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GekigangerV

383th Post

Silver Customer

"Battle Royale" , posted Sat 5 Apr 18:39

If you don't know what this movie is, then get ready for one hell of a ride. I recentley got to see this crazy Japanese movie I borrowed from a friend. It's called Battle Royale. It's hard to describe it in some ways. It's really whacked up but I thought it was awesome.

The movie takes place in the future in Japan (of course)when the unemployment rate is 15% and 800,000 kids are boycotting school. As a result of these actions, the Japanese parlament passes a law called the National Reform Education Milleniual act (or something like that) aka the BR act.

What happens is that the Japanese government annualy sends 9th graders to an island to kill each other. Each kid is given a weapon ranging from frying pans to machine guns. The kids are also attatched to these collars that can explode if they are in restricted zones on the island, if they are uncooperative, or if there are no winners (there has to be one winner).

The sequal (even though the director recentley died but now is in the hands of his son) will be out this July. I think it will be great. I can see a potential of an American version if they it catches anyone's attention like with Ringu/The Ring.

I defenitley reccomend this movie if you like something original, intriguing, and interesting.

イニシャルD...クッ！

Replies:

Luisinan

295th Post

Copper Customer

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Sat 5 Apr 18:48

Sounds interesting, albeit gruesome. Question, is this an anime or a live action movie?

Bored? "160"

Rid Hershel

4813th Post

Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master

"Re(2):Battle Royale" , posted Sat 5 Apr 18:50:

It's a live action movie. A bit bland, in my opinion, but then again, I'm never been a fan of the acting in japanese movies... ^^'

(And in my city at least, it's not really uncommon to see kids killing each other in the news)

[this message was edited by Rid Hershel on Sat 5 Apr 18:54]

BlackNinjaVinny

348th Post

Bronze Customer

"Re(3):Battle Royale" , posted Sat 5 Apr 19:07

An American made version of a movie about high school kids killing each other? Yeah. We'll see that when Hawaiian Punch is added to the dictionary.
By the way, Hawaiian Punch is the best canned beverage ever.
By the way, I'm drinking one right now.
By the way, I'm drinking one right now while eating pizza.

Mog
125th Post

Regular Customer

"Re(3):Battle Royale" , posted Sat 5 Apr 19:40:

quote:

It's a live action movie. A bit bland, in my opinion, but then again, I'm never been a fan of the acting in japanese movies... ^^'

My feelings on the film are divided... After reading this interview, I feel like I understand some of what Kinji Fukasaku was trying to say through Battle Royale. On the other hand though, after seeing how the movie was marketed in the UK as well as with my own personal experience that most people seem to like it more for the violence instead of the message bothers me. Regardless, I intend on picking up the novel this month when it's released in the US to see if reading that will resolve my feelings.

quote:

The sequal (even though the director recentley died but now is in the hands of his son) will be out this July. I think it will be great.

The first BR was a joint effort between Kinji and his son, so I don't think having him finish BR2 will have much of an affect on the end result. Besides after hearing some basic plot elements from the sequel, I'm hoping that it clears up both the major and minor issues I had with the first one. (Bullet-proof vests don't make you invincible damn it! Getting shot in one can still kill you!)

quote:

I can see a potential of an American version if they it catches anyone's attention like with Ringu/The Ring.

Considering the amount of flak BR received in Japan over how it portrayed violence amongst youth, I seriously doubt it will ever see an official US release. Then again, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, so who knows?

Edit: Dysgraphia = I can't write.

GameStop customer quote of the moment: "I've seen him before (pointing to Kingdom Hearts Darkside figure). He was in my garage attacking my dog."

[this message was edited by Mog on Sat 5 Apr 19:47]

Burning Ranger

359th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Sat 5 Apr 23:32

I wish I could see this, but it doesn't look like there will be a good US distribution of this movie. And I certainly don't want to buy a multiregion DVD off E-bay. I got a copy of "Versus" off E-bay and I didn't like the subtitling job.

Advanced Cyborg E. Branger AKA Burning Ranger

"Never underestimate the predictabilty of stupidity." -Vinnie Jones from SNATCH

Gojira

872th Post

Red Carpet Regular Member++

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 00:53

If you look around you can find the Asian VCDs of it. Those play on just about any DVD player or a PC CD drive.

And actually I thought the movie was funny. No, seriously. And I'm not the only one. The ending confrontation with Beat Takeshi's character was especially funny.

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exodus

820th Post

Red Carpet Regular Member+

"Re(2):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 01:03

the most interesting thing to me is that the directer is over 80 years old...

pointystick

905th Post

Red Carpet Regular Member++

"Re(3):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 01:06

What a twisted movie that was. Beat Takeshi was in there doing what he does best, being sensitive one minute and homicidal the next. The rest of it is just characters being developed and then killed off one after the other. Oh, and the manga based off it is even worse, with gratuitous rape and close ups of bullets through the head.

GekigangerV

385th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 07:07

One of you guy's seen versus? I've been meaning to see that movie. Some people at some other message boards I go to talk about that movie off and on.

