Battle Royale 2: Requiem

[visualkeichic]

Title: Battle Royale 2: Requiem (バトル・ロワイアルＩＩ　【鎮魂歌】)

Directed by: Kenta Fukasaku and Kinji Fukasaku

Written by: Kenta Fukasaku (writer), Norio Kida (writer), and Koushun Takami (original author of the novel which the the first movie was adapted from)

Cast:

Tatsuya Fujiwara: Shuya Nanahara
Aki Maeda: Shiori Kitano (Kitano's (Teacher the from original Battle Royale) daughter)
Shûgo Oshinari: Takuma Aoi
Ayana Sakai: Nao Asakura
Masaya Kikawada: Shintaro Makimura
Aki Maeda: Noriko Nakagawa
Takeshi Kitano: Kitano (Teacher the from original Battle Royale)
Ai Iwamura: Mai (Smiling Winner from the original Battle Royale)
Riki Takeuchi: Riki Takeuchi (Teacher)

Summary:

Well... three years since Shuya and Noriko were listed as fugitives by "The Republic of Greater East Asia", and no winner was declared during Program No. 12: Guadalcanal, Shuya and his group "Wild Seven" (past Program survivors and sympathizers) have since begun to wage their own private war of revenge against The Republic of Greater East Asia. In response the Government enacted "Millennium Anti-Terrorism Act" Battle Royale II.

This year's program varies greatly from Program No. 12, three years ago. This time around, the 42 students are armed with automatic rifles and body armor (not that it was of much help) and released to stage an attack on the Wild Seven group. The collars, though similar in look to the collars from the first film, have 2 slight differences, though they are still set to detonate if the student deviates from the Program, they now also link one male to one female, in the event that one of that linked pair is killed, the other will detonate, also to further the Program's new theme of camaraderie, both collars will detonate if one of the linked pair travels outside 50 meters of the other. Thats what I call TEAMWORK! Opening gambit, much like the first, all the teens huddled into a room, 1 teacher and the soldiers, and of course, true to form, someone always objects to The Program, this time, Shintaro Makimura, while holding a rugby ball, gets his head blown off, that was nice. Of course the collars being linked, Nozomi Sagisawa had to die too, her death, I didn't enjoy that as much. Now I admit, the opening scene where the students are traveling to reach the island itself, is cheesy. The explosions looked as if they were created by a 1st year graphic film student, but I still loved it. After eventually reaching the island, their numbers have greatly dwindled by almost half. More then are killed when they finally meet up with the Wild Seven group. After the initial meeting and removal of the collars, there is mild dialog and Shuya seems a bit battle worn, and at times a bit crazed. Talking philosophically (all of which Riki Takeuchi hears, slowly turning his want for revenge), where Takuma seems to prefer the blunt approach, hence the fist fight between the two, which I must add, I found mildly entertaining. During an unknown time on the island Nao and Takuma seem to develop an unspoken love for one another, later 2 more students and several more Wild Seven members die during what seemed to be a mortar attack by "The American Imperialists". At which point Riki Takeuchi decides he will no longer be on the government's side. Abruptly leaving after throwing medication at a television monitor showing a live feed to the Prime Minister. That is when the Prime Minister tells the Special Forces Division to exterminate Shuya and his dissidents at all costs. This is when the 2nd to the last battle occures. Shiori has one chance to avenge her fathers death, and fails when Shuya removes the gun from her possession, stating "If you point a gun you better use it, that is what it means to survive." Later on Shuya orders all the students, and children to flee underground. Shiori decides to stay. Half way down the escape tunnel, Taku decides he can not flee and he and two of his friends go back to help fight. Later the last ones left, Taku, Shiori and Shuya, battle it out with the SFD. Shiori dies but not before asking Shuya about Noriko, and revealing her true identity. It is then that Shuya and Taku run head first into battle... the last battle. At the end the "American Imperialists" bomb the island. Some time later in an Arab country, Taku and Shuya are reunited with the rest of the survivors including Nao and Noriko, they all part ways thus ending the film.

My thoughts:

Personally I will see ANY Tatsuya Fujiwara film, he is an amazing actor. Did I love the first film more than this, no. I found Battle Royale to be not as mature a movie as this. Where BR1 could be considered a teen action film, BR2 was more of a adult war film, more plot and story line, a little less gratutitous violence, though I can not say I am surprised that not many people found it enjoyable, as most of them were expecting a carbon copy of the original, just implemented with a new cast of characters. This film has depth, if you are willing to take the time to sit down and watch it for more than just its "name sake". Not to mention, Mayonaka Shonen Totsugekidan by STANCE PUNKS is an amazing end song as well.

My rating: 90%.

[harupridow]

this movie really awesome

and a bit over exaggerated in terms of the killing scene

[Samurai_Assassin]

This movie is awesome, but the blood affects was a bit exagerated

[loope]

this film is good but Battle Royale I is better, I like it

[XxlilsawahxX]

this movie is awesome, i love Fujiwara Tatsuya and the storyline of turning classmates against one another is different from anyhting ive ever seen, its an entertaining movie if you like gory stuff

[Billie Poynter]

I did not enjoy the second movie as much as I did the first one.

[cuanthol]

This Movie is awsome but i like Battle Royal 1 better ^_^

[markbellows]

Plot is good ... i want to see this movie.

Is this available in dwlds

[nostalgiax]

one day, i will try to watch this drama....

[pic85]

Battle Royale rocks more than part 2. As always, part one is always better. I don't think it's a drama, it's actually a movie ^^