Review of Battle Royale (2000) by Yannick D — 28 Jul 2015

I've heard that The Hunger Games is highly similiar to this movie and some might even call it a rip off. I will admit that these two movies are very similiar. Both having the same idea of children fighting in one big deserted place and only one can win.

Except, Battle Royale does it better. Don't get me wrong, I love the first The Hunger Games, but Battle Royale is just much more enjoyable for me. First of all, the tension and stakes are much higher in this movie.

While in The Hunger Games you had total strangers facing off in the arena (except one man/woman from your own district), in Battle Royale you have to fight against your own schoolmates! 40 students from the same class have to kill each other! That's depressing.

The violence can vary from gory to off-screen. But, most of the deaths are very brutal and the blood amount is high. Most of the characters who you thought might've been friends just go crazy on each other and it was just insane! That scene in the lighthouse just sticks with me.

.. The acting is great and you can sense the fear that these kids had to deal with. The ending is emotional and a bit unexpected. All in all, a much more violent version of The Hunger Games that is also more emotional and powerful.

I'd recommend seeing both Battle Royale and The Hunger Games, as both movies are really good in my opinion and it makes for a very interesting talking subject.