Battle Royale (batoru rowaiaru)

Japanese Poster

Japanese Poster Alt.

UK Poster

2001NR114 minutes

Cast:

Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto, Masanobu Ando, Kou Shibasaki, Chiaki Kuriyama

Director:

Kinji Fukasaku

Genres:

Foreign, Foreign Thrillers, Japan, Foreign Dramas, Foreign Action & Adventure

Language:

Japanese

This movie is:

Violent, Controversial, Dark, Suspenseful

When even schoolchildren begin to abuse a system on the verge of social collapse, the Japanese government introduces a strict new punishment whereby randomly chosen students are taken to a deserted island and forced to fight each other to the death. Renowned Japanese auteur and actor Takeshi "Beat" Kitano stars in this explosive, violent drama from director Kinji Fukasaku, based on Koushun Takami's novel.

and you thought 9th grade was hard.

It almost makes me feel shameful but I really enjoyed this movie. Its unlike anything I have ever watched. The premise, each year a randomly-selected rotten apple 9th grade class is kidnapped and sent to a deserted island where they are equipped with weapons and are forced to kill each other until one survivor is left. Thats right, 9th graders. Can you say, extreme Lord of the Flies. Its amamzing to see what people, in this case children, would do in life and death situations. Who runs and hides, who kills their best friends, who just becomes a complete psycho and gets a thrill out of all the mayhem.

Teacher of the year

Great acting all around

I had been hearing about this flick for a long time, with its copious blood shed and over-the-top violence, and with the inevitable comparisons to fellow extreme Asian flicks like Ichi and Suicide Club. Though I went into BR with high expectations I was still blown away. It not only satiated my gore and shock quota, but it also impressed the need for some well versed commentary. Infused in all the high octane action is a well-oiled and sincere tale of friendship and loyalty which battles to survive in the shadows of social and governmental corruption. The characters and relationships are so well drawn out and brought to life with some great performances and a brilliant musical score (especially the haunting innocence of the choral themes). BR is not only a fun and energetic splatter action flick, it's a highly provocative statement on modern society with all its hypocrisy and beauty.

Oldboy (oldeuboi)

Japanese Poster

Korean Poster

Danish Poster

2003R119 minutes

Cast:

Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang, Dae-han Ji, Dal-su Oh, Byeong-ok Kim, Seung-Shin Lee, Jin-seo Yun, Dae-yeon Lee, Kwang-rok Oh

Director:

Chan-wook Park

Genres:

Foreign Thrillers, Korea, Foreign, Foreign Dramas

Language:

Korean

This movie is:

Violent, Mind-bending

With no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged and tortured for 15 years -- and no one to hold accountable for his suffering -- a desperate businessman seeks revenge on his captors, relying on assistance from a friendly waitress. Korean director Chan Wook Park -- a former philosophy student and Hitchcock devotee -- uses his influences to create a mesmerizing psychological drama with a resolution that will leave you speechless.

What would life look like if one night's mistakes turns into 15 years of death? Park Chan-wook's answer is clearly revenge. Park delivers the second part of the "Revenge Trilogy" that is nothing short of shocking. If you were amazed by the first one, the second will not disappoint. What sets this picture apart from the rest is the shocking elements of the film serve a clear purpose for story development rather than value’s sake. This is not some formula driven hollywood film.

15 years of revenge in a single glance.

Oh Dae-su, a wretch of a man, wakes up after a night of drunkenness to discover that he's imprisoned in a sparsely furnished room deprived of human contact. The only form of escape is television. 15 years pass in confinement. Just as mysteriously as he was locked up, he is released. Revenge fills him but not knowing where to start. He meets a young woman named Mi-do. She takes pity on him and takes him home with her. This is the beginning of their quest and their love affair, as well as the turning point where the film transitions from a psychological thriller to a tragedy.

Each piece of violence gives more to the story.

As each turn of events brings them closer to discovering the truth, it also brings 15 years' worth of Oh's bottled emotions closer to the surface. Despite his being ruled by rage and helplessness, Oh is transformed into a stronger man who is curiously more human than his previous self. The ending is complex and violent, literally and figuratively. Mr. Park is deliberate in every detail of the violence he depicts, and each instance serves a meaningful purpose. The story is tight, the acting is powerful, and the characters are keenly developed with the unfolding of the story. Shot in a gritty texture, the austerity of the cinematography both complements and contrasts the events as they unfold. The total effect is gripping, though one instinctively wants to recoil from the scenes that carefully unravel.

Each character has a link to our main character.

Riveting from beginning to end.

There are very few movies that are this disturbing. Yet, you can't take your eyes of the screen as the plot unfolds bit by bit, leading up to the horrifying climax. If you are sick of movies where you see the end coming, definitely rent this one, because you won't. Fascinating psychological thriller, with great performances and chilling cinematography.