Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Slightly crazy star 'Beat' Takeshi was well-known in the '80s for his role as the host and creator of TAKESHI'S CASTLE, the insane game show where contestants injured themselves in a series of weird games. Takeshi made his directorial debut with VIOLENT COP, an effective and downbeat thriller, and followed up that film's success with this, his second outing as director.I didn't enjoy BOILING POINT as much as Takeshi's previous film, mainly because of the performance of Takeshi himself. Takeshi appears in an extended cameo in the middle part of the film in a role that has little to do with the main plot; in fact, his thirty-minute turn is like a 'mini film' in itself, a portrait of an insane gangster who dishes out violence to one and all, whether it be his henchman, his girlfriend or the gangsters who formerly employed him. This is Takeshi gone over the edge; he's a sadistic, vindictive character and incredibly his cruel exploits are played for laughs, particularly his repetitive violence towards his girlfriend. Are we supposed to laugh at this stuff, I wonder? Because watching this guy commit rape (on his own henchman in the film's most depraved moment) and casual violence isn't my idea of fun. I liked Takeshi in VIOLENT COP and BATTLE ROYALE, but I couldn't stand him here.It's a shame, as the rest of the film is pretty damn good. We witness the transformation of a mild-mannered gas station attendant into a suicidal fighter against the mob, and the whole film centres around this character of Masaki. Actor Yurei Yanagi, who takes the leading role in his debut performance, is bloody excellent and a real trooper. Although the film offers the Japanese style of taciturn acting – the male actors rarely show expression on their faces – Yanagi makes us sympathise with his character's plight and, indeed, actually like him.Although the film is essentially a slow-burning revenge flick, you'll be surprised to hear that the action and violence is limited. There's only one shoot-out in the film, although there are quite a few beat-downs and other moments of crazy violence. Instead there's an emphasis on baseball, with many well-shot matches, and characterisation. Many of the incidents within the film, such as the car and motorbike accidents and the casual violence meted out by Takeshi himself, are played for laughs but the humour value is intermittent, not always working. As a result, BOILING POINT is very much a cult movie, one for lovers of offbeat comedy and bizarre, almost surreal antics rather than fans of traditional gangster movies.

This movie started out pretty slow pacing and kind of boring. I gotta say i was confused the first 40 minutes. But then Takeshi Kitano showed up and then all the fun started. He acts perfect in this movie. You gotta love him in this role. I laughed my pants of. Its good to see some funny violence. One thing i liked about the violence is that there were no exaggerated sounds when hitting. There is just one thing and that is the ending. I have no idea on what happened and i have seen many discussing this topic. I gotta say i have no clue. I think everyone who likes the Tarantino violence should see this movie. Go and find it and buy it. You won't be disappointed.

"Boiling point" is not a movie that you'll easily assimilate. Too much silence, a plot that looks a little bit confusing and that's quite simple at the same time. What's most remarkable about it is the way Takeshi Kitano shoots, his camera is always static, and hi has a very personal view of violence and humor.Not everyone will understand this story that deals with amateur baseball players and yakuzas, but I guess i's quite advisable for those who love the films of this Japanese director.*My rate: 6/10---------------- ---------------- ------------------ ------------------- -------------------

If this was the first Beat Takeshi movie I'd ever watched I'm sure I would be absolutely baffled! Even admirers of his 'Sonatine' and 'Hana-bi' might find this offbeat movie a bit difficult to get into. Certain sequences are brilliant and simply unforgettable, but as a whole the movie fails to gel, and ultimately disappoints. The first hour or so of 'Boiling Point' features an amateur baseball player who crosses some local Yakuza with disastrous results. The main character Masaki (Masahiko Ono) is deliberately a bit of an idiot and difficult to like. This makes it hard to care about his fate. The movie really picks up when Beat Takeshi's character is introduced. He is completely unpredictable and dangerous, and the most repellent role I have ever seen Takeshi play. These parts of the movie remind me more of Takashi Miike's work like 'Dead Or Alive' than Takeshi's subsequent movies. They are very dark, disturbing with surreal touches and bits of bizarre humour. Takeshi still remains one of the most charismatic contemporary actors, and he displays originality and talent as a writer and director, but I found the movie to be nowhere near as satisfying as 'Hana-bi', his masterpiece released several years after this one. Even Kitano's previous movie 'Violent Cop', which was much less ambitious (and a little uneven) was more enjoyable for me than this. So I say newcomers to Takeshi best steer clear of 'Boiling Point', but fans will find it to be fascinating albeit flawed viewing.