Death Note

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Horrorphile - November 2008

Desu nôto (Death Note)

November 24th 2008 01:38

A live-action adaptation from the successful Manga comic, Death Note (2006) is an elegant and compelling supernatural crime thriller with nightmarish undertones and edge of romantic tragedy. Directed by veteran Japanese director Shusuke Kaneko the movie follows the original comic which was created as an anime Japanese series the same year as the feature.

After being bullied by crims at a bar Light Yugami (Tatsuya Fujiwara) finds a notebook lying on the street entitled Death Note. It turns out to be a supernatural “execution” device left behind by a powerful shinigami God of Death known as Ryuk (voiced by Shido Nakamura), a grotesque humanoid who is only visible to those who touch the Death Note notebook; in this case Light.

Tatsuya Fujiwara as Light

When Light becomes embroiled in the notebook’s extraordinary powers Ryuk becomes bemused by how Light will handle the deadly authority the device has given him, so he tags along from time to time demanding apples (the only food the bat-winged, goggle-eyed, cavernous-mouthed deity eats).

Ken'ichi Matsuyama as L

The rules of the Death Note book are: if the name of a person is written in the note book that person will die of a heart attack a few moments later. If the cause of the death is written within forty seconds of writing the person’s name it will happen. After writing the cause of the death details of the death should be written in the next six minutes and forty seconds. The death will not take effect unless the writer has the person’s face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.

Ryuk the rogue God of Death

Light takes it upon himself to rid the world of serious criminals; those who have murdered and raped in order to create a kind of justice-embraced Utopia. His police inspector father Souichiro (Takeshi Kaga) is heading the homicide investigation into what appears to be a very skilled serial killer, with no idea just how involved his son is. Light’s girlfriend Shiori (Yu Kashii) is none the wiser. In fact no one knows Light’s dark secret.

Yu Kashii as Shiora

Until the police bring in the world’s greatest detective, known only as L (Ken’ichi Matsuyama), an eccentric young mastermind who makes it his mission to uncover the criminal serial killer who has been dubbed Kira by the media. An FBI agent Naomi Misora (Asaka Seto) is also in on the pursuit.

Asaka Seto as Naomi Misora

It is this battle of wits and minds between Light, L and Misora that forms the movie’s second half which culminates in an unsuspecting twist of fate that has Ryuk hardly batting his hideous eyelids (not that he has any). It's a suitably sharp thrust of the cosmic knife into the soft skin of the moral fabric, and it provides the movie with a terrific dramatic finish.

Light and the deadly notebook

Death Note is a preposterous premise that is delivered in a superbly controlled and entirely convincing way. The technical aspects are all top-notch; from the production design to the direction, the camerawork to the editing. The CGI work for Ryuk at first appears clunky and silly, but it follows the original comic creation brilliantly, and becomes more convincing as you warm to its otherworldy presence. Although one would think a death god would be malevolent and cruel, Ryuk is actually the movie’s comic relief.

Ryuk hangs around Light's bedroom

Performances are all excellent, especially Tatsuya Fujiwara as Light, but Ken’ichi Matsuyama’s turn as the weirdo sleuth with a penchant for candy and a shaggy head of hair is inspired. Also good is Takeshi Kaga as Light’s troubled father who hopes to clear his son’s name.

Ryuk's POV sees Light's mortality figures

The theme of playing God and the issue of harbouring an all-too dangerous secret makes for fascinating viewing, especially when it’s only a matter of time before the mantle of such a dark power will weigh so heavily upon Light’s shoulders, and the temptation to push the boundaries too far will trigger events even he could not predict.

Death Note Ken'ichi Matsuyama and Takashi Kaga

Light is monitored by L and Light's father Souichiro (Takeshi Kaga)

The end of Death Note sets up the sequel, Death Note: The Last Name (2006), which I’ll review further down the track, along with the original anime. Of course Hollywood has to have a piece of the action (surprise, surprise) and so a Death Note remake is due for release in 2010. I wonder which celebrity actors du jour will play the leads? I’m sure they’ll be a quite a few champing at the bit to get involved, since the movie and series has garnered quite a cult following.

Here's a super-stylish Japanese teaser trailer:

Here's an American-dubbed trailer:

Death Note DVD (which comes as a double-pack with Death Note: The Last Name) is courtesy of Madman Entertainment, many thanks!

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

7 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Damo

November 24th 2008 03:54

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Bryn

You warm my heart wit this one.
I have been hanging to see this as soon as I can.

I have been following the Anime series on ABC2 and it is brilliant.

Light and L are a great pair.
As for Ryuk you cannot help but like him. Cynical, watchful and playing along with Light only because it amuses him.

Anyway the series has already become controversial in the USA after some kids were caught at school with their own Death Notes.

Heres is a post I wrote about it some time ago: Really Long Link

Comment by Bryn

November 24th 2008 05:30

Horrorphile

Damo, good to hear! I actually hadn't heard anything anout this movie or anime or Manga ... Let alone that SBS had been screening the anime series ... but then I don't watch much TV, so I'm not really in the loop there. I do love Japanese cinema though, and I love the mix of sf and horror.

Comment by Damo

November 24th 2008 06:15

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Bryn

Death Note is on ABC2 so you need a digital set top box to see it.

I have always had a soft spot for Manga and Anime. This series has be intelligent and imaginative. Not once has my IQ been insulted.

BTW the female Shimogami is hot.

Comment by Jason King

November 24th 2008 06:20

Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness

I love this movie/ program. Own it on DVD - this has reminded me to watch it again. I was hooked from the 1st 10mins.
Cool post!!

Comment by Lilla

November 24th 2008 07:22

From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop

Bryn,

I may have to have a peek at this one on ABC2, it sounds okay (even for me).

Thanks for the heads up.

Lilla ...

Comment by Movie Mall

November 24th 2008 08:42

Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky

Looks pretty cool ... One I'll check out.

Comment by Bryn

November 25th 2008 01:16

Horrorphile

Damo, we like a sexy shinigami!

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