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The original Battle Royale was an intense, unnerving and unforgettable experience, and any sequel would have to really pull out the stops to try to top it. Although this film contains nods to the original, the scope has been broadened considerably and the focus is no longer on just one class of kids. The result is that the film - whether due to the absence of Kinji Fukasaku (who passed away during its production) or simply because of the law of diminishing returns - is not as unsettling or provocative as its predecessor, despite its criticism of US foreign policy and topical references to terrorism. The new ‘Battle Royale’ class are not as memorable as the kids from the original either, despite the fact that a couple of them have very personal reasons for taking part in this new ‘game’. Like ‘Beat’ Takeshi in the first film, it’s an adult character that almost steals the show, with Riki Takeuchi’s pill-popping, wild-eyed teacher a delirious delight. As expected, the battle scenes are bloody and realistic, an effect heightened - like the first film - by thunderous sound design, but strangely, the shock factor has diminished, despite the fact that we’re watching helpless school kids forced into a deadly situation by fascistic adults. There are some interesting references to recent world events, but they feel as if they've been forced into the film, rather than growing naturally out of the ‘Battle Royale’ premise established in the original film. Still, you have to admire an action film (which also features scenes of broad comedy amidst the carnage!) that attempts to confront contemporary politics without resorting to simplistic flag-waving or settling for easy answers to complex and troubling questions. As a side note, fans of Japanese movies will be delighted to see cameo appearances from a couple of legendary film stars.
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