Death Note

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ErickikoAug 26, 2017

Impressionante como a Netflix conseguiu fazer um trabalho porco. Nenhum personagem teve sua personalidade seguida fielmente ou nem que fosse uma pequena semelhança. L se mostrou uma pessoa completamente impulsiva, Kira é um jovem burro queImpressionante como a Netflix conseguiu fazer um trabalho porco. Nenhum personagem teve sua personalidade seguida fielmente ou nem que fosse uma pequena semelhança. L se mostrou uma pessoa completamente impulsiva, Kira é um jovem burro que começa errando desde o início do filme, diferente da sua versão no anime, onde se mostra uma pessoa fria e calculista. Nem o próprio Death Note eles colocaram com as mesmas regras. Com certeza uma das piores adaptações em live action que eu já assisti.… Expand

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2

klkevinklAug 26, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Death Note starts with a simple premise, what if you discovered a book that could kill anyone by writing their name in it as long as you know their face? Sadly, this is not a horror movie. I am actually not quite sure what it is trying to be. It mixes together action and horror with a touch of mystery. But, the worst offender is that no one bothered to watch the movie to check for inconsistencies in anything. The entire movie just feels like an inconsistent mess to me.

Right from the beginning, there is a huge inconsistency. The Light Turner we are presented with is not a killer. In the first moments of the film, he stands up for himself only to get beaten up and abandoned by the person he protected. Moments later, he and the girl he protected, Mia, are teaming up to kill people. This feels completely out of character since Mia completely ignores him after he saves her and walks away with I think the guy who punched him in the face only reinforce the fact that Light would probably refuse to listen to Mia at all. The fact that Light was scared **** by the use of the Death Note makes it seem like he would not be using it any further and would turn it over to his father or back to Ryuk just to get it away from him.

Other inconsistencies include not needing to know Watari's real name to control him. Apparently his business card that probably says Watari instead of an alias on it is enough. Everyone draws absurd conclusions super fast (example will come below).

On top of that, our ace investigator in L is someone who loses his cool very quickly and easily and feels more like a stereotypical black teen than a great detective. We also never really see him do much detective work. All he tried to do is draw out Kira by appearing on television and then assuming that Kira needed a name and a face to kill. I do not know how he reached that conclusion along with many others that he makes.

The unbelievable plot then makes matters worse. The Death Note can make the impossible possible, which takes out a lot of the suspense. On top of that, everyone seems to know what will happen next. Light, L, Mia, and James (Light's father) all draw absurd conclusions from random tiny things that makes you wonder how it happened. For example, James says he knew Light was the killer when the first victim was the person who killed Light's mom. The problem is we see Light use it before. We have evidence others have used the Death Note before. The climax and ending further cheapens it by showing that Light manipulated everything for like the last forty minutes. In the end, Ryuk's role makes this film seem like a cheap horror movie where people are tempted by the supernatural power of an object that he then takes back and gives it to another. Except in this case, the motivation for them to use it makes no sense. Mia and Ryuk both manipulate Light into using the Death Note, but for someone who is so scared of it, he seems to have no issues using it. He never really gives into the temptation of it. He just does it because someone else asked him to.

Next, the choice of actors baffles me. A lot of the lines seem poorly executed and falls flat. It lacks emotion. Light's lines feels almost tone deaf at times and it doesn't fit him considering how he should be emotionally involved in everything. Yet, it never feels this way. His delivery is just poorly done. Everyone feels like they are reading off a script and super monotone. Even Ryuk, who is often praised by others feels the same because all he has is one dreading voice and nothing more.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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5

ElaVationAug 26, 2017

Death Note, an incredibly dark and intense movie whose characters don't connect with the evil that they're doing, blows through all potential plot with low budget cut scenes and drags its one dimensional characters through unrealisticDeath Note, an incredibly dark and intense movie whose characters don't connect with the evil that they're doing, blows through all potential plot with low budget cut scenes and drags its one dimensional characters through unrealistic scenarios that twist the anime far from its original goals. Overall, entertaining, but not a good movie.… Expand

