Battle Royale (2000)

- Batoru rowaiaru
"Here's your list of friends in the order they died.", 23 August 2006

I finally got the chance to see what all the fuss is about. For the most part, Battle Royale lives up to the hype. The violence is as over-the-top as I had been led to believe. What I wasn't expecting, however, was such a well made, engrossing film that's full of some of the blackest humor I've seen in a while. For those uninitiated, Battle Royale is the story of one class of young teens in Japan that are chosen at random to participate in the government's new "game" designed to put order back into society. The class is taken to a deserted island and each member of the class is given a weapon. At the end of three days, the one class member left alive is the winner. If more than one person is alive, everyone dies. The plot may seem completely ridiculous and outlandish, but it works. It's difficult not to be drawn into the film from the very beginning. The action comes fast and furious as classmates kill each other in a variety of inventive ways. Friendships are put to the test, trust becomes something foreign, and love means nothing when it's kill or be killed. Director Kinji Fukasaku does a masterful job of making the characters seem real and sympathetic in Battle Royale – even those with limited time on screen. The acting is good, the special effects are believable, and the cinematography and lighting are well done. Overall, Battle Royale is a nice combination of compelling story and technical know-how.

Battle Royale could have been a near perfect film if it weren't for two faults that I can't look past. First, there are too many unnecessary love stories. While I understand the need to present the relationship between the two main characters, is it necessary to hear every teenager's deathbed confession of love? Maybe this was part of Fukasaku's sense of humor, but it quickly became tiresome. Second, the ending is a let-down. I was expecting and hoping for an ending as gratuitous as the rest of the film. Instead, Battle Royale limps to a finale that's uncharacteristically bland given everything that came before. Regardless of these two criticisms, Battle Royale is a film that's well worth seeking out. It's a one of a kind experience and new favorite of mine.

8/10