I love that they say that Chigusa is in a kill bill jump suit when she's running, but don't mention that Chiaki Kuriyama who plays her was literally in Kill Bill
@Koala_JK I love Hunger Games and I respect Tarantino, but that would have been a complete mess. His style would have gotten in the way. The only pluses are that it would have been R and Michael Madsen probably would have been Haymitch.
My favorite scene is when the rules are presented to the class. The lady on the video tells them congrats for being selected and Takeshi replies with an effusive "Arigato gozaimasu!" while waving his hands like a kid
My favorite scene as well, because it's so morbidly hilarious. He plays on the stereotype of an enthusiastic Japanese teacher while the kids are informed most of them are about to die miserably.
The book is absolutely fantastic. The movie does a decent job of showing the different students perspectives during the battle royale as it does in the book.
I've read the book well over a dozen times. It still holds up, but I would recommend picking up one of the newer versions, as they correct so many little mistakes throughout the book.
For those that are interested, Takeshi Kitano is also a huge filmmaker in Japan as well. Like, one of the most acclaimed in the country for the past few decades. So he’s like if Martin Scorsese was also the host of Wipeout or Legends of the Hidden Temple.
Another interesting fact about Kitano and the film is that Kitano also did the paintings that appear in the movie. Actor, director, artist, he does it all.
kinji fukasaku,the director, is probably more of the scorsese of japan. he made battles without honor and humanity in the 70s which was a huge influence on japan's crime cinema
additional fun fact, kitano's directorial debut, violent cop, was supposed to be directed by fukasaku, but he ended up being busy and recommending kitano to the producers
Fun fact, the actress of who plays the Video Training Girl is played by Yuko Miyamura, who is also the voice actress for Asuka in Neon Genesis Evangelion. And Shuya's actor also plays Light Yagami in the 2000s Japanese live action Death Note films! Which is funny, because the Death Note films had a limited theatrical release in the US before Battle Royal did so that's what I knew him from when I finally got to watch this film.
My dad raised me on foreign film imports we bought from a mall vendor so I owned all 3 death note films and we both love watching anime. I could not identify any one of the people in this film outside of it but I definintely said they look or sound familiar atleast once before seeing this comment 😂
43:50 so it’s not that she betrays him she wants him to survive but knows he wouldn’t let her die so she turns on him. In the manga (not sure if it’s the same in the book I would assume so) she actually shoots another contestant but doesn’t tell him so he thinks she missed her shot and he kills her. The same principle she knew he’d never killed her so she forces him to do it, it’s why he wanted to understand her smile and came back to play the game. It’s also why he smiles when he dies because he finally gets her smile she was happy he was gonna live like he is happy he saved both the main characters
The relationship between Kitano (Takeshi) and Nakagawa is a father and daughter-type as Kitano’s actual daughter hates him so he views Noriko (Nakagawa) as his own lovable daughter. Also it’s pronounced naka-GOW-wa
I think the manga is my favorite version of this material. It's like over the top edgy but I love how deeply it gets into each of the kid's perspectives. A lot of them are super likeable and most of them are empathetic in some way. It makes each death hurt a lot and I feel that's honestly the point.
Yeah. The two that get seduced by Mitsuko is a really rough chapter on so many levels. The sequence that happens when that girl dies in the well is a really sad moment, too.
The Running Man might be the earliest death game film. Certainly though Battle Royale was the first I watched (& read) with a lot of staples that solidified the sub-genre.
I remember watching Battle Royale years ago on Netflix (back before there were a million streaming services) when I woke up really early one day and couldn't fall back asleep so at like 5AM I just put on Battle Royale and watched it as the sun came up. Loved it.
I think the relationship with Kitano and Noriko is more of a Father/Daughter type relationship. Throughout the film you see Kitano taking phone calls from his daughter who he does not have good relationship with. This relationship is explored in more detail with the sequel. I always assumed he wishes his daughter was just more like Noriko.
Fun fact! Maeda Aki who plays Noriko IS the actual younger sister of Maeda Ai who is the actress that voices Kitano’s daughter and portrays her in the sequel!
BR remains one of my all time favorite Japanese films. There was a point in my youth when I didn't take subtitles seriously in foreign films, until BR turned me around and I never looked back.
Another huge recommend that seems to be below everyone’s radar is Kokuhaku (revenge), also involves a teacher 😂 but that one absolutely got under my skin!
Fun fact, Kyo, the lead singer of Japanese rock band Dir En Grey, was initially offered the role of Yoshitoki, but had to decline when the band's manager forced him to turn down the role due to touring Schedule. It's the same band that did "Dive Like Hell and Destory" that is featured on Saw 3D
41:33 Funny you should say that, because she's also in Kill Bill herself. She plays Gogo Yubari, O-Ren Ishii's bodyguard (the one with the meteor hammer / mace thing.)
I love this movie. Kiriyama is still such a great villian. Also I cant believe you guys missed the fact that chigusa was played by the same actress as gogo in Kill Bill. You even mentioned Kill Bill. Great episode!
I LOVE the Battle Royale IP so much. I enjoyed the film, but didn't like it as much as most, but god damn do I adore the book. The original novel is thicker than almost any bible when translated to English and it was one of the most emotional and nail biting reads I've ever had.
I have a very weird recollection that Battle Royale 2 got an official release when I was still in high school (pre 2007) because Hot Topic was heavily promoting merch and the film which was both available in stores but so far nothing that I've looked up can confirm the US release date.
@@matthewpuddock1976 yes you are correct the movie was adapted by a manga book but I’m just saying the creator of Squid Game did say he got inspired to make the series by watching the Movie Battle Royale.
