RacsOview: "Battle Royale" (2001)

I saw this one right after seeing Quentin Tarantino recommending the movie. It was on the top of his list and all. That made me interested. He is one of my favorite directors after all. If you guys have not seen Tarantino's list then you should watch this first.



So I have seen it. Initial reaction? "Battle Royale" is one disturbing shit. It was like "Das Experiment" anime style.

Here's the story. A randomly selected class was put in an island to kill themselves. The catch. Only one should live. If many survives after three days, then those many will die. The protagonist is this Nanahara dude, a guy that you probably have seen in the rather famous "Death Note" live action film as Yagami Light. He has the hots for this chick which he protects. Another dude, who was on their side, claims to know the way out of that killing field is a previous participant and is sort of an expert.

There is no question that this movie, the way it was made, it is original. It was like "Survivor" only instead of voting out your tribe mates you kill them . You have to outwit, outplay and outlast. And like I said, it was like "Das Experiment", a movie that I dearly love, only "Battle Royale" is not an experiment gone awry.

But I really do not get it. Yes it was original. Yes it was bloody fun. Yes it is sick and controversial. But I just could not shake the feeling that it was uber melodramatic. It was too Anime. They even have to talk before they kill. Why can't they just kill one another, they still have to talk and talk and talk. Even the gestures of the actors where too animated. The stomping of the feet when angry, the banging of things and stuff. Even their deaths were animated. It just felt tad too much of a live action version of some anime. Or it was anime only actors were used. I do not really know if it was styled liked that. Though technically it was good. It kinda reminded me of "Kill Bill" as well. Tarantino might have taken some inspiration from it.

"Battle Royale" was an exceptionally well made, cult classic. I know this movie has its followers, cult followers. Many are calling this as an instant classic. But I am not buying it. It was too cartoon for me, and it was not even a cartoon. Even the hacker was cartoon. I am a programmer and I have not seen anyone program like that, like he was playing the piano or something. I could go on ranting about it too cartoony. Don't get me started on that duel between that "nice" dude and crazy sick dude. I just wish that they stayed out of the bitter old man angle.

I have to agree with Quentin Tarantino though that it was a good watch. I was at least, very entertained.

B-