Above is the trailer. Please note that this film is rated 18/R.

Genre: Dystopian Thriller

Year: 2000

Director: Kinji Fukasaku

OH.

MY.

GOD.

This is my favourite movie and book, and has been for years (since I was 13 for the film, 14 for the book). It's a Japanese film from the year 2000, based off the 1999 book by Koushun Takami. I recommend it to everyone (except people who are too young to watch or sensitive about violence. This is among the most violent works I have ever come across).

The story

Battle Royale takes place in an alternate, dystopian Japan. The government has passed the 'BR ACT' in an attempt to control the youth, in which a class of teenagers are chosen every year to participate in the programme. They are taken to a place where they are to fight to the death. Only one is allowed to survive, though they can all die without a victor as well. In the book, it is stated that 50 different classes are chosen for Battle Royale every year.

The film executes this concept brilliantly-- it really makes you ask yourself what you would do in this situation. You see all the different reactions from the different characters, how friendships grow stronger or fall apart, how a tiny mistake can lead to bloodshed, how some give up and others fight on. Personally, I found some scenes pretty moving, and felt sympathetic towards many of the characters.

The book does this brilliant analysis on the psychology of fear. Since I recently started re-reading it for the third time, I've been highlighting the parts of my copy that relate to this theme. It shows how fear, and fear alone, can tear apart and destroy trust and friendship in mere moments. It convincingly shows how quickly people can turn on each other because of fear.

Characters

There are a lot of characters in this film. There are 42 kids in the class-- yet the film manages to devote at least some time to a significant amount of them. The book even does this to a larger scale, showing the thought process behind many of the children, and why they act the way they do. Of course, it does focus on a main character, but also conveys the struggles of the other's. I felt pathos for these characters because (most of them) are just teenagers trying to cope under an authoritarian government. However, it should be noted that the characters are quite static and experience little development (though this does not mean that they are flat- the book especially goes into the backstories and lives of the characters, showing how they were before, and why they act the way they act in the game. The film does this to a much lesser degree, though the director's cut does add a pretty major- and disturbing- backstory for Mitsuko, who is one of the most interesting characters in my opinion).

The Violence

I wanted to make a section for this because I think it deserves one. The violence in the film is extreme, but it highlights the horrific situation the teens are in. T'is pretty graphic. The book is also very effective in its description (14-year-old me was very disturbed while reading it).

Oh, and I should probably mention-- the director has a few humorous moments. They're not the kind that you see in marvel movies or later books in Wings of Fire (I absolutely hate those kinds of 'funny' scenes with a passion)-- instead the humour is just... bizarre. It's great though, I love it (and yes, this point is entirely subjective)

Favourite Scene

The girls in the lighthouse. The build up to the climax and the fact that it all happens because of a tiny mistake makes it all so chilling. I can't go too much into detail because spoilers.

Verdict

Well... it's my favourite movie and book (though the book ties with 1984 by George Orwell), so naturally, I give it infinity out of ten. Seriously though, don't watch it if you're sensitive to violence. I know I've said it so many times now, but I'm being very serious about this point. Even if you aren't sensitive to fictional violence, I still need to warn that caution should be taken before watching this film. Also, there's one shot with a bit of nudity. I'd recommend the director's cut as well, though I suggest watching the theatrical one first.

You know what? I think I'll have to make a separate chapter where I rant about Battle Royale vs The Hunger Games, because I hate the latter (and there is debate on if it ripped off BR). But yeah, no amount of fangirls will stop me from my rampage.... MWAHAHAHAHAHA.

(Obviously if you like THG, that's fine, just don't start flaming at me for having an opinion different to yours)

I apologise for how bad this review is, I wrote it in little time and it's less of a review and more just me gushing over my favourite movie/book. I would recommend both the film and the book, though it should be noted that the book is a slightly different and goes into much more detail than the film- though the film is a brilliant adaptation.

How I came across it

Back when I used to love The Hunger Games, I found a bunch of YouTube comments talking about how THG was just a big rip-off of BR. Naturally, I was curious, but when I looked it up on IMDB- *gasp!* it was rated 18! I was probably around 11 at the time, and I hadn't really watched many full on violent movies. However, later at that age, I began to watch Alien and The Terminator films, and at one point when I was 13, I ended up watching Kill Bill with some friends, and had already watched some slasher movies (I had a slasher movie phase). So, it was official- I knew that watching BR would be A-okay!

Well. For the most part. I ordered the DVD and watched it with my mother, and there were certain points where I had to close my eyes because they were too violent for 13 year old me.