Battle Royale [4k Ultra-HD] [Blu-ray]

Product Information

Behind the scenes footage of Kinji Fukasaku working with the cast through the audition process, stunt preparations and character moments. That said, Arrow’s 1.85:1 4K presentations are
still by far the best either version has ever looked. Close-ups and brightly lit scenes reveal more precise details than earlier Blu-rays managed, and even the muted colour palette has a little more life to it. Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson and archival articles Humanity, Graveyard of Honor) helped launch a new wave of appreciation for Asian cinema in the 21st century. Also included in the set is the incendiary sequel Battle Royale II, the directing debut of Kenta Fukasaku (after his father passed away during production), in which a new class of delinquents are recruited by the government to hunt down the survivor of the deadly games of the first film. Battle Royale II Premiere, a featurette on the film’s first screening at the Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre

Set in a future where chaos reigns, the Japanese government has come up with a solution for the unruly students that seem to be making the teachers lives hell. The BR Act is employed and a bus-load of kids are delivered to a military installation where they are informed by their at-the-end-of-his-tether teacher that they are to be transported to an island where they must kill all of their fellow students in a game of survival until only one remains as the winner. Lossless sound is available on both discs in the original Japanese in 5.1 and 2.0 in DTS-HD Master Audio format. The soundstage is medium wide across the front, with clean and well-centered dialogue. The score is presented with excellent fidelity, supported by firm and satisfying bass. This isn’t an especially boisterous or dynamic mix, but the surround channels are used for modest but constant ambience and you will hear the occasional directional sound effect in action scenes. Optional English subtitles are included. Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge.

Kinji Fukasaku is a name well known to fans of Japanese action cinema. His work—which has had a strong influence on the likes of John Woo and Quentin Tarantino—includes The Green Slime (1968), the yakuza film series Battles Without Honor in Humanity (1973-76), and Message from Space (1978). He also directed portions of Fox’s Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) after Akira Kurosawa left the project two weeks in. Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson and archival articles.

In the grand tradition of sequels Battle Royale II goes bigger by having more action, more kills, an expanded plot and loads more (CGI) blood but, as we all know, bigger isn’t necessarily always better because with this sequel things just don’t gel and what you are left with is groups of angry teenagers screaming and shouting at each other and at everyone else but not a lot of depth.

Extras

Containing extra footage not used in the Making Of and other filmed interviews with the cast and crew, all of the interviewees give their short thoughts on the film, what it’s about and why it should be seen. With short clips from the film used as well, it gives enough of a sense of the film without giving any spoilers away.