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8

Metacritic14Aug 26, 2017

I'm familiar with the source material and think credit should be given to this movie considering the audience it's catering to and the running time. As a Netflix show success means lots of repeat viewings by all types of viewers and I thinkI'm familiar with the source material and think credit should be given to this movie considering the audience it's catering to and the running time. As a Netflix show success means lots of repeat viewings by all types of viewers and I think it makes for an entertaining 100 minutes that you can watch on a Saturday with friends.
Even the Death Note creators approve of it for what it is.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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0

TrickedFaithAug 26, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A laughable bastardization of the source material with a director that lashes out at fans as 'haters' instead of taking responsibility for the turd he calls a movie.… Expand

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michaelrgniponAug 26, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Convirtieron a Light en un cobarde e inútil que hace todo lo que le dice la novia y solo está interesado en acostarse con ella impresionándola con la libreta... Solo tomaron la idea de la libreta, cambiaron la personalidad de todos los personajes y lo convirtieron en un cliché gringo, con muertes tipo destino final. El anime tiene una temática seria e interesante, esta película fue escrita por una adolescente.… Expand

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7

AlexeyxDDAug 26, 2017

It is not a bad movie, its just an average one. Light is quite bad at times, but sometimes also really decent. L's acting on the other hand is good. Yes, the pace is way too fast, they had no time to develop some story lines, but they sureIt is not a bad movie, its just an average one. Light is quite bad at times, but sometimes also really decent. L's acting on the other hand is good. Yes, the pace is way too fast, they had no time to develop some story lines, but they sure will if there is a sequel (and due to a different ending than in the anime I hope there is one). A lot of relationships are underdeveloped, the main character's dad for example had only one proper conversation with him, so there is very little depth in it to make us really understand his actions, rather than just justifying them with "he is his father and he cares about him" etc. But overall its a good B movie, no need for all the hate.… Expand

4 of 11 users found this helpful47

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5

Comrade_007Aug 26, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I wasn't expecting a japanese movie so I am not as much dissapointed as I expected to be. Japanese live actions are also not too successful. Actually this film is too short which not allows to adapt such a piece of art like Death Note, but I saw some potential in this movie (I like L and Light seems not so perfect as he is in manga). But there is one thing that this adaptaion is missing: it`s not a love story, not a teen`s love tragedy, it`s a simple question to ask -> "...I am a trembling creature or whether I have the right …" F. Dostoevsky… Expand

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7

pitfiendAug 26, 2017

'Death Note' is by no means a bad movie, it simply takes the story in a different direction than the Anime series it's based upon. Although this interpretation isn't as gripping or engaging as the original battle of wits between the'Death Note' is by no means a bad movie, it simply takes the story in a different direction than the Anime series it's based upon. Although this interpretation isn't as gripping or engaging as the original battle of wits between the questionably moral protagonist and his ultimate antagonist it is still an entertaining experience that is at least treating some aspects of the source material with respect. Acting was actually quite good but the wrong portrayal of the main character is inexcusable.… Expand

5 of 11 users found this helpful56

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1

TargayreanAug 26, 2017

There’s really no reason for this movie- there’s almost nothing other than the actual note book and a death god that makes it death note. It would of been much better if they scrapped it and simply made a movie based on Death Note. Light isThere’s really no reason for this movie- there’s almost nothing other than the actual note book and a death god that makes it death note. It would of been much better if they scrapped it and simply made a movie based on Death Note. Light is completely different, Mikasa is Mia and she is completely different. It’s just not Death Note in any sense of the story. With that established on to the review. The tone is a mess. It starts out with a very “high school” tone and this diminishes the dialectic of the movie’s discussion of justice. Then it goes over to the tone of a cheap sci-fi movie where we learn a bunch of random rules that aren’t that useful in the end. Light gains sympathy as a character through his mistakes and his “average white kid”-ness which is quite the opposite of the Japanese Light who gains respect by being a genius. There are moments when Mia and Light are screaming in a hallway at school about the book and it is just cringe high school bull **** Ryuk looks like a 90s Power Rangers villain and is generally flat. The best performance is and the best written character is L by far because, like the anime, he gets your respect with his thoughts and actions. But there is huge problem with his character. Here is yet another issue the movie is entirely too emotional and does not even try to scratch your brain. Death Note should not be about chase sequences and should not be an action movie. It works for You’re Next and the Guest (other movies directed by Adam Wingard) but it does not work for Death Note.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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2

hellpittAug 26, 2017

as an Adaptation this was the worst...destroys the Traits of the characters, follows the Death Note's Story very poorly and its simply cliche after cliche... now if this was just an alternative take on Death note...then its even worst....whyas an Adaptation this was the worst...destroys the Traits of the characters, follows the Death Note's Story very poorly and its simply cliche after cliche... now if this was just an alternative take on Death note...then its even worst....why not improve on the story make it better do something awesome and memorable...but Nope...they went on the route of "lets make an inferior version" this was awful guys...it was bad for a Death note fan, bad for a Death note enthusiast and I imagine for someone that knows nothing from Death note...this was Horrible.… Expand

