#21 - Death Note (2006 film)

So, when you’re adapting a story from another medium, how much of the story do you need to be willing to change in order to accommodate the running time and iron out areas where things don’t translate well onto the big screen? There’s no easy answer to this question, but we’re here to look at an example of how a small change can make things go horribly wrong.

I did a lengthy retrospective on the anime based on the manga, now I’m going to take a look at the first 2 movies (I’m not doing that L movie, I’ll explain why in the next review) which came out before the anime also attempting to adapt the manga.

Death Note was released in Japan in June 2006 making a decent $41million in the country, it was later distributed across the world making what I assume would be plenty of money. Given the release date of the sequel, and where this movie stops, it’s fair to assume the sequel was already into production when this was released.

So, why is it worthy of a rage review? Well prepare yourselves as we dive in.

First off, I’m going to mention an issue. When the films were first released in America it was given an English dub using (mostly) the voice actors who were also working on the anime, the dubbed version is not included on my copy of either film. WHY!? Instead we get a 2.0 and a 5.0 sound option which as far as I can tell is completely meaningless. But to the story itself.

We open with a lot of establishing shots of Japan, a whole lot of them. OK, we get it, get to the story already. The death note lands in the street in the rain and I don’t think it gets a drop on it. We see a guy writing something while a guy is being chased through the streets with yells of “F*ck you” and “Hibisawa?” did someone fall asleep during translation, what the f*ck?

We close in on a wanted poster for Yusuke Hibisawa. OK, so that’s why they were shouting it, but… why were they shouting it? (To be fair, the shouting was completely out of context)

Hibisiwa grabs a girl at gunpoint but then dies. Foreign minister Katsuya Seta comes out of his house to a press swarm, he’s suspected of receiving bribes from the mafia. He too dies as he gets into his car.

At the municipal court Takeshi Maruo, known something that a lot of women are angry about is acquitted by the court thanks to his congressman father. Takeshi dies in front of the cameras. We see clips of newspapers stating sudden deaths of criminals, mostly by heart attacks. Plot convenience news says the police are searching for a connection between them.  People suddenly start dying in prisons too. This is nice, how about we introduce our main character now?

Oh look, this guy's dead, I care so much about... erm, what was his name again?

People are shouting in the streets that it’s God’s work , and lots of computer stuff saying Kira… alright, debate, debate, bla, bla, bla, let’s introduce Light already! Finally we see our protagonist, Light Yagami actually write a name into his death note, killing the criminal who had been holding people hostage, rescuing them in the process, the news gets stuff surprisingly fast, doesn’t it?

Light just stares blankly the entire time and roll credits. Light’s playing basketball now, scoring a basket and tying the game. I really don’t remember Light being perfect at sport, I do remember he was a tennis player… Hmm. Anyway, it was a bet or something and they win, collecting money from the losing team.

I'll just get my book out right now, where everyone can see me, and it won't look the least bit suspicious

More debate as some other students discuss Kira leading to the inevitable of ‘hey, let’s do some research’ because college kids always do that stuff… Right? So, Light and Shiori, Light’s girlfriend in this story who is exclusive to the movie (fancy that) who is against Kira’s tactics and believes Kira should be punished by law. Light is more in favour of Kira, even going as far as to say I’d do the same thing if I had his powers in a way that almost writes “I am Kira” on his f*cking forehead

He hacked into police academy website to work out whether criminals were getting adequate punishment (because that’s something teenagers do, right?) what he discovers is the shocking revelation that sometimes criminals get away, aren’t captured (in his words, for some reason, despite faces being on the site) or are released owing to lack of evidence. This is not new knowledge in 2006.

Apparently they keep this in the dark to avoid panic. Shiori questions whether this is possible. Yes, of course it is you dumb b*tch. There are cases that ultimately do not have enough evidence to solve, and when time and resources are a scarce allowance sometimes cases are dropped, particularly if they’re low profile. You are a coming law student; this should not be news to you!

Light decided to see for himself (and his parents are perfectly ok with him being out this late) he sits at a bar (old enough to drink apparently) listening in on a criminal as he talks crazy about the people he’s killed. One of his henchmen notices Light and confronts him, fortunately plot convenience dictates that Light isn’t killed.

Oi! I need to see your ID, or you're outta here!

Shiroi is left to ponder this, whilst Light narrates that there’s more but he won’t continue as no-one must know his secret. That secret you’ve so blatantly spelt out by being so drastically in support of Kira. We see Light stumble across the Death Note as he’s walking home, still not getting any wetter despite the pouring rain. He reads the rules in the death note, and if you’ve read my retrospective you know what they are.

