Battle Royale! Japanese Rule All!

[Mr_Vindictive]

Finally got my hands on a copy of Battle Royale on Tuesday.  As soon as I got home, I slapped the film in, and got ready for the ride.

Wow.  What a ride!

Battle Royale is a japanese film set in the near future.  After the millenium it seems that Japan ran into some trouble.  Teen crime is on the rise, as are the unemployment numbers.  This prompts the government to start what is called the "BR Act" (Battle Royale Act).  Basically this means that the government will randomly take a group of students to a deserted island, strap bombs around their necks and make them fight for their lives!  ROCK ON!

Having heard a lot about this film, and having wanted to see it for quite some time; I was highly entertained!  Although the plot is a little "out-there" this film comes off as believeable as any other film.  The characters are all around the ages of 14-15, and guess what!?  The actors are actually that age!  No more thirtysomethings trying to be a teenager in a film!  YES!

The main point that sold me on this movie was the interaction of the characters.  Eventhough they are all set to kill each other, they still make jokes about who has a crush on who.  One particular scene comes to mind.  A girl gets ambushed by an ex boyfriend of hers.  He proceeds to threaten to rape her.  This all ends with the boy being stabbed in his nether regions about five times.  

Oh yeah, did I mention that this film is brutal?  I mean BRUTAL!  Each teen is given a bag with food and a weapon.  The weapon is random.  They range from binoculars to automatic weapons.  Thankfully, the violence is not too extreme in this film, it's just the nature of the killings that make them so brutal.  Petty differences from the childrens school play a major part in who they hunt down in the film.  If you weren't in someone's group, then watch out for them, as they will probably still hold a grudge against you.

By far one of the best action films I have seen in quite some time.  The violence is brutal, the story line is interesting, and the characters are likeable.  I am quickly starting to fall in love with Japanese cinema.  This film, and Versus have become two of my favorite films in the span of only a week.  Now if only I can get a copy of The Happiness Of The Kakaturis or a copy of Suicide Club.




Also, if anyone else has seen Battle Royale, please post on here saying you have.  I have a question about the beginning/end.

[The Burgomaster]

I agree. A very entertaining movie!

[StatCat]

The director who made it died recently and they're saying his son is supposedly supposed to make the second one. I liked it, it was a little ridiculously crazy at times but that fit it well.

[Fearless Freep]

On of the sites associated with Nathan's Cold Fusion Video had a good review of it.  I think it was something like "Friday Night Society" but the never seemed to get new material after their initial push and maybe Nathan dropped them



Post Edited (09-04-03 11:25)

[Pete B6K]

I love Battle Royale, and so does everyone I know who's seen it.
And I got a whole bunch of people shouting random positive coments at me when I wore my BR t-shirt to a recent music festival, which quite surprised me.

[Dunners]

great f**king movie, very brutal. if you enjoyed it read the manga its twice as f**ked up and you get to know all sorts of characters better.

[ZombieFu]

I have seen the movie and I have read the book. I love it! There is a Battle Royale 2, it came out in July of this year over in Japan. And yes his son did direct it. Go to http://br2.battleroyalefilm.com/ for a LOT of info on BR2 and BR1.

ZombieFu

[wuggles451]

Does anyone know of a Region One DVD, or will i have to invest in an all region player?

[The Burgomaster]

Wuggles451 wrote:

"Does anyone know of a Region One DVD, or will i have to invest in an all region player?"

I bought the director's cut on the Video Mayhem website. It is Region 1.