I just watched the region 3 HK "Battle Royale" with my trusty Apex 1500, and must say it was pretty crazy. I recommend you all find a copy and give her a shot, because I am fairly certain it won't be released stateside. Anyway, I was curious to know if anyone has the japanese version without subtitles? Supposedly this transfer is better and anamorphic. Also, does anyone have any details on the upcoming region 2 release?

For those interested, you can all see a brief trailer here:

http://www.r2-dvd.org/article.jsp?se...articleId=3290

For anyone in the SF Bay Area, you can catch this film at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley on January 26th. I believe it will be the original language/uncut version with subs, and in a real theater!

Looking for a Region 1 copy of Battle Royale,...can anybody point me in the right direction?

There isn't one. Hence the "I doubt it'll make it stateside" in the original post, nobody is willing to touch this one with a ten foot pole. Recommended movie though.

-Rich

From today's news at DVDReviewer:

Tartan Video have announced a new disc on their Tartan Extreme label, Kinji Fukasaki's violent feature Battle Royale arrives on 21st January and stars Beat Takeshi, Fujiwara Tatsuya, Maeda Aki, Yamamoto Taro, Ando Masanobu, Shibasaki Kou and Kuriyama Chinki. Presented with an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Stereo soundtrack, extras include film notes by Mark Wyatt, a stills gallery, filmographies and trailers. The recommended retail price will be £19.99.

Finally an anamorphic release I can buy!

If you are looking for a region 1 release, your best option is a vcd, readily available on ebay. Check here for screenshots - http://homepage.tinet.ie/~screamanth...iestills01.htm

Actually, the page above has some cool stuff on it. It has screen shots of the region 3 dvd from hong kong and a good background on the film itself.

One thing is not to get to exited by the Tartan release. If they've done their homework (which I doubt), they'll take the transfer off the Japanese r2 and have removeable subtitles. But as it stands. They've screwed up on all their releases with a cinema reel print (from what I've read. And one reason I haven't touched one of their releases). We'll see though.

Guess what? The Tartan Battle Royale has... burned-in subtitles! And a cinema reel print!

But a buddy of mine told me that they are "all RD" copies of them out there....

What's a LCD? Hate to sound ignorant.

Liquid Crystal Display

And a review of the Tartan disc http://www.r2-dvd.org/article.jsp?se...articleId=3312 (so leave your Universe r3 well alone)