In a near future anti-social behaviour in Japan has reached an all time high, harmless children go to school armed with knives and guns. The government for years have been aware of the issue, but have never been able to act. But one day, the laws change and at last anti-social behaviour can be put firmly in it's place.
A group of ninth grade school children head off on a bus trip, many of them are the cause of the anti social behaviour mentioned. While travelling through a tunnel the children start to pass out, what could be wrong?
When they awaken they are laid on a floor in an army barracks, they are greeted by their rather unpopular teacher Kitano. None of them understand what has happened to them, none of them can believe what's going on; but they begin to realise. Slowly they are introduced to a new order. For on this day, they will be taken to an island where they will fight, not harmless fighting but seriously deadly fighting. They must fight until just one remains, all others must be killed. They are given a survival pack which contains basic rations and survival equipment. In addition each will have a special item it could be a tazer gun, a crossbow, or even a pan lid. Each item has been scientifically used as a weapon, and it's with these weapons that they must kill their fellow classmates.
There is no escape, and if they try, or venture from the
boundaries of the island, or stay still to long; or try to take off the collars they will explode. If they are lucky the explosion will blow their head right off, if they are unlucky it will burst veins in their neck causing them to bleed to death slowly.
Possibly the best known of the cast Takeshi Kitano, or Beat Takeshi as he is also known has become a legend in Japan, and the rest of the world. From humble roots as the count in the hilarious Takeshi's Castle (shown on Challenge daily) to the movies Zatoichi, Gohatto, Brother and Hana-Bi.
Also becoming pretty well known around the world is Chiaki Kuriyama a very distinctive Japanese actress best known to the world audience in her role as Gogo Yubari in the movie Kill Bill a rather vicious young girl with a deadly variety of weapons.
My Thoughts ------------------
When I first saw Battle Royale back in 2000 it had just been denied a UK certificate, six months later such was the notoriety of the movie that it was flooding into the UK whether the censors allowed it or not. Rather cross at the reaction the BBFC granted it a certificate and it became one the highest grossing Japanese movies to hit the UK shores. From the first 10 minutes of this movie I loved it, you just have too. It takes you back somehow to things you have seen the past. A sort of Crystal Maze or Adventure Game where the penalty for failure is death.
Eleven minutes in and your shown what happens if you don't do as instructed, a boys head is blown open at the neck, creating an almost hinge like mechanism. This is the first time the children realise that this is no joke, and for the viewing audience the realisation hits them too. In comparison to the death of others this is a fairly tame way of annihilation. From then on the children are out in the wilderness fighting for their lives. For some death comes quickly, but for others it's a long dragged out death. You know quite quickly that there is no plausible way of escape, some of the children team up with each other, not fully aware that before long they will need to wipe each other out or all be destroyed.
What gripped me about the movie more than anything else is how quickly it passed. I felt like I had watched the movie for around an hour, but in actual fact it has a two hour runtime. The action is consistent through the film; this creates an instantly likeable quality to the film. I watched it again the following day after my first viewing, it was something very different. I already had a love of Japanese horror, but for many this is the entry level movie, few see this and turn back.
What is lovely about this movie is that is very pure, there is little or no soundtrack, this creates a level of unease that we are just not used to. With no music you have no indication of what's round the corner, so as death comes as a surprise to the children it does to you too. Another nice touch is that they have not made any effort to dub the film. It comes in its original Japanese language and you watch it with English subtitles.
If you love action movies, you'll love this, and if you love horror you'll love it too. A fan of the triumph movie in which good and evil must fight each other head on; Welcome home.
At any price Battle Royale is a movie to have in your collection. Special Features ------------------------
Special Edition of the film featuring additional footage and alternative ending, this gives the movie a special twist not seen before.
A making of featurette showing the fantastic special effects and the difficulties of shooting.
A press conference set up to both market the movie and to fight against the backlash of bad press.
An instructional video, which I rather sickly laughed the whole way through.
Audition footage and rehearsal footage from stars that made it and those that did not. And including an amazing basketball scene rehearsal.
A special effects piece which goes stage by stage through some of the most complex and imaginative death scenes.
Film Festival footage
A documentary made for marketing the movie in the UK and US.
Behind The Scenes featurette, which is just similar footage churned out again in a different format.
On Set featurette made for Japanese television.
Original theatrical trailer, TV trailers and the usual photos and Biographies.
This version of Battle Royale: The Special Edition is available from play.com for £17.99. However you can also get the vanilla version without the special features and alternate ending for £7.99 or a 5.1 sound version for £11.99 also from Play.
Pictures of Battle Royale (Special Edition) (DVD)
Awakening to a new order
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Am I the only person that found this film hilarious? From the weapons given out to some of the uber-cool cheesy acting to the ending with the teachers death scene?? (Don't think the US version will capture any of this) Not knocking its ability to shock and its definitely a cult classic, one of my favourites.
Nice Review.
wolfatgoogle 04.05.2006 18:52
This film is just amazing, it just has to be seen. And the first viewing will just leave you stunned. Very good review.
micheledog 21.03.2006 15:30
wow this sounds like my sort of film, will have to look out for it x x x
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence its ... more
only fitting that Kenta FukasakusBattle Royaleis being touted asA Clockwork Orangefor the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a s...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence its ... more
only fitting that Kenta FukasakusBattle Royaleis being touted asA Clockwork Orangefor the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a s...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 6 to 10 days...
![Battle Royale - Two Disc Special Edition [DVD] [2001]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/76558346.jpg "Battle Royale - Two Disc Special Edition [DVD] [2001]")
![Battle Royale [DTS Special Edition]-DVD](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/99739106.jpg "Battle Royale [DTS Special Edition]-DVD")
Mar 17th, 2006
very helpful by (100%):
