Distributed by:
Universe L:aser (HK)
Region 3 DVD
Language:
Japanese
Subtitle: English, Chinese
Runtime: 133 minutes
Genre: (Action)
When I heard that there was going to be a sequel to the Japanese hit-film, Battle Royale I wasn't sure what to expect. The good news is that the screenplay was written by Kenta Fukasaku and the movie was directed by his father Kinji Fukasaku, the same two who worked on the first film. In addition, I heard that "Beat" Takeshi was also in it in a flashback sequence. So I gave it a chance.
The premise is this: Four years after the events of the original Battle Royale, the Japanese government decided to enact the "New Century Terrorist Counter-Measure Alternative Program," also known as the Battle Royale II Act. Like before, the government would kidnap 42 junior high students from a "randomly selected school" and force them to participate in their new game. It's still "survival of the fittest" but the rules has changed a bit.
The mission is for the students to suit up in army gear and capture Shuya Nanahara, the leader of the international terrorist group, the Wild Seven. Now, if you remember from the last film, Shuya Nanahara was one of the last remaining two survivors of Battle Royale I. I guess he's a bit pissed off from the first game and wants payback.
I think that the rules of the game was kind of neat. All 42 students are paired into groups of two. Each person is responsible for their respective partner. If their partner dies, then they die as well. You see, in addition of being sent off to war, all the participants of the game have this nice explosive necklace that blows up automatically when their partner dies. Kinda encourages teamwork, doesn't it? You better protect your partner or it's your head, literally. Unlike part one, the students are not out to kill one another, instead they are forced to work as a team to bring down the resistant group led by Shuya Nanahara. And they have to do it in three days or all of them dies.
Let me tell you, I wouldn't mind if they make a Battle Royale III! This is a very rare moment when the sequel is just as good as the original. When I watched the first few minutes, I thought that is was a rehash of the original. Boy was I wrong. This movie kicks ass! I was laughing all the way watching all these kids get blown up. (It sounds kinda sick when I say it, doesn't it?) But once the kids had the chance to get organized, then all hell broke loose! It's the kids versus the adults and man, what a battle it was! The battle scenes were not as majestic as "Lord of the Rings," but it had a bit of a "Saving Private Ryan" and "Black Hawk Down" feel to it.
I found that the movie was a bit Anti-American. "China, Japan, El Salvador, Iraq, etc... what do they all have in common? They were countries who were bombed by the United States." Man, when they made that statement in the movie, I was shocked! This is one movie that will never see the day of light in Hollywood. Too bad, because it's a great movie. I wouldn't mind watching it again!
Overall Score: A
