Battle Royale is based upon a novel by Koshun Takano which in essence is about a group of high-school students placed on a deserted island and are given three days to kill each other until one is left. Connor Macleod on a tight schedule? It pretty much makes Survivor look lame.

I haven't read the novel so every bit of info I think I know stems from the internet. Correct me if I'm wrong. Lawlessness among juveniles reach an alarming rate and the government reckoned they should fight poison with poison. Hence, the Battle Royale Act is passed and yearly, a high-school class is selected through 'impartial lottery' to participate in the Battle Royale 'Survival Program'.

Like an excursion gone mad, an unsuspecting class of 42 is plonked onto an island awaiting their fate. 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano plays Kitano (unimaginative name but ironic), the man behind the operations who initiates the students by dispatching a talkative student. For those who haven't seen any of Kitano's previous works, he's a talented writer/actor/director who's a cult figure for making gangster/yakuza movies. Known for his stone-faced-Dirty-Harry-esque screen characters who kill without batting an eyelid, Kitano wastes no time in making his students see his point. Kill or be killed.

The students wear explosive necklaces to prevent them from escaping (think Running Man). More than that, it serves as a grim reminder of their task. Standard issue combat rations and gear (mineral water and bread x3, a map and a compass) are distributed to each individual in backpacks. In addition, every student gets a random weapon. So if you get a paper fan and encounter someone with an Uzi, say your prayers.

One by one, the students are called upon to receive their combat gear. Kitano tells them, "Life is a game, so find out if you are worth it. Fight to win!"

The countdown begins after the first student leaves the classroom. I know this sounds crazy but at this point, I was excited yet consumed by my conscience. How can this be happening? It's not like I thrive on watching high-school students kill each other, yet as a spectator, I'm thrilled. When quizzed about the morality of his movie, director Kinji Fukasaku defends it by saying that it serves as a grim reminder of his youth, when he witnessed his classmates being blown away by American bombings during WWII.

As the movie progresses, we see how students cope with their problems. Some chose to commit suicide while others die trying. Some tried diplomacy but learned the consequences fatally. What is ironic is that scenes of graphic murders are accompanied by classical music. What's more, Kitano, through a public address system, announces the names of the fallen in the order that they died every morning. Co-ordinates for danger zones (which triggers the explosive necklaces) are given every few hours and more when Kitano finds the students 'slacking'. This way, surviving students will eventually be forced to congregate at the final zone for the showdown.

What happens in the end? Watch the movie to find out.

For more information on Battle Royale (including two trailers), check out the film's official website:

www.battle-royale.com (site down)

In addition, I've also set up my own BR acitivity site where you can download a screensaver, desktop icons, view my art gallery and watch behind-the-scenes videos of the movie! Check out BATTLE STATION now!

All pictures copyright Toei Co. 2000