6 of 10 users found this helpful64

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0

SkyWandererAug 26, 2017

By even considering watching this movie you have already wasted far too much time on it. The adaption doesn't even deserve to use the name "Death Note". The characters have been utterly destroyed, with the exception of Keith Stanfield (whoBy even considering watching this movie you have already wasted far too much time on it. The adaption doesn't even deserve to use the name "Death Note". The characters have been utterly destroyed, with the exception of Keith Stanfield (who appears to be making the best he can out of a poorly written, off-brand L) the actors are utterly dreadful and downright amateur, and the source material seems to have been completely ignored beyond perhaps the uttering of "So you write names in a notebook to kill people? Cool, let's do that. What? No I don't care about the story, let me just steal the names."

In short, avoid this movie like the plague. It is not worth a single second of anyone's time.… Expand

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0

StrxexAug 26, 2017

Literally turned a master piece into hot headed teen drama. Characters was largely misrepresented, and the plot feels rushed. The producers missed the whole point of the original animation.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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0

netobuchaimAug 26, 2017

This movie is an insult to the geniality of Death Note’s original anime and manga. They changed all the story, and gave us the whitewashing as a bonus. THIS MOVIE IS A SHAME.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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0

dgo013Aug 26, 2017

The worst adaptation I've ever seen.
We present the main character without regard to his internal conflicts and the virtues that led him to become kira, characters poorly developed and terrible performance.
The morbidity presented in theThe worst adaptation I've ever seen.
We present the main character without regard to his internal conflicts and the virtues that led him to become kira, characters poorly developed and terrible performance.
The morbidity presented in the deaths was unnecessary.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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0

HeyiderAug 26, 2017

Tão ruim quanto Dragonball Evolution, tentando pregar o estilo teen/americanizado de Hollywood, uma decepção: direção horrível, enredo ruim e cheio de erros, atuações nível amador exceção ryuk, áudio simplesmente sem sentido... umaTão ruim quanto Dragonball Evolution, tentando pregar o estilo teen/americanizado de Hollywood, uma decepção: direção horrível, enredo ruim e cheio de erros, atuações nível amador exceção ryuk, áudio simplesmente sem sentido... uma continuação disso seria um desrespeito, Netflix por favor exclua essa vergonha e comece de novo!!!… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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0

malnoAug 26, 2017

This shouldn't be released . everything was too bad. actors .
story line. and the L actor Is the worst !! even light his acting was bad and his face impression when shinigami appears .. I don't know corny scene .

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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0

babylonchaseAug 26, 2017

I am still in disbelief that Netflix somehow made one of the best manga/anime of the 00s a wholly unwatchable insulting piece of cinematic garbage. 5000 words isn't enough to properly convey not just my disappointment in their adaptation ofI am still in disbelief that Netflix somehow made one of the best manga/anime of the 00s a wholly unwatchable insulting piece of cinematic garbage. 5000 words isn't enough to properly convey not just my disappointment in their adaptation of the narrative, plot, and characters. Netflix basically did their own thing and—like Iron Fist—it sucks.… Expand

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0

QuijoteAug 26, 2017

This was absolutely horrible and it should have never existed, because it has ZERO ambition: this adaptation does not want money, does not want fame, does not want glory or wish posterity. It doesn't point at the public who doesn't know theThis was absolutely horrible and it should have never existed, because it has ZERO ambition: this adaptation does not want money, does not want fame, does not want glory or wish posterity. It doesn't point at the public who doesn't know the manga or the anime, and obviously it doesn't point to the fans. The only intention of this film was wasting money.… Expand

