This ultra violent satire from Japan tells of 42 teenagers taken to a remote island where they are told that if they wish to survive they must kill all of the others!
The kids of Third Year Class-B Shiroiwa Junior High School are back, in a brand new 4K restoration of the classic cult shocker adapted from the controversial novel by Koushun Takami. Presenting an alternate dystopian vision of turn-of-the-millennium Japan, Battle Royale follows the 42 junior high school students selected to take part in the government's annual Battle Royale programme, established as an extreme method of addressing concerns about juvenile delinquency. Dispatched to a remote island, they are each given individual weapons (ranging from Uzis and machetes to pan lids and binoculars), food and water, and the order to go out and kill one other. Every player is fitted with an explosive collar around their neck, imposing a strict three-day time limit on the deadly games in which there can only be one survivor. Overseeing the carnage is Beat' Takeshi Kitano (Sonatine, Hana-bi, Zatoichi) as the teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges. Playing like a turbo-charged hybrid of Lord of the Flies and The Most Dangerous Game, the final completed work by veteran yakuza film director Kinji Fukasaku (Battles without Honor and Humanity, Graveyard of Honor) helped launch a new wave of appreciation for Asian cinema in the 21st century. Also included in the set is the incendiary sequel Battle Royale II, the directing debut of Kenta Fukasaku (after his father passed away during production), in which a new class of delinquents are recruited by the government to hunt down the survivor of the deadly games of the first film. LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS Brand new 4K restoration of the Original Theatrical Version and Special Edition Director's Cut of Battle Royale from the original camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by Kenta Fukasaku High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of both versions of Battle Royale High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the Battle Royale II: Requiem theatrical cut and the Battle Royale II: Revenge extended cut Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 stereo Optional English subtitles Original soundtrack CD for Battle Royale [Limited Edition Exclusive] Kinji Fukasaku: Man of Rage, an exclusive 120-page monograph on the director by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes [Limited Edition Exclusive] Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson and archival articles Exclusive Battle Royale collectors' Trump Card set [Limited Edition Exclusive] Reversible poster with new artwork [Limited Edition Exclusive] DISC ONE BATTLE ROYALE: ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION Brand new audio commentary by critics Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp Battle Royale at 20: Back to School, an exclusive new 42-minute documentary about the legacy of Battle Royale Bloody Education: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale, a brand new exclusive interview with the film's producer and screenwriter The Making of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students, documentary featuring footage from the shooting of the film and cast and crew discussions The Slaughter of 42 High School Students, a look behind the scenes of the shoot Behind the scenes footage with comments from the cast and crew Filming on Set, a look at the shooting of key scenes from the film Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic, archive footage of Masamichi Amano conducting the soundtrack rehearsal DISC TWO BATTLE ROYALE: SPECIAL EDITION DIRECTOR'S CUT Shooting the Special Edition, on-location featurette with footage of the cast and crew reuniting for the shoot of the Special Edition Royale Rehearsals, featurette on Kinji Fukasaku directing the film's young cast Masamichi Amano Conducts Battle Royale, archive featurette Takeshi Kitano Interview, filmed on location with the Japanese star The Correct Way to Fight in Battle Royale, instructional video explaining the rules of the game The Correct Way to Make 'Battle Royale': Birthday Version, a new version of the original instructional video made to celebrate Kinji Fukasaku's birthday Premiere Press Conference, preceding the film's first public screening Tokyo International Film Festival Presentation, with footage from the gala screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival Opening Day at the Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre, archive footage of the Japanese opening Special Effects Comparison showing how the film's violent killings were created Original Trailers and TV spots Kinji Fukasaku trailer reel, a collection of original trailers for Fukasaku's classic yakuza films from the 70s Image Gallery DISC THREE BATTLE ROYALE II: REQUIEM Bloody