Battle Royale! Which Version?!?! So Many!! Arrggh!!
 

I've decided to pick up Battle Royale finally, but when I do a search for it on HKFLIX Im given numerous versions to choose from. I have a multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player so Im not limited by region. Which Version should I get?

Battle Royale (Region 3)

Battle Royale (LE Director's Cut 2-Disc TIN PAL)

Battle Royale (SE Director's Cut 2-Disc NTSC)

Battle Royale (SE Director's Cut 2-Disc PAL)

Battle Royale (Special Edition NTSC)

There's also a Korean 2-Disc Director's Cut at YesAsia.


Any help would be appreciated. Thanx.

Korean 2-disc.

Like Bob Marley said: ... don't let 'em fool ya, ohoo!

The UK tin box LE is the ultimate pic as the Spec. Features are
subtitled in engl. and you'll get all you need to know!

I own it and it's great. By the way, the pic quality is by way better
then actually claimed.

On the other hand, the Tartan NTSC disc is the best way to view the original (IMO, superior) cut of the film. I'd definitely suggest seeing the original cut first, then if you find that you like the movie you can spring for either the Korean or UK 2-disc sets for the extras and the re-edited (read: weaker) version of the film.

I'd have to agree with what Trigger said and would opt for the Korean 2 disc DC (full rate DTS!! and best PQ) which i happen to own as well as the Tartan tin edition (i'm a sucker for fancy packaging :) )

i'll back that up, by the tartan ntsc disc, then go for the korean 2 disc, the DTS track on it kicks ass

Well, I did get the one-disc R3 for like seven bucks...doesn't that count for anything?

Jeremy

At one point, that was the only way to see the original cut of the film with subtitles, but then the Tartan NTSC disc came out and blew it out of the water as far as picture and sound quality.

The main thing that anyone looking to buy BATTLE ROYALE needs to be aware of is that there are two different cuts of the film. There is the original cut (Tartan NTSC, HK R3) and then there's the extended re-release cut. Don't be fooled by the fact that this extended cut is being marketed as the "director's cut," because it isn't. The director, Kinji Fukasaku, stated in interviews that his original cut is the director's cut, and that the extended version was simply a way for the distributors to rerelease a film that was getting a lot of press. The added scenes are pretty disruptive to the flow of the film.

BUT, hardcore fans will definitely want both the Tartan NTSC disc and one of the extras-laden 2-disc sets. Anybody who's only seen the extended cut hasn't really seen the best version of the film though.

Ok, so far the concensus is that I should get the Tartan regular edition, then after that acquire the Tartan Tin or Korean 2 Disc.

Couple of questions:

What are the differences between the Dir Cuts and the theatrical version?

And whats the difference between the Korean 2 Disc set that YesAsia carries and the 2disc set that HKFLIX carries? Or they one in the same with different packages used on the different websites?

Another vote for the Korean 2 disc set. The DTS track is great (no DD 5.1 track, so don't get this one if you can't do DTS) and great picture. Nice packaging too, mostly in English surpisingly enough.

This set comes with an outer slipcase. It looks like HKFlix shows a picture of the slipcase and YesAsia shows a picture of the keepcase inside. But its the same set. I think that the only other Korean release was an earlier 1 disc set that was R3 and had no DTS.

the best version is the cheapest one......

ahh, yes... i like my dvds the way i like my women... cheap and imported ;)

Ok, so its definitely the Korean 2-Disc Dir Cut over the Tartan and all others. Any supporters of the other 2 Disc editions?

I have both the Tartan 2 disc tin and the NTSC version. I also have the R3 cheapie HK version. I also have the Korean 2 disc version. Out of all of them, the Korean disc is the best. I actually prefer the extended cut of the film because it adds some depth to some of the characters and actually explains a few scenes better. That said - the shorter cut is most definitely better on pacing... I just prefer the longer cut better. Both Tartan discs I have are fine... I'm all but alone in thinking Tartan can put out a decent DVD. Even the cheapie HK version is fine... decent transfer and good sound with easy to read subtitles (I actually think the subs on the HK disc are better than the Tartan subs). I'd go ahead and get the HK R3 and the Korean 2-disc just to have both cuts of the film.

The Korean 2-disc version is the best.

The Tartan NTSC disc is miles better in A/V quality when compared to the HK R3 disc. The HK disc is cheap, but the transfer is lousy by comparison. Tartan does have a terrible track record, but this disc is clearly one of their few high quality releases.

The Korean disc is great but the extras aren't subtitled as they are on the UK tin. I prefer the tin for that reason. I have yet to see the theatrical cut of the film so now I'll have to pick that up soon.

Whatever you do, just avoid either of the Tartan PAL releases. Especially the special edition where they've added a 4% slowdown which is done incorrectly. Definitely the Tartan NTSC for the theatrical cut and the Korean for the Extended Cut.

The Universe version from HK isn't bad. Considering the price (about $5-6 US) it's a damn fine disc, just not as good as the others.

Jeff

Thanx everybody. Thats why I love this site and this message board. Always helpful.

Anyway, I guess Im going to be getting the Tartan theatrical cut because of the overwhelming support for that disc on this thread. The HK disc is indeed attractive because of its price and Im sure those who got it love it, but I finally have a great set up at home with a Widescreen TV and home theater system and I want to get the most bang for my buck as they say.

Im still debating over the Tartan 2 Disc tin or the Korean 2 Disc. The Korean set sounds like the best, but I'd really like to be able to read whats going on in those Features. Maybe I'll get both, I dunno.

Again thanx for all the help, it was appreciated.

I suggested the HK disc cuz it's 1/3 to 1/2 the price of the Tartan disc (which I haven't been able to find for awhile now - I assumed it was OOP). Plus, this Tartan disc looks about the same as any other Tartan disc I've seen - I don't understand why some people bitch about them for this disc and then praise them for that disc. The HK disc has a decent transfer and good subs and good sound - you can say it's lousy all you want, but it's better than alot of crap in my DVD collection... my suggestion was based on the idea that if you're gonna double-dip - no sense in buying the two more expensive ones if it's not necessary. :shrug: :)

another vote for the cheapest one.

If you are NTSC and interlaced then the Korean 2- Disc dts will look crappy with a lot of shimmering (moire effects).

I prefer the Tartan NTSC 5.1 for interlaced and NTSC.

I had almost all versions but dumped the PAL tin for the Korean 2 Discer.

The korean doesn't have english subs on the extras disc -but- the PAL tin did.

My choices for non-PAL folks:

1) Tartan NTSC 5.1
2) Korean 2-Disc
3) Universe R3

I have/had a half dozen Tartan PAL DVDs and they all were encoded incorrectly, very dark, burned subs (earlier ones) and grainy. For example: Ring... even Dead or Alive is not so hot.

Now, the Tartan NTSC Battle Royale is spectacular -only- because they got a direct port from the Japanese discs.

That's why """People""" praise this disc and not their other ones.

Definitely the 2-disc Korean for the anamorphic transfer, DTS track, Director's cut and no region-coding. No subtitles on the extras disc :(, but you can watch along for a while. I also have the R3 HK disc which was a lot cheaper (got it for $12). Non-anamorphic but the DTS track was there, so if you're on a budget and have all-code then this isn't a bad choice eaither.