TheFilmGuy1 I have recently been going through Kitano's films, and upon seeing thing, I think it's probably the one I like the least. It's kind of a weak film. It has it's moments, but as a whole is too slow and bizarre for it's own good.Just like most Kitano films, it has his signature style. The sudden violence, the comedy, all those things, but in this film it just doesn't work. I think a big gripe is that the story feels too loose. You kind of get lost as to why certain things are happening or how certain characters know each other. It actually begins to feel like two separate films about 50 minutes in. Personally, I found myself more engaged in the story that occurs 50 minutes in then the rest of it. One of the big issues seems to be that Kitano doesn't show up until that later point, and it just feels like not enough of Kitano's character. Also, the ending doesn't help clarify the film. In fact, it makes it more confusing. I won't give it away, but it can be interpreted in different ways. But I will say that if you interpret it one specific way, it kind of explains the general odd-ness of the film.Kitano is known for including some strange things in his movies, but this one just kinda takes it over the top. While the movie can be quite funny, such as a scene involving an M16 hidden in a bouquet of flowers accidentally going off and causing a funny reaction, it just feels like it delves too deep into the comedy and it makes any drama feel odd. There's also some confusing things, like Kitano's character raping his male friend, and then him not really caring the next day. Or Kitano raping a random woman. Some very odd things to include without any reason. There is also a scene where it appears like we are supposed to see the same event twice, but it is all done in one take, which makes it quite confusing, but kind of impressive at the same time. Really strange to see. Although I will give the film credit for somehow making girlfriend abuse funny. (It sounds odd but when you see him hitting her, you can't help but laugh)Overall I think this is a weak Kitano film. It doesn't give me enough drama or character development to keep my interest. I think that's it's biggest problem. It's slow but not for the right reasons, such as building characters and relationships before the big climax, but just feels slow so it can include silly and odd scenes. Only recommended for Kitano fans.

bob the moo A local amateur baseball team has some trouble with Yakuza gangsters in the area, with the quiet and unassuming Masaki being one of those victimised the most. Pushed to the point of action, Masaki and his friend go to get a gun to challenge those thugs in power. This quest brings them into contact with the violent and erratic Uehara, who himself is losing to those within the Yakuza holding all the power.I have been using my DVD rental club to catch up on some foreign films recently and part of this has been watching the films of Takeshi Kitano. Doing this has reminded me what an odd but engaging character he is and, by extension, his films are and I continued to add a few more of his to my list. Boiling Point (not sure why, other than marketing reasons, they settled on that title given that the translation is 3rd and 4th day of a month) is sadly not one of his films that did anything for me other than put me off. It is not that it is without anything of note or merit, but more that it just doesn't hang together as an accessible piece of film. I say this with the full knowledge that Kitano's films are often an acquired taste and tend towards silence and fragmentation of timelines but here it did feel like a deliberate decision to push the audience away.With the narrative stuttering over the duration it is left to the moments to carry the film and there are not enough of them to go around. Moments of violence, sex and brutality are arresting no doubt and it is interesting to have such an abhorrent character as Uehara in a key place, but these are scattered and not developed. Instead we have the film generally moving in no specific direction in regards structure or characters and it is hard not to find it all a bit dull. The cast don't help by not making that much of an impression at any point other than scenes involving Kitano. He is not as interesting here as in other films but it is hard to ignore him as a violent force in the film. Alongside him the two boys look dull and uninteresting – a problem for them because they are supposed to be the main characters. As director and writer, Kitano may have been making cultural points (as some have suggested) and that context is required but, without the film helping me get it, I have no way to get this context and as a result the film just doesn't work for me. I'm not sold on this "context" argument because it does come from those who will not have Kitano questioned but either way the film is not a success if it cannot even serve those who are familiar with Kitano.Boiling Point is not a total waste of time as it does have moments and things of interest but as a total product it is inaccessible, dull and built on a plot that is either uninteresting, incoherent or both. Kitano's presence in the second half picks it up a little but nowhere near enough to be worthy of mention alongside the many much better films that he has made.

BigGuy I really can't understand how anyone could see anything good about this movie. The story was incredibly choppy, there were numerous unexplicable gaps in the plot and the story. There wasn't a single character in the movie that was enjoyable or likable to watch except maybe iguchi. The main character basically just stood there for the whole movie, not even reacting to what happens around him. The few times he does act it is in a nonsensical way. I suppose that is supposed to indicate a mild-manner man reached his boiling point, but really it just felt contrived.I suppose maybe if you are a fan of Beat you will like this movie, but he is only in it for a portion of the second half.This is the lowest I have rated a film in a year and I have seen some really bad movies.

anton-6 I saw "Hana-bi" and thought it was good so I rented this with a friend.It was going to be a comedy but after about 20-30 minutes we was wondering what we was watching.A weird film that is almost impossible to understand and IT´S NOT A COMEDY. When the film had end I thought it was awful and bad but a couple of weeks later I started to think about it and I now I like the acting and some scenes but see "Hana-bi" instead.2/5