He writes the name of a criminal on the news in the death note to test it out, and is satisfied that he admitted his deeds in a letter to a newspaper. Next morning, we meet Light’s family, and find out the criminal died in prison. We get a blank screen for a few seconds as Light kills the guy that didn’t kill him, and not helping things is that this scene is interrupted by the rules of the death note on black screens. Really should’ve been in the opening of the film. Light finally realises the book is real.

As he walks down the street he hears the voice of Ryuk, the Shinigami, in all his CGI glory. Light laughs, knowing that he’d be visited. Oh man that CGI when moving is… bad, really bad. Anyway, Ryuk says that if Light doesn’t want the book, he can pass the book onto someone else, and have his memory erased. But if he uses the book he’ll experience agony and fear that only a user would know. Only after all the conversation does Ryuk reveal his name (sorry for the early spoiler)

Ladies and gentlemen, I present your nightmares for tonight

We cut to 4 months later where 4 policemen are discussing a crime that’s global. Surely that goes above the police pay-grade to the Secret Services, MI5, Interpoll, FBI, etc. We’re introduced to Chief Soichiro, Light’s father and high ranking detective in the case. He goes to see the commissioner and is confronted by Matsubara, another original character for the film, who reveals that L has concluded that the culprit is most likely in Japan, owing to the fact that the first victims were Japanese.

L is a well-known detective for cracking unknown cases, we’re introduced to Watari, BY NAME, who is the liason with L. He presents a message via Macbook, L says that these works are by a single human being, giving distributions for what would be a natural occurrence are different compared to what’s happening now. Soichiro suggests he may not be working alone, but L uses a chart stating that if he wasn’t doing it alone, he’s have to have 80 accomplices around the world, and the chance of success of the crime would be very small (I’m not saying he isn’t right… but what? If he wasn’t working alone he’d need 80 accomplices? What? There are other options between 1 person and 81 people; you idiot, L)

Nice that L, who uses a computer in order to keep his identity secret makes so much precautions with Watari, I hope you're well paid

Soichiro is made investigation leader. Light and Ryuk talk, and Ryuk eats an apple, all really meaning nothing, until a news broadcast is sent through TV. Lind L Tailor broadcasts himself denouncing Kira. Light of course is an idiot and kills him (this is from the thing too, but you’d realise a lot of people aren’t going to like you, at least initially) of course this turns out to be trick by L, this was not a worldwide broadcast as announced and only being broadcast around Tokyo in Japan, Lind L Taylor was on death row anyway.

Light is naturally frustrated at this. Light says he’s god of something or another and… Anyway, Soichiro isn’t happy that they sacrificed a life (despite the fact he was on Death row, he was going to die anyway) and papers begin to fill with stories of their conflict. Shiori and Light argue about Kira again, making Light seem like an obvious Kira again. They go to an art gallery, where Ryuk asks what Shiori would do if she found out that Light was Kira (given the big hints, probably not far away) Light remarks that she’ll understand.

A font like that deserves this crowd

L is given an analysis of the times of death of the victims, he compacts it to seeing that there are gaps, possibly a college timetable. Soichiro comes home and Light enquires about the Kira case, claiming he wants to help. His father tells him that while he might’ve helped them before (really? Seriously?) they’re dealing with a dangerous killer, and he can’t be involved.

Light said he’d send Kira to the gallows if something happened to his father (remember this for the sequel review) Light hacks into the police database and discovers that they know Kira is a student, in return he kills precisely 1 person per hour, disproving this theory. L says it proves he can manipulate the times of death, and that there’s a leak, possibly even that Kira is among the police.

Light and Ryuk are walking along with him talking about how crime rate has dropped thanks to Kira, he tosses an apple to Ryuk, but he doesn’t catch it. Thanks to a phone (go figure, a phone can see what your eyes can’t) Light realises he’s being followed and given everything he’s said, he should be arrested there and then. Ryuk reveals that he has eyes that can see the names and lifespans of people. And will allow Light to see what he does in exchange for half his life-span. Light refuses and seeks another way to deal with the guy following him.

ARGH! A star in a circle! PANIC!

The next day, way see three more prisoners have died in jail, one making a mark on his cell, another leaving a message, and another dying of a heart attack in the lavatory. L tells the team to keep the causes of death under wraps but Light finds out anyway. A news report states that a bank robbery has recently taken place with only 2 of the 3 perpetrators caught, but they have the name of the others (don’t bank robbers usually wear masks, or did the captured ones rat him out?)

Light and Shiori wait for a bus, the bus has Misa’s name on it (advertising a “girly style magazine”) to tease her later appearance. The bus drives away as the agent walks conspicuously to the back of the bus. Light reveals he knows he’s being followed, and confronts the agent, but he talks it off. The criminal that got away from the bank job boards the bus at the next stop, holding a gun to the driver’s head. Light writes a message on a piece of the death note saying he’ll find a chance and grab the guy but the agent stops him.

