Year: 2000
Directed by: Kinji Fukasaku
Written by: Koushun Takami (novel) & Kenta Fukasaku (screenplay)
In the future, 42 students have to fight to the death on an arena against their class mates under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.
I've been meaning to watch Battle Royale for ages. Few days ago I was complaining in NaNoWriMo forums how I have no more movies to watch, and I asked for recommendations. First I got some classics but I noted that I have a preference in violent cult movies, so someone mentioned Battle Royale. Another reason was of course this video, which shouldn't be a surprise.
I really appreciate the idea of Battle Royale, and I've thought about the concept a lot, considering The Hunger Games shares the same idea. The idea of having a certain amount of children fight each other is of course horrifying. The point of the games seem to be different in both Battle Royale and The Hunger Games, but I can't be too sure of that. I need to read the original novel. Anyway, in Battle Royale the biggest reason for the game seems to be punishment. Well, The Hunger Games are also a punishment to the districts, but it's also entertainment to the Capitol. If I understood correctly Battle Royale wasn't shown in TV, it was just talked about afterwards in the media - but I might be wrong about that. The whole concept of Battle Royale is appalling, but it's good to make a novel or a movie about it. Maybe it's not realistic, but it gives the audience something to think about. Why is the government doing this? Is it useful to them in anyway, and a lot of other questions.
But is The Hunger Games too similar to Battle Royale? I don't think so. Writers steal everything that isn't screwed to the wall, that's how writing works.
Battle Royale has several important themes it explores. There's the sort of selfishness, suicide, killing and survival - and if those things are good or bad in certain situations. And of course there's the big question on trust. If you are basically all out to kill each other, who can you trust? Can you trust a total stranger, or your best friend?
The character's aren't introduced right in the beginning like this character is called Blah Blah and they do this and this. The audience learns what they need to know when they need to know it - which is one thing that makes me like the movie even more. Useless explaining is just boring, when important stuff can be revealed otherwise. The only character we learn more immediately is Shuya Nanahara, played by Tatsuya Fujiwara. And knowing about one character from early on is good, because that way we have someone we can at least somehow root for.
The characters in Battle Royale are interesting. They are young, they have the kind of problems young people usually have. And then they should kill each other. It's interesting to see how some are ready to embrace that, while some are ready to do anything to avoid killing. Some are ready to kill only to defend themselves. It's good to see all different kind of reactions to their situation.
The young cast of this film is incredibly talented. Tatsuya Fujiwara is amazing. I've liked him ever since he played Kira in those Death Note movies. And of course I'm in love with Chiaki Kuriyama. Her character Chigusa didn't have a lot of screen time, but every time I see Kuriyama in a film, she's astonishing.
I love how music is used in this film. There are calm classical songs that are now "tainted" by the mindless violence in the film.
Battle Royale is an amazing film. It's incredibly violent, yet it definitely has some depth, and it's not just mindless, useless action. If violence in films doesn't bother you, then you should definitely see Battle Royale - it's worth it.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
9 / 10
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