 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|
|
 email this review to a friend
A Japanese Masterpiece A terrific achievement in Japanese cinema. Kinji Fukasaku continues the legacy of Japanese filmmaking with a political piece that takes on violent subject matter to help build up the theme of social and cultural decay. In the opening titles it explains that the country is in shambles and the economy is at an all-time low. The unemployment rate is over 15% and 10,000,000 people are out of work. 800,000 students have boycotted school and are now rebelling against adult authority. With no hope left, the government passes the Millenium Reform School Act (aka The BR Act). According to this act, an annual Battle Royale will be held in which a class of junior high school students is chosen to compete. They are taken to a deserted island after being gassed and there they are explained the rules of the 'game'. Each of the 42 students are handed a survival kit which includes some food and water, a map of the island and a random weapon (varying from machine guns, crossbows, axes, binoculars, GPS screens and pot lids among many other items). A necklace is fastened around their necks to keep track of them and it also acts as an explosive device if the contestant should decide to remove it. They are given three days to kill each other off until there is one winner standing. This is one hell of a gore fest, but it does put emphasis on the deteriorating economy of Japan in the film. The political importance is key and should not be overlooked when people see this film. The only problem I have with this movie is that it's far more exploitative than it is critical. I wish there would have been more sequences in which it showed the deteriorating social structure of Japan, that way there would be more knowledge of why the government has passed The BR Act. Most people are accusing the adults of Japan of being evil and diabolic when in fact they have passed the act for solid reasons that many of the viewers of this film probably missed. There is no doubt that this government is corrupt, but I think there should be more emphasis on the fact that the social and economic structure of Japan has been reduced to nothing. Aside from that, I still think this is one of the most important and greatest films to have come from Japanese cinema in a long while. Although there are remnants of storyline from Lord of the Flies, this is one of the most original pieces of work I have ever seen. From the novel of the same name by Koushun Takami, this story is genius and puts attention on the more critical problems in the world today. A rare film event that not only entertains, but informs as well. No film after Battle Royale from Japan has yet to surpass this one's excellence. I highly recommend this to everyone and I hope you can delve deeper into this film and discover it's political meaning and not only its violent nature. A modern-day masterpiece. email this review to a friend
Comment on this Review:
 Subscribe to MatchFlick Movie Reviews through RSS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
RSS | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | About MatchFlick® | Press | Contact Us | FAQs
Partnership and Advertising Opportunities | Movie Database | Merchandise ©2004-2009 MatchFlick®. All rights reserved. ©MOVIE IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED AND THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS |