Review of Battle Royale (2000) by Jonathan P — 22 Sep 2012

One of the most interesting movies I have ever seen. Before Hunger Games (a movie I have yet had the desire to see) Battle Royale made one of the biggest social commentaries a movie can make (thus resulting in it being banned in the USA and many other countries for years).

The plot is simple and yet disturbing enough to make the viewer feel conflicted and dirty (should I really be watching this? I know it is a movie but can they actually show this and get away with it?).

Dealing with a future Japan where unemployment has soared and teenagers have no respect for the law or adults the government enforces the BR law (Battle Royale) which takes one school class each year sends them to an island where they must kill each other off until only one remains.

The graphic violence with actors all who appear to be under 18 years of age is what got this movie banned for years yet the over-the-top violence is really what almost destroys this movie. The violence is so over-the-top that Battle Royale almost drifts into the comedy genre.

Still the social commentary being made and the students being forced to kill or be killed makes for some deep soul searching and saves the movie from itself in the end.