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1

DargonetAug 26, 2017

The movie is bad in almost every way. It's like your in the middle of a movie after the first minute and the characters aren't introduced or well made. As an adaption it's even worse. It's ok to create a movie with the idea of the Death Note,The movie is bad in almost every way. It's like your in the middle of a movie after the first minute and the characters aren't introduced or well made. As an adaption it's even worse. It's ok to create a movie with the idea of the Death Note, but recreating everything besides the names of some characters is not enough. They tried to recreate some of the best manga moments within the script though, but it didn't made much sense without the thinking process.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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0

RelenitaAug 26, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Okay, where to start with this. Take in consideration that, while I'm a fan of the original, I was expecting a revamp of sorts. At least the psychological warfare between two geniuses who held extreme points about what Justice is.
This is NOT what you find here.
The characters are sloppy: Light only uses the DN to get his dreamgirl and then for the **** of it. There's no debate about what's fair and who decides fate. He's not a genius, not even clever and for the most part of the movie he's manipulated by everyone until the last 10 minutes of the movie for reasons I still don't get.
L, oh my God L. He's sloppy, childish and emotional. He faces the public and acts so irrational it's funny until you realize he is just another boring character.
Mia/Misa is... smart. At least she tried, but she's so ready to betray Light -Just as Light, so there's that- it's infuriating.
The ENTIRE PLOT hold itself on a contradiction: The rule is you must know the name and the face of someone for the DN to work, right?
And Watari's real name isn't Watari. So who can explain me why the Death Note worked while using a fake name to order Watari to get L's real name if the Death Note STILL killed Watari after using the alias and not the real name?
What's the point?!
That makes L lose control. The pace of the movie is wonky: Guy gets book, gets girl, tries DN on bully, kills two people, JUMP INTO THE FUTURE WHEN KIRA ROSE IN POWER, and skips for... a month? A year?
And L appears.
It's a terrible movie.
The main conflict from the original is absent and if you are looking for something good to watch, go see the anime.
Don't waste time here… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

mr-yinAug 25, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I personally do not have an issue with director's choice of choosing a different story to follow since the Death Note may be owned by almost anyone in the world. The acting in the film is not a major issue, but L's actor and Light's father are sometimes too stiff when interacting with the other characters in the film. My major gripe with the film was the pacing, however. We are expected to believe that Watari and L have a deep relationship with each other from youth, and that Mia and Light are young lovers following her seeing the Death Note, but something about it seems wrong. Watari deserved more screen-time with L, and I feel that Mia's motives for wanting the Death Note are too extreme when compared to Light's own desires. The ending was slightly predictable in that Light would likely control what happens, but seeing it unravel was still enjoyable. There seems to be a lot of freedom concerning how deaths are controlled in this Death Note adaptation, much to the point that the characters' actions in the film seem unfair. In the ending, Light essentially cheated his death by controlling the paper his girlfriend, Mia, had previously written his name on by causing the paper to burn in a nearby fire. It was an enjoyable movie overall. The movie is not terribly bad as most people make it out to be, but it is no masterpiece either. If you are hell-bent on seeing an adaptation of the manga/anime, do not raise your hopes. The movie disappointingly falls short in engaging the audience as the anime/manga have done by opting for a more action-driven narrative. I am interested to see what a possible sequel might hold since the film ends on a cliff-hanger, but I do hope that characters in the film aside from Light are fleshed out more.… Expand

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4

RtheomAug 25, 2017

As with most American adaptations of anime, they completely missed the mark on what makes Death Note interesting. The anime had (at least for it's first half) an extremely tense game of cat and mouse being played by characters that wereAs with most American adaptations of anime, they completely missed the mark on what makes Death Note interesting. The anime had (at least for it's first half) an extremely tense game of cat and mouse being played by characters that were incredibly intelligent and purposeful in their actions. This movie was a couple of boys that were kinda angry at each other yelling for a little bit, while Ryuk went from a sinister trickster into some sort of horror movie knock off demon. Definitely skip this unless you're super curious how much they could have possibly missed the mark on this.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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2