I'm really glad to see that you're covering Battle Royale! The manga it was adapted from is an incredibly interesting read. It's horribly dark and morbid, but also has moments of hope and brightness, and while I've never had the chance to see the movie, I'm really happy to see it being talked about!
I just really want to yell about how much of a STUNNER Chelsea is. Aside from her seemingly being an absolute sweetheart of a human being she just looks so radiant with the warm hair color and the color palette of the set. Like some kind of autumn fairy. She’s such a joy see and hear!
i LOVE the manga version, i have all 15 volumes released in Brazil in the mid 2000s ❤️ Never had any kind of re-release over here wich is a shame, Masayuki Taguchi's art is GORGEOUS!
Something about Mitsuko always resonated with me even as a kid obviously she’s crazy but her back story i just find so interesting and there’s something so heartbreaking about her death for me. She’s essentially an outcast because of her behavior which is an interesting take to me. Love her character and love that actresses portrayal of her
Tatsuya Fujiwara who played Shuya was the It Boy at the time! I watched so much Japanese tv at the time and he was everywhere. His look was so popular, especially the snaggletooth. It was a big trend in the 00’s. 😂
The manga sheds a lot more light on some of the confusing details like Mimura’s uncle being an anarchist who taught him everything about bomb making. The manga also takes the time to go into every character’s backstory and personality, making their deaths even more heartbreaking. I don’t read manga, but it’s one I’ve read the whole way through twice just because of how good it is.
It’s been so long since I’ve been back to this channel, me and my ex used to watch your videos together and we always loved talking about the kills and everything, I just wanted to thank you James and your wife for helping me make great memories with my ex, we broke up but thank you again
My neighbor’s dog used to lick the air all the time too, she was a small dog like Molly ✨ I think she’d do it as a sort of calming thing, almost like a dog version of stimming. Apparently some dogs also do it to help them smell the air better?
I definitely watched it on DVD in 2004-ish. There was the coolest video rental store in my college hometown. It looked an adult video store but rented mostly indie, art house and foreign film. Our friend group rented everything from BR to Martyrs to Cannibal Holocaust to Caligula lol. Best rental store EVER! Region free DVDs for the WIN!!!!
Same here back in college 2004-2007 I was introduced to a lot of stuff that never heard off …and ohh boy was battle royale 1 &2 were introduced to me. I got to say I’m glad 😀 because I enjoy those films with a passion
The thing that sticks in my head the most from this movie, is during the last flashback at the end of the movie, the boy with the glasses takes a big handful of the falling paper confetti and shoves it into his mouth. That disturbed me more than the kid killing.
The sequel [Battle Royale II: Requiem (2003)] was pretty interesting as well! I remember watching both of these movies when I was in middle school. I loved them and a lot of people around me didn't know about them at the time. Some of these old Japanese horror movies really sparked my interest for the horror/thriller genre. I didn't know horror could be so engaging until I watched these types of movies. Much love to the creators of the story and the team that brought the movie to life. And to you guys too because I love getting to experience all this with the wonderful Dead Meat community. 💙 Also haha yeah I remember when Hunger Games came out and I said "This is just an American version of Battle Royale, but less so" to all my friends.
Battle Royale is absolutely one of those movies that EARNS the title of "classic". Super influental and super brilliant for many of the reasons you've discussed in this episode. And it pretty much kicked off one of my favourite sub-genres in media. And according to the commenters of this video, the source material: the manga is apparently incredible as well so now I need to seek that out.
Welcome back! We are happy to see you guys back talking about whatever you're allowed to. My ex showed my this movie a little over 10 years ago and it's held a place in my heart ever since then. I try to show it to whoever I possibly can.
In the book it was originally alluded that students all knew about "The Program" but the odds of being picked were so low that generally it wouldn't even enter their minds that they would end up in it. Book was also 50 classes a year rather than just 1 but I believe the selection covered the entire Republic of Greater East Asia (the alt-universe Japan that had retained a lot of its WW2 colonial conquests) so it was 50 classes out of thousands each year.
Hey! High school teacher here; no flat screens in our class rooms. Projectors connected to our computers are the new technology used to bless kids with a movie day. They do, unfortunately, miss out on the squeaky wheels of the tv cart.
this movie changed my life a while back. i thought it was such a good movie and really made me feel for the kids involved. it’s in my top 5. it’s got some beautiful shots and a great soundtrack.
Not so fun fact: when the movie was released, it was banned in the US since it was released very recently after the Columbine tragedy(for those who don’t know two student entered a school shooting and killing many) very messed up
I always find it so frustrating that when the Battle Royale/Hunger Games relationship is brought up, The Running Man almost never is. It was a very similar premise, including the social satire.
