Brutal. Savage. Vicious.
These are the only words that I can think of to describe the Japanese sci-fi action thriller “Battle Royale,” a movie not for the faint of heart or pusillanimous.
The movie opened with a prologue stating: “At the dawn of the millennium, the nation collapsed. At 15 percent unemployment, 10 million were out of work. 800,000 students boycotted school. The adults lost confidence and, fearing the youth, eventually passed the Millennium Educational Reform Act – AKA: The BR Act.”
Here’s how the BR Act works: a class of students, unknowingly, is chosen by “impartial lottery.” They then go on a class trip, during which they are gassed unconscious and collared with explosives. When the class awakes, they find themselves in a dark classroom. Armed soldiers file in led by the class teacher. It is at this time that the youngsters are made privy to what is happening, and the rules of the game are explained.
The 42 ninth-grade students, two of whom are “exchange students” from another class, are told that they are to systematically kill each other off until only one of them is left. The game lasts for three days and if more than one of them is alive when the deadline comes, everyone will die. The students are given goodie bags containing food, water, a map and compass, a flashlight and a “weapon.” The weapons range from guns and knives to binoculars and pot lids.
Members of the Japanese Parliament called “Battle Royale” “crude and tasteless” after its release in 2000. I would have called it barbarous and nefarious. After all, there aren’t many movies that you see the disembodied head of a 15-year-old boy get thrown through a window with a grenade in his mouth. The teacher even kills two students while explaining the rules.
However, the movie, to me, is more psychologically disturbing than it is visually or graphically. Granted, I have been desensitized from watching many movies that I probably shouldn’t have since a young age. Namely, the most disturbing aspect of the movie to me is the way the game is treated. The students are taken to a school on the deserted island, with playground and all, put in a room with chalkboards and desks, and the whole situation is treated as a typical school field trip . with only the slightest difference . the murdering.
For those still interested in seeing “Battle Royale” after reading this review, the movie can be rented off of Netflix and even found by searching Google Video.
If you do watch it, you may recognize Japanese actress Chiaki Kuriyama, who is well known for her role in “Kill Bill Volume 1” as Gogo Yubari.ironically, her character in “Battle Royale” wears a yellow jumpsuit that resembles Uma Thurman’s in “Kill Bill.”
The movie is worth a watch . even if you end up not liking it. The premise, to me, is not far from a reality TV show. Be warned, there is violence all involving teenagers.