DVD Review: Death Note and Death Note: the Last Name

Death Note and Death Note the Last Name

Death Note has carved out a nice little niche for itself within the manga industry. Thanks to its gothic flare and psychological intrigue, it has garnered much acclaim among fans. So then it had to be a no brainer that some form of adaption would follow. Thus we received the pair of live action films Death Note and its sequel Death Note: the Last Name.

As a rule, there has been very little success in translating manga/ anime into live action movies. Take Dragonball Evolution for example. Death Note however is less about the fantasy aspects of the genre and more about the psychological side. Perhaps this is why the movies work so well. They aren’t over the top, focusing more on the human drama than anything else.

Death Note follows the story of ace student Light Yagami, a prodigy in nearly everything he does. The only thing that rivals Light’s intellect is his tremendous sense of justice. Having grown bored with the world around him, Light is surprised to find on his way a home a note book that seemingly drops out of the sky. On the front cover it reads Death Note. Inside is a written list of rules that allow him to literally kill anyone he wants by simply writing down their name. They are as follows:

• The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
• This note will not take effect unless the writer has the subject's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
• If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the subject's name, it will happen.
• If the cause of death is not specified, the subject will simply die of a heart attack.

Despite having doubts about the note book, Light allows his curiosity to get the better of him. After testing the Death Note, Light discovers that he controls the ability to manipulate the lives of virtually around him. Soon, Light is visited by the Death God Ryuk who reveals that he was the Death Note’s original owner, having dropped it in the human realm out of sheer boredom. Recognizing the power he now controls, Light sets out to create a utopia in which crime is nonexistent. After several criminals begin dropping dead from heart attacks the public dubs the mystery killer Kira and begins worshipping him as a god.

With criminals around the world dropping like flies, the NPA( National Police Agency) is forced to search for the person responsible. This is only the beginning however, as the FBI interjects itself into the mix, actively hunting Kira. Even the world’s greatest detective, known simply as L, decides to get involved, eager to pit himself against Kira in a game of wits with the loser paying the ultimate price. With enemies on all sides, Light devises a plan that will allow him to rid himself of the FBI, as well as the NPA, ultimately bringing him face to face with L.The first film serves as a character introduction, displaying the level of Light’s genius as compared to L’s own formidable intellect.

Death Note the Last Name picks up right where the first left off. With L suspecting Light as Kira, he invites him to join him in the investigation as a way to bring himself closer to the truth. Light of course accepts, taking the opportunity to corner his elusive rival. The cat and mouse game between the two intensifies when a second Kira makes their presence felt, ultimately giving L the evidence he needs to bring down Light. Unfortunately for him, Light is prepared and implements a plan that will lead to one final duel between he and the master detective.

Both films manage to capture the spirit of the source material quite nicely despite moving at a faster pace. Special effects aren’t especially impressive considering the budget they had to work with. That said I applaud the film maker's decision to stick as close to Ryuk’s original design as they did, retaining his unique look.

Another enjoyable aspect was the arrival of Misa Amane, the second Kira. Despite the dark nature of the films, her wide eyed exuberance is a welcome change of pace that adds a new dimension to the story. The decision to contrast her gothic Lolita look with the behavior of a teen idol was inspired and the actress pulls it off quite well, bringing gravity to the role.

What I found most intriguing about the two films was the degeneration of Light’s sanity, as he slipped closer and closer to madness. He is so desperate to rid himself of L that he loses sight of his goals. Likewise, L’s final gambit was truly a defining moment of the films as he proves that he truly is prepared to risk everything to bring Kira to justice.

Both films are engaging as they allow the viewer to wonder what they would do if given the power of the Death Note. The movies are designed to illicit an emotional reaction within the audience, more than what most Hollywood blockbusters manage to do.

Death Note - B

Death Note: the Last Name - A