A Real Villain in J-Horror? - Battle Royale

Could you kill your best friend?

A Real Villain in J-Horror? - Battle Royale

     In most western horror movies and novels, it should have villains fight against hero or survivors for making an intense scene or surprise scene. For example, in 'Child's play' by Tom Holland, Andy shows himself as a survivor while Chucky shows himself as a devil doll that kills many people with a tiny body. However, in Japanese horror movies and novels, some people show themselves as villains, but it is hard to say that they are truly bad. Even ghosts in Japan have reasons to appear and kill certain people. This interesting setting can be seen in 'Battle Royale.'

Spolier Alart, Shogo does not kill them. :D

     Before talking about the differences between Western Horror and J-Horror, it is good to know about the concept of the novel 'Battle Royale.' The word 'Battle Royale' in wrestling means one of the rules that starts with many wrestlers on the ring and they fight until only one player is left on the ring. However, in 'Battle Royale' by Koushun Takami, normal middle school students fight against themselves (classmates) until only one student is survived in the island. The book shows well about how people easily get suspicious and kill others for surviving.

     Is there a villain in 'Battle Royale' like Chucky? Yes, Kazuo and Sakamochi show themselves as villains in 'Battle Royale.' Kazuo is trying to kill everyone and take the victory and Sakamochi is the commander of this game. However, most students in 'Battle Royale' cannot be seen as a villain and a hero. For example, Shuya, a main character of this novel, shows himself as a humble and nice person, but he cannot save any people except one. Other survivors who trying to kill other students like Mitsuko and Kyoichi might be seen as villains, but it is hard to say because they just want to survive in this crazy tournament. On the other side, Kazuo tries to kill everyone to win the game, but he was a kind person until he gets brain damage from the car accidents. Also, he can be Shuya's friend if he gets another side of the coin on the coin toss game. I wonder what happen if Kazuo wins another side of the coin. At the end, the only real villain that breaks character setting of J-Horror is Sakamochi in 'Battle Royale.'

Creepy :d

     Why there are different concept of character setting between J-Horror and Western Horror? In my personal thought, it is related to the religion and legend story that cause some kind of stereotype. In Bible from Christians, devils can be seen as bad creatures that makes people to kill each other and break promise while angels can be seen as holy sprites that helps people to survive or shows miracle. This devil and angel concepts show the absolute evilness and good. What about the Japanese culture? In Shinto,one of the Japanese traditional religion, there is no absolute right or wrong because people easily get influence from their surrounding. It might be one of the reasons why there is no true villain in J-Horror film and novel.

     Like 'Battle Royale,' there is no real villain and no hero in J-horror while Western Horror has it. It happens because of the different religion idea that shows absolute good or bad. 

Hunger Game is fun too...

Hunger Game VS Battle Royale....and Review

     I knew a little bit about 'Battle Royale' before I read because my friends recommend me to watch the movie when I was in middle school (7,8 years ago.) But I decided not to watch the film because this film is one of the gore films that shows a lot of blood on, and I didn't want to watch that kind of movies. When I read the book, it was interesting because it shows how people make group together and break by small doubt feeling. Also, I like the specific part where Shogo makes the fake scene for the escape.

     I want to mention about 'Hunger Game,' because the concept of 'Hunger Game' is similar to 'Battle Royale,' but different. 'Hunger Game' has similar rules that every player should kill each other until only one player survive, and players decide to fight against government or run away from them, but the genre is close to the action while 'Battle Royale' is close to thriller and horror. I recommend to watch both movies :D. (I'm gonna watch Battle Royale soon!!!)

Character Relationship in Interview with a Vampire

 The movie poster for Interview with the Vampire in 1994. I WANT TO WATCH IT!!!

CHARACTER RELATIONSHIP IN INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE

    Vampires are the creatures that drink human blood to survive, and they do not communicate with humans. However, in the 'Interview With A Vampire' by Anne Rice, the story starts with a conversation between the boy(a human) and Louis(a vampire.) Also, the story shows the interesting relationship between Louis and other characters such as Lestat, Claudia, and the vampires in Theatre des Vampires.

