Production Year: 2000 - Action/Adventure - Director: Kinji Fukasaku - Original Language: Japanese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Fujiwara Tatsuya, Maeda Aki, Yamamoto Taro, Takeshi Kitano
In Kinji Fukasaku's shocking, apocalyptic film, Japan is on the brink of collapse. The nation's youth have become out of control, leading the government to take drastic measures.... more
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only fitting that Kenta Fukasaku's Battle Royale is being touted as A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens wi...
only fitting that Kenta Fukasaku's Battle Royale is being touted as A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens wi...
BATTLE ROYALE
The Japanese nation is in turmoil and on the verge of a collapse, the government must act
... more
to stop the violence from the nation's youth. They introduce a new measure 'Battle Royale' in which the pupils in a class from a randomly chosen school are taken to a deserted island and forced to fight each other to the death...n
Battle Royale [2001]
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence it's
... more
only fitting that Kenta Fukasaku's Battle Royale is being touted as A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a series of fleeting images of unruly Japanese school kids, whose bad behaviour provides a justification for the "punishments" which will ensue. To be honest, anyone who has grown up with Grange Hill will view these aggressive teenagers' acts as pretty moderate, but in the context of Japanese culture, their lack of respect is a challenge to the traditional values of respecting ones elders. Once the prequel has been dispensed with, the classmates are drugged and awaken on an island where they find they have been fitted with dog collars that monitor their every move. Instructed by their old teacher ("Beat" Takeshi) with the aid of an upbeat MTV-style video, they are told of their fate: after an impartial lottery they have been chosen to fight each other in a three-day, no-rules contest, the "Battle Royale". Their only chance of survival in the "Battle" is through the death of all their classmates. Some pupils embrace their mission with zeal, while others simply give up or try to become peacemakers and revolutionaries. However, the ultimate drive for survival comes from the desire to protect the one you love. The film looks like a war-flick on occasions, with intense Apocalypse Now-style imagery (check out the classical score blasted over the tannoys with sweeping shots of helicopters). Yet, Battle Royale works on many different levels, highlighting the authorities' desperation to enforce law and order and the alienation caused by the generation gap. But whether you view the film as an important social commentary or simply enjoy the adrenalin-fuelled violence, this is set to become cult viewing for the computer game generation and beyond. --Nikki Disney
Battle Royale [2001]
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence it's
... more
only fitting that Kenta Fukasaku's Battle Royale is being touted as A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a series of fleeting images of unruly Japanese school kids, whose bad behaviour provides a justification for the "punishments" which will ensue. To be honest, anyone who has grown up with Grange Hill will view these aggressive teenagers' acts as pretty moderate, but in the context of Japanese culture, their lack of respect is a challenge to the traditional values of respecting ones elders. Once the prequel has been dispensed with, the classmates are drugged and awaken on an island where they find they have been fitted with dog collars that monitor their every move. Instructed by their old teacher ("Beat" Takeshi) with the aid of an upbeat MTV-style video, they are told of their fate: after an impartial lottery they have been chosen to fight each other in a three-day, no-rules contest, the "Battle Royale". Their only chance of survival in the "Battle" is through the death of all their classmates. Some pupils embrace their mission with zeal, while others simply give up or try to become peacemakers and revolutionaries. However, the ultimate drive for survival comes from the desire to protect the one you love. The film looks like a war-flick on occasions, with intense Apocalypse Now-style imagery (check out the classical score blasted over the tannoys with sweeping shots of helicopters). Yet, Battle Royale works on many different levels, highlighting the authorities' desperation to enforce law and order and the alienation caused by the generation gap. But whether you view the film as an important social commentary or simply enjoy the adrenalin-fuelled violence, this is set to become cult viewing for the computer game generation and beyond. --Nikki Disney
ITS ONLY A GAME SHOW. Review ofBattle Royale (Special Edition)by
Morning_Becomes_Electra
Advantages: A brilliant film from Kinji Fukasaku. Disadvantages: Brutal and bloody.
