Bloody Education: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale, an interview with the film's producer and screenwriter The Correct Way to Make 'Battle Royale': Birthday Version, a new version of the original instructional video made to celebrate Kinji Fukasaku's birthday It's utterly comprehensive - the kind of treatment you'd want every film to get, however big or small Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge.

Containing extra footage not used in the Making Of and other filmed interviews with the cast and crew, all of the interviewees give their short thoughts on the film, what it’s about and why it should be seen. With short clips from the film used as well, it gives enough of a sense of the film without giving any spoilers away. At the very beginning of the film, each of the main characters begin in a personally isolated state whether it be central characters Noriko and Kitano respectively as the only student or teacher that partakes in the education system all the way, to the main protagonist Shuya losing his father to suicide in the very opening scene. As deplorable as the game they take part in is, it’s the very thing that brings them together and allows them to see something in the other that isn’t lost to the way of the depressing world they inhabit. A Tribute to Kinji Fukasaku, featuring scenes of Kinji Fukasaku on the location of Battle Royale II

Introduction

Bloody Education: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale, a brand new exclusive interview with the film’s producer and screenwriter In the attempt to define ‘Battle Royale’ in the category of genre, the term ‘action’ gets thrown around a fair bit when it’s being discussed but, personally, I don’t see it as an action film by any level of trait but a film that has action in it to serve the point it’s trying to get across to the audience. What I mean by that is that the film doesn’t do fights or explosions for the sake of them, but as an extreme level of pulling the audience into the horrifying situation the characters are having to go through. No one attempts highly choreographed fight scenes, it’s messy, sudden and brutal and a lot of the time when one student is trying to kill another, it never goes according to plan and where the film shines in its depiction of violence is that it isn’t easy (other than the psychopathic exchange student) for the killers to go through with their actions cleanly and they have to get their hands dirty. It’s clear to see how Battle Royale inspired a plethora of dystopian stories, especially things such as The Hunger Games, but it’s also one of the most realistic of these films, presenting a grim future that’s not too different from our own. This isn’t a world where a tyrannical government is using their advanced technology to cow those under them, keeping people in rigid caste systems or anything like that. The world presented in Battle Royale is one where a desperate government put something in place as the only solution they could see, and people went along with it. The first film presents a very bleak story where no one would ever dream of standing up against such a thing, whilst the sequel shows how hard and futile such a rebellion would probably be. Coming of Age: Battle Royale at 20, a 42-minute documentary about the legacy of Battle Royale • Bloody Education: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale, an interview with the film’s producer and screenwriter

The emotions I experienced then–an irrational hatred for the unseen forces that drove us into those circumstances, a poisonous hostility towards adults, and a gentle sentimentality for my friends–were a starting point for everything since. This is why, when I hear reports about recent outbreaks of teenage violence and crimes, I cannot easily judge or dismiss them. And so onto the film itself, in case you haven’t seen it or need a slight refresher. Opening with a chaotic media frenzy over the one survivor of a previous Battle Royale contest, the survivor is shown to be a young girl with a disconnected smile on her face and being covered in spatters of blood whilst clutching a doll. Immediately you’re left with questions about what happened for this girl to get to this point and yet you’re left wondering but ultimately confused by the disassociation and excitement the press have for what they’re witnessing. It’s one of the most impactful openings I’ve seen to this day and instantly you’re put into a state of unease as you now know what you’re in for even though you don’t understand it yet. Featuring the instructional video in its film version and the brilliant birthday edition made for Kinji Fukasaku on his 70th Birthday as well as multiple trailers including the Tarantino presented teaser. This section also features 30 minutes of trailers for other films from the director. Lossless sound is available on both discs in the original Japanese in 5.1 and 2.0 in DTS-HD Master Audio format. The soundstage is medium wide across the front, with clean and well-centered dialogue. The score is presented with excellent fidelity, supported by firm and satisfying bass. This isn’t an especially boisterous or dynamic mix, but the surround channels are used for modest but constant ambience and you will hear the occasional directional sound effect in action scenes. Optional English subtitles are included. Bloody Graduation: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale II, an exclusive brand new interview with the director and screenwriter of Battle Royale IIThe landscape of cinema changed dramatically from the late 90s onwards in the level of violence that was depicted on screen and the effect it had on the rest of the world. Once again scenes with a high level of violence (specifically those involving shoot outs) were being called out as having the potential to be negative towards society and the impressionable youth, and immediately ‘Battle Royale’ was one that became synonymous with that train of thought. In watching it though, its purpose is never to glorify violence but instead serve the purpose of the story, one that acts as an extreme addition to the trials and tribulations of navigating school, your teenage years and the emotional rollercoasters that occur within those years. The depiction of the dissolving connection between adults and youth is also equally predominant, resulting in the knowledge that either side is to blame within the call and response of each side holding the other accountable for their personal and societal failings. Brand new 4K restoration of the Original Theatrical Version and Special Edition Director’s Cut of Battle Royale from the original camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by Kenta Fukasaku For this review I’m only able to work off the first two discs in the set featuring the first film in both the original and special edition cuts and their bonus features, as those were the only discs I received. For those of you who may already own previous editions of these films on disc, the good news is that everything from the 2012 Starz/Anchor Bay Blu-ray has carried over here, as well as all of the extras from the 2010 Arrow Video UK Blu-ray release, and the 2002 Tartan DVD too. That’s virtually all of the special features that have been produced over the years (save for a few items created by Capelight Pictures’ for recent German BD releases). Here’s a disc by disc breakdown of what you get… DISC 1 – BATTLE ROYALE: ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (4K UHD)

Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson and archival articles The Recording of the Music Score, archive footage of Masamichi Amano and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra. A public introduction by the director and main cast during the Opening Night at the Marunouchi Toei Theatre in Tokyo on 16th December 2000 showcasing the large crowds that were lining up to see the film complete with programmes and an atmosphere of excitement. With all the other behind the scenes features focusing on the cast sharing their experiences at the time of filming, it’s great to hear their words on the film upon its completed state where they’re clearly proud of the film they made. It’s fair then to say that Battle Royale (2000) and Battle Royale II: Requiem (2003) are the culmination of Fukasaku’s life-long exploration of these themes of death, human conflict, and violence. The Making of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students, documentary featuring footage from the shooting of the film and cast and crew discussionsrestoration of the Original Theatrical Version and Special Edition Director's Cut of Battle Royale from the original camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by Kenta Fukasaku Like the original film, Battle Royale II: Requiem was shot on 35 mm photochemical film using Arriflex 535B cameras with Zeiss and Angenieux spherical lenses, though it appears to have been finished only as a 2K Digital Intermediate at the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. For its inclusion in this box set, both Requiem (the Original Theatrical Version, which runs 132:49) and the longer Revenge Cut (the Special Edition Director’s Cut, which runs about 19 minutes longer at 151:50) were remastered digitally from the original DI and are available here in 1080p HD on separate Blu-rays ( Requiem on Disc Three and Revenge on Disc Four). Coming of Age: Battle Royale at 20, an exclusive new 42-minute documentary about the legacy of Battle Royale Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson and archival articles.

Also included in the set is the incendiary sequel Battle Royale II, the directing debut of Kenta Fukasaku (after his father passed away during production), in which a new class of delinquents are recruited by the government to hunt down the survivor of the deadly games of the first film. Kinji Fukasaku trailer reel, a collection of original trailers for Fukasaku’s classic yakuza films from the 70s Picture: Battle Royale has been restored at 4K by Arrow using the original 35mm camera negative of its Theatrical version, and a 35mm dupe negative of the Director’s Cut. HDR10/Dolby Vision grading then brings it bang up-to-date. High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the Battle Royale II: Requiem theatrical cut and the Battle Royale II: Revenge extended cut.

Tokyo International Film Festival Presentation, with footage from the gala screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival The director and main cast of ‘Battle Royale’ presenting the film at its official premiere at the 13th Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2000 where those on stage shared their thoughts and feelings on the film including the tradition of the 3-3-1 clap. Although newcomers may find the lite version - The Hunger Games - robs this 2000 cult classic of some of its originality, it's still got some bite as a no-holds-barred survival horror... with school kids.