BATTLE ROYALE Blu-ray/DVD Combo Now Available in Australia

The director`s cut of Kinji Fukasaku`s acclaimed and controversial cult hit BATTLE ROYALE (?????????, Batoru Rouaiaru, 2000) has been released in a Blu-ray/DVD combo set by Australian label Madman Entertainment. The set features a new English dub never before available in Australia or New Zealand. In the near future, Japan is in a state of collapse. With high unemployment and a generation of youth out of control, the government enacts the Battle Royale programme. Each year, a randomly chosen school class is pitted against itself on an abandoned island in a cruel game of survival. With a former teacher (Takeshi Kitano) overseeing the game, this is a fight to the death with only one winner. The rules are simple: - It lasts 3 days - Each player starts with food, water and a random weapon - If more than one player survives, everyone dies - There is no escape As the roll call begins, each kid grabs a backpack and stumbles away towards death or murder. As the game progresses, terror and panic challenge the students` fragile trust in each other. Some suspect everyone, blindly striking down those who cross their paths. Others form alliances dreaming of a peaceful solution with multiple survivors. Despite the game`s brutality, the adolescent players maintain their school obsessions with crushes, petty grudges and their dreams. But as the game approaches its shocking final stages, even this semblance of normality disintegrates. Format: Blu-ray (Region B), DVD (Region 4, PAL) SRP: $34.95 Catalogue: EYE378BR Release Date: September 19, 2012 Year Of Production: 2000 Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 Widescreen (16:9) Audio Tracks: Japanese Dolby TrueHD 7.1, English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Languages: Japanese, English Subtitles: English Runtime: 122 minutes Special Features: Making of BATTLE ROYALE BATTLE ROYALE documentary Instructional Video: birthday version Audition and rehearsal footage Special Effects comparison Tokyo International Film Festival 2000 Basketball Scene rehearsals Behind the Scenes Filming on set Special Edition TV Special Edition TV Spot: Tarantino version Theatrical trailer

About Madman

Madman is Australia`s leading independent theatrical, home entertainment distribution and rights management company, specialising in the wholesale distribution of DVD and BLU RAY product into sales channels throughout Australia and New Zealand. Other rights management activities undertaken by madman include theatrical distribution, as well as licensing for television, video-on-demand, hotel, airline and merchandise. Madman proudly showcases the best in collectable and special interest genres including Australian film, world cinema, TV, kids content, anime, sports and more.

For more information on BATTLE ROYALE, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: