Russell
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JayKeeley said:OK first of all, how about a "Spoiler Alert" warning for those that haven't seen it yet!!
Good point, that would have been polite
JayKeeley said:Agreed. But you slap "Banned in 31 countries" (or whatever) on the front cover of a DVD and you know it's going to attract a certain type of audience. Just look at the cover of "Cannibal Ferox" or "Shogun Assassin"! I guess that was a sign of the times though - shock value.
Indeed, and whether I like it or not, shock and violence is a major part of Battle Royale - thankfully it did use this as a marketing technique! I just think other aspects are so much more important that it galls me when people completely miss them Cannibal Ferox is about as low as you can go in that sense lol - "the most violent film ever made, banned in 52 countries" etc. etc.
JayKeeley said:Right. And it depends on your perspective obviously. The timing of Battle Royale is just right for me with American tv audiences being subject to some of the worst tv in history - "Reality Shows". Granted, I'll watch a couple, but 90% of them are a disaster. It's cheap tv. Battle Royale is so humorous in its spoof (whether its inadvertent or not) - particularly in Beat Takeshi's character - that his callous persona makes him quite amusing. Perhaps in the same way that the Belgian film, "Man Bites Dog", was considered to be black comedy.
Yes, I see the amusing aspects, and the pertinent nature of much of the story and style, I just don't believe satire was the primary drive behind the film - just a lucky coincidence But I agree that it does act as a spoof in many ways, and also - i think - a warning of the dangers of this kind of voyeurism in others. So it's all good
JayKeeley said:Yes, the inevitable dilemna! But when the film ends, it's difficult to forget what preceded in the last 90 minutes with what the other school children were capable of. That was an incredible insight in what people/children are capable of.
Yes, but that wasn't as effective for me because in reality they may not be capable of half what you saw in the film. I'm sure some would, but I'd like to think the children's reactions wouldn't be quite as polar in real life. Whereas the inevitable dilema is possible in many situations, and if you put yourself in the position of any of the children, that decision, for me, would be by far the hardest thing possible.
JayKeeley said:Not sure about your situation, but my perspective might be different since I am a father to a baby girl, and everything I see now affects me more personally in the way that I see kids interacting with each other. It sounds cheesy, but its true.
Indeed, it probably speaks more of our differing situations than the film itself.. I'm attatched but have no children, so the relationships are the focus of the film for me, whereas you have a child which I've no doubt completely changes your perspective on many things in life!
JayKeeley said:That is why I find films like Ring (Japanese Ringu), and in particular, DARK WATER(!!), that disturb me like nothing else.
To be honest, Battle Royale would not have had the same impact if the island was full of adults. You would tend to sympathize less perhaps.
Sounds like I might need to get it. If my existing Battle Royale DVD is region free, I'll sell it and get the double disc version.
I've yet to find (or see) Dark Water on DVD I am in complete agreement the reason Battle Royale was so effective is due to the fact it was children involved, which kind of steps everything up a notch.. But my feelings over the relationships in the film would have been just as strong whatever the age of the characters, it would be the other elements whose affects would be lessened!
I think the extra footage on the special addition is a nice addition if you're heavily involved in the characters, so get it!
My apologies if none of the above post made sense, I'm about to fall asleep Nite nite all!