Takeshi Kitano is FANTASTIC as the school teacher with an innocent yet disturbing crush on one of his pupils and an obsession with her baked goods (Ohhh, and wait until you see his painting! Granted Japan loves to take risks, especially when it comes to violence, sex and more like Takashi Miike‘s catalogue that ranges from family friendly films all the way to violent works that ended with some cuts or bans in some regions. It’s a great soundtrack, and an excellent addition to the collection, although the end theme by Dragon Ash is notable by its absence.

Sadly, Requiem—which was to be the final film of Kinji Fukasaku’s career (he directed only a single scene before his untimely death from cancer)—is not particularly good. I noticed that some of the killings have had blood-spatter digitally added - it's incredibly obvious but since most of the deaths were nowhere near as messy as they should have been it sort of helps. They offer an abundance of interesting background information on the director and his long career, as well as production details and context for the film. Each of the discs is packaged in its own cardboard and plastic Mediabook, which then tuck into a sturdy slipcase, all of it adorned with great new cover artwork.

The rules are straightforward; each student gets a kit bag of equipment to complement anything he or she may already have, as well as one random weapon. I must have been in a good mood the first time I reviewed Battle Royale II: Requiem, either that, or coming off the back of the first film, I was looking for anything that could match its controversial impact. It’s a very satisfying experience when it comes to the audio and visual aspects of the presentation. Having been fitted with explosive collars to force them to partake, the students are sent off with food, water, and a variety of weapons to battle for their lives over the course of three days (otherwise everyone is killed) until one final survivor remains.

In expanding the target of the teen characters’ rage from the authoritarian Japanese government that wronged them to the entire world of adults—a deliberate commentary on the real-life bloodshed happening around the globe at the time—the filmmakers muddied their story and served its characters poorly. We will introduce you exclusively to Newpay finance products provided by NewDay Limited under this Introducer Appointed Representative arrangement. A big draw to this release is the 110 page hardback book Kinji Fukasaku: Man of Rage by Tom Mes, a detailed look at the director’s film career. Two additional Blu-rays then host the ‘Requiem’ and ‘Revenge’ edits of Battle Royale II, the first UK hi-def disc releases for the (disappointing) 2003 sequel.Watching it again now, and having lost that rebellious adolescent fascination I once held for the first film, I can only see Battle Royale II: Requiem as simply a bad film. Moreover, she has learned to use her sexuality to get through life (it's interesting to see how this aspect figures into combat). But for most of the 42 students on the island, it boils down to a simple question, “Could you kill your best friend? The film uses footage that was clearly shot on video as well—particularly in the Afghanistan settings. Based upon the book by Koushun Takami, the story has been adapted to manga, western comics, and the big screen.

What’s a millennium without a little social upheaval, and in Japan unemployment and apathy have caused a schism between generations, with the youth being blamed for much of the country’s problems. This time around the transfer looks properly filmic, with rich consistent colours and with excellent detail.DISC TWO BATTLE ROYALE: SPECIAL EDITION DIRECTORS CUT (4K UHD BLU-RAY) - Shooting the Special Edition, on-location featurette with footage of the cast and crew reuniting for the shoot of the Special Edition - And much more! On a personal note, Battle Royale was gifted to me for Christmas a decade ago by a friend, and was my first venture into Asian Cinema. Overseeing the carnage is ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano (Sonatine, Hana-bi, Zatoichi) as the teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges. This is why, when I hear reports about recent outbreaks of teenage violence and crimes, I cannot easily judge or dismiss them.

Overseeing the carnage is ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano ( Sonatine, Hana-bi, Zatoichi) as the teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges. While my adolescent appreciation of Battle Royale has faded with middle age, I was still driven to double dip; the original HD presentation of the film wasn’t the greatest. The DVD only covered the theatrical version of the film, so I’ve never seen the director’s cut nor its sequel.

Drab and murky, the big issue has always been the near total lack of genuine blacks within the film’s palette. It's interesting to note that the subtitles for the Director's Cut have been entirely re-translated. This mix has a little bit more bluster than the original, with more aggressive use of the surround channels in combat sequences (particularly the teens’ “amphibious” lading on the island).