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Hana-Bi Reviews

1997

70
from 6250 members

Actor and auteur Takeshi Kitano (who in Japan also uses the stage name Beat Takeshi, primarily for his work as a television comedian) wrote, directed, edited, and starred in this unusual crime drama. Nishi (Takeshi Kitano) is a policeman whose emotions seem to run only on two extreme paths -- either quiet contentment or brutal .. Read more

Starring	'Beat' Takeshi Kitano, Kayoko Kishimoto, Ren Osugi, Susumu Terajima
Director	'Beat' Takeshi Kitano
Genres	Drama, Thriller, World Cinema

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Critic's review of Hana-Bi
View all (1)
- Kitano's Venice prize-winner mixes tenderness, violence and droll humour. A recently retired cop drifts towards a... read more on Time Out
- 43869
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:14
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Most helpful member's review of Hana-Bi
View all members' reviews (50)
- - 30
  - 1
  Breathtaking
  
  This is beautiful. It is both ultra violent and yet very tender. A hard cop's wife is dying of Leukemia which isn't good and also he's being hunted ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 23001
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - steviebobs
  - 27 reviews
  - London
  - 26 Oct 2004 at 11:06
Most recent members' reviews of Hana-Bi
View all members' reviews (50)
- - 0
  - 0
  Lovely film
  
  A lovely film - full of atmosphere, slow and meaningful. Tackles life's big issues and has quality from production right through to acting.....great stuff.
  
  Report this review
- 1100547
- - MickyLuv
  - 3 reviews
  - 08 Mar 2012 at 19:08
- - 0
  - 0
  murg rate it
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  what can me say. quit good one, plentiful of action, paceious, very excellent all roud. barry pepper brilliant actor too
  
  Report this review
- 1033578
- - a customer
  - 25 Aug 2011 at 20:40
- - 0
  - 1
  dead end job
  
  Nishi is cop with tragic life. His daughter died as young child, his wife is terminally ill and to ease her pain he has to borrow money from gangsters. His life... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 966453
- - juradino
  - 701 reviews
  - London
  - 21 Feb 2011 at 18:10
- - 0
  - 0
  Typical Takeshi, Typically Good
  
  This quiet, reflective film, just like Takeshi's character, oflickers with moments of great humour, compassion, beauty and violence. I found the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 846010
- - Gfoxandthenaturaldisasters
  - 3 reviews
  - Liverpool
  - 06 Jan 2010 at 22:29
- - 3
  - 0
  .A Puzzle ... with self indulgence?
  
  A bit of a puzzle. I have considerable admiration for the intelligence, elegance and presentation of Japanese films in general. I also recognise the Japanese ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 839706
- - Nigel Wilson
  - Helmsley, North Riding of Yorkshire
  - 14 Dec 2009 at 13:40
- - 0
  - 3
  Snooze fest!
  
  I normally enjoy this particular genre of film but this one is pants! I do not recommend this at all - I fell asleep through it!
  
  Report this review
- 833438
- - blackgal
  - 211 reviews
  - Worksop
  - 22 Nov 2009 at 11:27
- - 1
  - 1
  "Beat" Takeshi Strikes Again
  
  I'm a huge fan of Takeshi Kitano and his work anyway, so I may look on this film from a slightly bias view. The film is of his typical style and his ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 640678
- - Kwaz
  - 2 reviews
  - Tonbridge
  - 08 Oct 2008 at 00:19
- - 2
  - 0
  Over-rated
  
  Trouble with this sort of film is you've seen one and you've seen 'em all. Contrary to other reviews, this offers little original content apart from... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 633623
- - a customer
  - Weymouth
  - 23 Sep 2008 at 12:53
- - 0
  - 1
  liked it
  
  Liked it a lot. But I have liked everything with Beat in, even the very slow ones. Still don't like the Hollywood smaltzy sound tracks and scene set ups he... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 625639
- - a customer
  - sambourne
  - 07 Sep 2008 at 19:23
- - 0
  - 0
  Customer Review
  
  I think I read somewhere that Hana-Bi means fireworks, I could be wrong, but it sums up this movie. With the greatest hang dog expression since Robert Mitchum ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 579200
- - a customer
  - UK
  - 23 Jun 2008 at 15:22
View all members' reviews (50)

- - 30
  - 1
  Breathtaking
  
  This is beautiful. It is both ultra violent and yet very tender. A hard cop's wife is dying of Leukemia which isn't good and also he's being hunted ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 23001
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - steviebobs
  - 27 reviews
  - London
  - 26 Oct 2004 at 11:06
- - 12
  - 1
  A work of art.
  
  Hana-Bi (Fireworks) examines the consequences of an act of violence and the impact it has on the policemen involved and their families. Takeshi Kitano, who ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 3901
- - sorgos
  - 22 reviews
  - Fife
  - 29 Mar 2004 at 16:57
- - 5
  - 1
  Refreshingly different
  
  Great story, great cinematography, and fantastic editing. If you like violence and art bundled into a witty mix with a clever twist then you will definitely ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 303278
- - Zimgwezim
  - Bristol
  - 06 May 2004 at 00:43
- - 4
  - 1
  On the beat with Takeshi
  
  Takeshi Kitano once again pulls out one of his now trademark 'steel exterior masking inner turmoil' performances. But then, why stray from a winning ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1445
- - Shakeel Ahmed
  - England
  - 04 Feb 2004 at 13:11
- - 4
  - 2
  Haiku reviewer
  
  This is a review, in haiku form, of the film 'Hana Bi':
  
  Megalomaniac
  
  'Beat' can cloy, but he
  
  does have his ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 337098
- - evilyn
  - London
  - 07 Jun 2005 at 20:10
- - 3
  - 0
  Kitano's best film as Actor and Director
  
  If You are a big Takashi Kitano fan like me then you will agree this is his best film by far. Everything about this film is great, as it is a very emotional ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 123105
- - a customer
  - Bristol, England
  - 12 Jul 2005 at 22:58
- - 3
  - 0
  .A Puzzle ... with self indulgence?
  
  A bit of a puzzle. I have considerable admiration for the intelligence, elegance and presentation of Japanese films in general. I also recognise the Japanese ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 839706
- - Nigel Wilson
  - Helmsley, North Riding of Yorkshire
  - 14 Dec 2009 at 13:40
- - 2
  - 0
  Takeshi is superb!
  
  Hana Bi is quite simply one of Beats best performances to date and a seriously beautiful film. Paced to perfection to match Takeshis sombre and quiet ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 9642
- - Matt Garvin
  - South London.
  - 08 Jul 2004 at 08:54
- - 2
  - 0
  Loved it
  
  See and this and like me you will become a big fan of 'Beat' Takeshi and will be desperate to see his other works. This is truly a remarkable film and I... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 12987
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 30 Jul 2004 at 14:24
- - 2
  - 0
  Solid arthouse
  
  Arty film centred around a former policeman who is haunted by events that have happened in the past. Quite a bit deeper than your standard police film and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 112050
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - McClennan
  - 424 reviews
  - St Helens
  - 08 Jun 2005 at 09:26

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Hana-Bi
  
  Actor and auteur Takeshi Kitano (who in Japan also uses the stage name Beat Takeshi, primarily for his work as a television comedian) wrote, directed, edited, and starred in this unusual crime drama. Nishi (Takeshi Kitano) is a policeman whose emotions seem to run only on two extreme paths -- ...