James, very good job with the pronunciations! Here’s fun political fact that may interest you. The actor who played Kawada Shogo (Yamamoto Taro) founded and leads the Anti-Establishment party for the Reiwa Shinsegumi. An example of life imitating art imitating life. Chelsea, PHENOMENAL job on the research on the “lost decade” and giving context as to why this was so much more than the glorified violence that the Japanese Diet tried to claim it to be. I’d REALLY recommend giving Alice in Borderland another shot. I had a hard time getting into it as well, but it gets SO much better. Especially if you like Danganronpa and trying to figure out the solutions to death games puzzles. Two corrections, I do not believe that this movie was ever banned in the United States. I believe the issue was since the film was released in 2000, so soon after Columbine and the novels release also has its share of controversy behind it, it couldn’t get a distributor. Major movie studios didn’t want to pay for a film that “glorified violence against kids” in the aftermath. Smaller studios couldn’t afford the exceptionally large licensing fees nor meet the criteria Toei would demand for the rights. The second is something the film also DOES gloss over much is known about the BR Act. The first scene has the helicopter shot with the girl from the thumbnail being reported on with the stats of the BR game she partook in by a news reporter. The classes’s ACTUAL teacher (who was killed and showed to the class as an example of a “no-good adult”) also seemed to be looking out of the bus window at the soldiers with a worried expression implies that the Battle Royale is something the characters are aware of existing. Mimura (the hacker) mentions his uncle was a freedom fighter who sent him a postcard and brought brought an old magazine “Hara Hara Tokei” or “The Ticking Clock” which references a real life revolutionary magazine from the 70s. I believe it’s cut for pacing issues but the students (at least some of them) are on some level aware the law exists but it’s more of a “my class can’t be the one chosen for the BR lottery” state of disbelief. It should have been explored more since it kind of seems as if no one knew about the Battle Royale law. In the novel at least, a couple of kids complain because their parents are politicians or involved with the government try to be excused from the program, but it’s an extremely fascist and totalitarian government that if met with opposition immediately eliminates it. So in the story, some of the parents are killed if they protest or contest to their children being selected. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EPISODE! I actually have Covid right now and this was the high point of my day!
I took a summer school class where we read hunger games over 2 weeks, discussed its themes, and watched similar stuff like Survivor. Basically it was just a fun class to try and get them to have fun reading. If we werent in 5th grade and instead high school, I guarantee the teacher would have talked about battle royale and the connections it has. Suzanne said she got the idea walking the news of war and school shootings then walking game shows like survivor or fear factor back to back and wondered if in the future we'd have game shows about killing
I just graduated from high school- I think the modern version of "rolling a box TV into the classroom" is just projecting whatever onto the whiteboard. I've never seen a classroom that just has a straight up TV in it. Some schools have "smartboards" but I've never seen them used because the teachers don't know how to work them.
Hey, I met you good people at the silver scream con and the concert at Lynn Memorial Auditorium, thank you guys for the great content throughout the years, be good people!
The book is absolutely phenomenal! There are a ton of differences that completely change the narrative and it’s FASCINATING and heartbreaking at the same time, I 1000% recommend!
I read the book, and if iirc the Battle Royale was reported on in the media. I distinctly remember a scene in the book where a winner who hadn't even cleaned up the blood and viscera was interviewed on TV for the entire nation to see. There's also mention of parents revolting and rioting when they hear that their children have been chosen and the government full on killing entire households in a show of force. I also remember that in the book, when the kids woke up and the explanation begun there was a sense of dread as they knew that they had been selected.
my American friend and I had no idea we watched the exact same show growing up- Takeshi's Castle in the UK and MXC in the US. It took ages to realise they were pulled from the same original show. amazing how much cultural impact it has had across the West!
To anybody that loves this movie. I HIGHLY recommend reading the manga on mangadex or something, because it goes SO deeply into everybody's background and stories.
I remember watching this movie with a bunch of friends when I was like 19 and it completely blew my mind. I wasn't as familiar with foreign films at the time, so it was just such a departure from what I was used to.
As a teacher while we don’t have the tv carts they just took the round back tvs out of the classrooms over the summer and many teachers still only had projectors in their rooms. There was a math teacher up until this year that would use the overhead projector transparencies (personally i haven’t seen those since I was in 3rd grade and Promethean boards became a thing). Gotta love under funded schools
Takeshi Kitano has also directed quite a few films prior to Battle Royale (a lot of yakuza films) and I would say they are about as surreal as his death scene in BR. Very funny and dry. Personal favorites are Hana-Bi and Sonatine. He has also done standup comedy, written books, edited his own films, hosted a number of tv shows like Takeshi’s Castle, made a video game in the 80s/90s, recorded an album. He is definitely one of the most fascinating celebrities from Japan.
I have a tiny dog like you guys and she tends to lick the air a lot too. In my experience (according to the vet), licking the air could be brought on by anxiety, acid reflux, or possibly dizziness as a result of an ear infection. My dog burps a lot and has stinky breath too so I think my little one's issue is mostly related to acid reflux; the vet told me to give her OTC famotidine (Pepcid) daily, she gets 1/4 tablet 10mg Pepcid daily (so 2.5mg daily) and it seems to help. As always though, I'd recommend asking your vet rather than taking a random strangers advice ;). Love your channel!
Battle Royale is great because i remember the first time i read the hunger games i was like "there should be a hunger games series where you see a bunch of other contestant's perspectives' for one of the games". Then i read Battle Royale and it topped the Hunger Games series in every way.
32:49 Woah! I bought this film in vhs in 2003 in the Uk and have watched it several times over the past couple of decades - this scene is completely new to me! Looks like we got a different version in the Uk.
How did you all first watch this movie? I was in 7th grade around 2004 when my brother got the full manga collection and I ended up having my Dad order the movie for me a year later on Ebay for my bday lol. It was 1 and 2 package deal that I had ordered. This is such a special movie to me. The manga goes SO much harder tbh. I even ended up buying the novel lol and they all have little differences.
Excellent podcast as always! I love the research and insight and clear cinematic love that this channel brings. So glad that you are bringing attention to this great film. Have the book, had the manga (regrettably had to resell it), had the DVD (friend never returned it 😂). Going to rewatch it on Amazon Prime now!
