I didn't know what to expect from this movie and the longer I watched it the more enjoyable it became. William Hurt does a wonderful job but Marc Donato steals every scene he is in. Everyone in the cast does an excellent job and bring the film to life. The Canadian director and her crew have certainly established themselves as premier movie makers. There is some very beautiful cinematography in this movie and even if it were not an excellent movie that alone would make it worthwhile The elusive Blue Butterfly becomes a symbol of hope and well as the source of problems. Right to the end of the film the director never leaves you wondering but tells the story and leaves you feeling completely satisfied. The entire family can watch this movie and each person will thoroughly enjoy it.
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awp5296 June 2005
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wrlang1 October 2006The Blue Butterfly is based on a true story about a nine year old boy dying of a brain tumor whose last request is to capture the blue butterfly for his collection. He and his mother enlist the help of a renown entomologist to take them into the jungle to find the insect. At first the entomologist refuses, but eventually relents. They spend several days searching for the butterfly and have some dangerous encounters. Everyone learns a lot about life and nature. The scenery is great, but the films moves slowly in many spots. Other than some slow spots it is a relatively heart warming film. Excellent acting and top notch technically.
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sarastro711 December 2004This movie is not slow-moving at all. Only 10-15 minutes is spent on build-up; then they're in the jungle. If you only like action movies and want things to bleed and blow up all the time, this is simply not the movie for you. It's not slow, it's just different.
It is a beautiful movie. It held my attention, and it's full of delightful close-up shots of the jungle and its animal (mostly insect) life. If you like nature films, you will definitely enjoy this as a great visual experience.
William Hurt once again plays a father figure to a troubled little boy (see "Second Best" and "A.I."), and he does it very well. As an honest, well-produced, well-filmed movie, this would earn a 7 out of 10 rating from me. I have to detract one, however, because the actors who play the mother and the brain-tumored kid are sentimental "types" that are obviously designed to evoke excessive pity and compassion in the viewer, Disney-style. This is a bit too much, and mars an otherwise very beautiful little story.
6 out of 10. -
Gunnar_Runar_Ingibjargarson18 June 2008The Blue Butterfly tells the extraordinary story of a 10-year-old boy diagnosed as terminally ill whose dream is to catch the most beautiful butterfly on Earth the mythic and elusive Blue Morpho. His mother persuades a renowned entomologist (William Hurt) to take them on a trip to the Costa Rican rain forest to search for the butterfly leading to an adventure that will transform their lives. And so their journey begins. A journey of courage redemption and love. A magical film about a courageous young boy and a jaded man who chase a dream and whose lives are forever changed. Now fourteen years later the young boy who was given hopefully six months to live is now a young man. This magical story is true.
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siderite12 July 2005This is a movie based on a true story, so there is just so much one can do to dramatize it, you must count on acting, and even if William Hurt played well his role of an asocial entomologist, the other actors seemed to be there just for the money. The script also lacked a certain proof of effort, while the beautiful nature scenes seemed to be put in the movie only to make it long enough.
In conclusion I could watch it, although I desperately wanted to go to sleep on it, but it disappointed me. I have seen a lot of cancer movies and even if 95% of them were obviously made for the quick buck rather than to help cancer patients, they managed to evoke at least some positive feeling. In this movie, William Hurt is the only slightly likable character and cancer or not, nobody seems to care in the movie either.
The movie is a failure, although one cannot expect too much of dramas these days. Average. -
Dead_Mann21 June 2006its pretty good but then it has a few flaws, mainly acting, but still good........
the photography was amazing and very very well done, the acting was kinda cheap, it was like the acting in most of these family films i guess, William Hurt was great too, but the little kid really annoyed me because he sucks at acting, and it also has a good story, and a good meaning among a few other flaws and some other things that are good about it.....
so if you want to see a pretty good family film, you should check this one out -
LunarPoise19 October 2008The Blue Butterfly is 'inspired by a true story.' The true story involves a young boy apparently ill with terminal cancer, who goes to the South American jungle with a renowned entomologist in search of a blue butterfly. When they return, the boy's cancer has disappeared.
The facts of the true story are dramatic and emotional moving. There is no need to embroider them. But that is just what the filmmakers do.
I'm guessing, but my feeling is that what we see in the movie that is not in the original story is: (1) The scientist did not have a long-lost daughter (2) There was no romantic connection between the boy's Mum and the scientist (2) No little villager girl actually connected with the boy, or caught the blue butterfly (4) The scientist did not fall down a hole, forcing the boy to make his own way through the jungle.