RetroCriticsAug 25, 2017

This movie dont have nothing like the anime or manga, so if you want to see a good live action of a manga, this isn´t the movie. The unic good of this movie is that: "L" act a little similary like the ones that we can see in the anime orThis movie dont have nothing like the anime or manga, so if you want to see a good live action of a manga, this isn´t the movie. The unic good of this movie is that: "L" act a little similary like the ones that we can see in the anime or manga. The next thing that I am goin to say is not racism, but why "L" is black, I dont want to offend anybody but, why? (this is not very important because I think that Keith Stanfield had do a fantastic job(mayby the unic good of this movie), i just say that because "L" in the manga and anime have a pale skin and I just want to emphasize it). Ligth is a fool, he is maybe the thing that I more hated of this movie, why I said that?, without reasons shares the information with Missa, sorry with "MIA", that is ridiculous, is not justificated, he do it because yes. My conclussion is: This movie maybe can like to some people but for the lovers of the manga, anime ore both, I seriously dont recomend to see it, The only thing i liked of this movie was the way to act of Keith Stanfield the more is totally a trash… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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4

TheQuietGamerAug 25, 2017

The cultural phenomenon known as "Death Note" is a lot of material to try to turn into an hour and forty minute movie. So what we end up with is a film that goes for cheap thrills instead of a truly satisfying adaptation. You aren't going toThe cultural phenomenon known as "Death Note" is a lot of material to try to turn into an hour and forty minute movie. So what we end up with is a film that goes for cheap thrills instead of a truly satisfying adaptation. You aren't going to get all of the well thought out twists and turns, shocking reveals, or deep looks at the characters and morals of the story. You will get treated to some gory kills and surprising sense of humor though. This is the kind of thing that is sure to break the hearts of longtime Death Note fans, likely regardless of how much of an open mind they have going into this. The movie's baffling tone and angst-driven teenage romance are just likely to turn of those who have not experienced the manga/anime.

Adam Wingard seems to be content with almost parodying the source material. Rather than focusing on twisted, complex characters and the dark motives of it's lead character the movie is perfectly content to have us laugh at everything going on. I could deal with a more self-aware style that's willing to poke some fun at itself, but I can't tell if a lot of the humor was intentional or not. Is the movie actually trying to not take itself seriously, or failing miserably at delivering tension and thrills? Regardless of which is the case, the movie is funny for all of the wrong reasons. The more action-packed conclusion the film has does lead to a nice little twist though. So there is some payoff in the end.

While Wingard can't carry the story or tone necessary to keep things afloat, he does deliver some visuals. The gore is ridiculously over-the-top, adding to that possibly unintentional comedic feeling the movie has, but it's still pretty entertaining to watch. Ryuk looks great and his scenes carry a cool mix of creepy and playful. Probably the thing from the anime and manga that the movie gets the most right. I also have to praise the casting. Nat Wolff, Lakeith Stanfield, and Willem Dafoe are pretty great in their roles as Light, L, and Ryuk respectively even if they aren't playing the same versions of the characters many of us know from the source material. Stanfield even manages to nail some of L's mannerisms. We also have Shea Whigham in a nice and very likable supporting role to help back things up.

In the end though the strong cast can't make up for the lackluster writing. This also just isn't a good adaptation of the source material. It's a bad movie, but it's a watchable bad movie. When all is said and done I couldn't tell if I was laughing with it or at it, but it still managed to make me like a few of these characters who are basically originals despite having the recognizable names. I don't recommend watching it. Especially not if you are a fan of the real Death Note story. You won't be bored if you do decide to check it out. Just disappointed. There's so much more that could have been done here and better.

4.5/10… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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2

AARVAug 25, 2017

Si le tienen algo de aprecio al anime, por favor no vean esta película, lo convierte todo un desastre. Los personajes son 1000 veces mas estúpidos, la trama es cambiada por completo y no tiene sentido, la actuación es pésima, el desarrolo enSi le tienen algo de aprecio al anime, por favor no vean esta película, lo convierte todo un desastre. Los personajes son 1000 veces mas estúpidos, la trama es cambiada por completo y no tiene sentido, la actuación es pésima, el desarrolo en la película es forzado y antinatural, no se adapta nada bien de la fuente original tanto del anime como del manga, le agrega un montón de clichés que no añade lo más mínimo a la historia. Sin duda, un gran error del calibre de Dragon Ball Evolution… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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0

