan keeps trying to change the outcome of his horrific memories, but always with tragic results for the future. I was kept on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the newest change would alter his life.

While the movie was a bit slow to start, the ending certainly was interesting and well worth the near two-hour runtime. I was really excited about this movie because of the concept. I was worried it would be done poorly, but the movie was very well developed.

- Anson Rinesmith, Internet operations manager

Three and a half stars (out of 4)

The tag line for "The Butterfly Effect" is "Change one thing. Change everything." Ashton Kutcher ("That 70's Show") plays Evan, a college student, who has trouble remembering his childhood. Thanks to a journal his psychiatrist encouraged him to keep, he is able to recall the parts he can't remember. But the journal also enables him to revisit the past in order to try to change certain unpleasant events.

Every time he goes back to change events the consequences of the change completely alters history and he must go back again to another point and try again.

I found this movie compelling and well done. One thing I didn't like was that every trip back (except the last one) left the characters tortured or twisted in some way. Different choices shouldn't always lead down the road to extreme chaos. It does make for a suspenseful, thought-provoking movie, though.

- Mike Shupert, minister