NEWS: DVD Release: Battle Royale

Battle Royale is back. It’s time to return to the island and kill your friends, because the cult Japanese movie that defines twisted action and sickening violence is ready to shock you all over again.

In a world where teenagers have no respect and adults are losing control there can be only one solution: Battle Royale! Now, see what happens when you let a high school class loose on an island, arm them and then give them a simple choice: kill your friends or have them kill you; with poison, cross-bows, machetes and dynamite.

‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano (Violent Cop, Zatoichi) is a teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges. Kidnapped and gassed, his class wake up with exploding metal rings around their necks. If they rebel, they could lose their heads. Now they have three days and only one is permitted to survive this grisly battle to the death.

Directed by the master of 1970s Yakuza thrillers Kinji Fukasaku, and featuring Kill Bill star Chiaki Kuriyama, Battle Royale is the movie that helped to define extreme Asian cinema in the 21st century.

This 3-disc edition, which includes the theatrical and director’s cut, features a brand new glorious high definition restored transfer, and a brand new subtitle translation on both features.

includes a panel reversible sleeve containing original artwork; a 32 page comic, Battle Royale: Parent's Day; collector’s booklet by Tom Mes, author of ‘The Midnight Eye Guide To New Japanese Film’ illustrated with stills, artwork and a printed interview with director Kinji Fukasaku; and a fold-out reversible poster of original artwork.

Film: Battle Royale
Release date: 7th March 2011
Certificate: 18
Running time: 109 mins
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Chiaki Kuriyama, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Noriko Nakagawa, Tarô Yamamoto
Genre: Action/Horror/Thriller
Studio: Arrow
Format: DVD & Blu-ray
Country: Japan

Special Features:
• Original theatrical trailer
• The making of Battle Royale
• Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
• Special Edition trailer
• TV Spot: Tarantino version
• Shooting the Special Edition
• Takeshi Kitano interview
• The correct way to make Battle Royale (Birthday version)
• Tokyo International Film Festival presentation
• Opening day at Maro No Uchi Toei movie theatre
• The slaughter of 42 high school students
• Premier press conference
• The correct way to fight in Battle Royale
• Royale rehearsals
• Masamichi Amano conducts Battle Royale
• Special effects comparison
• Behind the scenes featurette
• Filming on set
• TV spots
• Promos and commercials
• Kinji Fukasaky trailer reel