Gret419Aug 25, 2017

It is terrible and it does not remotely resemble the anime or manga. An adaptation that ruins the good name of the manga by weakening all the important traits that made it unique and interesting. Don't waste your time. The best thing anyoneIt is terrible and it does not remotely resemble the anime or manga. An adaptation that ruins the good name of the manga by weakening all the important traits that made it unique and interesting. Don't waste your time. The best thing anyone can do is not watch it so that the makers can take a loss and never make anything again.… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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1

badgerryan19Aug 25, 2017

What trash. Being a big fan of the anime I was skeptical of the film to begin with but was willing to give the movie a chance. First of all why in the hell is the movie in Seattle? The characters are nothing alike the anime and thereWhat trash. Being a big fan of the anime I was skeptical of the film to begin with but was willing to give the movie a chance. First of all why in the hell is the movie in Seattle? The characters are nothing alike the anime and there personalities are all wrong and of course the white washing and L being black. I only got 45 minutes in and that's because my brother was with me and I saw enough to know. The acting is complete trash. Willem Dafoe is good as Ryuk as it's only bright spot. This movie is almost unwatchable . It seemed like they watched a 5 minute analysis video and made the movie.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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4

sincredAug 25, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Se pasaron el anime por el colo, la película estuvo entretenida además mia estaba super buena, ella era el propio lyght y lyght era un retrasado, el no era lyght. ryuoh estaba hecho con Paint.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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3

ALLCAPSAug 25, 2017

I really wanted this to be good but sadly it's not. I could go over why the changes to Light's character ultimately hurt the adaptation but most of that has already been pointed out. The thing that really made this almost unwatchable to me isI really wanted this to be good but sadly it's not. I could go over why the changes to Light's character ultimately hurt the adaptation but most of that has already been pointed out. The thing that really made this almost unwatchable to me is the direction of making the film into a Final Destination experience with the deaths. Even if you are going to go the final destination route, which is horrible for a Death Note adaptation, at least make the deaths creative and unique. The death note could add to deaths when it comes to people being controlled but they didn't even go this direction...… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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4

OnlyTeeAug 25, 2017

The issue with Netflix's death note is its failure to turn death note into a prime time basic television Teen audience show. The movie feels like this type of show which would run for a couple of seasons crammed into an almost two hour movie.The issue with Netflix's death note is its failure to turn death note into a prime time basic television Teen audience show. The movie feels like this type of show which would run for a couple of seasons crammed into an almost two hour movie. You will feel all of the hour and forty six minutes as this movie has nothing to keep you enthralled. No sides to pick. The movie doesn't know if it wants light to be the ultimate evil or good and doesn't give you any other side to root for if you find the anwser yourself. light has no charisma or strong motivation, he does not captivate. In the original series Death note, light has the strongest charisma and clear and defined motivation. This gave viewers a chance to either be hypnotized or completely turned off by him. There is none of that in this movie. Light is said to be very bright multiple times but is never shown to be bright outside of math problems or doing homework for other kids which ends up with him getting caught and getting sent to detention (not very bright). So the movie lacks any genius plans or long thought out killings for the viewer to follow and figure out or be suprised by. This in turn creates another issue for the opposing force of L. L is never given any challenge or run around to solve and so his character is weakened because his defining factor,his supreme intelligence is lost as his quirks of eating candy,sitting positions, and matter of fact social awkwardness actually define him and so he is seen as a Weirdo who makes pretty obvious conclusions and is quick to anger instead of the cool and calm super genius who is going toe to toe with Kira. Misa or Mia in this movie is a step up from her air headed idol self to a cheerleader who is more of the i cheer cause i want to and smoke cigarettes while doing it type than the typical pretty and popular. I believe this character would have been more interesting as the main character. Mia is introduced to the death note by light and becomes addicted to the power of it. pushing light to do more killings and then working killings on her own. I think her power craze would make for a more interesting story then the typical western issue of tap dancing between morality with power. Finally Ryuk is the saving grace of this movie. A perfect adaption, ryuk's love for carnage, apples, and unclear motivations or loyalties shine through perfectly. Ryuk is for the most part hidden in shadow or unfocused lens but when shown his CGI is very well done. I hope this isn't the last we see of His live action character because he could be wonderful in better mediums. In summary, Netflix's death note is a shallow adaption of one of the greatest Suspense Thrillers in the world, with a weak main character in light who's addition to the plot seems to be the name connection to the original character, the naming of the villain Kira, and a very weak challenge for L to figure out. Weak and misused side characters and no one to root for, Watch this movie for ryuk and some interesting aesthetics, otherwise there is nothing here for even a boring rainy afternoon.… Expand

