Battle Royale

Year: 2000

Grade: B-

Country: Japan

Director: Fukasaku

Review

highly touted fukasaku film based upon a famous book. it’s become somewhat of a cult favorite and is often considered fukasaku’s best, but i didn’t think so. my favorite of the few i’ve seen is blackmail is my life, though even that isn’t an amazing film. he was a good director with a lot of films under his belt and will probably be well remembered.

the story is probably the most notable element of the film. it’s about a futuristic japanese society wherein school children are forced to fight for their lives on a deserted island. some of the film didn’t make much sense. if there was social commentary i didn’t get it. i would expect such a thing considering the film’s plot, but i didn’t find it. often a film that takes place in the future that features the breakdown of society has some comment on how/why the society got to that point.