Death Note - Il film: L'ultimo nome

Though a tad better than the first film 'Desu nôto' , this one is very long and it moves at a lethargic pace. Many of the scenes are unnecessarily stretched. Some sequences look forced. Even the conclusion is stretched. The rest of my comment will pretty much resemble what I wrote for 'Desu nôto' but in this one, there weren't as many plot holes and it was a film that's obviously made for teenagers. However, that's not saying that it's a bad film and I would call it an okay timepass (or time waste?) if it weren't so long (and made into two films). Here one is introduced to another 'Death god'. Perhaps this is a film that one can enjoy with friends if some drinks are also involved.

Death Note: The Last Name is the sequel to Death Note, an anime adaptation. However, does Death Note: The Last Name follow in Death Note's footsteps or should this movie be in the Death Note? The story is very good and continues on from where the first movie left off, the characters are brilliantly written and the acting was great as well. The scenes were brilliantly executed and the CGI was also very good, especially for the Shinigamis (Death Gods who own the Death Note). I thought that Tatsuya Fujiwara did great as Light but Kenichi Matsuyama stole the movie as L, who acted and behaved exactly how the character in the anime did so it was nice to see the movie stay faithful to the series in some ways. The writing was very good and the dialogue was great too. All in all, it's like the anime series with some welcoming changes.

I enjoyed this sequel, I thought that it wasn't going to be as good as the first movie but I would say that it was on the same level, if not, better. The story basically continued on and it managed to keep the balance of the characters and their stories and how they all interact with each other. The acting was very good and I think the CGI was great. The designs for Ryuk and Remi were brilliant and they haven't changed them from the series (well, except for the fact that they're in 3D). I think that, even though they have made big changes from the Death Note story, they've pulled it off and they've done a good job making the story into two movies. This movie is great, it has everything you liked about the first movie in this and more. If you like Death Note, you'll be happy with this.

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The second part of the "Death Note" movie series, "the Last Name" starts from where the first one ended. Yagami Light, who uses God of Death's notebook, the Death Note, to kill criminals has joined the team of his father, Inspector Yagami, and the world's greatest detective, L, to capture Kira. Light, who is Kira, is motivated by his need to discover L's true name, so he can get rid of the detective. Meanwhile L is certain that Light is Kira, but without evidence he can't do anything but wait and see. As if things aren't bad enough, a Second Kira appears out of nowhere, to help Kira. Second Kira is Amane Misa, a rising idol, who worships Kira and has her own Death Note. Things move to their conclusion.

"Death Note: the Last Name" is a great improvement when compared to the first movie. Where first film was still somewhat slow and uncertain, the second part keeps the viewer interested its whole length: nearly two and half hours! The second part is also more faithful to the original manga than the first one. Greatest difference would be removing the character of Higuchi and replacing him with Takada, who in manga didn't appear until much later. The second movie is also the concluding one, which might be confusing since both movies together only tell the first half of the manga events. Still the finale has been cleverly turned faithful to manga, and I personally like it even better than manga ending.

I already commented the performances of Tatsuya Fujiwara(Light), Ken'ichi Matsuyama(L) and Takeshi Kaga(Inspector Yagami) in my review of first "Death Note" movie, so I'll just comment the new parties here. Erika Toda surprised me with her role as Misa. Although, like many other manga fans, I too would have wanted to see blonde Misa, the hair colour was the only complain I could come up with. Her Misa is naive but not as annoyingly air headed as in the manga, but actually makes her a believable. Nana Katase makes an okay role as an ambitious Takada, although I feel she could have done better.

The complains are the same as previous: the minor characters of police investigators are left in the background and the Death Gods look ridiculous, but this time the dynamic moving of the story saves a lot.

What can I say? A definitive improvement to the first film and a great ending to the story.

Even though I'm new to "Death Note", I still have a zeal for it. It was, I apprehended, a comic strip before. The exciting plot attracts me a lot, I especially like the twists in it, and the truth won't come out until finish watching the whole movie. Moreover, it also stimulates deep thoughts, and here are some of my reflections:

First, what is justice? Does it means: "to kill all the criminals"? If so, is killing a kind of commitment? Then how can you create a "Justice World" by murdering? The method that the main character, Light, had took, in my opinion, although an effective way but a burlesque behavior.

Second, is "love" a kind of stumbling block? The main character, Light, seemed so callous that he could avail himself of the people around him to reach his goal. As for the Devil, who has love, dies without doubt. It also shows that "love is blind". Misa, the girl who loves Light, is willing to exchange half of her lifetime, just to help Light to kill people easily. Nevertheless, does Light really loves her? I think Misa doesn't really care about it. In the other hand, Light's father believes in his son so much that never thought of that Light is the murderer. However, the truth is clear.

Last, there are two geniuses in the movie: the greatest detective, L, and the main character, Light. They seem so alike, nonetheless, walking on different path. I think it's really lamentable for a chance to meet a guy whose talent and personality was so resemble to us, but can't be friends. I believe that Light and L really cherish each other.

After all, I really like the movie "Death Note", it'll be great for you to go watching it.

It seems that every live action derivative of a manga/anime that I've seen has been barely watchable at best.

These movies on the other hand were entertaining to the end. They stayed with the main plot as much as possible and delivered the memorable dramatic scenes with new live action flavor, but changed the plot without opening holes and delivered a new, believable conclusion.

I didn't like Fujiwara much in the lead role- he's not dynamic or conniving enough to bring the role to life. Quite often his face seems to "give it away" when his role calls for a solid and impenetrable exterior.

Matsuyama, however, takes on the ridiculously difficult role of "L" and absolutely rocks. Vocal tones, strange postures and movements, appearance, mannerisms, all breathe life into what was one of the best characters ever to grace manga shelves. My only complaint was the over-decadent manner in which he ate his candy- it seemed a little contrived, as opposed to the more matter-of-fact noshing done by the manga/anime character during his investigations.

Thay certainly could have done a lot worse, and they took enough film time to do the series justice. Can't wait for the American version.