8 of 8 users found this helpful80

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0

masterx1234Aug 25, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Oh boy where do i start?, There are so many things wrong with this movie i cant even begin to tell you about my frustration. The movie in no way properly follows the anime. There are rules of the death note that were changed in the movie like the fact that only the death note keeper can see a death god when in fact anyone who touches it should of been able to see ryuk. The characters in the movie are not even the same race as the anime. And yes i know they arent japanese but for Fu*** sakes why did they make L a African american? I'm not racists but cmon! They barely show ryuk at all in the movie probably because Netflix has a poor CGI budget or whatever. Most of the story is stretched out for no reason in a ton of boring scenes that lead to nothing but a small 2 minutes of dialogue. I wont even bother reviewing the rest of the movie because its all pointless, the movie sucks end of story and is not even worthy of having the Death Note name.… Expand

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

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2

ProppetAug 25, 2017

The movie broke all the characters from the anime and made them into worse versions. As a movie it failed to deliver the actual moral of the story in a good way. Summed up the movie was a gore-turn-on-fiesta for the two main characters.

22 of 28 users found this helpful226

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5

Dauntless07Aug 25, 2017

It's worth a watch, but its logical inconsistencies may turn off fans of the original. It's not The Last Airbender or Dragonball Evolution levels of bad, but it does dumb down some of its source material to fit the 101 minute running time.It's worth a watch, but its logical inconsistencies may turn off fans of the original. It's not The Last Airbender or Dragonball Evolution levels of bad, but it does dumb down some of its source material to fit the 101 minute running time.
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Part of the original's strength was that, although supernatural elements existed, there were clearly defined rules, and every move the leads took was intelligently calculated. These rules are changed in this adaptation somewhat, most notably, a specified cause of death now needs only to be "physically possible." By that logic, why doesn't Light just make one of his victims draw an exact copy of L's face and name? For some reason, this never occurs to Light, probably because he too has been dumbed down. What made him so interesting in the series, in addition to possessing a genius level intellect, was that he was a model student; not someone you'd suspect of serial murder. Here, they made him into a troublemaker from the start, and he makes idiotic mistakes like openly reading and talking about the notebook in public places. Heart attack is not the default cause of death as in the anime, resulting in an unnecessarily gory film. Misa wasn't a strong character in the source material, and I have no idea why they tried to make her a pseudo Lady Macbeth here. It's almost as if she's making Light do these things, rather than focusing on his descent to evil.
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The setting change didn't bother me, because the story of Death Note could have happened anywhere. The characters, however, are often so different from the originals that I wonder why they bothered keeping their names. The real stars of the film are William Dafoe as Ryuk, (he's perfect in anything sinister to cartoony levels,) and Keith Stanfield as L, (he captures the air of his source character remarkably well.) The real problem is the short run time, which forces the plot to move at breakneck pace, and does not allow for the methodic intellectual chess game between Light and L. There's enough here to make me believe the actors could have made this shine through, but not with 1 hour 40 minutes. Instead of sequel baiting, perhaps more focus should have been placed on creating a better film.
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All that said, I was still able to enjoy myself watching this film, and that's because the concept is really good. What happens when a teenager is given the power to kill? At the very least, we get an answer to that question when the power falls to a cringy punk. As you might expect by the run time, it starts going bad for him pretty fast. The effects were decent, though more practical effects for Ryuk would have been appreciated. The music was hit or miss. I think if they slapped another hour on to really develop these characters and the plot, or cut Mia's character entirely, we could have had a better film, but as is, it's passable. Average.… Expand

8 of 8 users found this helpful80

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3

BaekAug 25, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bad as a movie, even worse as an adaptation. Except for the first name of the characters, and the Death Note itself, nothing else connects the movie with the manga/anime. The way Light was represented was awful. The development of the plot was bad. Light controlled Watari using just Watari as his name? Ryuk chose Light cause... He's not interesting, he doesn't have a motivation, he just reacts to everything! To a notebook falling from the sky, to a bullying situation, etc.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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9

BN333Aug 25, 2017

Top notch super natural film. Overcomes the niche Japanese comic it was based on, translates well into a film for both Western film audiences and Asian alike.