A boy goes to the jungle and comes back cured of cancer - but the story is deemed not 'dramatic' enough by the idiots who pose as story experts in Hollywood. This film is a schmaltzy, overblown insult to the intelligence. Great stories are not about ticking off the boxes in some script reader's manual. There is a genuine, uplifting tale buried in this film, that somehow got lost as each executive decided to burp out a script note after lunch. The end result is an unedifying, distasteful meringue of a film. I was insulted. -
If you know of any kids who are suffering with cancer, and especially those who diagnosed as terminally ill, this would be an inspiring film for them.
Meanwhile, who doesn't like looking at butterflies? Well, this story is a lot more than that, but you might as well enjoy the fantastic insects and nature scenery of Costa Rica while going along for this ride. This is another based-on-a-true story film, about boy dying of brain cancer getting his wish to go track down the mysterious "Blue Morpho" butterfly which supposedly brings magical powers.
The film stars William Hurt and a couple of unknown actors: Marc Donato, who plays the boy, "Pete Carlton," and Pascale Bussieres as his mom, "Teresa." All three do a fine job.
I really enjoyed the wildlife photography. Some of the insects, reptiles, birds and animals in that part of the world are just amazing. The story tries hard not to be sentimental, sometimes too hard and also infers near the end that the young boy was magically healed by some spirits of the jungle. Filmmakers love promoting mystical New Age-type stuff. Nonetheless, unlike what I expected, there was a happy ending to this story. Most importantly it was happy conclusion for the real person. Obviously, that is what is really important.
This is the real-life story of David Marenger, who is a grateful, now-healthy young man who spends his time wisely helping other kids with illnesses. You can see him in an interview that accompanies the DVD. -
SnoopyStyle5 January 2014Based on a true story, terminally ill boy Pete Carlton dreams of going to the jungle to catch the elusive Blue Morpho. Entomologist Alan Osborn (William Hurt) is rather aloof, and resists pleads from the boy's mother (Pascale Bussières). He relents and take them both to the jungle.
William Hurt has played this closed off character many times. He's good at it. The kid is a bit too annoying. He plays the one note of the overly inquisitive kid. Finding the right kid actor isn't easy. There are some reveals of the characters, but it isn't anything impressive.
The jungle looks good. The production isn't first rate, but there is some charm to an under produced movie in the jungle. There is a lot of good jungle shots and close ups of bugs. The story is rather bland. Even when the drama ramps up, it doesn't do it in the most exciting way. -
MIbluegal128 May 2006This was a heartwarming movie that even my "Rambo'lovin husband liked.I will be buying this movie.If you do not care for the story line you will love the scenery.If you have children 6 and older they would really learn from this movie.It really shows the compassion that man can have for one another and actually restores your faith in the human race.The wildlife will really make the young ones stay entertained.Rent or buy this as much for yourself as for your children.You can be assured that this movie will not have any content that will be offensive-in fact they give you two choices-edited content for minor language or non edited.I chose non edited and it was in no way offensive.
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William Hurt is professor Alan Osborne, insect-ologist, who in one presentation had said that the butterfly the Blue Morpho was the most beautiful thing, with almost magical powers.
Young Marc Donato plays Pete Carlton who has had surgery to remove a tumor in his skull, but the doctors have declared he has only a few months to live. He happens to be an amateur insect-ologist and a big fan of Alan Osborne's. He takes his comments about the Blue Morpho seriously.
Pascale Bussières plays Teresa Carlton, Pete's mother. One day at a dedication ceremony they approach Alan and ask him to help a dying boy fulfill his dream of seeing and catching a Blue Morpho in Central America. Alan doesn't want to bother, and besides there is only one week left in the season for them. But something happens to take Alan to the boy's bedroom, he sees all the insects and posters, and guess where they all end up? Yep, in the jungle hunting the Blue Morpho. Since the boy is weak, Alan carries him on his back in a special 'saddle' they made.
The DVD has an interesting extra with the real boy and the real insect-ologist.
SPOILERS. In the movie the scientist and the boy never catch a Blue Morpho. In fact, chasing one they fall into a pit, Alan breaks his leg, the boy has to go for help even though he has difficulty walking. But a village girl catches one, gives it to Pete, in a cage, as they leave the jungle. Pete gets better, he does not die. Maybe the Blue Morpho really had magical powers.
(PS - I am aware that insect-ologist is not the correct term, it just sounds better!!) -
zebulontbearclaw19 June 2006terrible. probably one of the worst movies i've ever seen. we figured that they got william hurt to act in this turkey by either paying him buckets full of money, or he wanted to go to the jungle and figured this would be a free trip, or he's part of the cult. because it must have been a cult that financed this movie. i don't know the cult of the healing power of the blue butterfly, or the jungle, or the big hole in the ground that they fall into. we watched this movie imagining if the guys from south park had written it and cartman was the little kid faking his lines so he could get a free trip to the amazon. there's one scene where they're swimming by the waterfall that's almost like nambla. jeez, have i written enough lines yet?
