MovieChat Forums > M. Butterfly (1993) Discussion > Uneven but fascinating movie...

Uneven but fascinating movie...

posted 14 years ago by hannahp1
5 replies | jump to latest

John Lone and Jermey Irons are what saved this convolted movie-they are wonderful. I watched it with someone who did not know that Lone was a man and I did not tell him to see his reaction, when he finally realized it he was shocked. Some scenes were absolutely breathtaking and unforgetable. The scene in the police van was very memorable and sad.

I did not like how the story flowed though-it flashed from scene to scene near the end without satisfying results.

But still worth a look...

6 out of 10.

[–] oneloveall 14 years ago

Frankly I'm shocked this was made during one of our most bankable provocateurs most vital periods- you can really feel the difference with Cronenberg solely directing an adapted script, and even what might look good on paper plays out horribly wooden, stagnant, and self-consciously sophisticated.

[–] franzkabuki 14 years ago

An interesting look into the Maoist China of the 60s - not a very common venue for Western films, Hollywood or otherwise. Same of course goes for the intriguing study into sort of a culture clash of whites and our yellow lil friends & how we perceive each other. Really dug the scenes on the properly strange and alien streets of Bejing where lots of dialogue (or rather monologue) is heard yet nothing translated, leaving the same kinda sense of displacement that Irons´s character feels. Plenty of nuance to the protagonist characters also; particularly the conflicting standing and nature of the proverbial Butterfly was presented carefully and thoughtfully. Kind of a tragic figure after all... properly so because in those days, the number of other real life tragic figures in China was counted in millions. Overall the thing feels a bit unfocused though and the last act in general isn´t very successfully rendered (with the exception of the lil heart-to-heart in the van). Overall it´s an underrated curiosity though; better than the dull, repetitive and overpraised Crash. 7/10.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] skyblazeeterno 10 years ago

I thought it was Cronenberg's best movie and it was pretty much interesting all the way through, had that twist (which I never saw coming as I was utterly oblivious to the play and true story), very interesting backdrop, thought provoking and a suitably operatic OTT ending...The only thing I would have liked to see or rather hear would be Irons having a French accent.

Moral of the story - be very careful who you fall in love with

9/10

[–] oh_no_mrbill 10 years ago

I guess I should have been more careful, but even so, dude, you gotta put a ***SPOILERS*** tag in your post. You just ruined the twist for me.

[–] PreachCaleb 8 years ago

You can't blame the OP. It's a 22 year old movie. The statue of limitations for spoilers has passed.

Do not go into a movie or tv show's IMDB board if you wish to avoid spoilers.

Can't stop the signal.