Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5547 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-01-21
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 109 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence it’s 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

Video Description
Special Features: Star and Director Filmographies
Scene Selection
Original Theatrical Trailer
Stills Gallery
Mark Wyatt Film Notes
Asia Extreme Trailer Reel

Video Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic widescreen
Language: Japanese
Sound: Dolby Digital

Synopsis
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.

Customer Reviews

Slightly Disapointing
After all the hype surrounding this film, I expected it to be a 5 star blockbuster, but I have to say that I was slightly disappointed with the film.

The Positives:

~ All the actors were excellent in their roles and gave believeable performances.
~ The idea was highly original and well executed.
~ All the characters get an equal amount of screen time.

The Negatives:

~People go on about how gruesome the gore is, but I found the gore to be quite tame, there are lots of films out there with much worse gore.
~I knew who going to survive from the get-go.
~The ending was predictable.


Don't get me wrong, Battle Royale is a very good film, but after all the hype, I expected something more.

Damn the japanese know how to make awesome horror movies! ! ! !
Man I just watched this film one of the best horror films i've seen in a long time this makes the grudge(american remake) look like a comedy. Be warned this is subtitled so that might piss off some people but that's fine by me as long as it's a good horror movie and this movie is a great one indeed. Fantastic storyline, gory, great characters, great twists. This aint a horror movie like the grudge, the ring or the excorcist(all great horror movies by the way), after you watch it you get a creepy feeling inside you I don't really know how to describe this horror movie this has too be seen. If you're sick of crappy american remakes or their ever so boring teen slashers or whatever, you aint seen nothing till you watched this. Clever, creepy, not your average horror movie masterpiece.

A GREAT VARIATION OF LORD OF THE FLIES
What can I say? This film is ultra violent and really great. Beat Takeshi is in it and does a great as usual job portraying the teacher in charge of the Battle Royale. The psychological aspect was taken into consideration as well, giving the film more depth that it would have had if made in the States, no doubt. A brilliant film based on a brilliant novel.