Light asks why he can trust the guy and he reveals himself, an agent of the FBI (Undercover operatives naturally keep their ids on them) Light drops the note, and the criminal picks it up, he can see Ryuk and starts shooting at him, he runs out of bullets and orders the bus stopped, he gets off the bus and is run down by a car in the next lane. Narration reveals that Light had orchestrated the death and the events prior.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you your nightmares for tomorrow night

Shiori is lying in the least medical looking hospital I’ve ever seen, her mother is coming. She says the need to make a statement to police but Light assures her he’s made a statement for both of them. The agent returns home to his fiancé, worried that he revealed his name to Light.

More criminals have left messages as they die, the police discover a message within them. “L, did you know a god of death eats nothing but apples.” Light meanwhile realises that there are more agents in japan, and if the kills the agent directly he will be suspected, but if all the agents die at once, he’ll be less likely suspected. Penber and Naomi are about to be wed, but Penber gets a call and has to leave. Penber arrives at a subway station and boards a train. Naomi decides to follow him, also boarding the train.

Penber notice an envelope conveniently above his seat, he opens it and finds a radio, and a message from Kira. He puts in the headphones for the radio and starts talking, with Naomi watching. Light is in the carriage next door in a grey hoodie. He proves himself to be who he says he is by killing the passenger next to him. I do especially love how no-one on the train is listening as Light threatens to kill people.

He tells Penber to write the name of the leader of the FBI agents on a sheet of paper, and did they just misspell Fitzgerald? Fitzerald seems a bit weird surname, we don’t see the name in the anime, it’s possible it’s the real deal, but… Fitzerald?

He’s told to switch on his computer and he’ll receive a list of all the agents currently operational in Japan and their faces. Light tells him to look at each face and write their names in spaces on the sheets of paper. Seeing little option he writes the names down. Light tells him to put the envelopes back, and leave at a station leaving the radio behind.  Penber gets off and sees Naomi, as he has the heart attack that kills him, Light removes his hood, revealing himself. Naomi rushes to his aide as the train departs. Light collects the envelope as the FBI agents are all killed. Light had orchestrated the entire thing.

That's it, reveal your identity where everyone can see you, this is supposed to be a battle of wits

Here’s the thing, in the anime and probably the manga, Light had given him the envelope in a crowded station, where he wouldn’t be noticed. It strikes me as odd that people wouldn’t notice him picking up a random envelope on the train. They also were explicit about him waiting at least half an hour before getting off the train, having disposed of the envelope so would forget it was his. It all seems a little suspicious this way.

The commissioner reveals to Soichiro that the FBI had been spying on those related to the investigation and had been sent by L. Soichiro reports to the cops that the FBI agents all died, and that any that investigate Kira may become targets. Giving everyone the freedom to leave the case, and a few seconds later most bow for some reason and leave. There are only 6 left, but they find it hard to trust L as he stays hidden.

You gotta wonder if any other cases were even being worked on in this station if all these people were on the Kira case, no wonder so many went unpunished

L agrees and asks Watari to take the officers to L. They arrive at a hotel and confront him and all his weird habits (sweets, bear feet) the officers introduce themselves but L tells them if he were Kira, they’d be dead by now. Do they don’t use their real names, L asks to be referred to as Ryusaki.

Naomi reads up about the bus-jacking in order to discern her husband’s movements. She gets a letter from the FBI saying the investigation is closed. The police give L some security tapes from the rail station where Penber died and he looks through several of them. Naomi talks to the bus driver who alerts her to the young man she was quarrelling with. 

The officers are all asleep in the hotel room as L sees Penber die and Naomi come to his side. He gives the crew a list of people Penber was following, he died pointing towards the train, putting the possibility of Kira being on it. He gives the officers a list of people Penber was following, Soichiro was annoyed to see that his son was among them. L suggests they set up cameras in the suspects houses for a few days.

Naomi confronts Shiori about the bus. We then see Light planning deaths for weeks ahead in case he’s hospitalised. Ryuk seems fascinated about Misa’s cookery show. We cut to that for some reason. She’s a massive fan of Kira, Kira saved her, but the production company stop her from elaborating to the reporter she’s talking to, not wanting to sully their own reputation.

Naomi and Shiori talk to light, Light recognising her, but her introducing herself as Maki Syoko. She says she’s writing an article and asks about Penber. Light suggests that she’s thinking he might’ve killed her, but Light debunks that with the fact the fact that he wasn’t killed immediately. He says she’s rude and he might sue her for suggesting he’s Kira. I don’t know what libel is in japan, but this isn’t it in England. It’s like if George Lucas sued me for sending him a letter telling him he’s a crummy director (he is, but that’s beside the point)

All female former secret agents wear leather jackets

Naomi of course keeps probing suggesting he waited to avoid suspicion as Light gets out a piece of his death note and writes her name in it (couldn’t wait until you’re alone? It’s not like it doesn’t look conspicuous!) Naomi tells him that she’s given him a false name and she won’t stop until she hunts him down.

