Battle Royale

[Kobayashii]

I just saw this the other day though I've wanted to for ages. I must say I was quite impressed. From the build up the the killing it was quite well done. I dunno I just liked it. It left me with quite a few questions though:

Why was Kitano in charge? Did he come up with the idea or did they just let him because he'd been stabbed by one of the kids.

What was the relationship between Kawada and Kitano - he said he was there to fix it. Was it to ensure Norioko survived? How did he avenge Keikos death?

Also some people were emmensely stupid like the girl that carried on jogging and training despite everyone trying to kill her. Why didn't Kawada take the necklace thing off to start with?

What did you lot think of it?

[sith]

A bit OT but the 2nd is not that good

A real dissapointment

[Rin]

I mixed them all up though and thus loads of it didn't make sense the first time around. Pretty good though.

[bucket]

Amazing film, and I loved the second one too

[frumious]

I liked it. Some of the kiddlers were indeed very stupid, but I put it down to a combination of the idea that people may not react in a sensible or predictable manner when faced with a really horrible situation, and the film being generally a bit tongue in cheek. I was under the impression that it was standard practice for the class teacher to be in charge of the proceedings, although he did seem quite blase about the whole thing.

[CrispinG]

Why was Kitano in charge? Did he come up with the idea or did they just let him because he'd been stabbed by one of the kids.

He taught the class selected - and fucking hates them. That's the only reason given, if I remember correctly.

What was the relationship between Kawada and Kitano - he said he was there to fix it. Was it to ensure Norioko survived? How did he avenge Keikos death?

He didn't. Don't over-analyse it; it's a pretty simple film with enough plot holes to sink the QEII. Kawada had simply been in the game before. He and Kiriyama were put in to 'spice things up' and ensure people would start killing.

Also some people were immensely stupid like the girl that carried on jogging and training despite everyone trying to kill her. Why didn't Kawada take the necklace thing off to start with?

There were large groups of soldiers on site. Kawada only disables the necklaces once they've left.

What did you lot think of it?

6/10.

[Laine]

You can't take the necklaces off, they explode if you tamper with them

Didn't you watch the training video?

SUPER LUCKY!

[ScouserInExile]

I've seen it a couple of times now, and still don't like it. My mate rave about it, which is why I've seen it a couple of times - I watched it once and didn't like it, so they told me I didn't "get it" and made me watch it again. It reminded me an awful lot of stories I used to write when I was in my early teens - basically a series of set piece "cool" deaths, and very little more.

2/10

[Kobayashii]

But Kawada knew how to disable them.

"You know how to take it off don't you?" Or something like that.

Also if he took the necklace off earlier they'd think he was dead so leave him.

He USED to teach the class but didn't anymore - "Your teacher disagreed greatly with the choice of your class" *teachers dead body reeled in. (Okay maybe the soldiers killed that teacher and Kitano was next in line, i get it) And it was the fact that the soldiers took orders from him as if he was the guy running the whol preceedings not just the teacher that was overseeing that class.

I also heard from somebody that people that win don't get freed they just keep getting put in again but I think they were just winging it.

On a practical note, much like chubby with the crossbow wouldn't the people out near the start just ambush the others as they come out. Surely they'd need some time to spread out or something.

[CrispinG]

It's a very, very simple film. Just consider it a non-interactive videogame.

[Zeroborta]

I've interpreted it as a Japanese teen flick....how worrying

If this what the japanese consider a teen flick then god help them.

[Droo]

It was good, I saw it in the cinema when it was released not having a clue what it was goign to be about, which heightened the experience and shock of it all.

And is the second one been captioned into english already?

Where can it be bought (cough / downloaded)

[Kobayashii]

I liked it but I just like things to fit together and make sense. They shouldn't have talked about fixing things and Keiko if they weren't gonna be explained. More senseless killing, less unexplained dialogue.

[bucket]

Droo, www.yesasia.com are selling a version of BR2 on DVD with English subs. Or you can download it from the usual torrent sites.

[Ed-E]

I liked the film. I've read the first volume of the manga and it's pretty good, even though the art style is horrible. In that, the teacher doesn't seem to have actually taught them at all, because none of them know him. He does fuck a corpse, though, so it's all good.

[Meh]

I loved the first one. Bloody marvellous popcorn-fodder.

Just avoid the second film like the plague. Completely pointless and just utterly ridiculous after the first half hour.

Oh, and the USUAL sites *cough* Suprnova *cough* have it.

[taiAtari]

In the original book Japan is basically still a facist state (did not lose WWII) and the BR's have been going on since the fifties. They are supposed to give some insight into battlefield conditions and tactics but turn out to be a tool to show the populace you can't trust anyone. Because it shows that when it's their life on the line even best friends betray and kill eachother thus enabling the government to rule by fear.

Also in the Book the Kitano character is not their former teacher but simply a slightly deranged government official named Kinpatsu (blondie) Sakamochi.

Quite a nice read and really complements the film.

[Sonic.Mirrorz]

I came in her thinking that this topic was called Ballet Royal, I now seem compleetly out of place.

[Amyonfire]

I've seen it a couple of times now, and still don't like it. My mate rave about it, which is why I've seen it a couple of times - I watched it once and didn't like it, so they told me I didn't "get it" and made me watch it again. It reminded me an awful lot of stories I used to write when I was in my early teens - basically a series of set piece "cool" deaths, and very little more.

2/10

nothing like a good gory story when ur 13

i suppose it doesnt appeal to older folks really but it really penetrates the 12 -17 year old market, shame its an 18.

[michael]

you said you'd bring the manga on Saturday, Ed... but did you? Nooooooo.

i so wanted to see the corpse fucking!

[Ryan]

I love the first one, and have seen the 2nd (in Jap with no subs). Waiting for CDWOW to deliver my £7 copy of BR2 with the English subs before passing comment.

[Rogózjin]

what Scouser_In_Exile said.

[Meh]

you said you'd bring the manga on Saturday, Ed... but did you? Nooooooo.

i so wanted to see the corpse fucking!

[Seerow]

Super cool!

Part 2 en-route..

[McNeillR]

Fucking thieves. It got a really [surprisingly] good Region 2 release, including a super cheapo DVD edition alongside the 'Special' ones.

The next time one of you moan about foreign films like this not getting a decent cinema release, you'll get a slap from me and the production studio.

And idiot_kid, it's hardly...'simple'. Put the shades down maaaan. I watched Miss Congeniality earlier. THAT is a simple movie. It's the fact that the plot holes make it a minefield. I probably need to watch more French films without subtitles probably.

[Dimahoo]

I thought the first film was bloody ace and had a really controvesially intresting story. I also liked the way it was played out like some computer game with the women doing the great introduction in the classroom and different people getting different weapons.

My Jap 2 CD edition (with subs) came today from Movietyme.

[Seerow]

I'd just like to state i bought the first and an in the process of reciving the 2nd, which i also bought, incase that statement was at all directed at my mr. R

I watched a french film with no subtitles once. It was Super Cool. although the plot was simple enough to follow without understanding the language. It had men jumping about, instant classic.

[Badger]

I enjoyed it.

No pretense at anything much except letting loose a load of chavs with weapons.

[Darragh]

I fucking love the first one. Top notch.

[Judgement]

Battle Royle is great, though some people might get put off by the film and think its a wrestling film, i haven't see the second one yet, i want to though