I guess I can understand how a film like Battle Royale could never be accepted by U.S. audiences due to incidents like Columbine. But I still enjoyed the movie despite it's oddness but it made me think in some ways that I really can't explain.

I wonder if their teacher was really in the military.

イニシャルD...クッ！

Fugo
26th Post

Rare Customer

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 09:10

a great, great movie.
I even bought the Special Edition DVD, with extra scenes, alternate ending, unique numbered Film Frame Card.
A masterpiece, within the extreme violence lie deep meanings.

3rd Strike rulez ;)

Grave

263th Post

Copper Customer

"Re(4):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 10:44

quote:
An American made version of a movie about high school kids killing each other? Yeah. We'll see that when Hawaiian Punch is added to the dictionary.
By the way, Hawaiian Punch is the best canned beverage ever.
By the way, I'm drinking one right now.
By the way, I'm drinking one right now while eating pizza.

I used to go through a gallon of Hawaiian Punch every week. Addictive stuff. And the cans give it a nice metallic flavor. No, I'm not kidding, I actually like that kind of thing.

Anyway, I have BR on VCDs with decent English subs, and I enjoyed it a great deal. I ought to try to snag a DVD of it sometime. I highly doubt that there's a region 1 release, but I have codefree equipment. Anyone know of a good release with English subs? Something tells me there's a region 3 one, if there's not a region 0 one. I got sick of waiting for Jin-Roh to come out in the US, so I bought an English-subbed region 3 disc from Hong Kong. Good quality, apparently legal, and the subs were mostly coherent. I bet YesAsia.com would have it... time to go look.

OYashiroForever
147th Post

Regular Customer

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 11:03

Yeah, funny movie (it's difficult to take the "message" seriously). Beat Takeshi is a national treasure (though his accident has severely crippled his abilities of old) and the girl who does the instructional video at the beginning is actually a fairly famous seiyuu. (Aisha from Outlaw Star, Asuka from Evangelion, and Chun Li from several SF games among others) Couple of things:

1) Neither movie will ever make it to the US outside of film festivals and what not. No American film company has the balls to pick up something as controversial as the BR movies (the 1st one for its Columbine connection and the 2nd one for its glorification of terrorism and exploding of two large financial buildings). Hmm... perhaps glorification isn't really the right word. No matter.

2) There are several semi-official Region 1/0 DVD releases, some of which are actually pretty good. I know of at least one that has deleted scenes and another that has 5.1 Surround, not to mention fairly accurate subtitles. (Not those horribly butchered ones that most HK bootlegs have) DVDAsian is a good place to start.

"I haven't slept for 10 days because that would be too long."

"Your denial is beneath you and thanks to the use of hallucinogenic drugs

I see through you."

GekigangerV

386th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 12:15

The girl who spoke the rules played Asuka from EVA? No wonder why I recognized her from somewhere. As for the "glorification," I would say something like "reflection" or something like that.

イニシャルD...クッ！

Omar
188th Post

Regular Customer

"Re(2):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 12:30:

I liked BR a lot and found it kind of strange to see a character called Kitano played by Takeshi Kitano, heh.

Is his character in the book or in the manga? Or was his character added for the movie (or just renamed an existing one)?

A man with the nipples ripped off him does not make the same mistakes twice.

-- Warren Ellis

[this message was edited by Omar on Sun 6 Apr 12:30]

Genjuro

427th Post

Gold Customer

"Re(4):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 13:35

There's going to be a sequel to BR?And there is also a manga based off it?
I liked the movie very much and for that reason I'd prefer it didn't get a sequel-take Ring for example.

btw,here is the official UK website:
Link Here

and an unofficial:
Link Here

moonslash
72th Post

Occasional Customer

"Re(5):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 14:52

quote:
There's going to be a sequel to BR?And there is also a manga based off it?
I liked the movie very much and for that reason I'd prefer it didn't get a sequel-take Ring for example.

actually BR was based off a novel in japan, and the manga was based of that....and theres a sequel in the making that should be out in japan in the summer...althought the director fromt he first one died while making it, his son took over...

the story is abut the main character who survived from the first one begins a terrorist group consisting of winners from the previous battle royales including the girl in the beg. of part 1 and starts blowing buildings up in tokyo and literally in the trailer u see buildings collapse like 9-11 and new act starts where the gov't sends other kids after them, (DEFINITELY NOT COMING HERE)...also, sonny chiba's gonna be in it...hope this helps

and u dont need a multiregion dvd player top watch this, there is a region all version out there cuz this movie isnt coming here...period

VERSUS on the other hand is being released here, not sure the date yet though

2D will never die.

Magus Darkstar
145th Post

Regular Customer

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 18:05

Gekiganger, if you know where Planet Neo is (Rural and Broadway in Tempe), they have the recently released Battle Royale novel in English. It's huge (600 some pages) for $17

I've seen the movie, and I really liked it, but I thought the book blew it out of the water. I'd recommend picking it up.

|Darkstar Okonomiyaki| Now featuring Japanese TV show distrobution!