 It is interested scene that how Lestat catches a mouse, kill it, and pour its blood on the wine cup.

     Claudia is the most important character in 'Interview With A Vampire' because she is the one who makes Louis feel guilty. Claudia becomes a vampire when she was five years old and she cannot grow up. It makes the story interesting because it makes Louis to protect Claudia and feel guilty about Claudia's problem. Because of the guilty that Louis has, Louis kills every vampire in Theatre des Vampires for the revenge after Claudia's death.

     Lestat, Louis' advisor, is also an important character in 'Interview With A Vampire.' In the beginning of the story, Lestat shows himself as a cold hearted teacher. However, he changed after the burning on  Theatre des Vampires, he becomes strange and weak in front of Louis. It is hard to see Lestat as a villain. Even though Lestat kills Claudia for the revenge, he does not try to kill or destroy Louis, but wants him to become an Lestat's assistance.

     The boy in 'Interview With A Vampire' cannot be forgotten because he is a human who talks with a vampire, Louis. There is not much information about the boy, but he makes the interview with the vampire, and catches important information from the story such as Louis' name and vampire's ability. However, it is strange that he wants to be a vampire at the end of the story because Louis' story ends with no happy ending and does not encourage people to become a vampire. Why the boy wants to become a vampire?

Poor Claudia...

     'Interview With A Vampire' brings the story well with the relationships between Louis and characters. Louis gets guilty feeling from Claudia, has problems with Lestat and the vampires in Theatre des Vampires, and shows his feeling and story in the conversation with the boy. It is interesting that how a vampire can be seen as human with emotion, not a monster.

INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE REVIEW

     It was interested that the story goes with conversation between the boy and Louis, and the boy catches important information from the story. (it makes me easy to read XD) Also, I like the ending that does not end with ending interview, but shows what the boy is going to do (open ending.)

Gothic in Frankenstein

Gothic in Frankenstein

     Before I read Frankenstein, I think monsters as non human creatures such as Dragon, Alien, and Cookie Monster from Muppet. However, in 'gothic' novel, monsters look like humans, but they are different. In the Frankenstein, gothic novel by Mary Shelley, the monster has 4 limbs and a body and a head like human, but his height is 8 ft and he was made by Frankenstein, college student who interests in chemistry. Even though it was written in 1818, the storytelling is impressive and the idea makes me interest to read Frankenstein. Even though it is the first science fiction novel, it shows the "gothic" aspects very well, such as monster, secret place, and atmosphere.

      Like other gothic novel, Frankenstein story focuses on supernatural monster. In the story, Frankenstein creates life with dead bodies and spark. The monster has supernatural power to kill people, survive in North Pole, and bring the dramatic atmosphere change. but the hideous and gigantic body that makes it impossible to hide in human groups. Like the monster in Frankenstein, Dracula in gothic novel cannot hide because of the sunlight, sliver, or religious mark that kills Dracula.

      Also, Franskenstein makes the monster in his hidden place that can be seen in other gothic novel. Frankenstein needs a place where he can hide dead bodies and create a life. The story does not give the details of the room clearly, but it should look like a room with huge electric machines attached to the monster. The place where Frankenstein studies the monster represents itself as the mysterious and scary place like Dracula with Bran Castle in Transylvania.

    The world of Frankenstein shows the supernatural monster coming from the death, the mysterious place where Frankenstein studies, and the atmosphere change when the monster comes to the Frankenstein. These elements represent the 'gothic' aspects clearly. 

Frankenstein Review

Before I read about the Frankenstein, I thought Frankenstein was the monster who helps Dracula to capture human from the village (I saw this information from the movie.) I agree that the concept of the Frankenstein is still interesting and I surprised that the concept came from 200 years ago. Also, the conflict between Frankenstein and the monster is interesting because the atmosphere changed suddenly. Also, the monster is not just a crazy monster who likes to kill people and Frankenstein sees the monster as a devil. However, it was hard for me to read twisted long words (or just my personal problem because English is not my first language) and it is board to read the first few parts until the monster shows himself to Frankenstein.