Battle Royale (2000)
Last Watch Date - November 22, 2023
Total Times Watched - Twice
Comments
I saw this once before in the early 2000s and thought it was a wild adventure. It still is, but given the legacy it has left and the number of knockoffs and such it has spawned since, it's interesting to look back at it.
The violence in this movie is kind of over the top, but it's also so corny looking and poorly acted that it doesn't really give me much of an impression. It's the idea of pitting friends against each other that really stuck with most people I think. It's such an unusual premise.
I do like to try to review these without thinking of their cultural impact or legacy, so I'll stick with that for now. Like I said, the acting sucks. It's plain bad in spots and at its best it's just below ok. From a plot perspective, it seems to come from the Japanese "respect you elders" cultural background. We kind of have that here, but not to that extent.
The movie feels too long. It's around 2 hours and it wears out its welcome a little bit after the first hour mark, which sucks because it is pretty cool up until that point. The constant flashbacks and backstory are unnecessary for most of the characters. I get that it gives them some color and makes them feel less cardboard, but it's also what bogs the movie down. Quite frankly, most of these characters should be cardboard/disposable.
Recommended?
If you haven't seen it, sure. But I think like some other movies, once you know what happens, it's hard to rewatch and get that same enjoyment out of it.