I bought this on a region-free DVD from eBay around 2003 when I was in middle school. One of my more formative movies, horror or otherwise, for sure. Truly opened my eyes to the possibilities and unique world of foreign cinema-I even remember having Kiriyama as my LiveJournal avatar. I feel like I'm really dating myself with that last one. 😅
Yeah they are talking about finding this online circa 2001-2004. Nah that would have taken forever back then and you had to try the right subtitles. Region free DvDs were the best for anyone that loved foreign films. And honestly I think they are why foreign films finally really started taking off in the US... BR, Audition, City of God Amalie etc.
kinji fukasaku is definitely my favorite director right now, most of his best films arent horror, but they are indeed cruel and horrific. love street mobster a lot
I'd love for you guys to go to conventions in europe! This channel has been a big part of my life for so long and has helped me through some tough times.
The sequel is about Shuya’s rebellion. The BR act was replaced with a strike force system where instead of students killing each other, they are sent on a operation to destroy Shuya and his rebels.
Takeshi's Castle was massive in South Africa. I was obsessed with it in the early 2000s. Thanks for the blast from the past, I'm going to stream the reboot this weekend!
Hearing ya’ll talk about how seeing a comedian being put in such a different role reminds how me in the running man, the host of family feud Richard Dawson was the main antagonist beefing with Arnold Schwarzenegger
I think y'all should give the manga ot the book that the move is based on. It fleshes out the characters and ups certain emotional beats. Happy to see the podcast still going strong.
I read this book in high school and it's at least partially responsible for my school sending me to a placement school full of deadbeats and anger management dropouts.
I 100% interpreted Keiko as having the sudden realization that she and Kawada couldn't both make it out alive, but she was too scared to be the one to kill herself, so she attacked Kawada so he would kill her himself, thus saving himself. Maybe that's an unnecessarily optimistic reading, but I feel like it was self-sacrifice because she really did love him.
Funny that Chelsea says Kawada (possibly my favorite character from this movie) looks like Rambo with the tie wrapped around his head like a headband. In Shaun Of The Dead, when they're all at the Winchester pub, Shaun wraps his tie around his head the same way. I figured a lot of people assumed it was a nod to Rambo, which it could be. I thought so too, until I noticed Shaun has a Battle Royale poster in his flat (apartment). You can see it after Ed kills the one-armed zombie with the glass ashtray. Also interesting that James and Chelsea mentioned Quentin Tarantino's Top 20 Favorite Movies from 1992 to 2009 (from when he started directing and released his first film Reservoir Dogs, to when he released his self-proclaimed masterpiece Inglorious Basterds)... Battle Royale was the Number 1 entry. He called it "the one movie I wished I could've made". Takashi Miike's "Audition" and Edgar Wright's "Shaun Of The Dead" were on the list too. He called Audition "a masterpiece if ever there was one", and Shaun Of The Dead "the best British film in years".
I feel like this was one of those movies my older brothers sketchy friend let me watch when I was a kid memories of this and then I remember seeing it again later on Netflix
I love that they say that Chigusa is in a kill bill jump suit when she's running, but don't mention that Chiaki Kuriyama who plays her was literally in Kill Bill
She was GoGo!!!!
@@CEJRAID one of my favourite characters!
Came here just to say this!
I was about to comment this as soon as they got to that part but didn't mention it!
The jogging suit in Kill Bill is actually a reference to Bruce Lee’s iconic look in his final film “Game of Death”. Also Kill Bill came out after BR
I believe this is the movie where Quentin Tarantino found Chiaki Kuriyama (as Chigusa in the movie) and casted her as Gogo in Kill Bill.
Don’t quote me on this but I think I read somewhere that the Mitsuko actress was his first choice.
I also think that the poisoning scene in The Hateful Eight is also a clear nod to the lighthouse scene in Battle Royale
I just searched it up and he said he loves battle royale and wanted to direct hunger games because it pretty much would’ve been his battle royale
@@BearLikeFireshe was. She had another job lined up during the filming of Kill Bill, so he went with the actress for Chigusa instead.
@Koala_JK I love Hunger Games and I respect Tarantino, but that would have been a complete mess. His style would have gotten in the way. The only pluses are that it would have been R and Michael Madsen probably would have been Haymitch.
My favorite scene is when the rules are presented to the class. The lady on the video tells them congrats for being selected and Takeshi replies with an effusive "Arigato gozaimasu!" while waving his hands like a kid
That lady on the video is Yūko Miyamura who did the voice for Asuka Langley Soryu from NGE.
My favorite scene as well, because it's so morbidly hilarious. He plays on the stereotype of an enthusiastic Japanese teacher while the kids are informed most of them are about to die miserably.
Fun fact: The actress playing the "runner girl", Chiaki Kuriyama, is the same actress that played Gogo in Kill Bill. Probably Tarantino saw her here!
Not probably, he confiirmed he did. Battle Royale is one of his favorite movies
I really hope this movie get a kill count soon
Unfortunately Asian films like Battle Royale get hit hard with copyright strikes. The Train To Busan kill count got a strike at first because of it
Same, this is my favourite movie of all time
Cinemasins Battle royale video is doing fine
And Toei is notorious for being trigger happy with strikes.
Toei is fine, the Ju-on movies are on youtube for free for years @@obara7366
The book is absolutely fantastic. The movie does a decent job of showing the different students perspectives during the battle royale as it does in the book.
The Bathroom/water bottle kill is still my favorite part to this day.
I remember loving the book, but it's been at least a decade or two since i read it.
Need to see if I still have it somewhere and give it a re-read
@@TonySamedi Same. I couldn’t put it down and it’s the fastest I’ve ever read a book to this day
I've read the book well over a dozen times. It still holds up, but I would recommend picking up one of the newer versions, as they correct so many little mistakes throughout the book.
Don't forget the manga if you can find it :D
For those that are interested, Takeshi Kitano is also a huge filmmaker in Japan as well. Like, one of the most acclaimed in the country for the past few decades. So he’s like if Martin Scorsese was also the host of Wipeout or Legends of the Hidden Temple.