- BATTLE ROYALE -
FILM ONLY
Released In 2000 the notorious apocalyptic Japanese film 'Battle Royale' is directed by Kinji Fukasaku and stars Takeshi Kitano ('Beat') and Yukihiro Kutani. Originally banned from entering the country, it went on to become the highest grossing Mainstream Japanese film ever, to enter the UK. Genre Horror/Thriller, Battle Royale is a social satire 'Lord Of The Flies' type production, which takes a swipe at the game ... ...and stunning Battle Royale is a brilliant film which is shocking, amusing, and thought provoking, all at the same time. -
The premise for Battle Royale is a very interesting one, and quite futuristic. Set at the beginning of the 21st century, the youth of Japan are out of control. They are running riot, rejecting discipline and have no respect for authority. The young unemployed are turning to crime and holding the country to virtual ransom. The ...
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Advantages: Fast paced action Disadvantages: It feels like it ends too soon.
...to death slowly.
THE BATTLE HAS BEGUN!
Cast:
Takeshi Kitano .... Kitano (as Beat Takeshi) Tatsuya Fujiwara .... Shuya Nanahara - Boys #15 Aki Maeda .... Noriko Nakagawa - Girls #15 Taro Yamamoto .... Shougo Kawada - Boys #5 Masanobu Ando .... Kazuo Kiriyama - Boys #6 Kou Shibasaki .... Mitsuko Souma - Girls #11 Chiaki Kuriyama .... Takako Chigusa - Girls #13 Takashi Tsukamoto .... Shinji Mimura - Boys #19 Sousuke Takaoka .... Hiroki Sugimura - ... ...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 ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
...5 minutes I realised that Battle Royale would surpass my expectations, and by the end of the film I had prepared myself to search out the DVD, and read up anything interesting on the topic. I found a wealth of tie-in material: the book on which the film is based, the manga comic based on the premise, and a whole online community of fans, cosplayers and cult film obsessives willing to share their experiences watching the film.
The plot quickly becomes ... ...teenagers, and the political notions of the story are made very clear and strong. In a Japan where adults have lost control of their children, where schools are boycotted and the streets are unsafe due to gangs of unruly youths, the government (with the aid of the Japanese adult population) passes the 'BR Act', meaning a class of children, aged 15-16, from anywhere in Japan, is chosen by impartial lottery and abducted, taken to an island and given ...
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Advantages: Its the best film ever Disadvantages: It doesnt give enough character backgrounds
The film is about 40ish teenagers trapped on a deserted island where they are forced to kill each other off until there is only one remaining victor left with random weapons ranging from a double barreled shotgun to a pot lid. The film is excellent from the word go. the plot is well written with various twists especially at the end. You will be jumping out of your seat throughout the whole film with suspense and killer action scenes. The soundtrack ...
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Plot: The Japanese nation is in turmoil and on the verge of a collapse, the government must act to stop the violence from the nation's youth. They introduce a new measure 'Battle Royale' in which the pupils in a class from a randomly chosen school are taken to a deserted island and forced to fight each other to the death... Japanese dialogue with subtitles.
Release details
DVD Region: Region 0 (All Regions)
Studio(s): TARTAN VIDEO; WORLD CINEMA; SONY DADC
Release date: 23/02/2004
No of Discs: 2
Catalogue No: TVD 3457
Barcode: 5023965345721
Languages
Main Language: Japanese
Subtitle Language: English
DVD Description
In Kinji Fukasaku's shocking, apocalyptic film, Japan is on the brink of collapse. The nation's youth have become out of control, leading the government to take drastic measures. The result is the Battle Royale act, which requires that a group of randomly chosen teenage students be transported to a deserted island and forced to fight to the death. In addition to a cast of young talent, BATTLE ROYALE features renowned actor and director "Beat" Takeshi Kitano.
Technical information
Special Features: Scene Selection, The Making Of Battle Royale, Battle Royale Press Conference, Instructional Video Birthday Version, Audition And Rehearsal Footage, Special Effects Comparison Featurette, Tokyo International Film Festival 2000, Battle Royale Documentary, Basketball Scene Rehearsals, Behind The Scenes Featurette, Filming On Set, Original Theatrical Trailer, Special Edition TV Spot, TV Spot Tarantino Version, Directors Statement, On Screen Filmographies
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Wide Screen
Sound: DTS
Dubbing Sound: DTS Japanese
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Listed on Ciao since : 28/04/2005
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