Graduation: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale II, an exclusive brand new interview with the director and screenwriter of Battle Royale II Behind the Scenes of Battle Royale II, on-location featurette during the film's shoot Rehearsals footage of the auditions and pre-production rehearsals War and Struggle, featurette of the cast discussing their thoughts on war Alternate Piano Scene The Recording of the Music Score, archive footage of Masamichi Amano and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra. Opening Gala with the Orchestra, featuring a public introduction by the director and main cast Battle Royale II Premiere, a featurette on the film's first screening at the Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre Trailers and TV spots Image Gallery DISC FOUR BATTLE ROYALE II: REVENGE [Limited Edition Exclusive] A Tribute to Kinji Fukasaku, featuring scenes of Kinji Fukasaku on the location of Battle Royale II Kinji Fukasaku's 73rd Birthday: A Speech by Kenta Fukasaku, paying public tribute to his father DISC FIVE BATTLE ROYALE SOUNDTRACK CD [Limited Edition Exclusive] CD featuring the complete score to Battle Royale by Masamichi Amano and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
The kids of Third Year Class-B Shiroiwa Junior High School are back, in a brand new UHD restoration of the classic cult shocker adapted from the controversial novel by Koushun Takami. Presenting an alternate dystopian vision of turn-of-the-millennium Japan, Battle Royale follows the 42 junior high school students selected to take part in the government's annual Battle Royale programme, established as an extreme method of addressing concerns about juvenile delinquency. Dispatched to a remote island, they are each given individual weapons (ranging from Uzis and machetes to pan lids and binoculars), food and water, and the order to go out and kill one other. Every player is fitted with an explosive collar around their neck, imposing a strict three-day time limit on the deadly games in which there can only be one survivor. Overseeing the carnage is Beat' Takeshi Kitano (Sonatine, Hana-bi, Zatoichi) as the teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges. Playing like a turbo-charged hybrid of Lord of the Flies and The Most Dangerous Game, the final completed work by veteran yakuza film director Kinji Fukasaku (Battles without Honor and Humanity, Graveyard of Honor) helped launch a new wave of appreciation for Asian cinema in the 21st century. Also included in the set is the incendiary sequel Battle Royale II, the directing debut of Kenta Fukasaku (after his father passed away during production), in which a new class of delinquents are recruited by the government to hunt down the survivor of the deadly games of the first film. 4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS Brand new 4K restoration of the Original Theatrical Version and Special Edition Director's Cut of Battle Royale from the original camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by Kenta Fukasaku 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation of both versions of Battle Royale in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the Battle Royale II: Requiem theatrical cut and the Battle Royale II: Revenge extended cut Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 stereo audio Optional English subtitles Original soundtrack CD for Battle Royale [Limited Edition Exclusive] Kinji Fukasaku: Man of Rage, an exclusive 120-page monograph on the director by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes [Limited Edition Exclusive] Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson and archival articles Exclusive Battle Royale collectors' Trump Card set [Limited Edition Exclusive] Reversible poster with new artwork [Limited Edition Exclusive] DISC ONE BATTLE ROYALE: ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (4K UHD BLU-RAY) Brand new audio commentary by critics Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp Battle Royale at 20: Back to School, an exclusive new 42-minute documentary about the legacy of Battle Royale Bloody Education: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale, a brand new exclusive interview with the film's producer and screenwriter The Making of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students, documentary featuring footage from the shooting of the film and cast and crew discussions The Slaughter of 42 High School Students, a look behind the scenes of the shoot Behind the scenes footage with comments from the cast and crew Filming on Set, a look at the shooting of key scenes from the film Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic, archive footage of Masamichi Amano conducting the soundtrack rehearsal DISC TWO BATTLE ROYALE: SPECIAL EDITION DIRECTOR'S CUT (4K UHD BLU-RAY) Shooting the Special Edition, on-location featurette with footage of the cast and crew reuniting for the shoot of the Special Edition Royale