Monday, December 13, 2004
Battle Royale - Movie
BR
Last night I rented and watched another Japanese film called Battle Royale. Now this is an intense film. I'm not sure what you could categoize it under, probably action, but it is considered the sister film to the movie Suicide Club. The plots to the two movies really don't have that much in common except maybe sharing actors and the idea of out-of-control youth.
The plot, basically, opens explaining how, at the beginning of the new millenium country started falling apart. Unemployment was high (10 million were out of work) and over 800, 000 kids were boycotting school...so the adults passed an act, the BR Act, in hopes of retaining some control over the dissolving order of their nation. It was explained in the movie that this BR Act was excersized once every year (I guess in the book it was carried out 50 times a year) and this is what it entailed:
One 9th grade class is randomly selected and thrown on a bus, told they are going on a class trip. They are then drugged and taken to a deserted island where, once they wake up, they find themsleves sprawled all over a room with their bags, and what appears to be some odd design of Nike watch, wrapped around their neck. Most are completely confused. A group of soldiers enters the room and shows them a video explaining that they have been chosen for the Battle Royal. It gives all the details; everyone in the class will be given a bag of supplies, a map and a weapon, each person gets a different weapon (to eliminate natural advantages). It is explained that the nature of this battle is "last man standing wins", and it will last for three days. The bands around each persons neck is a monitor and control device which reveals each students location and whether they still have a pulse. Also, if the band is tampered with or the person wearing it is causing trouble, it will explode.
The island is gridded out into many different sectors and every few hours a new 'danger zone' is announced in which, if you find yourself there, you probably won't last long. Along with these announcements will be a list of those who have been eliminated.
After three days, if there is no winner, all the remaining contestants' neck bands will explode.
...Just the process of explanation leaves two dead, and they are all sent out onto the island to commence the battle. Friends are betrayed, truths are told and revenge is sought. Utter hysterics (in the crazy way, not the funny one). There is also some touching parts, people discover who their real friends are through sacrifice and honesty.
As each character is revealed, you get sucked deeper and deeper into the story. The simple revelation of each persons weapon is intriguing; they range from guns to knives, GPS's to binoculars, pot lids to fans. Some of the deaths are brutal...but that becomes incidental with each passing moment as there is a consant foreshadowing of each persons fate, tactics and motives. The tables are constantly turning.
I definately recommend this film to anyone who doesn't mind a little gore and subtitles. The direction was good and the cast is great (I think the psycho mace girl from Kill Bill is in it, as well as many actors that seem to appear in every japanese movie ever made)
What really intrigued me about it was the whole idea of being placed in that situation. Who do you think you could really rely on in a last man staning situation? Would you try to find a way out or eliminate anyone who crosses your path? Would you hunt or hide? Would you eliminate yourself? Nobody can really answer that for sure, considering the fact that those whom would be your enemies may be people you've known and gone to school with for years, they may be your best friends, they may be your lovers.
You can check out more about the film here.
# posted by Alyssa @ 10:37 AM 
Comments:
<< Home
They brought over the manga that the movie is based off of as well. The manga is very extreme (i.e.: violence and sexual content) but they are worth checking out if you're a fan of the movie. The books do a really great job fleshing out the backgrounds of the students and their relationships with each other.
Post a Comment
<< Home
