(aka "Batoru rowaiairu" or "Battle Royale")
directed by Kinji Fukasaku
Japan 2000
"In a future where society is on the verge of collapse, the government takes drastic action against the problem of rebellious teenagers in this violent sci-fi opus from Japan. In the year 2002, Japan's economy has taken a dramatic turn for the worse, and massive unemployment and inflation have thrown most adults into a state of chaos; the nation's youth culture responds with unprecedented violence, delinquency, and truancy. Desperate to restore order, the Japanese parliament responds by creating the Millennial Reform School Act, in which groups of junior high students are selected at random, sent to an isolated island, and forced to play a rigorous war game, in which all but one of their number are killed. Kitano (Beat Takeshi) is an embittered school instructor who guides the 44 students of the Zentsuji Middle School's Class B through the deadly game known as "Battle Royale," as they struggle to survive against the elements and each other. Battle Royale proved to be both successful and highly controversial in Japan, where it set box-office records and prompted political leaders to call for stricter controls on violence in Japanese entertainment; the film was initially rated R-15 (no one under 15 admitted), unusual for violent films in Japan, though director Kinji Fukasaku later prepared a re-edited version that earned a more lenient classification. "
Posters
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Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison (This is for the DIRECTOR'S CUT):
Starmax (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Tartan- Region 0 - PAL vs. Cream (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC
Thanks to Mark Wilson for all of the screen captures
(Starmax (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Tartan- Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Cream (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
DVD Box Covers |
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Distribution |
Starmax (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC |
Tartan (UK) Region 0 - PAL |
Cream
(Korea) Region 3 - NTSC |
Runtime | 2:01:00 | 2:01:16 (NO PAL speedup) | 2:01:00 |
Video |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
Bitrate:
Starmax NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
Tartan R0 |
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Bitrate:
Cream |
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Audio | DTS 5.1
Japanese DD 2.0 Stereo Japanese |
DD 5.1 Japanese |
DD 5.1 Japanese |
Subtitles | English, Korean and none. | English, None | English, Korean and none. |
Features |
Release Information:
Theatrical Release Date: Dec 16th, 200 Aspect Ratio: Edition Details:
Extras: Cardboard Slip Case Chapters 48
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Release Information: Studio: Taratan Video (UK) Theatrical Release Date: Dec 16th, 2000 Aspect Ratio: Edition Details: DVD Release Date: September 23rd, 2002 Tin Case Chapters 24
2 Disc Set (both Single Layer) |
Release Information: Studio: Cream (Korea) Theatrical Release Date: Dec 16th, 2000 Aspect Ratio:
Extras:
Click Case Chapters 47 |
Comments: |
NOTE: 2010 Arrow
Blu-ray
(both Theatrical an Director's Cut) compared
HERE.
Not a lot to choose in the picture quality of these three anamorphic releases. There is no cropping on any of the DVDs. the colors are consistent. I find the Cream Region 3 version every so-slightly softer than the other two and the Tartan a little darker, but the differences are very negligible. One of the major points is the subtitles. A personal preference I suppose, but I am NOT partial to the Starmax font and the Cream seems the clearest. I assume that the Tartan may be the most detailed in the translation. All 3 versions are pretty stacked with Extras but the Cream and Starmax are identical. True fans may wish to get one of the Korean version as well as the Tartan for the extensive extras. All have 5.1 original audio. Ohhh... and chapters; Both Korean DVDs have really divided the film up nicely where Tartan has taken a shorter cut with about half as many stops. The menus are always the least important issue for DVD buyers, but as these editions are so close, we will look at it. The Cream appears to have the clearest menu system, while the Tartan is easily the most boring. Personally I like the Starmax... but that is only me. You may have a different choice. Okay, there they are 3 Director's Cuts of "Battle Royale". The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence as these three editions are pretty much the same. |
Recommended Reading for Japanese Film Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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The Japan Journals : 1947-2004, by Donald Richie |
The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film by Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp |
Kon Ichikawa (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs) by James Quandt, Cinematheque Ontario |
Shohei Imamura (Cinematheque
Ontario Monographs, No. 1) by James Quandt |
Eros Plus Massacre: An
Introduction to the Japanese New Wave Cinema
(Midland Book, Mb 469) by David Desser |
The Films of Akira Kurosawa by Donald Ritchie |
by Yasujiro Ozu, Kogo Noda, Donald Richie, Eric Klestadt |
Ozu by Donald Ritchie |
A Hundred Years of Japanese Film by Donald Richie |
Check out more in "The Library"
DVD Menus
(Starmax (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs.
Tartan- Region
0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Cream (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT))
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Subtitle samples
(Starmax (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Tartan- Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Cream (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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Screen Captures
(Starmax (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Tartan- Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Cream (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Starmax (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Tartan- Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Cream (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Starmax (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Tartan- Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Cream (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Starmax (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs.
Tartan- Region
0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Cream (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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Report Card:
Image: |
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Sound: |
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Extras: | - |
Menu: | Starmax |