Rehearsals, featurette on Kinji Fukasaku directing the film's young cast Masamichi Amano Conducts Battle Royale, archive featurette Takeshi Kitano Interview, filmed on location with the Japanese star The Correct Way to Fight in Battle Royale, instructional video explaining the rules of the game The Correct Way to Make 'Battle Royale': Birthday Version, a new version of the original instructional video made to celebrate Kinji Fukasaku's birthday Premiere Press Conference, preceding the film's first public screening Tokyo International Film Festival Presentation, with footage from the gala screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival Opening Day at the Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre, archive footage of the Japanese opening Special Effects Comparison showing how the film's violent killings were created Original Trailers and TV spots Kinji Fukasaku trailer reel, a collection of original trailers for Fukasaku's classic yakuza films from the 70s Image Gallery DISC THREE BATTLE ROYALE II: REQUIEM (BLU-RAY) Bloody Graduation: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale II, an exclusive brand new interview with the director and screenwriter of Battle Royale II Behind the Scenes of Battle Royale II, on-location featurette during the film's shoot Rehearsals footage of the auditions and pre-production rehearsals War and Struggle, featurette of the cast discussing their thoughts on war Alternate Piano Scene The Recording of the Music Score, archive footage of Masamichi Amano and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra Opening Gala with The Orchestra, featuring a public introduction by the director and main cast Battle Royale II Premiere, a featurette on the film's first screening at the Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre Trailers and TV spots Image gallery DISC FOUR BATTLE ROYALE II: REVENGE (BLU-RAY) A Tribute to Kinji Fukasaku, featuring scenes of Kinji Fukasaku on the location of Battle Royale II Kinji Fukasaku's 73rd Birthday: A Speech by Kenta Fukasaku, paying public tribute to his father DISC FIVE BATTLE ROYALE (SOUNDTRACK CD) CD featuring the complete score to Battle Royale by Masamichi Amano and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
This ultra violent satire from Japan tells of 42 teenagers taken to a remote island where they are told that if they wish to survive they must kill all of the others!
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence, it's only fitting that Kinji Fukasaku's Battle Royale is being touted as A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a series of fleeting images of unruly Japanese schoolkids, whose bad behaviour provides a justification for the "punishments" that will ensue. Once the prequel has been dispensed with, the classmates are drugged and awaken on an island where they find they have been fitted with dog collars that monitor their every move. Instructed by their old teacher ("Beat" Takeshi) with the aid of an upbeat MTV-style video, they are told of their fate: after an impartial Lottery they have been chosen to fight each other in a three-day, no-rules contest, the "Battle Royale". Their only chance of survival in the "Battle" is through the death of all their classmates. Some pupils embrace their mission with zeal, while others simply give up or try to become peacemakers and revolutionaries. However, the ultimate drive for survival comes from the desire to protect the one you love. Battle Royale works on many different levels, highlighting the authorities' desperation to enforce law and order and the alienation caused by the generation gap. Whether you view the film as an important social commentary or simply enjoy the adrenalin-fuelled violence, this is set to become cult viewing for the computer-game generation and beyond. On the DVD: Battle Royale comes out fighting in a special edition format only a few months after the initial DVD release became cult viewing. But don't get too excited about the new cut of the film, only a few additional scenes have been added and the alternate ending simply offers a series of Requiem sequences. Disc 2 contains a whole heap of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, unfortunately many of these tend to repeat material. The Q&A with the cast (in full costume) and the director is repeated in the Tokyo Film festival. The special effects comparison feature is a case of "spot the difference" the S-FX hardly being in the Star Wars league and the instructional video on how to direct a film proves that the DVD makers have tried to grasp irony and failed. The disc also includes trailers and text filmographies for "Beat" Takeshi and director Kinji Fukasaku along with a written statement by the master of extreme cinema. Lacking in commentary and substance this DVD is redeemed by a superior sound and visual print to its predecessors. -Nikki Disney
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