Battle Royale, 2000

 

If Tarantino had directed the Hunger Games, this is the movie you would have seen. It is a given that this is not a movie for the young or light of heart. Battle Royale is a pure, cathartic and bloody good time.

 

Based in Japan a few years back, this action filled gore fest takes a class of unsuspecting children and drops them on an island where the real hunger games take place. No snazzy cut-aways. No trimmed language. No gaudy build up. Just pure and simple gladiatorial competition. With all the blood and horror that would logically accompany such an event.

 

While I was a fan of the Hunger Games movie ( it served a purpose ) I was uncomfortable with the basic fact that it was a movie about a fight to the death and yet the makers did a fabulous job of applying the 'Disney-filter'. Cameras cut away just as death blows were delivered, soundtracks over compensated to cover battle cries and kids just "disappeared" from the story when they had met their demise. With Battle Royale, the truth of the game is laid bare. Almost to bare. However, isn't that part of the point? Battle ( war ) is ugly.

 

Director Kinji Fukasaku does a masterful job of letting us know just how crazy this all is. He is able to weave in little story vignettes. All the while keeping his audience not far from the gruesome reality of the films subject. It is a masterful piece of work.