Watched: バトル・ロワイアル, Batoru Rowaiaru (Battle Royale)

Uh, yeah. This is a deeply unsettling film. And it's very hard to believe, after watching this, that it did not have any influence on Suzanne Collins while she was writing The Hunger Games. Obviously. But! It is a very, very well made film. It really handles introducing and dispensing with a shit-load of characters very quickly in a competent and compelling way. Yes of course some of the minor characters are simplistic, but that is really a small complaint considering how well a very difficult, complicated conceit is carried out here. Another classic, I'd say. And hey, it's one Tarantino's favorite films, right? (Just look at that first picture. Once you've seen the film, that factoid is not at all surprising.)

 Just in terms of sheer fucked-up-ness, characterwise, I think Mitsuko was my favorite character.

 Kayoko is pretty great too, though.

 This whole sequence. Insane.

 :(

 THIS. MOST insane part of the film? Possibly?

Or the part where Kitano has been shot, then casually gets up, takes a phone call from his daughter, eats some cookies, before dying just as casually? Bananas.