Battle Royale Question
 

Which one's the best version for Battle Royale? I heard a lot of positive feedback on this Japanese flick so I'm gonna have me a copy. Is there a boxed set for BR 1 and 2? Many thanks!

Link to that information...

i think most agree that's THE site for this stuff...

it's honestly hard to believe there hasn't been a first rate release of this in Region 1...

especially considering the many, many, huge profit releases on DVD of Asian films... and considering the massive 'cult' status of this film... i mean how many other films have such a well-known and comprehensive website JUST on a single movie...

just doesn't make sense...

Maybe the cost in getting the rights to this flick are too high. I have an import DVD, but like you said this is a 'cult' film. As the great Martin Mull once said, "A cult following is a nice way in saying very few people like you."

I don't know the truthfulness of this, and I don't feel like researching it, but from what I have heard many times in discussions like this, Kinji Fukasaku, the director, didn't want the movie released in America. America is the "other country" referred to in the film that the Japanese government follows and is afraid of at the same time. I have read articles/reviews that claim that Fukasaku hated America. I have also read ones that claim he hated Japan. Both of those seem unlikely considering his involvement with "Tora! Tora! Tora!," which treated both countries pretty respectfully. But there was a big time difference between that and Battle Royale. Who knows what the truth is, and now that he's gone, we'll never know.

I have also heard that the Japanese company that owns it is holding out for more money than American distributors think they can make from it, so it's just not profitable.

I don't think there's any truly reliable source of information on any of this.

This was discussed back in May of 2007 in this DVDTALK thread

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread....68#post7858068

click on the link

My local Hot Topic still carries the "Special Box Set"
and it's a-okay in my book!

Honestly, don't even bother with BR2 Requiem. It's an absolute mess of a movie. . .

as far as i remember, considering when the film could have been released relatively freshly onto DVD (considering the formats age - about ten years now), the lack of a USA release is to do with the subject matter... all those highschool shootings, all the discussion of film versus reality and so on.

...it's nothing at all really to do with a current perception of a downturn in "cult films" on DVD (which is very much a "now" issue than can be connected, unnecessarily or inaccurately i think, to how it's always been a borderline / niche market by comparison to the dominant taste) or to do with "lack of insight or understanding" of the film, as some might like to describe it, in order to manipulate the value of the film to themselves or others as being "easy for me, difficult for you" as it were. it's a great film, not watched it in a long time, but it always seemed to me to be lauded by a very teen end of the market for japanese films in the west, despite the broad and powerful political impact that's contained within the film and how it was seen upon release in japan and how it's done by someone whom didn't quite seem to have the same recognition stateside then and he does now, post all those homevision releases of his stunning 70's work.

never mind, other countries have released it. the one frequently lusted after is the R2 UK tin, but another version may be preferred by now.

I second that.

At the very least, try to watch the original theatrical version first. Not sure how many editions contain it, but it's a vastly more satisfying experience than the expanded director's cut issued months later, which adds in a ridiculous amount of "back story" sequences that stop the narrative cold.

Wait for a BR BR at this point. Even if you import it it will be the same region.

Another vote for the original UK/R2 "for NTSC players" version. Is this OOP? As far as I know, it's either the only release (or the best quality release) of the original director's cut. I also used to have the expanded version (by Starmax, I think), but sold it as soon as I watched it. Did not care for the additional scenes, and the very slight improvements in the transfer were negated by awful, large subtitles.

I've opted for the BR Special Edition Tartan R2 release. The collector's Tin Ed. woul've been cool but pretty hard to find.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...9L._SS500_.jpg

I actually prefer the original cut to the director's extended version. The extra blood is a nice addition, CGI as it is, but I think the extra dream scenes and basketball sequences detract from the overall flow of the film. My vote for the best edition, if you can find it, is the R0 Tartan NTSC version. It has a great anamorphic picture and is 5.1, although there isn't much in the way of extras it's a great disc.

this is probably the worst choice you could've made. i own this copy and the transfer has TERRIBLE ghosting/combing.

I found BRII to be extremely underrated film. Check out the "Revenge" cut, much better. Far from a mess though in any version, though.

The UK "NTSC, DD 5.1" version is the one I have - and it's pretty damn sweet. I think it's out of print..