I just love that he’s Takeshi as well in Takeshi’s castle, even in the modern Amazon version xD that stuff is legendary funny let me tell ya
Another interesting fact about Kitano and the film is that Kitano also did the paintings that appear in the movie. Actor, director, artist, he does it all.
kinji fukasaku,the director, is probably more of the scorsese of japan. he made battles without honor and humanity in the 70s which was a huge influence on japan's crime cinema
additional fun fact, kitano's directorial debut, violent cop, was supposed to be directed by fukasaku, but he ended up being busy and recommending kitano to the producers
ik the strike isn’t ideal, but i’m really excited with all of the new content we otherwise wouldn’t have gotten. keep up the great work y’all!
Fun fact, the actress of who plays the Video Training Girl is played by Yuko Miyamura, who is also the voice actress for Asuka in Neon Genesis Evangelion. And Shuya's actor also plays Light Yagami in the 2000s Japanese live action Death Note films! Which is funny, because the Death Note films had a limited theatrical release in the US before Battle Royal did so that's what I knew him from when I finally got to watch this film.
My dad raised me on foreign film imports we bought from a mall vendor so I owned all 3 death note films and we both love watching anime.
I could not identify any one of the people in this film outside of it but I definintely said they look or sound familiar atleast once before seeing this comment 😂
43:50 so it’s not that she betrays him she wants him to survive but knows he wouldn’t let her die so she turns on him. In the manga (not sure if it’s the same in the book I would assume so) she actually shoots another contestant but doesn’t tell him so he thinks she missed her shot and he kills her. The same principle she knew he’d never killed her so she forces him to do it, it’s why he wanted to understand her smile and came back to play the game. It’s also why he smiles when he dies because he finally gets her smile she was happy he was gonna live like he is happy he saved both the main characters
This! It's so incredibly tragic
The relationship between Kitano (Takeshi) and Nakagawa is a father and daughter-type as Kitano’s actual daughter hates him so he views Noriko (Nakagawa) as his own lovable daughter.
Also it’s pronounced naka-GOW-wa
The rest of his pronunciation was excellent though
This is now the fifth time Dead Meat has covered a movie I literally just watched within the past week. I am so blessed!
I think the manga is my favorite version of this material. It's like over the top edgy but I love how deeply it gets into each of the kid's perspectives. A lot of them are super likeable and most of them are empathetic in some way. It makes each death hurt a lot and I feel that's honestly the point.
Yeah. The two that get seduced by Mitsuko is a really rough chapter on so many levels. The sequence that happens when that girl dies in the well is a really sad moment, too.
The Running Man might be the earliest death game film. Certainly though Battle Royale was the first I watched (& read) with a lot of staples that solidified the sub-genre.
The Most Dangerous Game from 1932 would like a word.
I remember watching Battle Royale years ago on Netflix (back before there were a million streaming services) when I woke up really early one day and couldn't fall back asleep so at like 5AM I just put on Battle Royale and watched it as the sun came up. Loved it.
I think the relationship with Kitano and Noriko is more of a Father/Daughter type relationship. Throughout the film you see Kitano taking phone calls from his daughter who he does not have good relationship with. This relationship is explored in more detail with the sequel. I always assumed he wishes his daughter was just more like Noriko.
Fun fact! Maeda Aki who plays Noriko IS the actual younger sister of Maeda Ai who is the actress that voices Kitano’s daughter and portrays her in the sequel!
BR remains one of my all time favorite Japanese films. There was a point in my youth when I didn't take subtitles seriously in foreign films, until BR turned me around and I never looked back.
Another huge recommend that seems to be below everyone’s radar is Kokuhaku (revenge), also involves a teacher 😂 but that one absolutely got under my skin!
I always interpreted her smile as her internally being thankful to have someone like him in her life, despite everything
Fun fact, Kyo, the lead singer of Japanese rock band Dir En Grey, was initially offered the role of Yoshitoki, but had to decline when the band's manager forced him to turn down the role due to touring Schedule. It's the same band that did "Dive Like Hell and Destory" that is featured on Saw 3D
41:33 Funny you should say that, because she's also in Kill Bill herself. She plays Gogo Yubari, O-Ren Ishii's bodyguard (the one with the meteor hammer / mace thing.)
As a huge danganronpa fan, hearing Chelsea talk about it in this episode brings me such joy, I absolutely cannot wait for her kill count on it!!
I love this movie. Kiriyama is still such a great villian. Also I cant believe you guys missed the fact that chigusa was played by the same actress as gogo in Kill Bill. You even mentioned Kill Bill. Great episode!
I LOVE the Battle Royale IP so much. I enjoyed the film, but didn't like it as much as most, but god damn do I adore the book. The original novel is thicker than almost any bible when translated to English and it was one of the most emotional and nail biting reads I've ever had.
I have a very weird recollection that Battle Royale 2 got an official release when I was still in high school (pre 2007) because Hot Topic was heavily promoting merch and the film which was both available in stores but so far nothing that I've looked up can confirm the US release date.
Fun Fact: The creator of Squid Game did indeed get inspired by this movie. 👍🏽👍🏽
I thought it was the Manga adaptation of battle Royale
@@matthewpuddock1976 yes you are correct the movie was adapted by a manga book but I’m just saying the creator of Squid Game did say he got inspired to make the series by watching the Movie Battle Royale.
I'm really glad to see that you're covering Battle Royale! The manga it was adapted from is an incredibly interesting read. It's horribly dark and morbid, but also has moments of hope and brightness, and while I've never had the chance to see the movie, I'm really happy to see it being talked about!
least degenerate ero-guro
It actually started out as a book in 1999 then got adapted into a movie and the manga in the same year
The manga is much more loyal to the book. The movie obviously can't be, or else it would most likely be banned everywhere lol.
