Meh
German | 04/25/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I see five star reviews, and I see a one star review, and neither is really appropriate. Nor is the title, really. A butterfly man is one who goes from girl to girl, and the protagonist only strayed from his main girl once.
So, sure, it's set in Thailand, which is beautiful, and not surprising a traveler unaccustomed to local hospitality falls for a Thai lady who turns out to be in some serious trouble. If anything the movie packs too much in, and the latter half of the movie isn't that believable, and seemed to exist only to add the film makers two cents on human trafficking."
THIS IS A REAL SLICE OF THAILAND, AND WELL-DONE TOO
Roy Clark | Edge of Toiyabe Nat'l Forest, NV | 10/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bargirls in Thailand call men who flit girl-to-girl 'Butterflys'.
I was one for about 10 years. One of the best times of my life.
And this fine movie is very authentic as well as well-shot/
edited/directed/ written/cast and acted. Very professional.
The circumstances of scams or a variety of crimes which could happen when one-night stands turn into romances are familiar, but not inevitable. There is a phrase which captures your chance for happiness with a pretty young girl who tragically is driven to run through 3-10 'customers' a good night: "You can take the girl out of the bar, but you can't take the bar out of the girl." Best bet for newcomers is hang back and wait and see. Something the hero in this movie didn't do.
ButterflyMan gives surprising, even sophisticated insights into a Western man's mind as he's drawn to the flame. And equally good coverage to the sweetness and the vulnerability of the girl involved. It's a complex multi-level happening between boy and girl with aspects of mutual exploitation, hormone-driven 'love' versus loneliness, desperation and absolute wishful-thinking.
Amazon has many books on this subject and more regarding life in The Land of the Free ('Thai' means free). It's a great country with extraordinary sights to see. And equally-extraordinary things to do. I recommend ANYTHING Thai. Thailand's truly a life- changing place, people, experience, dream come true. Yes, visit Thailand; but maybe you'd better see this movie first . . ."