Butterfly Man (I) (2002) User Reviews

A sumptuous and richly textured, but ultimately vapid tale.

[martinpace · 12 December 2002]

Beautiful location shots and richly lit interiors fail to provide sufficient distraction from a naive and clumsily told story.

Lacking in emotional credibility Adam and Em mechanically fulfil what the plot demands of them, reaching an epiphany that elicited groans of derision not tears of empathy from a fidgeting audience.

One would hope that an independent film-maker working to a limited budget would attempt to punch above his weight with an emphasis on strong character and believable dialogue. Instead we are delivered a series of preachy monologue, awkward plot exposition and clichéd melodrama that squanders any goodwill the audience may have had.

Kaprice Kea is undoubtedly a talented cinematographer, and I for one will be looking forward to his next film, but let's hope that this time he leaves the writing duties to others.

Naval fluff!

[kung-fu-1 · 1/10 · 23 May 2003]

Bland and innocuous movie, lots of pretty shots of beaches and jungle, two woman, one eastern and for hire, one western and on holiday. One guy falls for one and then jumps into the arms of the other, result a shallow and superficial movie that tries to be worthy but is nothing other than a cheap holiday romance movie.

Very cheap exploitation flick

[pok-1 · 1/10 · 17 May 2003]

Young and dumb western boy goes to Thailand looking for sex. Finds it with an attractive sex worker, then falls for a blonde western girl. Gets all confused. Trite and exploitative with the graphic sex that a tale like this would normally include, fails at every level. The landscapes look pretty but the story is s***y! One out of ten!

Moronic soft erotica

[captain_xen · 1/10 · 30 May 2003]

If your going to make a porn film don't forget some explicit sex scenes and some t**s and a**e if you don't all you have left is bad acting and direction and a pointless film that please no one on any level apart form the film makers which all must have had lobotomy's to agree to contribute to making this piece of pap!

Good Microbudget Hell-In-A-Handbasket/Adventure/Thriller

[BrandtSponseller · 7/10 · 23 July 2006]

There is little doubt that this is a very low budget film. It has that "shot on a home video camera from 1989" look, and everything--the directing, acting, editing, and so on--is a bit rough around the edges. You're either familiar or not familiar with this kind of "guerilla" film-making. If you're familiar with it, you know what to expect and know whether you should avoid Butterfly Man based on your opinion of those kinds of films, which have to be watched a bit differently than the high gloss stuff. If you're not familiar with it, don't initiate yourself with this film, because this is a pretty good one, and you don't want to waste the experience on trying to acclimate yourself to the style.

The first sign of success is that to a large extent Butterfly Man feels like a transparent home movie made by Adam (Stuart Laing). The film somewhat vacillates between a rough travelogue, almost ala "Globe Trekker" (which happens to be my favorite travel series of all time), and a more normal narrative. It's an iffy mixture that ends up working quite well here. It also affords a stronger immersion in Thailand as a foreign culture, which is very important to the plot.

Because the film begins more like a travelogue with a thin dramatic overlay, it's something of a surprise as it turns into a "hell-in-a-handbasket" film with a well-constructed thriller plot. Unfortunately, this is a case where a fat budget would have helped immensely, but writer/director Kaprice Kea and crew still do a more than decent job with the resources available. The ending is also notable for being very unusual, poetic and admirable. Fans of recent microbudget indies shouldn't miss this one and everyone else should check out five or six of the crappy recent micro-budget indies before coming back to some of the good ones like this film and Milk and Honey (2003).

Not what i was looking for

[travis_bruns · 3/10 · 2 March 2020]

My friend and I were discussing a man whomst was doing research on butterfly wings and why they changed. When I googled butterfly man, This movie came up. The only reason why I am giving this three stars and not one is the sheer ammount of how THAI this movie is.

Pristine!

[userray2305 · 10/10 · 29 October 2004]

Butterfly Man is a touching and complex movie about the despair and hope of a British backpacker who finds a deeper sense of purpose in the colorful and beautiful world he experiences in Thailand. The visuals of this movie will make you feel that you are in an island paradise yourself, as they're filled with prelapserian visions of purity and sweetness.

Plus, there's a truly wonderful theme underneath the movie: the dangers of Colonialism and expansion, and the exploitation that such endeavors come with. I really liked this movie.

