Battle Royale II (2003)

Definitely was an interesting movie experience.

Battle Royale 1 was quite violent and controversial, but the sequel sure ups the ante on both accounts. Also,whatever comedy BR1 occasionally had, is nowhere to be seen here.

It's also very easy to see why this movie is, mildly put, disliked in the US... it definitely points several middle fingers in their general direction. While a lot of it might be there just for provocation, there are moments where the semi-philosophical parts actually hit home quite well. Besides being a continuation to BR1, it is actually a movie about freedom... how well it succeeds in that, depends pretty much on the viewer.

I guess my own favourite quote would be : "Blowing a couple of guys away won't change a thing in this country... But I don't know any other way. " ... which is more or less a definition of terrorism these days.

Fmovies: This is a great film. I watched it because I like the girls and the action of its prequel. I normally dislike all sequels, but this one works,. It is inspiring that unrelated Japanese youth can engage in a fight not their own against militarism and hate. Sure, I miss the pretty chicks from the first one, but appreciate the action and the message of this. It must be dissonant to selfish people.

It's like the movie wanted to say "Afghanistan was bombed by yankees and that's not ok, cause they're bad, domestic Afghan freedom fighters aren't really bad they're just misunderstood", and with that line of absolute logic everything those Japanese fight for next to Afghanis is worth while too. The resistance has legitimate reasons for defending their countries, several times, in thhe real world as Battle Royale shows. With any luck this great movie helps people have fun as the Yankee invaders get crushed. And I am American

Battle Royale II fmovies. I just finished watching BATTLE ROYALE II and was really impressed. A great sequel that lives up to the first, because it adds enough new stuff to keep things fresh. I loved the idea that the students are now forced to become a strike force, and that their collars are now tied together (one dies, so does their partner).

The battles are brutal, although I'm a little iffy on the politics. Anyway, it's a fun, beautifully shot movie that shouldn't disappoint fans of Battle Royale. Definitely adding this one to my collection.

It's like the director was giving the middle finger to American sensibilities. Not as good as the first, but I liked it. For the most part, it was over the top in the acting department. But if you like watching movies where the good guys are a group of terrorist kids who declare war on adults, this one's for you.

BR 2 never finds the errie tone of the first film or novels. I contribute a great deal of this to the "over the top" acting and lack of serious character development.

What Battle Rotaye 2 does manage to do is pack much more violence into it's running time, and slowly build a very politically incorrect message. I don't agree with the political philosophy here, but I must give Fukasaku credit for having some seriously big balls to make this. Then again, he was dying from cancer so he never had to personnaly face any responsibility. There are many pro Al Quida/ Anti U.S. things going on here, and he hits you over the head with it. From destroying 2 twin towers to living in the mountains of Afghanistan! There is a speech given twice about all the countries the U.S. has bombed (and I agree that America has opened it's self up to global hatred), and it's suggested that Japan goes along with the U.S. cause so many other countries do. The later being Japan's downfall. There is also some anti Israel jabs in a scene showing the children of what looks exactly like West Bank. There is mention of victims of terrorism, but even these characters are easily won over to the side of the terrorist.

This is strong stuff, and I commend Fukasaku for giving me pause to think a little harder about how I stand on global issues. No matter how silly I keep telling myself this film is.....it's one of the most subversive films ever directed toward capitalism.