Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 14, 2009

Former Bond man Pierce Brosnan plays a tough goon on a mission in Mike Barker's Chicago-based thriller "Butterfly on a Wheel" (2007). Following a familiar scheme the film gets everything right, yet the element of surprise isn't too...surprising. Nevertheless, solid contributions by the cast transform this one into the perfect late-night ticket. Distributed in Germany by Universum Film.

Successful Chicago businessman Neil Randall has everything he ever wanted - a beautiful wife (Maria Bello), a beautiful child (Emma Karwandy), and a high-paying job with plenty of perks. When his boss invites him on a weekend trip, Neil quickly packs his bags and arranges for a babysitter to take care of the kid. His wife offers to give him a ride.

Half-way to downtown Chicago a man (Pierce Brosnan) who has been hiding on the back seat of Neil's car pops up and points a gun at his head. He demands a large amount of money and announces that Neil's daughter has been abducted by the babysitter. The man also hands Neil a cell phone and asks that he calls home - Neil must be aware what is at stake if he does not comply with the mysterious man's demands.

What do we do now?

Butterfly on a Wheel is a puzzle with plenty of missing pieces that are added up as the story progresses. The majority arrive via traditional clues that become more and more telling as we approach the finale. The ending links everything together and a quick synopsis of the entire story is provided through multiple flashbacks.

The main attraction in Butterfly on a Wheel is Pierce Brosnan's transformation into a tough, highly-demanding, Irish goon. He is methodical, very articulate, and determined. His actions are well calculated and, as the story reveals, always anticipating Neil's reactions. As a result, the slightly predictable game of cat and mouse that ensues after Pierce Brosnan's character announces his demands remains tolerable primarily because of the ex-Bond's presence.

Gerard Butler is a respectable opponent but his improvisations are rather stiff. The open clashes with his captor lead to a number of overdramatizations that are far too transparent and out of sync with the story. The hotel scene where he switches into a depressive mode is arguably the weakest link in Butterfly on a Wheel, and unfortunately it resonates with the entire story quite strongly. Still, I liked his energy and poise. With the right script in hand he could be quite fascinating to behold.

Maria Bello, the beautiful blonde from Mel Gibson's Payback (1999), is a great asset to Butterfly on a Wheel. The character she plays is very convincing and less prone to overdramatization. Her facial expressions in particular are excellent and could be quite a challenge for those who aren't used to reading people. Even better, the actress' ability to match everyone else's energy could well be the reason why Butterfly on a Wheel does not flop immediately after we learn what type of film we are in for.

I wish this German Blu-ray disc offered the same commentary Mike Barker and William Morrisey did for the UK release of Butterfly on a Wheel (I highly recommend that you listen to it if you end up getting the UK disc, it could well be a more rewarding experience than watching the actual film), as they certainly address a lot of the areas that I thought could have been more convincing - the clues, the dialog, even a bit of the directing. This being siad, the soundtrack for Butterfly on a Wheel is actually far richer and more sophisticated than the actual story, pointing to a totally different complexion in terms of character progression. This isn't necessarily a negative, but after all was said and done it seemed to me as if Butterfly on a Wheel might have slightly underperformed, given that the supporting elements for a much stronger film were most definitely present.

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with VC-1, and granted a 1080p transfer Butterfly on a Wheel arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of German distributors Universum Film.

There are some notable differences between the UK release of Butterfly on a Wheel and this German disc. First of all, we have two different encodes - the UK release, courtesy of Icon Home Home Entertainment, is encoded with MPEG-4 AVC while the German release has been encoded with VC-1. Second, the UK disc is Region-Free while the German disc is Region-B "locked". This being said, the color-scheme for the German disc is very strong. Clarity and contrast are also very convincing, and edge-enhancement is not an issue of concern. As it was the case with the UK disc, the German transfer for Butterfly on a Wheel boasts that impressive "popping" look many HD aficionados are looking for. Finally, I did not detect any specks, debris, or dirt to report here. (Note: As I noted above, this is a Region-B "locked" disc which you won't be able to play on your Region-A PS3 or SA).

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Well, there are some notable differences between the UK and German releases in the audio department as well. First of all, the UK disc offered a solid English: DTS-HD MA 5.1 track which the German distributors have replaced with an English: DTS-HD HR 5.1 mix. This Blu-ray disc also has a German: DTS-HD HR 5.1 mix. To be honest with you, the DTS-HD HR 5.1 mix is just as impressive as the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track (I noted in my review for the UK disc that Butterfly on a Wheel isn't a film that will test the muscle of your home set-up, and if there are any differences between the two audio tracks they are indeed insignificant). The dialog is crystal clear and very easy to follow, and I did not detect any audio distortions to report here (hissing, pops, or cracks). Finally, balance is handled adequately. Optional German subtitles are provided for the main feature (for the record, the subtitles are split between the image frame and the area below it).

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unlike the UK release for Butterfly on a Wheel, the German disc is actually BD-Live enabled. Unfortunately, I was only able to enter a web portal where there were a few trailers for other Universum releases (I am a bit unsure if I am doing everything properly here, but to be honest the German instructions are pretty simple, so I don't believe I am missing anything). The only other supplemental materials on this Blu-ray disc are a gallery of trailers for other Universum releases and the original theatrical trailer for the main feature.

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Butterfly on a Wheel is an enjoyable but not exceptional thriller. Its narrative has a fare share of twists, but if you follow the action closely they could be quite predictable. Nevertheless, as a late-night viewing material this film comes recommended. This being said, keep in mind that the German Blu-ray disc is Region-B "locked", meaning that if you are in Region-A land you probably want to consider the UK Region-Free release.