The manga took creative expression to the extreme! There's no way in hell they would've gotten away with some of that in a movie.
I just really want to yell about how much of a STUNNER Chelsea is. Aside from her seemingly being an absolute sweetheart of a human being she just looks so radiant with the warm hair color and the color palette of the set. Like some kind of autumn fairy. She’s such a joy see and hear!
I agree. Everyone's so thirsty for James, but Chelsea is also beautiful.
i LOVE the manga version, i have all 15 volumes released in Brazil in the mid 2000s ❤️ Never had any kind of re-release over here wich is a shame, Masayuki Taguchi's art is GORGEOUS!
Something about Mitsuko always resonated with me even as a kid obviously she’s crazy but her back story i just find so interesting and there’s something so heartbreaking about her death for me. She’s essentially an outcast because of her behavior which is an interesting take to me. Love her character and love that actresses portrayal of her
Holy crap! One of my favourites, can't wait to watch. 😁
Tatsuya Fujiwara who played Shuya was the It Boy at the time! I watched so much Japanese tv at the time and he was everywhere. His look was so popular, especially the snaggletooth. It was a big trend in the 00’s. 😂
I'm guessing you know he played Light Yagami in the Death Note movies, which I though he was pretty good in.
Would love a I Saw The Devil episode.
The manga sheds a lot more light on some of the confusing details like Mimura’s uncle being an anarchist who taught him everything about bomb making. The manga also takes the time to go into every character’s backstory and personality, making their deaths even more heartbreaking. I don’t read manga, but it’s one I’ve read the whole way through twice just because of how good it is.
It’s been so long since I’ve been back to this channel, me and my ex used to watch your videos together and we always loved talking about the kills and everything, I just wanted to thank you James and your wife for helping me make great memories with my ex, we broke up but thank you again
My neighbor’s dog used to lick the air all the time too, she was a small dog like Molly ✨ I think she’d do it as a sort of calming thing, almost like a dog version of stimming. Apparently some dogs also do it to help them smell the air better?
I definitely watched it on DVD in 2004-ish. There was the coolest video rental store in my college hometown. It looked an adult video store but rented mostly indie, art house and foreign film. Our friend group rented everything from BR to Martyrs to Cannibal Holocaust to Caligula lol. Best rental store EVER! Region free DVDs for the WIN!!!!
Same here back in college 2004-2007 I was introduced to a lot of stuff that never heard off …and ohh boy was battle royale 1 &2 were introduced to me. I got to say I’m glad 😀 because I enjoy those films with a passion
Silver Scream was incredible and was so awesome to meet you guys, always PUMPED for a new podcast episode. Let’s go🔥
The thing that sticks in my head the most from this movie, is during the last flashback at the end of the movie, the boy with the glasses takes a big handful of the falling paper confetti and shoves it into his mouth.
That disturbed me more than the kid killing.
The sequel [Battle Royale II: Requiem (2003)] was pretty interesting as well! I remember watching both of these movies when I was in middle school. I loved them and a lot of people around me didn't know about them at the time. Some of these old Japanese horror movies really sparked my interest for the horror/thriller genre. I didn't know horror could be so engaging until I watched these types of movies. Much love to the creators of the story and the team that brought the movie to life. And to you guys too because I love getting to experience all this with the wonderful Dead Meat community. 💙
Also haha yeah I remember when Hunger Games came out and I said "This is just an American version of Battle Royale, but less so" to all my friends.
Battle Royale is absolutely one of those movies that EARNS the title of "classic". Super influental and super brilliant for many of the reasons you've discussed in this episode. And it pretty much kicked off one of my favourite sub-genres in media.
And according to the commenters of this video, the source material: the manga is apparently incredible as well so now I need to seek that out.
Absolutely need to go back and rewatch this. It's so nice seeing you guys cover this.
Welcome back! We are happy to see you guys back talking about whatever you're allowed to.
My ex showed my this movie a little over 10 years ago and it's held a place in my heart ever since then. I try to show it to whoever I possibly can.
The way James first pronounces “Kiriwama” like UwU speak
I can’t xD
I’ve been waiting for Battle Royale to be covered in some form on the channel for soooooooooo long! THANK YOU!
In the book it was originally alluded that students all knew about "The Program" but the odds of being picked were so low that generally it wouldn't even enter their minds that they would end up in it.
Book was also 50 classes a year rather than just 1 but I believe the selection covered the entire Republic of Greater East Asia (the alt-universe Japan that had retained a lot of its WW2 colonial conquests) so it was 50 classes out of thousands each year.
Hey! High school teacher here; no flat screens in our class rooms. Projectors connected to our computers are the new technology used to bless kids with a movie day. They do, unfortunately, miss out on the squeaky wheels of the tv cart.
Very happy to see this on the podcast. In high-school I was able to order the movie online but it was a VCD and could only be seen on the computer.
this movie changed my life a while back. i thought it was such a good movie and really made me feel for the kids involved. it’s in my top 5. it’s got some beautiful shots and a great soundtrack.
Not so fun fact: when the movie was released, it was banned in the US since it was released very recently after the Columbine tragedy(for those who don’t know two student entered a school shooting and killing many) very messed up
I always find it so frustrating that when the Battle Royale/Hunger Games relationship is brought up, The Running Man almost never is. It was a very similar premise, including the social satire.
