07-03-26 Battle Royale (Batoru rowaiaru) (2000)

Seen: July, 2006
Format: DVD
Rating: 8

You're not going to like this film as much as I did. This is a bad film, and I really like bad films.

Good bad films all have an outrageous premise. Death Race 2000 is perhaps the classic example. Battle Royale's premise is that rebellious, bordering on criminal, teenagers can be used for sport, and in the process thin their own ranks. By a government mandate, a 9th grade class, chosen by lottery, is abducted and brought to an island where they are forced into a three day deathmatch. Only one can remain living at the end of three days, or they all perish by ... nah, you'll have to see it to believe it.

This film could have only come from Japan. The resultant mayhem is simply awesome. To say more would spoil at least something for you.

I read an article that suggested that Battle Royale is a twisted take on Lord of the Flies and this is an apt comparison. Battel Royale accelerates the classic tension of power and conflict by making survival not only a game, but actually requiring aggression and violence for anyone hoping to assure their own survival.

There is social commentary a plenty here. It is painted in broad strokes, similar to Death Race 2000 and A Clockwork Orange. It's hardly the focus of the film, but you'd have to be blind to miss the satire. The whole film is basically violent hyperbole. Even the game master, played with brilliant stoicism by "Beat" Takeshi Kitano is a hyper-extended stereotype.

My understanding is that Kinji Fukasaku, who died in 2003 at the age of 72, made several controversial films. I'll be adding what I can find to my "To Watch" list.

This film is not for the squeamish, the self-righteous or the politically correct. It's basically a twisted and sadistic piece of exploitation media that uses violence for entertainment and some incidental social commentary. At the same time, it transcends the basic body count film by its originality and tone. It's got spunk.

If you're OK with all that, or can be for a few hours, call your friends and start popping that microwave corn.

The Good: Channeled Teen Angst as entertainment

The Bad: A not-so-level playing field

The Ugly: The truly animal side of human nature.