Burning Ranger

360th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(6):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 20:27

quote:

VERSUS on the other hand is being released here, not sure the date yet though

It is? Where are you getting this information?

Advanced Cyborg E. Branger AKA Burning Ranger

"Never underestimate the predictabilty of stupidity." -Vinnie Jones from SNATCH

GekigangerV

390th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(2):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 20:30

quote:
Gekiganger, if you know where Planet Neo is (Rural and Broadway in Tempe), they have the recently released Battle Royale novel in English. It's huge (600 some pages) for $17

I've seen the movie, and I really liked it, but I thought the book blew it out of the water. I'd recommend picking it up.

I thought it was on Rural and Baseline? If they moved, is it a better location? I always thought it was over priced. And I lost interest in the place when Joe Sakamoto left who I felt made the place fun.

イニシャルD...クッ！

Mog
127th Post

Regular Customer

"Re(2):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 20:43:

quote:
Gekiganger, if you know where Planet Neo is (Rural and Broadway in Tempe), they have the recently released Battle Royale novel in English. It's huge (600 some pages) for $17

Wait... if the book is already out and is 624 pages, then what is the 1992 page BR book being released in May?

edit: clean up

GameStop customer quote of the moment: "I've seen him before (pointing to Kingdom Hearts Darkside figure). He was in my garage attacking my dog."

[this message was edited by Mog on Sun 6 Apr 20:45]

GekigangerV

391th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(3):Battle Royale" , posted Sun 6 Apr 21:19

quote:
Gekiganger, if you know where Planet Neo is (Rural and Broadway in Tempe), they have the recently released Battle Royale novel in English. It's huge (600 some pages) for $17

Wait... if the book is already out and is 624 pages, then what is the 1992 page BR book being released in May?

edit: clean up

The May release is the Manga from Tokyo Pop it seems.

イニシャルD...クッ！

moonslash
73th Post

Occasional Customer

"Re(7):Battle Royale" , posted Mon 7 Apr 07:14

quote:

VERSUS on the other hand is being released here, not sure the date yet though

It is? Where are you getting this information?

i believe it was picked up for dvd release by tokyo shock dvd company....it was announced awhile there just hasnt been a release yet: http://www.media-blasters.com/acquistion.cfm?label=Tokyo%20Shock

if you are near any of these theaters:
http://www.media-blasters.com/theatrical.cfm

hope this helps...of course if you have an all-regio player, u can pick up the JAP dvd for 50 bucks which not even i even though ive watched VERSUS on my tape many times and once in theater, ill still refuse to pay 50 for a dvd...of course theres bootlegs galore out there of em

2D will never die.

Magus Darkstar
147th Post

Regular Customer

"Re(3):Battle Royale" , posted Mon 7 Apr 15:12

quote:
I thought it was on Rural and Baseline?

Whoops. That's what I meant.

|Darkstar Okonomiyaki| Now featuring Japanese TV show distrobution!

Zyzyfer

672th Post

Red Carpet Regular Member

"Re(4):Battle Royale is..." , posted Mon 7 Apr 20:08

along with versus, funny, amusing, but not by any means a 5star movie. just interesting.

it made me respect beat, though.

I don't mind the sun sometimes

the image as it shows
I can taste you on my lips and smell you in my clothes
Cinnamon and sugary and softly spoken lies
You never know just how you look through other peoples' eyes...

HazZan

1181th Post

Red Carpet Premium Member+

"Re(1):Battle Royale" , posted Mon 7 Apr 23:14

quote:
If you don't know what this movie is, then get ready for one hell of a ride. I recentley got to see this crazy Japanese movie I borrowed from a friend. It's called Battle Royale. It's hard to describe it in some ways. It's really whacked up but I thought it was awesome.

The movie takes place in the future in Japan (of course)when the unemployment rate is 15% and 800,000 kids are boycotting school. As a result of these actions, the Japanese parlament passes a law called the National Reform Education Milleniual act (or something like that) aka the BR act.

What happens is that the Japanese government annualy sends 9th graders to an island to kill each other. Each kid is given a weapon ranging from frying pans to machine guns. The kids are also attatched to these collars that can explode if they are in restricted zones on the island, if they are uncooperative, or if there are no winners (there has to be one winner).

The sequal (even though the director recentley died but now is in the hands of his son) will be out this July. I think it will be great. I can see a potential of an American version if they it catches anyone's attention like with Ringu/The Ring.

I defenitley reccomend this movie if you like something original, intriguing, and interesting.

This sounds..... Well...... Being a 9th Grader myself..... Fun As Hell.

I wanna see it.

MESSATSU

"I am the one and only true master"

coinop_duck
116th Post

Regular Customer

"Re(3):Battle Royale" , posted Thu 10 Apr 17:33

quote:
I thought it was on Rural and Baseline? If they moved, is it a better location? I always thought it was over priced. And I lost interest in the place when Joe Sakamoto left who I felt made the place fun.

That's so disturbing to see familiar street names on a forum like this.