One of the best Asia Extreme fiIms and a classic of Japanese cult-cinema, buy this Arrow Video blu ray set (5-discs) of Battle Royale to include as an important part of your film collection.
The film follows the 42 junior high school students in a dystopian Japan, selected to take part in the government’s annual Battle Royale programme, established as an extreme method of addressing concerns about juvenile delinquency.
Dispatched to a remote island, they are each given individual weapons (ranging from Uzis and machetes to pan lids and binoculars), food and water, and the order to go out and kill one other.
Overseeing the carnage is ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano (HANA BI) as the teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges.
Playing like a turbo-charged hybrid of Lord of the Flies, the final completed work by veteran yakuza film director Kinji Fukasaku (BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR AND 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 the director's son, 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.
Presented with extras over 5 discs, this collectable boxset is a MUST HAVE version of this masterpiece of Japanese cinema, for film collectors and Japanese film fans.
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto, Takeshi Kitano
Genre: Dystopian Action
Language: Japanese (with English subtitles)
Country: Japan
Year: 2000
Runtime: 114 minutes
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- Brand new 4K restoration of the Original Theatrical Version and Special Edition Directors Cut of Battle Royale from the original camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by Kenta Fukasaku
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of both versions of Battle Royale
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the Battle Royale II: Requiem theatrical cut and the Battle Royale II: Revenge extended cut
- Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 stereo audio
- Optional English subtitles
- Original soundtrack CD for Battle Royale [Limited Edition Exclusive]
- Kinji Fukasaku: Man of Rage, an exclusive 120-page monograph on the director by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes [Limited Edition Exclusive]
- Illustrated collectors booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson and archival articles
- Exclusive Battle Royale collectors Trump Card set [Limited Edition Exclusive]
- Reversible poster with new artwork [Limited Edition Exclusive] DISC ONE BATTLE ROYALE: ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION
- Brand new audio commentary by critics Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp
- Battle Royale at 20: Back to School, an exclusive new 42-minute documentary about the legacy of Battle Royale
- And much more!
DISC TWO BATTLE ROYALE: SPECIAL EDITION DIRECTORS CUT
- Shooting the Special Edition, on-location featurette with footage of the cast and crew reuniting for the shoot of the Special Edition
- And much more!
DISC THREE BATTLE ROYALE II: REQUIEM (BLU-RAY)
- Bloody Graduation: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale II, an exclusive brand new interview with the director and screenwriter of Battle Royale II
- Behind the Scenes of Battle Royale II, on-location featurette during the films shoot
- Rehearsals footage of the auditions and pre-production rehearsals
- And much more!
DISC FOUR BATTLE ROYALE II: REVENGE
- A Tribute to Kinji Fukasaku, featuring scenes of Kinji Fukasaku on the location of Battle Royale II
- Kinji Fukasaku's 73rd Birthday: A Speech by Kenta Fukasaku, paying public tribute to his father
DISC FIVE BATTLE ROYALE (SOUNDTRACK CD)
CD featuring the complete score to Battle Royale by Masamichi Amano and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Technical Features:
Region Code: B
UK Rating: 18
Running Time: 114 / 122 / 133 / 155 mins
Number of Discs: 5
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Audio: 5.1 / 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Colour: Colour