Plus… you know, it’s Stephen King
@@andthentherewasyou oh duh! Of course I forgot to mention that 😅
James, very good job with the pronunciations! Here’s fun political fact that may interest you. The actor who played Kawada Shogo (Yamamoto Taro) founded and leads the Anti-Establishment party for the Reiwa Shinsegumi. An example of life imitating art imitating life.
Chelsea, PHENOMENAL job on the research on the “lost decade” and giving context as to why this was so much more than the glorified violence that the Japanese Diet tried to claim it to be. I’d REALLY recommend giving Alice in Borderland another shot. I had a hard time getting into it as well, but it gets SO much better. Especially if you like Danganronpa and trying to figure out the solutions to death games puzzles.
Two corrections, I do not believe that this movie was ever banned in the United States. I believe the issue was since the film was released in 2000, so soon after Columbine and the novels release also has its share of controversy behind it, it couldn’t get a distributor. Major movie studios didn’t want to pay for a film that “glorified violence against kids” in the aftermath. Smaller studios couldn’t afford the exceptionally large licensing fees nor meet the criteria Toei would demand for the rights.
The second is something the film also DOES gloss over much is known about the BR Act. The first scene has the helicopter shot with the girl from the thumbnail being reported on with the stats of the BR game she partook in by a news reporter. The classes’s ACTUAL teacher (who was killed and showed to the class as an example of a “no-good adult”) also seemed to be looking out of the bus window at the soldiers with a worried expression implies that the Battle Royale is something the characters are aware of existing. Mimura (the hacker) mentions his uncle was a freedom fighter who sent him a postcard and brought brought an old magazine “Hara Hara Tokei” or “The Ticking Clock” which references a real life revolutionary magazine from the 70s. I believe it’s cut for pacing issues but the students (at least some of them) are on some level aware the law exists but it’s more of a “my class can’t be the one chosen for the BR lottery” state of disbelief. It should have been explored more since it kind of seems as if no one knew about the Battle Royale law. In the novel at least, a couple of kids complain because their parents are politicians or involved with the government try to be excused from the program, but it’s an extremely fascist and totalitarian government that if met with opposition immediately eliminates it. So in the story, some of the parents are killed if they protest or contest to their children being selected.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EPISODE! I actually have Covid right now and this was the high point of my day!
I took a summer school class where we read hunger games over 2 weeks, discussed its themes, and watched similar stuff like Survivor. Basically it was just a fun class to try and get them to have fun reading. If we werent in 5th grade and instead high school, I guarantee the teacher would have talked about battle royale and the connections it has. Suzanne said she got the idea walking the news of war and school shootings then walking game shows like survivor or fear factor back to back and wondered if in the future we'd have game shows about killing
James is the one who got it right. It's "Tah-keh-shi".
10:18 Robin Williams. One Hour Photo or Insomnia.
I watched this back in like 2013 as a teenager and just fell in love. Seriously overdue for a rewatch.
I just graduated from high school- I think the modern version of "rolling a box TV into the classroom" is just projecting whatever onto the whiteboard. I've never seen a classroom that just has a straight up TV in it. Some schools have "smartboards" but I've never seen them used because the teachers don't know how to work them.
Hey, I met you good people at the silver scream con and the concert at Lynn Memorial Auditorium, thank you guys for the great content throughout the years, be good people!
The book is absolutely phenomenal! There are a ton of differences that completely change the narrative and it’s FASCINATING and heartbreaking at the same time, I 1000% recommend!
The face James makes at 20:10 is the best.
poor guy was horrified 😭
I read the book, and if iirc the Battle Royale was reported on in the media. I distinctly remember a scene in the book where a winner who hadn't even cleaned up the blood and viscera was interviewed on TV for the entire nation to see.
There's also mention of parents revolting and rioting when they hear that their children have been chosen and the government full on killing entire households in a show of force.
I also remember that in the book, when the kids woke up and the explanation begun there was a sense of dread as they knew that they had been selected.
Surviving the game with ice T is the OG
James, that geographical association was so weirdly impressive 🤣🤣🤣 my mind is blown over here!!
my American friend and I had no idea we watched the exact same show growing up- Takeshi's Castle in the UK and MXC in the US. It took ages to realise they were pulled from the same original show. amazing how much cultural impact it has had across the West!
I am so beyond jealous of the cat clock you have from (ハウス) House. That is such a slept on nutty horror movie but still goes in my top 10.
To anybody that loves this movie. I HIGHLY recommend reading the manga on mangadex or something, because it goes SO deeply into everybody's background and stories.
I remember watching this movie with a bunch of friends when I was like 19 and it completely blew my mind. I wasn't as familiar with foreign films at the time, so it was just such a departure from what I was used to.
As a teacher while we don’t have the tv carts they just took the round back tvs out of the classrooms over the summer and many teachers still only had projectors in their rooms. There was a math teacher up until this year that would use the overhead projector transparencies (personally i haven’t seen those since I was in 3rd grade and Promethean boards became a thing). Gotta love under funded schools
Takeshi Kitano has also directed quite a few films prior to Battle Royale (a lot of yakuza films) and I would say they are about as surreal as his death scene in BR. Very funny and dry. Personal favorites are Hana-Bi and Sonatine.
He has also done standup comedy, written books, edited his own films, hosted a number of tv shows like Takeshi’s Castle, made a video game in the 80s/90s, recorded an album. He is definitely one of the most fascinating celebrities from Japan.
im GAGGED RN. The way i watched this for the first time yesterday! Cant wait to see yall discuss this
I have a tiny dog like you guys and she tends to lick the air a lot too. In my experience (according to the vet), licking the air could be brought on by anxiety, acid reflux, or possibly dizziness as a result of an ear infection. My dog burps a lot and has stinky breath too so I think my little one's issue is mostly related to acid reflux; the vet told me to give her OTC famotidine (Pepcid) daily, she gets 1/4 tablet 10mg Pepcid daily (so 2.5mg daily) and it seems to help. As always though, I'd recommend asking your vet rather than taking a random strangers advice ;). Love your channel!