Please, please, please, please for the love of god, DON'T BUY the sequel. It's a piece of crap. It would be the same as buying Son of Mask if you own The Mask. You may be a completist, but please, try and control yourself and don't buy this sequel.

I doubt it's not released here because of Columbine and stuff. Just like i'm sure The Mist dvd poster was not 'changed'(removing the kid from the artwork) because of the 'controversial ending' as a certain website speculated.

I'm sure it's just money issues being the main culprit. I've heard the rights holders wanted to much money for the film. And or demanded a major uncut theatrical release of the film. Which considering it may earn an NC-17,would be a huge waste of money on the studios part.

Either way, I think Tom Cruise or someone bought the U.S. remake rights to the film. And if it ever gets made. A R1 release of the film will see the light of day.

The notion that this film doesn't have a R1 release because "it's too controversial" strikes me as total bunk. The film simply isn't particularly shocking. The novel, of course, was a huge controversy in Japan because of a number of violent youthful crimes that preceded and followed its release and which were highly unusual for the country.

Because of Columbine? Please. See "Elephant". See "River's Edge". See "Bully". Because of scary "reality TV" killing? See "Series 9: The Contenders". For graphic violence in general? Ahem... are you joking?

I like the film. I like my UK "for NTSC players" disc of the original cut, and recommend this disc (and only this disc). But the film is a bit of a goof. It's neither highly realistic, nor internally consistent. For anyone thinking that this is somehow the be-all/end-all of transgressive cinema, well you're bound to be letdown. It's so-so satire, occasionally humorous, often gory, and every now and again it hits on something sorta true about teenage emotions. But mostly it's rather obviously a few steps removed from reality and tries to be little more than a well-constructed thrill-ride... with a few nods in the direction of social commentary.

i wish i had that UK original cut release...

you guys that do are lucky...

maybe something will happen R1 with a 'both versions' release...

i can dream can't i?...

Pertinent information:
http://battleroyalefilm.net/movie/banned.html

Sounds like it just costs too damn much. Kind of?

Anchor Bay have been after the region 1 rights for many many years now, so its certainly NOT about no one here wanting it, thats never been the case.

I third that. BR2 is easily one of the worst films I've seen in the last 10 years, right up there with Zombiez. Don't waste your time.

and from the site itself :

"...With much regret we inform you that we are withholding distribution,
in any formats, of the above mentioned picture for Northwest (sic) America
due to the picture's contents and theme..."
- Hideyuki Baba, Manager, International Sales and Purchasing, Toei

the controversy of the film, in terms of toei's handling of it, relates to their knowledge of how japan has taken the film upon initial release, the effects upon products (especially films) featuring teens / guns / death (teens causing death with guns, of one another - at the initiation of adults wanting a cull of smothered youth) if they happen to coincide with such a (regularish) event in america. it's not just columbine, as it often feels as though foreign attitudes and coverage of american shootings head for a different reaction to even what seems to be happening in america to stem the tide of what seems always to have an obvious solution.

Wow I never realized that there's a lot of controversy and issues sorrounding this movie. Now I have see this ASAP!

In other words, "we want big bucks."

If they were really squeamish about "contents and theme" they wouldn't have sold rights to their "pinky violence" films.

"With much regret we inform you that we are withholding distribution,
in any formats, of the above mentioned picture for Northwest (sic) America
due to the picture's contents and theme..."
- Hideyuki Baba, Manager, International Sales and Purchasing, Toei"



a US soldier just raped a japanese girl...I wonder if Hidieyuki Baba still cares about sensitivity issues of americans, sells the DVD rights to usa, and see USA children fall apart due to this controversial movie. ;) Just sell us the movie already!

