Arrow Video - Battle Royale - The 2011 Special Edition Specs
 

As well as the existing 2010 released limited edition version of Battle Royale, Arrow Video are also bringing out a Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray edition in 2011 which will utilise the four-panel artwork slipcase packaging packaging format shared by many other AV releases. Here's the full lowdown...

BATTLE ROYALE

ONE DEAD. 41 TO GO.

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 70s 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.

Attachment 7593

DVD:

THIS AMAZING EDITION CONTAINS:
- 2 panel reversible sleeve containing original artwork
- 32 page comic Battle Royale: Parent's Day An all-new exclusive comic! Two children find out ahead of time that their class is to be the latest selection for the lethal Battle Royale program. Instead of arriving at school, they choose to run - but will they survive?
- 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
- Fold-out reversible poster of original artwork
3 DISC SET FEATURES:
- Brand new glorious high definition restored transfer of both films
- Brand new subtitle translation on both features
DISC 1 – THEATRICAL CUT: SPECIAL FEATURES
- Original theatrical trailer
- The making of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students
DISC 2 – SPECIAL EDITION [DIRECTOR’S CUT]: SPECIAL FEATURES
- Special Edition Trailer
- TV Spot: Tarantino Version
- Shooting the Special Edition
- Takeshi Kitano Interview
- The Correct Way to Make Battle Royale [Birthday Verion]
- Tokyo International Film Festival Presentation
- Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
DISC 3 – SPECIAL FEATURES
- Opening Day at Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre
- The Slaughter of 42 High School Students
- Premiere 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 Fukasaku Trailer Reel

Dolby Digital 5.1, Stereo Audio options.

Theatrical Cut running time 109 mins, Director's Cut 117 mins

DVD Region 2

DVD RRP £24.99


Attachment 7594

Blu-ray:

THIS AMAZING EDITION CONTAINS:
- 4 panel reversible sleeve containing original artwork
- 32 page comic Battle Royale: Parent's Day An all-new exclusive comic! Two children find out ahead of time that their class is to be the latest selection for the lethal Battle Royale program. Instead of arriving at school, they choose to run - but will they survive?
- 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
- Fold-out reversible poster of original artwork
3 DISC SET FEATURES:
- Brand new glorious high definition 1080p restored transfer of both films
- Brand new subtitle translation on both features
DISC 1 – THEATRICAL CUT: SPECIAL FEATURES
- Original theatrical trailer
- The making of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students
DISC 2 – SPECIAL EDITION [DIRECTOR’S CUT]: SPECIAL FEATURES
- Special Edition Trailer
- TV Spot: Tarantino Version
- Shooting the Special Edition
- Takeshi Kitano Interview
- The Correct Way to Make Battle Royale [Birthday Verion]
- Tokyo International Film Festival Presentation
- Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
DISC 3 – SPECIAL FEATURES
- Opening Day at Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre
- The Slaughter of 42 High School Students
- Premiere 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 Fukasaku Trailer Reel

5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Stereo Audio options.

Blu-ray Theatrical Cut running time 114 mins, Director's Cut 122 mins

DISCS 1 & 2 - Blu-ray Region B
DISC 3 - DVD Region 2

Blu-ray RRP £28.99

Release date 28th February 2011

To spread this news onto other forums and sites here's a handy shortlink back to this story: http://cult-labs.com/a/BR2011

Looks sweet. One question though, is there any reason for the dvd only getting 2-panel artwork? I seem to recall the Day Of The Dead dvd being the same.


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This is when Arrow need to use digi-packaging in order to fit everything in.

Yes, I see what you mean, it is fairly packed with lots of goodies and extra features.


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Region B locked?
If so why the change from ABC on the LE discs?

The licensor has demanded it.

Love that cover.

Out of curiosity, why did Toei even allow a Region ABC set in the first place? Aren't the Japanese terrified of parallel importing?

Best part is its only 1 of 4, I can't wait to see the others.

I'd assume it was because of its Limited status, even 10,000 aren't that much in the grand scheme.

Well for non region B areas the Limited set is still in stock at play.com and hmv.com (Amazon appear to have ran out) so if they have region locked players they either buy now, wait for the ebay resellers to fleece them or wait for the Anchor Bay release.

