Action & Adventure > Fukasaku, Kinji Action & Adventure

Battle Royale: an exciting, darkly comic, important film

Advantages: Stunning commentary on a dystopic future
Disadvantages: Too dark and controversial for some audiences

...website, ShaunMunro.co.uk, and Dooyoo! Battle Royale, the adaptation of Koshun Takami's fabulous novel of the same name, is near enough controversy at 24 frames per second, unleashing a downbeat, counter-culture, subversive tone from its matter-of-fact opening, to its twist-filled end. Much furore has surrounded the fact that this film is still unreleased in America (contrary to the belief that the film was banned), most postulating that a film ...
...and Fukasaku's efforts here. Battle Royale opens by informing us that employment is at an all-time low in Japan, and truancy at an all-time high, so to combat this problem, every three years a class of school kids are randomly selected and taken to an island where they must fight to the death, with the victor granted safe passage home. We are soon enough greeted with an iconic image of the previous winner - a blood-soaked, smiling young girl holding ...

asdasta632 26.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Battle Royale (DVD)

Sword vs. ...Spatula

Advantages: Great acting and special effects
Disadvantages: The special features, it's in Japanese so reading subtitles may be offputting

...I couldn’t get into it. Battle Royale was one I’d heard lots about online, and it had loads of volumes already published (always good – I love a long series I can get stuck into) so I was quite eager to try this out. I got a few pages in…and put it down. It was graphic violence, vulgar, and I didn’t really like the art style. So I sold it and never looked back. Until I found out about the live action film. I didn’t bat an eyelid, until I read the ...
...vow of never getting into Battle Royale, all because of one man. So, was it worth my time and money? BACKGROUND -------------------- The film tagline reads: "At the dawn of the millennium, the nation collapsed. At fifteen percent unemployment, ten million were out of work. 800,000 students boycotted school. The adults lost confidence, and fearing the youth, eventually passed the Millennium Educational Reform Act - AKA: The BR Act" It’s a fairly ...

Mayoki 08.03.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Battle Royale (Special Edition) (DVD)

Battle Royale 2 - Worth the Money

Advantages: Interesting story
Disadvantages: May be a bit too violent + subtitles are poorly translated

...film. This DVD is worth every penny, and can also be watched over and over again, every time as good as the last. Battle Royale 2 is also surprisingly funny like its predecessor, although to a lesser extent as the sequel has a slightly more serious tone than the first. ...

alexp2007 11.08.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Battle Royale 2 - Requiem (Subtitled) (DVD)

Stick with me,,,, I die,, You die.

Advantages: Sturdy Tin, Free Stuff, what more could you want?
Disadvantages:

...REVIEW SHOULD BE CALLED BATTLE ROYALE 2 - REVENGE (SPECIAL EDITION) (TIN BOX SET) (THREE DISCS) - It only comes in the tin with three discs.*** Looking back, compared to this, the original idea they had for Battle Royale I was pretty straight forward compared to this bloodfest of a game. 42 High school children are forced to battle it out *again* on an island *again*. This time howeVer, they dont have to kill eachother off.. oh no,, that would ...
...movie. ---- Battle Royale 2 - Requiem 3 disc special collectors edition. There are a whole bunch of special features crammed into this little tin: * Deluxe steel tin with embossed 'BR' logo design * Poster art collector's card * Uniquely numbered film cell * Information booklet * Disc 1: * Original presentation of the film * Trailer * Disc 2: * A new cut of the film delivering over 20 minutes more action! * Scene selection * Disc 3: ...

jonnyholden 02.03.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Battle Royale 2 - Revenge (Special Edition) (Tin Box Set) (DVD)

Great film, unnecessary extras...

Advantages: Brilliant film which is considered a cult classic
Disadvantages: The extras in the special edition release aren't really needed

I love this film; it is full of hardcore violence, black humour and genuine emotion. However, you can find more in-depth reviews of the actual film on the other DVD reviews since I am going to focus on why this DVD is special edition. To be honest though you shouldn't get too excited about the new cut of the film since only a few additional scenes have been added, and they aren't really essential viewing. Disc 2 contains lots of behind-the-scenes ...

kinggoat63 08.04.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Battle Royale (Special Edition+Collectors Cards) (DVD)