Welcome to the internet! Please enjoy your stay! ;)

Seriously, I'm surprised you didn't know any of this. Almost any discussion about it somehow revolves around its "controversial nature" (well, maybe not so much anymore, the movie is 7 years old now).

the tone and approach, connecting issues, are entirely different for battle royale, over the more comic book, light-hearted (though still violent) and clearly less contemporary all-round in comparison to a potential genre such as pinky violence to any film that deals with the idea of a generation (by definition, 30 years is a definition, i think?) of youth that's been too protected; and how the adults, politicians, deal with this in an extreme and controversial manner by pitting them against one another with weapons, the lure of potential freedom if they come out as the winner. time will tell, in say another 30 years, if the film (as with anything politically charged in it's inception) still maintains relevance - it still sits as a good record of a countries state, in part, to look back upon, perhaps as some kind of warning... japanese films, they do tend to be violent, but they're not so often easily read and being so overtly political, confrontational, even if their political elements have been disguised / revealed or analised over time by a more removed audience that picked more selectively from films that happened to contain strong political messages from the past output of the countries industry.

Long story short cause I've explained this numerous times:

Toei wants a huge paycheck to license out the rights, in the $2-4 million range. Back in the day, they also wanted whatever studio grabbed the rights to it a certified theatrical release in 200 locations minimum.

It's not controversy. It's not cause it's banned. It's cause Toei wants top dollar and no studio is willing to put up the money.

^^^^^

Thought as much.

The film wouldn't be on DVD in any region, anywhere, if Toei was concerned about the "content and themes."

despite how its possible to see the film outside of japan but not directly on an American DVD in America, companies still work with territories in an isolated manner. if you want to run one culture without isolating them, its logistically impossible to manage. the true impact in a country, if that's a fear, of a films content only comes with a release in that territory.

come on Dragon Dynasty :D

I rented this last year through Zip.ca (Canada's version of Netflix). I can honestly say, out of all the movies I saw last year (including recent ones) Battle Royale was among the 5 best viewing experinces I had last year.

See it.

Yeah, please give us Teenage Kill Zone!

And don't skimp on the exploding cars and helicopters on that sleeve art, dammit!

anyone care to argue for toei wanting too much money again?
given what's unfortunately happened in America in the past 24 hours,
I'd hope nobody could suggest a figure that could compensate for eternally being associate with the kinds of events (loss of young life, guns) which keep happening.

I'm sure it's Toei wanting to much money. It's the only thing that makes sense.

Who cares what's gone on in the last 24 hours,weeks,months..10 years. None of that has any affect on Battle Royales U.S. release. If Toei did not want to much money. Then any one of the indie/cult/asian cinema specialty labels would have picked it up by now!

well, i care. i think toei cares. the threat of legal action, if not entirely logical or necessarily likely, is more than enough to turn down a few million dollars over the risk of a tainted situation they struggle to deal with after any potential link.

yes, when gun incidents happen in america, there's a certain amount of scapegoating likely to be attempted by news coverage; the losing sight of how reality and film / television / created cultures are not literally reality or necessarily the point at which things should said to be controlling peoples actions. what strikes me as odd, as a UK resident watching how british news coverage talks about the american coverage of any incident as much as the incident itself, is that there's very regular discussion of how there doesn't seem to be the same kind of realisation from an american audience in relation to the right the bare arms leading to an increase in people carrying guns, leading to a statistically blatant increase in the likelihood someone somewhere will use that right in a negative way. and that costs lives. it's almost as though the american coverage not only fears gun lobbyists, but also can't quite see how other countries can spot the solution (i.e no right to bare arms, tighter controls and such similar non-gun carrying solutions) that would lead to a great many less opportunities to deal with all the associated happenings. and that's the kind of thing that's in the mind of toei, i think, and it's certainly in the mind of a great deal of other countries too - that there's a perspective on gun violence that isn't a total acceptance of it in film or real life, that there's an affect on an event (an association between an event and a film) being covered by non-USA news broadcasters viewing things with objectivity or without clarity / intimate knowledge, that's simply not worth the risk.

personally, i think it's far more likely, as no money compensates for a loss of life. no film is, despite how smart this particular one is, worth risking that's palpable but not entirely accurately going to be judged until, at worst, it happens.

oh, but there is no problem with buying "The Suicide Club" in the US?...While one can argue the affect this film may have on the populace, I don't believe that is the reason. After all, isn't the main synopsis that the school itself sanctioned these killings? That scenario certainly isn't happening in the US!

Are you from US? do you believe this statement?

Looks like many others believed this one..

But howcome stores like

1. Hot Topic (Where I got it)
2. Amoeba Music
3. Suncoast / FYE
4. Secon Spin
5. 20/20 video


Carries this title?