What was the Arrow DVD of BR I saw in HMV the other week then Almar?

Or am I going bonkers? :confused:

Positive it said 'Special Edition'-it was on the Arrow Films label though....:confused:

You mean this one?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

Wow I'm glad I pre-ordered the original box set.. only cost me 12.76 after VAT removed (woohoo importing!)

Well you could easily get the new one too, UK releases are region B like in Aus

Oh yes of course we are lucky with that, it was more the bargain price the set came to when you consider how much stuff was in it! Not sure how it could be done so cheaply.

Yeah,that's it. :nod:

As an American importer, I'm VERY glad I pre-ordered the LE right now. :)

Very nice art for the regular edition... but am I crazy, or does it say "A film by KJ"? Wouldn't that be "KF" - Kinji Fukusaku? :confused:

I'm happy to have ordered the LE and I'm sure I'll be thrilled, but a little something in me feels cheated for not having the option of the 4 panel artwork feature. :mmph:

yeah but it's only paper. +the images will be online to look at. the box set is a definite fair trade in my opinion. :thumb:

Wait until you open it.......You like artwork?
You won't be disappointed.;)

I bet those in region A land who managed to get a copy of the Limited Edition must be over the moon now if they had thought about waiting for the Special Edition.

Why is this so expensive to pre-order everywhere -_-. I was planning on getting this, but online retailers seem to think I should be paying more than the Limited Edition? Crazy.

Then buy the limited edition.
Unless you want the new cover like I do... :pound:

Wait a few months after the release date, its bound to come down in price.

Amazon are charging the same price as Amazon sold the LE set for, around its release date anyway. Also £18 at HMV too, just seems to be Play hoping to charge £24.
Cheapest is at zavvi/thehut at £17.85 (or about £16.07 with a 10% walkers code).

As I already have the LE, I'll wait until the new edition is around the £10 mark.

When will we get more pictures of this set? I would like to see the way this one will be put together!

Any new news on this release? exploded shot of the alternative covers?

I don't have any artwork as yet, but this is just to let you know this release has had to be pushed back to March 7th.

Thanks for the update

Here are the exploded images for the special edition Blu-ray and DVD:


http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...BRexploded.jpg


http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...VDexploded.jpg

Thank you very much for the update, looking good

The DVD set a digipak?

Not as far as I know although I will seek confirmation from Arrow today. I assume they will be in ThinPack cases, but I could be wrong. I'll let you know when I find out.

And the poster for each set has an advertisement on the other side? Is that really necessary?
If its a similar advertisement to the one that was on the back of all of the Limited Edition artcards, then that'll be a shame.
Waste of ink at the very least.

Further to your query, I can confirm that the DVD release is a Digipack.

Will the Blu-ray be a slim blu case?

The Blu-ray release will be in a HD Keep Case containing the three discs, the same style of packaging as the Dawn of the Dead release.

Thanks sounds like a nice pack

Despite already owning the ltd. ed. Deluxe DVD and BR editions i've now pre-ordered the slimmed down forthcoming four sleeve releases both in SD and HD. However, one copy only of each variant this time around. Yeah, you read that correctly! These purchases are purely for collectable purposes on this occasion and no other reason.
OCD (Obsessive Collector Disorder) strikes again but that's me all over!:blush:

wow could we see pictures of these?

It'd be my pleasure to post a few pics of the relevant Battle Royale releases but i'm afraid i have absolutely no idea how to upload images on to a website. Sorry and i wish i could be of more help.:)

It's for this same reason i'm unable to send stills of my array of DVD and BR purchases over to the Members Collections section too. That and the fact the vast majority of the titles i own are boxed up due to lack of space! Curses!:mmph:

I'll use imageshack.us as an example image host site.

Go to the site, click the grey Browse button, navigate to then click on the image you want and then select Open. Then hit the big blue Upload Now button.
Once its uploaded look on the left hand side for Links to share your image:, under it right click the text beside Forum Thumbnail and select Copy.

Now just paste that text into your forum post, should look like this;
Now people can just click that image and go to your full size pic. You can delete the "Uploaded with...." bit at the bottom.