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captainpat14 November 2006It was terribly boring. The soundtrack was woeful - some shots would have come to life much better with dramatic and more moving scores.
The dialogue was predictable.
Were they targeting an adult audience or kids? I was lost. It was not entertaining.
The only reason I kept watching was that I ate dinner late and I needed to let it digest before going to bed. Otherwise I would have been in bed 60 minutes ago.
They must have had a shock after the edit. "Gawd, how are we going to sell this?" -
Mileneum696 March 2005I saw this movie when it premiered at the National Screen Institute Film Exchange in 2004, and i thought it was the best movie there. I think the DOP on that production is probably one of the best in the world. The camera effects were great, and the story itself was very inspiring. And yeah ill admit it was very slow, but if you really love watching movies and art of making them, then this movie you should see. Plus the Art director must have had is work cut out for him the set designs were very detailed, I mean the whole village it took place in was built from ground up and i think they did an awesome job. And then the sounds they put into the movie of the insects and the colors it was all so well done. I would so definitely see this movie again and again. trust me I think you would love this movie its a must see if your a movie buff. I gave the film a 9 out of 10...for greatness!!
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albert-913 October 2005I thought the film even with the dramatization was compelling, but unfortunately the scriptor and director forgot or ignored the end of the film by simply ending the story with a cute Voice Over, and tracking shot of the young boy running into the fade out. There were basic errors in story telling, and some times you have to give the audience what they want or perceive to want. example: It would have been good to see the doctor meet up with his daughter. It would have been good to see or read a bio of the young boy's life in 2004 as the story was written about his life in 1987.
The audience is always right. . .hence the film's pitiful 1.7mill box office. -
marijanav11 February 2004Blue Butterfly is the best movie i have seen in the last two years.
It is funny, amazing, and beautiful. You would expect it to be a heartbreaking drama from the synopsis but it is NOT instead it is so much more.
There are so many thrills in it and i strongly recommend it to anyone to try. If you don't want to see it for the acting, which is EXCELLENT then go see it for the beautiful scenes of the Costa Rican jungle.
This movie is proof that Canadian movies are just as good if not better than some Hollywood movies. -
info-364411 December 2004I spent the whole movie on the edge of my seat, wondering if I should go do something else or keep watching it.
Very boring and predictable with no real plot to speak of. Expect to watch a 10 year old cancer patient being piggy-backed around the jungle for two hours.
I'm trying to think of something positive to say about the movie but there was really nothing- and I can usually find something good in any movie.
It really felt like a made-for-TV movie rather than a feature film. -
Samiam316 July 2017The Blue Butterfly is about a stage four cancer child who teams up with a famed naturalist to find the elusive eponymous species of butterfly which the kid dreams of seeing before its too late. True story though it may be the execution is not impressive. Plot developments hinge on a few corny and amateurish contrivances, the dialog is weak, and the punchline is a massive letdown.
Kudos to William Hurt for a relatively refined and unshowy performance, but at the same time his unrelenting blandness does the movie no favours. The scenery is the highlight, especially one scene in particular which includes strange hallucinations of the local indigenous peoples.
The movie throws a lame cheat into the ending. You can't spend an hour plus searching for something and then virtually pull it out of your pocket and expect the audience to accept that. There is a good story cocooned in this movie but it never morphs into anything that can take flight. -
mrodner-121 December 2007This film is about a 10 year old boy with a terminal brain tumor whose last wish is to catch a blue butterfly that lives in the forests of South and Central America. He and his mother convince a begrudgely naturalist/scientist/insect collector to let them tag along with him on one of his expeditions. They stay in a small village in the jungle, where not only do they encounter all sorts of wildlife, and learn about the culture of the indigenous people, but also learn about each others weaknesses and fears and relationships develop along with a bit of magic. I saw this movie on TV with my 8 year old son, I felt it had a lot of important things to teach him about humanity and nature: wildlife, disease, relationships, other cultures, other perceptions of reality, other lifestyles. It might be a bit corny for adults to watch on their own, but I felt its message was positive and profound for younger people. I also liked its slower pace, which was not boring because of all the beautiful scenery. My recommendation is rent it for your kids.