The two main characters, Adam and Em, acted expertly by Stuart Laing and Napakpapha "Mamee" Nakprasitte, share a passionate bond, one that will make you believe in the redemptive and soulful power of compassion.

Underrated drama!!!! Sometimes low votes on IMDb are the best movies!!!!

[innovator · 8/10 · 24 September 2006]

Again I noticed that votes on IMDb are not always representable. When you compare 'The Beach' the MTV kids vote higher because DiCaprio plays in it. I watched both movies in a short period, and this movie 'Butterfly Man' was a real good story! I liked it even more because there were no real famous actors in it, which made it more realistic. Nowadays you see george clooney in every movie, with beard - without, you get tired of the same faces in every movie. The cast & acting was great!!!! You really should hire or buy this one if you like real good movies, suspense is build up good, you can't easily predict what is going to happen. I'm not going to reveal the story, don't read the rest, just go for the movie, you won't regret. It's not as lame as the beach where DiCaprio stops a shark with his HAND :) that was a laugh! It's realistic, you see real Thai life, atmosphere, and the nice Budha statues and sunsets. One word : definitely recommended, 8/10. Beware of other movies with low votings due to mtv kids! They need famous actors, guns and violence. I need a good story,good acting and atmosphere, that is what movies are about. I wandered about 1 hour in the local videostore and chose this one. I think I'm becoming a movie-geek with all the bad movies coming out :)

Captures the real feel of Thailand

[krasteva · 10/10 · 12 October 2004]

This is a truly amazing film, if you understand Thailand… As a frequent traveler to Thailand, I can tell you that this movie is one of a few that truly captures the 'feel of Thailand' I know a lot of people are bashing this movie, yes there is some bad acting, yes it's low budget, but it has a great feel to it.

Warning: If you think Pattaya is Thailand. If you think Thai are stupid people. If all you do is sit on the beach drink and go out at night if you are in Thailand then this film will mean nothing to you.

But if you know Thai, if you hang out with them iso farang then check out this movie. Just sit down and enjoy….. It comes highly recommended by me.

Hauntingly beautiful film with unanticipated depth

[cinemetrician · 9/10 · 15 June 2006]

Ignore the 1-star reviewers... these cretins weren't even watching closely enough to summarize the plot points correctly. True, those in search of a quick-fix nudity high will be disappointed, but this film captures a deep and transcendent sensuality that puts conventional love scenes to shame. The casting is magnificent, the dialog is smart and authentic, and the plot is rarely predictable and complemented by a steady stream of touching vignettes full of warm, genuine humanity. The major characters are authentically drawn, but each reveals a shift that will remind you that in the exotic world of "asymmetrical" tourism things are not always as they seem. If you have been to Thailand you will appreciate the palpable ambiance created by the dazzling cinematography and the lush score and sound design. Treat this movie like farang Joe's description of the Thai massage... (paraphrasing) "lie back and relax and for an hour and a half let the filmmaker pay your soul one of the biggest compliments it has ever received."

A hidden gem

[easy-nyc · 9/10 · 7 July 2004]

I wanted to see this movie only because it was filmed in Koh Samui, one of my favorite places. Koh Samui is a hidden gem (at least hidden to most Americans) and I would describe this movie in the same way.

Notwithstanding the negative comments of others, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a compelling film. Low budget, and a bit simplistic, but nonetheless very moving. With her broken English, Napakpapha Nakpprassite conveys a beauty and vulnerability that was extremely effective. If you want to see a movie that captures the life and the beauty but also the desperation that you can find on the islands of Thailand, skip "The Beach" and watch this instead.

Remote Peaceful Methodic

[Butch Cassidy · 8 December 2002]

This film starts off like so many others with a couple on holiday in a remote and utterly stunning background, usually in Asia. Unlike the rest this film explores the contrast of Thailand from the picturesque beaches for relaxing and gazing as the sun sets to the other extreme. It begins slowly letting the audience be encaptured by the swaying palm trees and secluded spots and then accelerates into a excellent drama about the redemption of a man. The location shots are something to revel in as they bring out the raw beauty of Thailand.

Featuring an ex Eastenders star could have made this film go from beauty to action thriller a matter of minutes but neither the director or the actors portray any sense of improbability. The plot is closely driven to show the change that Thailand has gone under.

Everything considered this makes refreshing watching compared with the Hollywood rota changing between the very sentimental and the very action packed. With its underlying message this film shows that nothing is truly pure and that things only last for a short time.

