Fucked Up Japan

Based on the novel by Takami Koushun, Battle Royale become highly controversial in a short time. The plot is simple - in effort to curb truancy and misbehaving students, the Japanese government enacts the B.R. act, in which a class of high school students is chosen at random and forced to play a real life last-man standing death match on a remote island. Though the plot is simplistic and the blood flows freely, the strength of this movie lies in the characterization and their interactions throughout.

The first time I watched this, I thought it was just a great movie, if a little excessive with gore - though this can only be expected with subject matter in question. Then I moved to Japan and began teaching Japanese schools, and it suddenly took on a whole new level. I began to really associate with some of the characters and consequently it became a whole lot more moving experience.

Either way, it’s an amazing film and a must-see for anyone even slightly interested in Japanese culture, schooling, and high school girls maiming each other. The gore takes a back seat as you begin to care about each of the poor students chosen and their individual motivations. Go get the directors cut now, @ PirateBay.