December 22, 2011
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The beauty of DEATH NOTE is not how the mythology of Japanese Death Gods (Shinigami) is represented, but how this film takes an original concept from a wonderful manga, and makes it into it's own living, breathing version that stands on it's own. When adapting something from anot... read moreher medium, except if it is by experts, it is bound to not be... pretty. Here, it is different on numerous accounts, but it is in a way that makes it different, unique, and my own preference to the tale of Light Yagami. Maybe the reason why I am giving this telling of the story so much praise is due to this being how I was introduced to the series. As such, this is the one I mostly follow and prefer.
But, what is it that makes this film work? Personally, I think it is one of the following: the direction, writing, the acting of Ken'ichi Matsuyama, and the effects of Ryuk. So, might as well start with direction. I have followed the films of Shusuke Kaneko for quite some time. He is a talented director when he was making The Gamera Trilogy and the Godzilla film Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidora: Giant Monsters All Out Attack. With this film, I was interested in how he could handle it which, to my shock, he is able to make a film that can easily rival either GMK or Gamera 3: Awakening Of Iris (the films that are considered his best). The main thing about his direction with this film I like will have to be how he stages the deaths of criminals, set the atmosphere of dread, and how he was able to cut off this film with a wonderful cliff hanger that does make you want to see part two as soon as possible.
Now, there is a problem with adapting this film from a manga: they were only able to get pieces every week as DEATH NOTE was serialized in Shonen Jump magazine during the making of the film. From what they had to work with, I go back to when I said that this film is one of my favorite adaptions of any film I have seen. The main reason why is due to how this film takes a life on it's own, creates a parallel timeline from the manga and anime counterparts, and yet it able to improve on the original manga. The main problem I had with the manga would be the amount of characters that were featured and how long it ran. Here, they fix those problems by eliminating all extraneous characters and only kept to those that are needed for the story while adding a few to help with the story. Now, that is what I like: keeps the spirit of the original, while being it's own.
Ken'ichi Matsuyama. Wow. It is hard for me to explain his acting in this film as he done what Heath Ledger, Noomi Rapace, and Rooney Mara would later do in film: totally become this character physically, emotionally, and mentally. Matsuyama gives one hell of a performance as L and, it is just amazing. The main example of this is how we first see him half way through the film. How he personifies the character, make him come to life, plus able to just breathe life into him is beyond inspiring. Besides, seeing all of the sweets he had to eat during the film, I am wondering how he did not put on any weight or got diabetes. I know he made the character real, but I don't think he can burn sugar the same way the L in the manga can.
Finally for the character I wanted to see brought to life more than any other: Ryuk. Originally, I had no idea how the hell they were going to do that. I mean, if you are aware of the source material, you know all about Ryuk and what he looks like. So, to see him brought to life the way they did, I will admit that I was content. I still wonder how things would have been if they got a human to portray Ryuk instead of making him CGI. Just a thought I have. But for CGI, and what I think CGI should be used for, I would say that the effects in this film will have to be some of the best used I have seen as of now.
While I have praised this film, it goes without saying that I do have one complaint about this film. Mainly it has to deal with the pacing of the film. You see, this film's main problem is that it is slow and rarely moves onward. At all. This is a problem because the entire cat and mouse game between L and Light that plays through out this film makes you get to the edge of your seat, but the pacing just kind of kills it for me.
As I have said a few times as is: this is one of the best adaptions of any manga I have seen. From a stellar performance that should have been nominated for Best Foreign actor to incredible CGI, this film is a must to see. With the exception of the pacing. That should have been improved on.
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