Grade B

Surprisingly Enjoyable and Nostalgic.

[james_newman-53409 · 8/10 · 27 November 2017]

Adam arrives in Bangkok with his girlfriend and they abruptly split- up over a minor disagreement, but the relationship's been on the slide for a while and when Adam finds his significant other in the guesthouse room next door with a dreadlocked sandal seller we know the honeymoon is truly over. Thailand has a habit of testing Western boy-girl-relationships and in this case the couple split in less than 24 hours.

The lovers split their separate ways and Adam heads to Ko Samui, determined to see out his holiday. Here he meets a character many of us know (and if we don't know one we might just be him) - the middle- aged boozy expat not above dalliance with indigenous females – Joey - played brilliantly in this case by Francis Magee. Joey convinces Adam to visit a massage joint where we're introduced to Em the beautiful masseuse who Adam falls for and thus begins the vortex, the downward spiral, the lies, the mistruths, the deceptions that often follow an East / West relationship. Em retains her typical Thai conservative streak, hoping perhaps Adam will hold out for marriage and the house in the village. Inpatient and frustrated Adam hooks up with Noi one of the many bargirls on the beach and has to confess to Em that he has suddenly metamorphosed into a straight up, genuine Butterfly Man – a lover who goes from lady to lady, taking a piece of pollen from each as he so does. But Lady Fate doesn't smile on those men who spread it about on the islands, things continue to spiral down for Adam his triangular love affair leading to him being drugged, and robbed and finally having to beg on the beach in a charming sequence of som nom na – serves' you right.

Our old friend Joey returns and offers Adam a chance to make some quick cash on the neighboring Ko Phangnan. After some indecision he makes it over to meet a character named No Name, a statuesque blond, played by Abigail Good who pedals a shady sideline.

Adam uncovers a human trafficking ring and rescues Em by stowing her away on a boat where she lies in his arms, having married him in a brief ceremony conducted by the charmingly Thai boat captain. Events unfold in a tragically entertaining fashion and this is all weaved together seamlessly as the final twist and turns lead Adam to Em's Isaan village where he is making a new life for himself in the real Thailand.

Overall a rewarding picture. The score by Stephen Bentley-Klein is worth mentioning along with the title track by Skye Edwards (formally of the band Morcheeba). Producer Tom Waller did a sterling job putting it all together and the cinematography was at times sublime. The acting from the foreign cast was impressive throughout and a few roles really shone. A film entitled Butterfly Man was bound to have the odd Thai / foreigner cliché, and was at times charmingly naïve, but that doesn't take anything away from the movie. This is in many ways a better, more honest movie than Danny Boyle's adaptation of The Beach and for those who first came to the Kingdom before the omnipresent mobile telephone, cyber stickers, and emjois Butterfly Man is a nostalgic treat full of personal memories and hidden rewards and it is well worth hunting down a copy or a download.

Not a bad movie, but definitely a movie

[lazarillo · 8 May 2005]

Thailand is infamous for being a sexual shangri-la for Western men, a place where even a dopey-looking Brit (like the guy in this movie) can be a "butterfly man", flitting from one pretty Thai girl to another. Nevertheless, this movie seems VERY romanticized. In fact, it borrows heavily from one of the most romantic love stories of all times, "A Farewell to Arms", even though the Far East "sex tourist" trade hardly provides the dramaticic background of the World War I setting of the famous Hemingway novel.

I've only spent a short time in Thailand myself, but nevertheless several things in this movie struck me as inaccurate or at least very highly romanticized. The Thai prostitutes may be more demure than other prostitutes, but they're probably no more likely to have the mythical "heart of gold" like the girl in this movie does. I also found it a little too convenient, given today's political climate, that the girl's vicious pimp is an American. American soldiers may have heavily subsidized the Thai sex trade during the Vietnam War, but it probably owes a lot more today to the Europeans, the Aussies, and the Japanese. And Americans certainly are not running things (the guys who were always trying to drag me off the Bangkok streets and into the go-go bars and massage parlors all pretty much seemed to be locals).

This movie is lyrical and heart-breaking like other reviewers have said, but it is also somewhat at odds with a reality that is often just seedy and depressing. See it by all means, but balance it out with something like "Lilya 4ever" which is equally lyrical and heart-breaking but also much more realistic.