Light returns to his room and sees evidence that someone has been in there. L has set up cameras in the house. Light studies in his room. On day 3 Light is called for dinner downstairs, Watari confirms the deaths of 3 criminals, all of whom were previously known. L reminds them that L can manipulate the time of death.

On day 7, Light gets a bag of chips, claiming that he’ll need them for studying. He opens the chips and studies from a book, using the hidden mini-tv inside the chips to find names of criminals. That requires some expert handy-work, even if the crisps are a flavour only Light would eat. With the information of a newly reported criminal death, Light is released of suspicion and the cameras are cleared, much to the relief of Ryuk.

Erm, how did Light afford this anyway. It's never said he has a job and I doubt his allowance would stretch that far

Naomi calls L saying she’ll prove that Light is Ryuk. Shiori calls Light, asking them to meet at the art gallery, not realising she was doing so at gun point by Naomi. Light enters the museum entering an exhibit called Masks and Death. Naomi tells Light to confess if he wants to see Shiori live. Light protests but she refuses his stance. She gives her name to Light. L tells Soichiro to hold the police back a little longer. Shiori escapes but Naomi fires, killing her. In shock over what she’s done she kills herself.

Not sure it's great holding a gun like that

Well, this is actually a good place to leave this, it’s perfectly in tune with all the fear and pain only users of the Death Note would know, I mean it’s not like Light orchestrated this or anything… oh my god that’s the twist they’re going for isn’t it?

You know I could kill you right now, right?

Light found Naomi’s real name on the wedding chapel and arranged her kidnapping Shiori and her own death, after being left alone we see he also planned for Shiori to die. OH MY GOD! WELL, EVERY SHED OF LIKEABILITY IS GONE FROM THE CHARACTER NOW. THERE’S NO POINT WATCHING LIGHT'S ADVENTURES IN THE SECOND MOVIE. He killed his own girlfriend to further his own agenda (to become part of the task force.) You know how the first few moment of the film were there to try and make Light more likeable, well EPIC FAIL with this ending

Oh and what’s this, Misa gets mugged and saved by a Shinigami, a Death Note drops in front of her. Light says he wants revenge and wants part of the task force, L comes in and welcomes him to the team, Soichiro asks him to apologise for suspecting him, and we see he’s eating the same flavour of crisps that Light was eating earlier. The End

THIS MOVIE GIVES ME RAGE ISSUES!

I don’t get this movie at all. Half the time it was following the manga/anime plot point for plot point, other times it varying so drastically from the source material it’s hard to make sense of it. I really don’t see the point of the opening prologue, it didn’t establish anything we didn’t find out later. It didn’t introduce us to any major characters, it was just a few more people dying of the Death Note

Shiori’s existence is puzzling to me, Light had a girlfriend in the manga who doesn’t show up in this movie. On top of that, Shiori isn't that interesting as a character, her existence seems to be purely as a pawn to be used to skip out a chunk of the plot where Light joins up with the task force. Feminism is crying right now! We’ll see why Light's real girlfriend in the sequel, but I’ll get to that.

Speaking of not interesting characters, Light's family, outside of Soichiro, left so little an impact on me, I didn't even include them in my lengthy plot synopsis. That's 3/5 female characters that aren't interesting, and 1 of the others isn't in the movie long enough to determine either way, that's not a good track record.

You've gotta wonder how L isn't piling on the pounds with this sweet obsession

Misa’s scenes don’t add anything to the plot at all, and are all sequel baiting shots, sure since they were filmed back-to-back the sequel was assured, but this intel really could’ve just been in the sequel

Speaking of, I don’t think I’ve ever watched something that felt both rushed and overly drawn out at the same time. There is a considerable amount of padding in this film and it doesn’t help.

I'm Misa, and I'm sure as hell not the most annoying character on the show

The delight of Death Note was always the battle of wits between L and Light, but the fact is they’re both less intelligent here than they are in other media. With Light openly gloating about Kira in the third person, while L allowed Watari to be introduced by name early on.

I’ve already elaborated my problems with the ending. Another interesting part of Death Note is the moral issues it raises. Some people would genuinely side with Kira’s intent on ending crime by killing criminals. But when he kills his own girlfriend (expressing a little, but very little remorse for it) it’s hard to imagine anyone siding with him, not a good standing point when there’s a sequel coming in 6 months.

Setting up this many televisions in your hotel room, not suspicious at all

And someone please tell me why ‘state of Mississippi’ is a song in the end credits?

Rage Rating 130%

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Images used in this review are from Death Note and belong to their respective owners. All images in this review are subject to fair use.