The Greatest Films #2: Battle Royale

I’ve decided to start putting together a list of the greatest movies that everyone should see. I love doing top ten lists and everything, but I really would love to discuss classics for a few paragraphs. Also, I hate it when articles get long winded so I’ve adopted a 3 paragraph system that will make the articles super easy and fun to read.

Background:

If you haven’t seen this movie go watch it right now. Breeze through this article and find this movie…I literally have no idea where, but find it; try your best. I came across this movie randomly when a friend from college sent me a boot-legged copy. I popped it into my computer and have never seen anything like it since. Famously, or maybe not, a year after I saw it Q. Tarantino came to the movie’s rescue and listed it as the best movie made since 1993 (when he started making movies).

I honestly think it deserves this accolade. It might not be the best movie in a traditional sense, but when I sat down as a kid and really started thinking about movies I’d wanna’ make, this is the type a movie that popped into my head. It falls between a dream and a reality, where a fantastic premise is executed dead serious.

What it is about:

The movie takes place in Japan where a school of students are kidnapped and forced into a fight to the death on an island. On arrival each student is given a weapon to fight with, supplies, and has a necklace put on them which will explode if they try to escape or are in the wrong sector at a certain time.

Battle Royale Trailer
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What a brilliant premise. A lot of people look at me weird when I talk about my love of anime, Japense culture, and manga, especially considering I don’t look the part at all. But I really believe that this arena of culture is the only place such a premise could be explored seriously. Battle Royale started as a fairly popular manga, as did Old Boy, the other film I’ve written about in my Great Films section.

Manga/Graphic Novels give writers a medium where they can explore complicated themes and stories visually, but without the burden of filmmaking’s budgetary constraints. They don’t have to worry about pleasing millions of people. They want to, but don’t have to financially.

Moreover, Batte Royale‘s story gained momentum as a Manga and was able to be produced into somewhat of a masterpiece.

The film, to me, starts and ends with the great Takeshi Kitano. A name many of you probably don’t know. A name I didn’t learn until I stumbled across this movie and eventually discovered he’s one of the most celebrated talents in Japanese history. Watch the movie and you’ll probably realize why I find that odd. Kitano plays Kitano (ha) who tortures, mocks, and is an all around really huge asshole to the students throughout the film. For more fun dig up a copy of Kitano’s film (director/actor/kinda’ writer) Violent Cop

This might be the best scene ever in a film:

While watching this movie you’ll also probably recognize Chiaki Kuriyama from Kill Bill. (I’m sure this is where QT first head of her.) This is the scene that probably won him over when considering who to cast for that part.

Why it is a great film:

There is nothing like a good dick stabbing… But seriously, I could go on forever about great scenes in this movie, why it deserves to be seen, blah-blah; but I’m not interested in that. What I want to get across is why these types of movies are important and why only the Japanese can get away with it. I’ve never been able to convince any of my friends to see this movie based solely on the fact it is in Japenese and looks kinda’ of weird.

These are not good reasons not to see a movie. Manga, anime, and other very Japanesey things are to be cherished. Very few other countries would produce a film so extreme and violent. There is something about Ichi the Killer or Audition that captures my imagination. Yes, we have the French Extremity and to some extent the Saw films, Eli Roth, and even Rob Zombie; but it is not the same.

There is something so bizarre, so fun, and so moving about Battle Royale that you can’t get anywhere else in movies. Violence, comedy, extremism, surrealism, and drama, all packed into one movie.

Genius.

-Collin