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cravak7 November 2006i rely upon IMDb for accurate reviews this film is the first review I'm writing because the review of its so bad. it features some of the best outdoor photography I've seen in any movie I'm not a fan nor like insects but this film allows you to see them much closer and makes them more interesting then i could have imagined. the character and story is very well rounded characters very believable because there not characters. its like national geographic did a love story about a miracle, with comedy thrown in and a dash of action adventure and suspense . please see this film and make up your own mind. contrary to what you might see in reviews this film isn't geared towards anyone everybody should be able to enjoy it. one of the reviews on rotten tomatoes says it try to force your emotions i cant see this at all except for one dream sequence there's nothing fake or phony about this film and it genuinely makes you care for the characters. after seeing it i will be looking forward to adding it to my video collection
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barbecuedbanana2 February 2007I enjoyed this movie. I watched it in the afternoon because there was nothing else on the other channels I felt like seeing. From that rather unpromising beginning ( I expected it to be a sloppy tearjerker) I was agreeably surprised as the story unfolded. Knowing it to be a true story I wasn't expecting any massively surprising twists and indeed there weren't any, but the characters developed satisfyingly and the jungle scenes were fantastic. I'm lucky enough to have a large cinema screen at home and watch films via a 'proper' projector, so the huge scenes outdoors with the insects and wildlife were gorgeous and it really felt like I was actually there and experiencing it for real. I get bored easily and I also get a bit jumpy with suspense stuff, but I stayed with this film all the way through and without any boredom. But I did fast forward through the bits where he was running through the jungle with the little boy on his back because I'm a mother and that kind of thing worries me, I was just waiting for an accident LOL It had a happy ending which made a nice change - I get fed up of films that leave me feeling tearful and depressed - this one was nicely positive. It made me feel like maybe visiting the rainforest myself one day - but not to wade in the swamps - leeches are my worst nightmare!!
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jaimiqo21 July 2005Yes, this was a project that I spent much time on, but the gang that we had in Costa Rica was excellent I really applaud them I love the people here. We put our hearts in this project. The rains had a lot to do worth our decision to build the whole village up three inches off the ground and apply a drainage system. In total I believe it was about 120 square meters. The Canadians were wonderful people and I praise Serge Bureau for his eyes and guidance. Thank you for the opportunity to work on such a wonderful film.We hope that many more people come to Costa Rica and film in the future.I have one of the best Art Departments there that I work with. Jaime Fernandez
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spj-422 December 2007I had never heard of this movie until I was flicking across the dial looking for something to watch. I wasn't expecting much, but found "The Blue Butterfly" pleasantly engaging & appealing.
The cornerstone of its success lays in the amazing landscapes "The Blue Butterfly" is mostly shot in. It is a vividly colourful production & tells an intense story of a young boy dying of cancer, needing & seeking inspiration in his struggles for life, embarking on a journey that puts his illness into perspective. It is insightful, interesting & realistic in its depictions of interpersonal relationships - mother & son, boy & the man he looks up to, flawed but invaluable expert on insects whose knowledge of nature is only a tip of the iceberg into his deeper self & how he got to this place where he finds himself, where he can help & inspire the young boy in his adversity.
Contrary to other opinions expressed, as an adult, I didn't find this a kid's movie, to be dismissed by some other's opinions that this movie is 'boring'. I did think it was far-fetched in one of the latter scenes, but note the comments indicating it was a true story. Only in this one incident, would I still question that. Personally, I consider it compared favourably with the other movie I watched tonight in "Dante's Peak", which I consider this unknown movie ran rings around! "Dante's Peak" is full of drama & action but so predictable & lacking plot! It was at best, ordinary.
By contrast, I can understand that "The Blue Butterfly" would be especially helpful to children with cancer or other struggles with illnesses. It could encourage & inspire them in their unenviable situation most are privileged to be spared! But beyond that, "The Blue Butterfly" is an enjoyable family movie, with something in it for child & adult alike! -
traveller_725 December 2009Last night I watched El Mariposa Azul for the first time.Just its nombre alone, guaranteed that I would.Having visited Costa Rica twice, I IMMEDIATELY recognised the opening river scene as (when the boat was going up river) being CR. In fact, I said to my girl friend, "I'll bet you ten bucks that that is Costa Rica". As the movie rolled on, I knew that I was right.Only Costa Rica can show us such beauty in its country and wildlife.I had made the trip from San Jose to Torteguero Biosphere Reserve and stayed there for five days.
No words can describe Costa Rica, you have to personally see its beauty to appreciate it.If you can, go and visit it and I promise you, you will be glad you took my advise.Having been to 72 different countries, I place Costa Rica as my number one place to return to.....that's why I'm going back for my third visit in the not too distant future.
El Mariposa Azul (The Blue Butterfly) has done CR proud....or is it the other way round? -
MTDKtmmG3 August 2009First thanks to the Encore stations and the DVR, I choose to record to see later, as I do with many, The Blue Butterfly became an instant keeper. the close up shots of the animals and insects itself are amazing. As you read in other peoples reviews, the story is rather simple. A dying boys "last wish" is to find this Blue Butterfly with the aid of William Hurt, who first refuses, but later changes his mind. the movie may not be everyone favorite if action "Clint Eastwood" style films are what you like, but it your like me who likes a story of hope, then you got the film to watch. It's worth the time and makes you feel good when its over.