I hadn’t heard much hype about this film, it was more or less just a nagging curiosity from it having cropped up in the odd conversation or two that leading me to buying the ’standard’ copy of Battle Royale. Upon watching it though my mind was darting all over the place - excited from the breathtaking action and uncovering the small mini-plots (and more than likely making some of them up).
The film is basically about a new law passed on account of the increasingly rebellious schoolchildren that means every year a randomly chosen class of children are taken and forced to kill each other so only survives in a time span of 3 days. The plot revolves mostly around two students Nanahara and Noriko who strive to survive and struggle not to kill whilst their friends turn against each other and get massacred by one of two ’transfer student’ (people brought in from outside the schoolclass - one to rig the ’game’ and the other who joined ’for fun’).
The game is overseen by an old teacher of the class - BEAT TAKESHI as Kitano- who has colourful relationships with some of the students.
All ’contestants’ have necklaces attached to them which monitors pulse and whereabouts of the wearer and contain a small explosive charge that will detonate should they ’misbehave’ or if there is no ’winner’ after three days. They are also given a bag containing a random weapon (ranging from katanas, submachine guns, fans and pot lids).
There are many moments that will shock and sicken you (personally I like to be reminded of some emotions and feelings now and then) - particularly when Nanahara’s best friend has his ’neck’ set to explode and looks for help among his classmates but they all push him away in fear. The deaths of classmates is shown onscreen in a gameshow type of update for the viewers and is broadcast every 6 hours for the ’contestants.’
There are many different humourous edges to the scenes and all is shot with a artistic way and ’shine’ that you’ll never see in any Hollywood blockbuster.
The soundtrack, by Masamichi Amano, is fantastic. There are some popular classical pieces (opening with Verdi’s Requiem)which are used to stunning effect and some well thought out and lyrical pieces (particularly one that I will remember forever as Kitanos painting is revealed).
If you want to watch an action packed and violent film - this film should do the job. However if you want a ’deeper’ film that you’ll be dying to discuss with everyone and will stick with you for a long time then enjoy Battle Royale.
I recommend you watch Battle Royale alone for best effect - there is a lot to enjoy so try not to get distracted - just make sure you have someone you can talk to about the film after.
By the way - there is a Special Edition out with around 10 minutes of extra footage (in the form of dream sequences revealing more about the characters) and TONS of extras in general. Also you get a nice little frame from the film.
Special Edition - Also recommended.