Death Note (2006)
Dir. Shûsuke Kaneko
The film isn't as good as the original manga or the 37-episode anime series that preceded it, but for a TV production it does okay.
The shorter running time means it lacks the depth or complexity inherent in the source, but the biggest problem is with the Shinigami (Death God). Ryuk could've been amazing, but he's rendered in a cartoonish CGI that doesn't fit with the realistic aesthetic of the rest of the film. The argument that he's supposed to appear otherworldly won’t change my mind about that.
The first film is the first half of the story only, ending with a cliff-hanger that gets resolved in its sequel, The Last Name (see below).
Death Note: The Last Name (2006)
Dir. Shûsuke Kaneko
One of the most popular characters from the manga and anime versions, Misa Amane (Erika Toda), plays a pivotal role, helping put the moral nature of Light into a deeper perspective.
Among other things the emotionally damaged Misa also offers up food for thought about state control and the dual natures of ambition and infatuation.
Shinigami Gelus gets hardly any screen time but evokes more emotion in a short scene than anyone else manages in over two hours.
Death Note: L Change the World (2008)
Dir. Hideo Nakata
A spin-off movie featuring the peculiar L in an original story not found in the source text.
One of his contemporaries (similarly monikered, of course) sends him a mystery that if allowed to remain unsolved will have worldwide consequences.
Adding to the pressure are a number of time constraints, one of which was brought on by the sleuth's own calculated actions in the Kira case.
The lighter moments showing L out of his comfort zone were the most entertaining, helped along by a spirited performance from the little girl. However, the serious parts of the story were often lacking in crucial tension, and overall it too closely resembled an American film that was in need of trimming.
One of his contemporaries (similarly monikered, of course) sends him a mystery that if allowed to remain unsolved will have worldwide consequences.
Adding to the pressure are a number of time constraints, one of which was brought on by the sleuth's own calculated actions in the Kira case.
The lighter moments showing L out of his comfort zone were the most entertaining, helped along by a spirited performance from the little girl. However, the serious parts of the story were often lacking in crucial tension, and overall it too closely resembled an American film that was in need of trimming.