Battle Royale is great because i remember the first time i read the hunger games i was like "there should be a hunger games series where you see a bunch of other contestant's perspectives' for one of the games". Then i read Battle Royale and it topped the Hunger Games series in every way.
First time I saw Battle Royale was in 2005. Somebody uploaded the film onto TH-cam in like, 10 separate parts. All in low quality. Incredible movie.
32:49 Woah! I bought this film in vhs in 2003 in the Uk and have watched it several times over the past couple of decades - this scene is completely new to me! Looks like we got a different version in the Uk.
I really love Battle Royale! ❤
How did you all first watch this movie? I was in 7th grade around 2004 when my brother got the full manga collection and I ended up having my Dad order the movie for me a year later on Ebay for my bday lol. It was 1 and 2 package deal that I had ordered. This is such a special movie to me. The manga goes SO much harder tbh. I even ended up buying the novel lol and they all have little differences.
Excellent podcast as always! I love the research and insight and clear cinematic love that this channel brings.
So glad that you are bringing attention to this great film. Have the book, had the manga (regrettably had to resell it), had the DVD (friend never returned it 😂). Going to rewatch it on Amazon Prime now!
I bought this on a region-free DVD from eBay around 2003 when I was in middle school. One of my more formative movies, horror or otherwise, for sure. Truly opened my eyes to the possibilities and unique world of foreign cinema-I even remember having Kiriyama as my LiveJournal avatar. I feel like I'm really dating myself with that last one. 😅
Yeah they are talking about finding this online circa 2001-2004. Nah that would have taken forever back then and you had to try the right subtitles. Region free DvDs were the best for anyone that loved foreign films. And honestly I think they are why foreign films finally really started taking off in the US... BR, Audition, City of God Amalie etc.
Fun fact: the girl who is wearing the Kill Bill jump suit played Gogo in Kill Bill.
kinji fukasaku is definitely my favorite director right now, most of his best films arent horror, but they are indeed cruel and horrific. love street mobster a lot
The girl in the “Kill Bill tracksuit” was actually Gogo in Kill Bill
Battle Royale is such a great movie, the sequel wasn't bad, but it wasn't more than an occasional view!
I think many of us were addicted to MXC!
I'm really hoping Anna and the apocalypse isn't struck for when Christmas comes around everytime it's mentioned I get so excited it might happen
I'd love for you guys to go to conventions in europe! This channel has been a big part of my life for so long and has helped me through some tough times.
This movie must be more recognized. It really IS the O.G.
I watched this for the first time a few years ago. Watching this podcast makes me want to rewatch it
I'm so excited for this episode, but may I say that Chelsea's nails look phenomenal!
The sequel is about Shuya’s rebellion. The BR act was replaced with a strike force system where instead of students killing each other, they are sent on a operation to destroy Shuya and his rebels.
I don't know how long that clock that looks like the House poster has been there but I LOVE IT SM its so cool
Takeshi's Castle was massive in South Africa. I was obsessed with it in the early 2000s. Thanks for the blast from the past, I'm going to stream the reboot this weekend!
Hearing ya’ll talk about how seeing a comedian being put in such a different role reminds how me in the running man, the host of family feud Richard Dawson was the main antagonist beefing with Arnold Schwarzenegger
I think y'all should give the manga ot the book that the move is based on. It fleshes out the characters and ups certain emotional beats. Happy to see the podcast still going strong.
I read this book in high school and it's at least partially responsible for my school sending me to a placement school full of deadbeats and anger management dropouts.
I loved Battle Royale the first time I saw it. Watching you two talking about it just made me add it to my collection.
I 100% interpreted Keiko as having the sudden realization that she and Kawada couldn't both make it out alive, but she was too scared to be the one to kill herself, so she attacked Kawada so he would kill her himself, thus saving himself. Maybe that's an unnecessarily optimistic reading, but I feel like it was self-sacrifice because she really did love him.
Funny that Chelsea says Kawada (possibly my favorite character from this movie) looks like Rambo with the tie wrapped around his head like a headband.
In Shaun Of The Dead, when they're all at the Winchester pub, Shaun wraps his tie around his head the same way. I figured a lot of people assumed it was a nod to Rambo, which it could be. I thought so too, until I noticed Shaun has a Battle Royale poster in his flat (apartment). You can see it after Ed kills the one-armed zombie with the glass ashtray.
Also interesting that James and Chelsea mentioned Quentin Tarantino's Top 20 Favorite Movies from 1992 to 2009 (from when he started directing and released his first film Reservoir Dogs, to when he released his self-proclaimed masterpiece Inglorious Basterds)...
Battle Royale was the Number 1 entry. He called it "the one movie I wished I could've made".
Takashi Miike's "Audition" and Edgar Wright's "Shaun Of The Dead" were on the list too. He called Audition "a masterpiece if ever there was one", and Shaun Of The Dead "the best British film in years".
I live in the UK and I grew up watching Takeshi’s Castle religiously! Such a throwback!
I'm pretty sure the poisoning + vomiting blood in The Hateful Eight was a reference to BR as well.
I feel like this was one of those movies my older brothers sketchy friend let me watch when I was a kid memories of this and then I remember seeing it again later on Netflix
ive wanted a kill count episode on this movie since 2018 but a podcast episode is close enough
The runner is played by Chiaki Kuriyama who is actually Gogo Yubari, O-ren Ishii's bodyguard in Kill Bill