Battle Royale

[Laurel]

I'm sure this has been commented on before, but....Am I the only one who can't decide whether this movie is supafine Japanese social commentary or f**kin hilarious cartoon violence crapola?

Just wondering,
Laurel

[The Burgomaster]

I think it's both . . . which is why it's so entertaining!

[dean]

I'm with burgo, it's very much a terrific Japanese movie, that has great [albeit odd] social commentary, but it is also very much a graphic comic violence extravaganza.  Why not let it be both and enjoy the ride?

[Laurel]

You folks are right--it's a floor wax and a dessert topping.  (-:

[dean]

Well I'm a big fan of this movie, so fun is had on all levels, but tell me, what way were you swinging on this?

[Laurel]

I was almost completely undecided.  I only watched it once, which is probably part of the problem.  I was leaning toward the the supafine category and felt pretty sure I was missing something. 

At 42 I may be a bit old to fully appreciate this movie too.     But I can still watch almost anything with "Beat" in it.

Laurel

Well I'm a big fan of this movie, so fun is had on all levels, but tell me, what way were you swinging on this?

[DodgingGrunge]

Laurel, to gain a full appreciation of the social commentary, you need to check out the book.  I simply could not put it down and made it through all 700 pages in one (long) day.  The movie is wonderful, but it hastily drops you straight into the middle of the craziness.  The book not only explains the BR Act but the fictitious society as a whole.  It also takes the time to develop each of the students.  If nothing else, it'll give you a competitive intellectual edge if you re-watch the film with friends.  Haha.

[Scott]

As they always say "the book(s) are better" which is the case with BATTLE ROYALE from what I understand, but I've only seen the movie and it's a far out concept with classmates having to knock each other off on an island. It's not that it couldn't have been done earlier, but that it is one of those things most wouldn't write or do a film about. Then again we have our slasher films here which have a lot to do with high school students. As a film it's ok and we probably loose something in the cultural sense when watching BATTLE ROYALE.

[Torgo]

The thing I love the most about Battle Royale (besides it being an awesome movie) is that there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY you would ever see an American studio making a movie with this subject matter.   

I got a really high quality 2 disc DVD of the extended director's cut off of Ebay about 4 years ago.  The extras are great though they aren't subtitled with English, though the actual movie is.

[Laurel]

Didn't even know there was a book!  But part of my problem was in keeping all the characters sorted.  Thanks!

Laurel

Laurel, to gain a full appreciation of the social commentary, you need to check out the book.  I simply could not put it down and made it through all 700 pages in one (long) day.  The movie is wonderful, but it hastily drops you straight into the middle of the craziness.  The book not only explains the BR Act but the fictitious society as a whole.  It also takes the time to develop each of the students.  If nothing else, it'll give you a competitive intellectual edge if you re-watch the film with friends.  Haha.

[DodgingGrunge]

As they always say "the book(s) are better" which is the case with BATTLE ROYALE from what I understand, but I've only seen the movie and it's a far out concept with classmates having to knock each other off on an island.

It was actually Koushun Takami's first (and only) book.  It won some form of recognition from an amateur writer's contest and caused quite a stir in Japan, but not really for the violence.  The book focuses on the empire called The Republic of Greater East Asia, essentially fulfilling the age-old Japanese dream of subduing the mainland.  The imperialistic government is totalitarian, censorious, militaristic.  The BR Act was enacted some 50 years prior as a Spartan-esque test of fitness to gage the strength of the empire's youth.  Unlike the film, children and parents are well-aware of its existence, but like so many things, it could never happen to me.  Unlike the film, it addresses the issues of parents who lose their children, the media reportage of the events, the locations, the logistics.  It really is one of the best books I have ever read (and I read a lot... average about a book a week).  I would strongly encourage any fan of the film to seek it out.

The film took a more over-the-top approach, akin to the satirical style of John Waters.  One thing it does particularly well, in my opinion, is examine the superficialities of high school relationships, the formation of cliques, the everyday drama of life.  And to fully cement the absurdity, the children are given a small arsenal with which to articulate their problems.  More subtly, it also contrasts the melodrama of childhood with the bleakness of adult responsibility, mostly through "Beat" Takeshi's character.  Indeed, something for everyone!  And absurd or not, I think this is a much more accurate portrayal of adolescence than Larry Clark's Kids.

[Laurel]

Thanks!  I have got to find that book.