An interesting concept (divide et impera) poorly executed

Rating: 4/10 (18 August 2012)

Yes, a comparison with Battle Royale is inevitable here. I guess this has been done to close the gap between two cultures (not that many people even know that B.R. even exists). It seems that the fiction in the background (did not read the book, btw.) has "juice" but the presentation form of this movie ruined it. Strange, though. Cast is good, performances also, even the direction (mostly). But the whole picture is simply bad. Unnecessary repeating of the parts of the movie (very poorly executed "flashabcks"), fake emotions, tons of illogical and in essence futile parts (creating some sort of dogs from nothing? Ain't that a concept from Star Trek and Holodeck with safety protocols shut down?). I could not figure out who screwed up more: writers, producers, editors, even director? Anyway, this story could have been done incomparably better in someone else's hands (say, Wheddon?, Cameron?, Scott? or anybody who knows how to make a story consistent, logical and meaningful). This way the story has no beginning and no end. Just something vague in the middle. This movie is a miss. Bigtime. Pity.