GavC543
I know this is a TV movie, but with the budget and distribution they acquired for this adaptation I expected much more. I felt the acting, without being too harsh, was almost laughable. The screenplay was also quite different to the manga/show. Camera-work/directing could have grabbed the viewers attention if it experimented more with visually stimulating ideas, also lack of creative sound.Pros: Animation was quite good. It was the main reason I came to watch it in the first place. Although, it was obvious at times it was done in post which very much takes away from viewing experience. I also liked the sets/locations chosen in the relevant scenes. Just needed more umph in every sense!!Because I love the show/manga I will be generous, although I felt it was very much average.6/10
filmfan1991
Death Note is one of the best manga/anime out there. This live action adaptation is very close and well done for the most part. The live action actors who play Light Yagami and L do a wonderful job of translating from comic/animation to live action. The actor who stole the screen the most was Kenichi Mastuyama as L who was perfect in the role. For those who haven't seen the anime or manga the plot goes as this: an aspiring law student disgusted with the way justice is carried out one day finds a notebook that can kill people if you write their name down. He uses this notebook to take down criminals and become true justice aka Kira meanwhile a famous detective codenamed L tries to track down Kira and the cat and mouse chase between L and Kira begins. The plot is great considering that at least 12 episodes of the anime are condensed into the movie so some changes had to be made and the twists and turns are suspenseful.
lewiskendell
Light, a very intelligent law school student in Japan who's grown frustrated and disillusioned with the inefficiencies and limitations of the legal system, happens to acquire a Death Note, a book that allows you to kill by simply writing a name. As he picks up his pen and begins a crusade to permanently rid the world of criminals, he attracts the attention of L, an equally brilliant man who seeks to catch him like it's a game. The escalating game of cat and mouse between the two begins to involve more casualties than just criminals. I've gotta admit, Death Note is pretty awesome. I'm sure some nuance or details were left out in the translation from manga/anime to a 2 hour movie (I haven't seen the series or read the manga), but what shows up here is a surprisingly smart and sharp story about the intertwining of good and evil, and what really constitutes justice.
CountZero313
As a non-aficionado of manga, I am always wary of manga-inspired productions. Nana, for example, panders purely to its manga fan-base and fails to engage a wider audience.Death Note, however, manages to break free of its comic book origins. Light finds the Death Note, a jotter that allows him to pass a death sentence on anyone whose name he writes in it. Ryuuk, the apple-addicted Angel of Death who owns the book, turns up to play sidekick to Light's procession of executions. The police are at a loss, till super-sleuth 'L' takes on the case and figures out the MO and narrows the suspects down to the lead detectives' family.Tatsuya Fujiwara is perfectly cast, his angelic features in shocking contrast to the character's dark heart. Ken'ichi Matsuyama is all quirky brilliance as L. The pace is brisk, the twists plausible and surprising. The ending sets up the sequel but in a forgivable manner. Fun, entertaining cinema.
AD
