I saw this movie last week and a few days later saw another movie, ‘Groundhog Day’—one of my favourites—on TV. It was a "coincidence" for me, because there’s definitely a connection between the two movies. Without revealing the plot too much, I shall say, ‘The Butterfly Effect’ in its essence is about a person who can travel back in time and change his past so that he can have different future (his present that is). ‘Groundhog Day’ on the other hand is about man who wakes up on the same day everyday. Nothing changes except his own memories – so he literally relives his past everyday1.
The fundamental difference between the two premises is the kind of control the protagonists have on their past and future. And the basic similarity between the two is that both of them are given (voluntarily in one and involuntarily in the other) more than a few chances to replay (relive) their past till they get it “right”. While both movies end with rather optimistic notes, I felt closer to TBE. It carries with it what I call the pessimism ingrained in the flow our life cycles – changing the past is either inconsequential or consequential to an undesirable effect. Yes, either way, you’re screwed.
That’s one of the reasons why I don’t worry myself too much about all the wars and the tsunamis. Sure, I discuss the “ethics” and “morals” of whatever happens. Thanks to my mundane socialization I even manage to act like my hard-drive crashed. Still, I honestly don’t believe that a difference will actually make any difference. But apparently, what needs to be done needs to be done to maintain the illusion of progress and change; regardless of the illusion's essentiality.
It’s like my “sacred tonsure” in Palani, a year ago. For my mother it was meant to bring Murugan’s blessings, for me I like traveling and I had not seen myself “mottai” ever. I did it. We both had a sense of having done something “meaningful”. The hair’s back; my mother is still worried; I still live.
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1 If you skimmed through the wiki entries about the movies, you’ll understand me better. If you get a chance try watching them, it's worth the time (available for download in torrent).
The Butterfly Effect
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18 comments:
Wow, interesting movies. I want to watch them too. Can you give me the torrent links? Thanks.
I also watched a similar kind of movie called "50 First Dates" acted by Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. In that movie, Drew has short-term-memory. She once suffered from a car accident on her father's birthday. So every morning she wakes up believing it to still be her father's birthday and is unable to remember anything that has taken place after that day. This Sandler guy tries to woo her each and every day. It's a romantic comedy. Not so serious and philosophical as these movies. But its so hilarious at certain parts.
wow suresh you keep surprising me. I did not know that you can write such crispy and short narratives. bravo!
People should forget the Ashton Kutcher hate and watch TBE. Its a decent movie.
@ Priya Go here- http://www.torrentz.com/ and search for the movies, you'll get it easily.
GHD is actually pretty funny too. The logic is quite plain, not too many details to pay attention to.
@ Anon1 - I don't know if it's "crispy" but it's sure short :)). Thanks
@ Anon2 - Yeah, I don't really follow his off-screen stunts so much. May be that's why I don't hate him or anything. You're right, it definitely helps when you watch the movie.
Have always wanted to watch the butterfly effect. The trigger here would probably be the decisive one.
Am still waking up from the american history x effect.
{{Am still waking up from the american history x effect.}} - Did I recommend the movie by the way?
Not directly. No. I had heard it to be a good movie and then, I happened to notice it in your favourites list too. And the download began.
But the relevance of the question?
^^^Nothing, just thought it was a coicidence. I remember talking about it in CGC, 4 years ago.
Ah the cgc days. You go there anymore?
I know those were some good days (and bad days, which now come together as 'good'). It gave me the chance to get in to active debating with strangers. I think it helped me quite a bit with a few stuff (including coming up with instant insults :p).
yeah I go there once in a while, every 2, 3 months.
The best part I think is that it teaches you tolerance like nothing ever does. :p
And as for the instant insults, lol, very true indeed.
I wish I had known you better though those days. I agree I was 'yet another guy' then. Not that I am not now. But one can figure out when one is a dunce and when one is not, right?
Lovely movie. Just watched it finally. Thanks for it.
And now in an hour, I shall be watching 'thalaimagan', the latest Sarath Kumar starrer. :p
It is irritating that such abundant talent here can make nothing of good value. Not often, at least.
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If at all, you do check this place again, I am back from that tamil movie. In one word, the movie was nauseating-
about CGC - Yeah, you were on and off. Never really got in to the "adithadi" circle or voice chat. You stayed in text and as you know I had little to do with people who never came to voice (except the times when it could become to hard to fight in the mic :p). But of course, Manju kind of kept us connected all along.
about the Tamil - dei idhellam over :)). Nalla naalum adhuma indha maari padam paaka ponadhu unnoda thappu, don't blame the movie makers for that.
haha dei, sathiyama!!
To give you an idea on how effing bad the movie was, I'll explain to you my situation and my reaction to it. Since one of my friends happens to be the assistant camera-man for the movie, I couldn't walk out of the theatre after a traumatic first half. Second half pooraa, en kaadhula headphones-a maatikitu, en kanna moodikitu okaandhen-
lol Beat that!
To Individualist-Nalla soneenga! That film was very bad, my parents regretted going to the movie so much. You should have seen Varalaru. Its not a bad movie compared to thalaimagan. I enjoyed the first show of the movie with a lot of background claps, whistles and comments. The story is nothing worth mentioning. But ajith's acting was good. His best movie, i would say. Especially, the second half was good. And the songs are superb. Before this comment turns out to become a movie review, i'll stop here:)
Oh @ varalaaru alias The Godfather. I haven't watched it yet and hence, will reserve my opinions on that. But hmm as far as that thalaimagan is concerned, the very thought makes me puke. lol No. Am not kidding. Damn. You guys need to see that movie to know what I am talking about. I mean, that's the WORST movie someone could ever make. Aaaaaaah-
And as for Varalaru's songs, hmm Rahman has scored and hence, I am prejudiced towards liking it even if I don't happen to like it too much. Ajith looks weird these days. Whoever it was, that told me that Ajith looked handsome after he slimmed down deserves a hard slap across the face for the blatant lie or for the disgusting taste. :p
P.s. He looks like a ravenous poverty stricken human on the verge of death- At least, in the previous movies that I saw him in.
Er, sorry Suresh. Got carried away. :-s
Suresh, sorry for digressing a bit here. One topic leads to another and then another and then it goes on. Yes, ajith doesn't look good at all after he slimmed down. But in this movie he looks ok. And his make-up during the second-half of the movie is quite good. He looks exactly like a dancer!:)
I wanted to watch the butterfly effect movie, and searched it in torrentz, but couldn't watch. It took some time to download. I got so impatient that i didn't watch. Although i want to watch them so badly. i saw some preview in youtube and it further increased my interests.
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