2003, Action
Director: Kenta Fukusaku
Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Ai Maeda, Riki Takeuchi,

Plot: Japan has fallen victim of the Wild 7, a group lead by Shuya Nanahara, a survivor of the Battle Royale program. Wild 7 takes credit for the bombing and declares a war against the Japanese government. And the government responds the way it only knows, it launches a new Battle Royale program. And a lucky class of junior high graduates is sent on to a mission of “do-or-die” to take out Wild 7.

Just like the original Battle Royale, the US will not ever welcome Battle Royale II, ever. This is why. The film is very sympathetic to terrorism. And if that’s not bad enough, the country responsible for the fascist state of affairs in the film is, you guessed it, the US. This film is directed by Kenta Fukusaku. He took over the project shortly after death of his father. And the result is a disappointing one. Just like the original, an over-the-top performance by Tatsuya Fujiwara is not easy to watch. The gunfights are not really exciting. The film is about individual choices and how society prevents us from making them. It is way too thematic and metaphoric, it seems not enough thought was given to making the plot of the film as coherent as it should or could have been.

I am sure there are people who will enjoy Battle Royale II for its over-the-top everything. But the film feels just plain silly. And if you were truly impressed by the original, well, you may be disappointed.

Review by Shogo.