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Battle Royale Directors Cut
Battle Royale Directors Cut
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List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $14.99
You Save: $4.96 (25%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $14.99

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(based on 110 reviews)
Sales Rank: 818
Category: DVD

Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Publisher: Toei
Studio: Toei
Manufacturer: Toei
Label: Toei
Format: Ac-3, Anamorphic, Color, Director's Cut, Dolby, Full Length, Import, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Media: DVD
Running Time: 122 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6

UPC: 796851000121
EAN: 0796851000121
ASIN: B000F4LPJ6

Release Date: June 15, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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  "  Oldboy

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
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 schoolchildren, whose bad behavior 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 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 consider the film an important social commentary or simply watch it for the adrenaline-fueled violence, this is set to become cult viewing for the computer game generation and beyond. --Nikki Disney

Album Description
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence it's only fitting that Kenta 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 school kids, whose bad behavior provides a justification for the 'punishments' which will ensue. To be honest, anyone who has grown up with Grange Hill will view these aggressive teenagers' acts as pretty moderate, but in the context of Japanese culture, their lack of respect is a challenge to the traditional values of respecting ones elders. 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. The film looks like a war-flick on occasions, with intense Apocalypse Now-style imagery (check out the classical score blasted over the tannoys with sweeping shots of helicopters). Yet, Battle Royale works on many different levels, highlighting the authorities' desperation to enforce law and order and the alienation caused by the generation gap. But 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. Approx. 109 mins/NTSC/Region 0. Tartan Asia. 2001.


Customer Reviews:   Read 105 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars A modern classic!   June 12, 2006
  1 out of 1 found this review helpful

In the near future, high school students are protesting against the school system as the adults begin to worry, thus creating a special program called "The Battle Royale Program" in which students who are selected at random to an island where they are armed with weapons as they must be seperated to hunt & kill each other one by one until one will remain to become the winner.

One of the most controversial movies in recent memory, this wild and ultraviolent Japanese Sci-fi action thriller is inspired by the same infamous novel from it's own country and has shattered Japanese box-office records. It also stirred up some trouble over there on the film's subject matter and on the Japanese politics, the story is a very intriguing futuristic flick with ideas, violence and gore to keep the viewer entertained with some social and political issues.

This DVD has terrific picture and sound quality with Japanese audio with English subtitles! There's some quality extras like the trailers, Press Conference on the movie, Special Effects Comparision featurette, Rehearsal footage, TV Spots, behind the scenes footage and more. This movie is a powerful, unique and disturbing epic beyond anything you've ever seen before! this movie must be seen to believed.



5 out of 5 stars Region coding   June 9, 2006
  1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is for Phasmatrope --- I ordered this edition of Battle Royale from amazon and it's REGION 0 (all region), and plays fine in both my REGION 1 DVD players as well as my portable DVD player and the DVD player on my computer.


5 out of 5 stars Awesome cult film! Just one question...   June 5, 2006
  1 out of 1 found this review helpful

My one question is, for those who have a copy of this particular DVD edition being advertised here: is this particular version a multi-, or all-region DVD? I live in the U.S., and I'd really like to get THIS version due to all the special features, but obviously I don't wanna get it if it's not even going to play in my DVD player... anyone know??

But for those who aren't wound so tightly as to be offended by the risque premise (a buncha students are kidnapped, taken to an island, and given weapons to kill one another off), and HAVEN'T had the privilege of seeing this wickedly entertaining film, you owe yourself to do so. Fans of transgressive art, black comedy, dead baby jokes, Takeshi Miike, Bret Easton Ellis, Palahniuk, and Tarantino will be right at home watching it (case in point, not only is this one of Tarantino's favorites, its influence on him is evidenced by his casting this film's Chiaki Kuriyama to play Gogo in his own "Kill Bill"). Take it from me though and skip the unengaging sequel. Also recommended: "Series 7: The Contenders."




5 out of 5 stars A deeper look into a cult classic.   May 23, 2006
  1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Kinji Fukasaku's 2000 film "Battle Royale" has attracted fans from all over the world with its controversy and ultraviolence. Set in an alternate reality, a ninth grade class is outfitted with weapons and food for a few days, let loose on an evacuated island, and forced to kill one another until only one is left standing. Electronic collars around their necks keep track of their movements and ensure that the "players" don't do anything suspicious. The forty-two students involved in the game face a great dilemma: what do you do? Which friends can you trust, if any? Do you run and hide, commit suicide, find your friends and hope for the best, or... play the game? With danger and death looming around every corner, these students must make decisions that reflect their character, decisions that ultimately decide their fate.

The movie itself is totally unlike anything you'll see coming from the United States. The adolescent violence is a constant theme, never allowing the viewer to breathe for too long. Touching exchanges between the ill-fated characters provide a strong dramatic element to go along with the action. And, believe it or not, there is some great black humor thrown in to boot. Though not for the faint of heart, Battle Royale is an incredible tale of will and survival, and it challenges its viewers to think about what they would do in a similar situation.

Notable for his acting is the great Takeshi Kitano, who plays the students' former teacher and runs the Battle Royale program this time around. Tatsuya Fujiwara (Nanahara) and Aki Maeda (Noriko) are the main characters, and most of the action revolves around them and what they see. Taro Yamamoto (Kawada) plays a mysterious "transfer" into the class, and his motives are unknown to the others. Chiaki Kuriyama (Chigusa) of Kill Bill fame catches the eye of more than one student, and shows that she can do far more than swing a ball and chain. Kou Shibasaki (Mitsuko) and Masanobu Ando (Kiriyama) round out the main cast as two wild students who aim to mow down everyone in their path.

The DVD is a special version of the original film, with about eight additional minutes of footage involved. These extra scenes add some backstory to many of the characters and highlight what life was like before they were chosen for the game. Recurring scenes of a basketball game show the unity of the class - a stark contrast to what the rules of the game suggest, and what they force these kids to do. There are also some additional shots of the students' reactions. The action is digitally enhanced, with the gunshots sounding louder and the blood splattering further than in the original version.

The special features, absent in the original DVD release of the film, show that the actors and actresses really are just kids. Most of the features show them having a good time and enjoying themselves on set. Some promotional material and short interviews with the cast and director are included as well. Not all of the special features are subtitled in English, but the subtitles that are used are top-notch, especially in the feature film.

All in all, this is a great disc to pick up if you've never heard of Battle Royale - or even if you have.



4 out of 5 stars Director's Cut   May 21, 2006
I won't even try to review this film, since there are so many helpful reviews at the other Battle Royale (theatrical release) product information page. I'm only writing this to ask other people who have seen both versions to tell other people where the difference lies. This director's cut is apparently longer, but I can't really say.

Copyright Runningonkarma.com 2006