Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20476 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-02-23
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen
• Original language: Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 117 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 schoolkids, 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 your 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.

On the DVD: Battle Royale has been re-released in this new and improved version. Now offered in progressive scan, utilising NTSC technology which has enhanced the picture quality. Please be aware though that not all DVD players are compatible, if unsure your best to opt for the first release.--Nikki Disney

DVD Description
The most controversial Japanese film of the millennium returns in a Special Edition version, featuring more violence, more characterization and an alternate ending that sheds fresh light on the events of the film. Comes in standard box packaging and now with additional DTS audio track.

Special Features
Disc 1:

• Special Edition of the film featuring additional footage and alternate ending
  
• Scene selection

Disc 2:

• The Making Of Battle Royale
  
• Battle Royale press conference
  
• Instructional video: birthday version
  
• Audition and rehearsal footage
  
• Special Effects comparision 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
  
• Director's statement
  
• On-screen filmographies

• Poster art collector's card
  
• 4-page information booklet

DVD Technical Information:
Disc 1:

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  
• Running Time: 117 minutes approx.
  
• Language: Japanese
  
• Subtitles: English
  
• Disc Format: DVD-9
  
• PAL
  
• Region Code: 0 (All)
  
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Digital Surround 5.1

Disc 2:

• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  
• Language: Japanese
  
• Subtitles: English
  
• Text screens: English
  
• Disc Format: DVD-5
  
• PAL
  
• Region Code: 0 (All)

Customer Reviews

Brilliant
I love this film; it is one of my all time favourites. I had heard so much about how violent and awful it was and did not expect to like it at all. In fact it was a well written, well acted film about a most horrific situation for a group of school kids to find themselves in.

To me this film is about trying to survive not trying to kill, yes some of the kids enjoy the killing part but most of them are just trying to survive and help each other find a way to escape.

Battle Royale - No 14 - All Time List 2008
Once upon a time I was a University student without any interest in non English language Cinema, then I heard about Battle Royale on the university grapevine - I liked the sound of it so I went and got it from Virgin or whatever the DVD shop was in Stafford at the time, I could say it was a mistake because that venture alone has cost me thousands of pounds and hundreds of hours watching Asian cinema - this is where it started for me - sentimentality aside - this movie is fantastic in every sense - if it were not, would I be hooked to non-English language cinema like I am today? Who knows...

Battle Royale - a simple storyline 50 school kids on one Island, their mission, kill each other in a last boy/girl standing wins tournament. Intrigued by the sound of that? Read on. If it sounds repulsive, I'd look elsewhere and save yourself a few hours of your life.
However, Battle Royale is much more that mindless repulsive ultra-violence, comparisons of A Clockwork Orange are formed in the mind immediately with the sweeping operatic music which accompanies the roll-calls during the movie - it also, as you can imagine, does have some very violent, graphic and disturbing images throughout the movie. Kids killing each other literally with whatever they can lay their hands on be it a hatchet, a gun, a knife etc.
A modern day Lord of the flies as numerous reviewers' state, it could be.

What makes this film a yard ahead of most violent films (and a whole different ball game to slasher rubbish like Saw/Hostel) is that it focuses strongly on the moral side of the children's psyche, portraying their dilemma at the ridiculous situation that they have been put in. The film centrals on the characters and the range of responses to this - Some have very few qualms about slaughtering their classmates, some commit suicide with their loved ones, some go into denial, some scheme looking after themselves others form groups with friends.
This is a dark, brutal and violent film, not for the faint-hearted but is so well made and that it makes eminently compelling viewing and is nothing but highly recommended.

Fight with Gusto!
This was recommended to me by a very close friend of mine. She's into mindless violence and I thought that this would just be the same when she explained the concept of Battle Royale to me. I thought that this would be the same but much to my delight Battle Royale proved to be much, much more than that.

The story never lets up from the start to the end. There's no end to the drama rather than no end to the killing. There's no pointless, just because I can do it, deaths aside from the 'transfer student' who proves to be some sort of silent, crazed killing machine. Right up to the end, it's difficult to pick out who will win. Unlike what you'd expect from Hollywood, BR gives many different characters the same amount of screentime. Everybody has a plot from the girls hiding in the lighthouse to the lads out to rebel. There's never any indication to who might win until you actually find out.

There IS a lot of violence in this movie, there's no disputing that fact. There's guns, knives, crossbows, tazers, bin lids and paper fans to say the least. There's death, blood and gore which wouldn't shock many people in our society these days. To those who watch horror movies this won't be nothing new, yet there's so much controversy simply because these are children killing eath other. Amerian and British film companies churn out much worse but still Battle Royale is shunned. Never the less, if you're looking for a horror movie that isn't so predictable and is even more compelling, then join the BR!