Battle Royale

OK, now hear me out on this one.

This particular movie finds us in Japan in the somewhat-near future. The nation has suffered a collapse for various reasons, and out of the chaos come many student strikes, riots and general insubordination against adults by kids. Well, as a result of all that (and in an effort to keep everyone in line), every year now the Government chooses one random Jr. High School class of 40 students (all age 15-ish), takes them to an island in the middle of nowhere, and has them fight to the death, with the last one standing allowed to go free. This movie follows one such class, and what results of their battle.

It's a rough movie. Actually, to be blunt, it's a downright harsh movie (at times). The very nature of the plot (a big bundle of teenagers (or call 'em kids even) killing their friends and girl/boyfriends in a fight for survival) tends to put off (or even upset) a lot of people. Add in a bundle of violence (the weapons they use vary from hatchets to crossbows, grenades, and a bundle of guns), just a smidgen of sex (or at least attempted sex), another gander at the plot (seriously, damn), and you've got one of the more controversial movies... well, ever.

However, once you look past all that (and once it actually gets going, that's an easy enough thing to do), then you've got a damn fine movie. It touches upon issues like teenage love and friendship, as well as basic survival and what someone would do when the chips are down and it's the end of the line (on an unrelated note, I love mixed metaphors). It even gets on teenage angst, and it does it considerably better than most modern movies which tend to just emo it up (lookin' at you, Twilight).

As for the violence, all things considered it's not all that bad. Yes, there's a bundle of wounds and bullets and arrows and whatnot getting sent into these students, but it's manageable gore at best (or worst, depending on your feelings of the matter). Pretty much any R-rated action movie in Hollywood these days is worse, and a lot of stuff from Japan is leagues worse (Machine Girl anyone?). Nothing anyone used to mature movies can't handle.

In the end, it's basically a cross between Lord of the Flies and Survivor (if you've seen The Condemned, that was essentially an homage/rip-off of this movie). It can be rough watching all these kids go at it, but beyond that it's got some interesting social and moral issues to discuss, and is a fairly well-made and fairly awesome) action/suspense movie to boot. I definitely recommend it to everyone, if at least so they can see what all the fuss is about and witness this fine movie (preferably before the entirely unnecessary American remake in 2011).

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-T7yPJVvXw