Forty-two 9th graders are shipped to a deserted island with an explosive collar fitted around their necks. They are given a map, food, and various tools and weapons. If they break a rule, the collar blows their head off. The mission is for them to kill each other off until only one is left standing. The final survivor will be allowed to leave the island.
Battle Royale (2000) is the somewhat dystopian Japanese predecessor of The Hunger Games (2012). Controversy has plagued both films—the former for ultra-violent subject matter; the latter for the author, Suzanne Collins, allegedly plagiarizing the Japanese film for her popular books (2008)… which led to the successful American film series. Join us as we discuss how this film has not aged well, is laughably bad, and makes little sense. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys is marooned on an island with a bad director and a bunch of murderous children, not caring who dies next.
***NOTE: Please forgive Tim’s ignorance if he alludes to The Hunger Games being by Stephenie Meyer (who wrote the Twilight series). Suzanne Collins wrote The Hunger Games series, and he is constantly confusing the two… probably because he couldn’t care less about either of them.***
SHOW LINKS
- Battle Royale (2000)
- original trailer
- Battle Royale (1999 novel)
- The Hunger Games (2012)
- The Hunger Games (2008 novel)
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
- Escape from New York (1981)
- The Running Man (1987)
- Deathrace 2000 (1975)
- Friday the 13th (1980)
- The Hateful Eight (2015)
- The Long Walk by Stephen King (Richard Bachman)
- Star Trek: Gamesters of Triskelion
- Wedlock (1991)
- Get Tim’s book!
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