Battle Royale (DVD)

(Also appears at ShaunMunro.co.uk) Director: Kinji Fukasaku Cast: Masanobu Ando, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Takeshi Kitano, Chiaki Kuriyama, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto Release Date: December 16th, 2000 (Japan), September 14th, 2001 (UK) Certificate: R-15 (Japan), 18 (UK) 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), ...  Read the complete review

- BATTLE ROYALE - 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 show 'Extreme' that Japan is at the forefront of. Savage and stunning Battle Royale is a brilliant film which is shocking, amusing, and thought provoking, all at the same time. - The premise for Battle ...  Read the complete review

Location: Japan. Time: Er… round about now, I think. Situation: Schools are getting out of control - kids show no discipline or respect for authority, teachers are getting stabbed, and something has to be done. Solution: Why, the only answer is to send a class of 42 teenagers to an island, give them three days and a bunch of weapons, and make them kill each other until only one is left standing. Who will be the winner? Well… society, really. The 2000 Japanese film, Battle Royale, is a horror/thriller/action/social satire/Lord Of The Flies rip-off like none other you've seen before. It stars Count Takeshi from Takeshi's Castle ...  Read the complete review

"What was that noise?" "What noise?" "Exactly... what was that noise..." "What was what noise?" "That noise!" *At this point, the violent sound of an automatic weapon explodes in a frenzied burst, before a moment of silence. Smoke curls in the humid air and a body slumps, gory and bullet ridden, to the damp ground* "Phew. Unlucky bugger" "Well, it was him or us. I think it's a bit unfair that we've got these guns and he had a... what... saucepan lid?! Somebody's idea of a sick ...  Read the complete review

I think there are few films in recent times that I have been as anxious to see as the ultra-violent Japanese 'Battle Royale'. Based on a controversial novel by Koshun Takami, the film confronts modern issues in Japan, though apparently in quite a superficial manner. THE PLOT In Japan in the near future, unemployment rates are soaring, as are levels of teenage delinquency and truancy. In order to address these issues of teenage rebellion, the Government introduce a new law – the Battle Royale Act – to restore the rights of adults and to attempt to re-educate school students. Under the terms of the Battle Royale Act, each year, one ...  Read the complete review