Netflix has recently released the film adaptation of the anime ‘Death Note’ and I will admit that despite the fact that I enjoyed it, it fails to capture the essence.
‘Death Note’ tells the story of a teenager, Light Turner, who comes across a mystical note book that gives him the power to kill. Soon, the teenager turns himself into a vigilante and starts being pursued by a famous detective known as ‘L’.
If you didn’t know, I really love the anime, I think the idea of a Death Note is brilliant so when I learned that Netflix was making it into a live-action movie, I got very excited.
I personally loved the acting, I loved the gory scenes, I loved the visuals and I loved the fact that ‘Mia’ is a psychotic girlfriend and not just a ‘Kira fan’.
However, I think that they rushed the story and that everything happened too fast: they condensed the information into a one hour and a half movie so I felt like there was a lot missing, even my friend who hasn’t watched the anime thinks that. The story is way to complicated and developed to make it into a one hour and a half movie so they should have constructed it in a smarter way or make it into a 2 hour and a half movie.
Moreover, I wished they focused more on the story of the death note itself rather than on the story of Light’s relationship with Mia. I mean the whole story is about the death note and Ryuk [the demon] so the least they could have done is explain where the death note comes from and give more importance to the god of death. Like I said, they failed to capture the essence, they made the whole film only about Light and Mia whereas the story is also about Light and L, about the death note and about Ryuk.
Talking about Light and L; I didn’t feel enough tension between the two characters, they didn’t give enough time for the relation between L and Light to develop, and I think the whole investigation on ‘Kira’ went way too fast.
In conclusion, I think the main problem with this film is that they didn’t take their time to tell the story and that they missed the whole point of it. I don’t think you’ll lose anything if you watch it, it’s pretty entertaining and I enjoyed it so if you have a Netflix account, go watch it.
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Saw the anime. Very good.
Yea it’s amazing
I found the story very satisfying. I started watching Bleach more recently and couldn’t get into it. Death Note was original in the way that Akira was to the genre. The Bard has made costumes and props inspired by death note in his work fpr cons, charity, and fundraising in the metal scene here
I just watched the Netflix original last night and really enjoyed it but I almost feel like it would have made a better mini series of three hour long episodes instead of a movie just to fit everything in properly! Still really enjoyed it though! x
Good point. As a story I found it one worth telling. The philosophical question and answer arrived at was very good.
Very true!! Mini series would have been a better decision
The movie was hell… i am a big fan of the anime but it was ahuge disappointment.. no empbasis on the origins just like you said. Very rushed too! The only good thi g aboht it is Willem dafoe
Yea totally agree with you. It’s sad that they didnt know how to adapt it!!
The acting was good. However, the story plot was way to rushed…and it felt all over the place. I’ve never seen the anime version…but I will watch that and make comparisons to the film.
Your right, everything just felt fast and never explained about the ‘Death note book’. After I had finished watching the movie…I took it off my list of movies and never rate it at all. I didn’t care for it…and I’d wish the movie told the story right and made it longer or made it into a series where we as an audience can love and believe these characters and the story itself.
Excellent observation and your movie reviews are superb!.
Question: Have you thought about making ‘YouTube’ videos and talking about movie reviews? That should be interesting and awesome!
You should def watch the anime, it’s amazing and it explains everything you need to know!!! Idk about youtube videos 😛 i don’t think i am ready to film myself and all but maybe later, i think it would be interesting if i start a youtube channel!!!
If you start a YouTube channel that would be good. I was just adding a suggestion for you to do film reviews it would be awesome!
oh…by the way. Are you going to watch the movie; ‘IT’? If so, please do a review of the movie. 🙂
I think i will start a youtube channel but not now. YES i will watch it and i will write a review on it!!!! I am so excited!!!
Same here…I really want to see ‘Pennywise’ unleash his scariness. 🙂
I did consider watching this the other day but I think im glad I didn’t! Will have to watch the anime one instead 🙂
Yes watch the anime!!!! It’s great
Thank you for linking me, great review.
I wasn’t sure about the anime at first, but this movie made me feel a lot stronger feelings about the series, so at least they movie has that going for it.