Battle Royale now available on Region-Free DVD!

[Space Pirate Roberts]

From Aintitcool.com:

BATTLE ROYALE DVD
Just a short little update on the new Battle Royale DVD released by Tartan Video in the UK. I just received it this week and can confirm that it is encoded R0 NTSC, meaning it can play on any NTSC DVD player. So yes, it is safe enough to order it without worrying about playing the damn thing. This is the original cut of the movie (not the extended version), with great video (anamorphically enhanced) and an AWESOME DD 5.1 sound. So for those of you finally waiting to see this great film, you can do so now by buying it from Amazon.co.uk.

And here's the review from the Amazon UK order page. Warning: minor SPOILERs ahead...

Amazon.co.uk Review
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence it’s only fitting that Kenta Fukasaku’s Battle Royale is being touted as A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a series of fleeting images of unruly Japanese schoolkids, whose bad behaviour provides a justification for the "punishments" which will ensue. To be honest, anyone who has grown up with Grange Hill will view these aggressive teenagers’ acts as pretty moderate, but in the context of Japanese culture, their lack of respect is a challenge to the traditional values of respecting your elders. Once the prequel has been dispensed with the classmates are drugged and awaken on an island where they find they have been fitted with dog collars that monitor their every move. Instructed by their old teacher ("Beat" Takeshi) with the aid of an upbeat MTV-style video, they are told of their fate: after an impartial Lottery they have been chosen to fight each other in a three-day, no-rules contest, the "Battle Royale". Their only chance of survival in the "Battle" is through the death of all their classmates. Some pupils embrace their mission with zeal, while others simply give up or try to become peacemakers and revolutionaries. However, the ultimate drive for survival comes from the desire to protect the one you love.

The film looks like a war-flick on occasions, with intense Apocalypse Now-style imagery (check out the classical score blasted over the tannoys with sweeping shots of helicopters). Yet, Battle Royale works on many different levels, highlighting the authorities’ desperation to enforce law and order and the alienation caused by the generation gap. But whether you view the film as an important social commentary or simply enjoy the adrenalin-fuelled violence, this is set to become cult viewing for the computer game generation and beyond.

On the DVD: Battle Royale has been re-released in this new and improved version. Now offered in progressive scan, utilising NTSC technology which has enhanced the picture quality. Please be aware though that not all DVD players are compatible, if unsure your best to opt for the first release.--Nikki Disney

I'll definitely be ordering this sometime in the near future.

[Despair]

Well, I heard about this dvd release, and its good to know its a NTSC and not PAL as most of the UK released dvds are.

There were some other dvd's of BR on the Ebay lately, majority of which were bootleg releases.

The film is awesome, I have a vcd of it since last year, when it was released in HK, and I enjoyed the movie. Its violent, dark and quite sad.

[ssbomberman]

I plan on picking this up...but may just go with the VCD since it's only like 5 bucks at yesasia...

[Despair]

You still havent watched it?