4 of 16 users found this helpful412

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10

brunoalmiroAug 25, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. ótimo... foda-se se e diferente do anime.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................… Expand

10 of 71 users found this helpful1061

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7

fabioloso31Aug 25, 2017

Death note is an adaptation of the famous manga and anime, and while its source material is way better than this movie, I found myself enjoying this cinematic outing. The script was rushed, yes, mainly in the beginning, but it wrapped upDeath note is an adaptation of the famous manga and anime, and while its source material is way better than this movie, I found myself enjoying this cinematic outing. The script was rushed, yes, mainly in the beginning, but it wrapped up pretty nicely in the end. I also thought that it was a good idea to try and update the story for western audiences, you need to try and call people's attention and I think they did that very well. Overall I liked the film, it's not perfect and I knew they would take a lot of liberties, but it was very enjoyable and the direction by Adam wingard is amazing!… Expand

6 of 18 users found this helpful612

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7

v1c1ousv1c2Aug 25, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I enjoyed it, yes the pacing was a little to fast. They jammed so much into one movie, it was a bit frustrating at times. Them changing the story up a a bit was refreshing. I am a fan of the original anime and Japanese live actions, so I know what I am talking about. The ending makes me want more, and I hope more are made. But i agree with others, it should be a series not movies, it would have more time to develop. Also stop complaining about light being white, its an american adaptation, also L was really good as well. I had low expectation for him but he was great. Dafoe is daman, not much more to be said. Also i would score higher, if they kept the potato chip scene, lol.… Expand

4 of 21 users found this helpful417

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3

PrrgangstaAug 25, 2017

This movie was just an awful adaptation. Light's and L's characters are just terrible and tries to hard to play their roles. Ryuk is kept in the dark for some reason like we don't already know what he looks like.The deathnote isn't being usedThis movie was just an awful adaptation. Light's and L's characters are just terrible and tries to hard to play their roles. Ryuk is kept in the dark for some reason like we don't already know what he looks like.The deathnote isn't being used correctly, in the anime anyone who even touches a small piece of paper from the notebook could see the shinigami who originally owned it, not in this movie though, and he barely uses the note to kill them in a way that makes it traceable, all the heart attacks in the anime make the police force think someone is intentionally killing criminals but in this movie he uses decapitation, stabbing,and other ways to kill the criminals but to make kira known to the world light makes criminals write Kira on their cell walls like a **** moron. Mia has the mindset of kira more than light himself does in this movie. In short this movie is a weak adaptation to the anime/manga.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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0

GomeddAug 25, 2017

This adaptation of death note are awful, remember me a dragon ball evoluction, I dont care the color of the actors but if you Want make adaptation with the same caracteres of manga, you will try do the same personalities and actions of theThis adaptation of death note are awful, remember me a dragon ball evoluction, I dont care the color of the actors but if you Want make adaptation with the same caracteres of manga, you will try do the same personalities and actions of the caracteres at the original, if you could try something new, you cold have create another story with other characters in the same universe, in witch your original story unfolds without runing the original characters / story of the manga, White a awful adaptation and awful performances and awful script.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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5

ElPolloLoco82Aug 25, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bottom line, this movie needed to be a miniseries and not rushed into roughly an hour and a half movie. The pacing was too fast and it doesn't allow you to really connect with any of the characters in the movie. Another problem I had with this adaptation, which is what most people will point out is that they fundamentally changed the core attributes of the characters that they adapted from the anime series. For instance, Light was smart, but he wasn't genius level smart like he was in the anime series. He also wasn't very confident and the way they approached being "Kira" was completely different. Light, in the anime series, was all about creating and being the god of this new world order where crime will essentially be eliminated, and nothing and no one would stand in the way of that. This Light, just didn't have the stomach for it. Not to mention, Light, in the series, was the epitome of what every man wish they were, and every woman wished they were with. Light. in this movie, was remarkably average; even down to the reason for why he continuing to use the Death Note and pursued this life as Kira, all to impress a girl (Mia). What really made the anime series shine though, was the way Light and L danced a mental tango where Light was trying to either find a way to eliminate L or convince L that he wasn't Kira and L trying to get L to slip up so to confirm his suspicions that Light was Kira. In this movie, not so much; L confronts Light at a gelato shop, where he breaks Light to into letting it slip that he was Kira. This movie would have been better served if they cast a better Light, and didn't write him as such an unconfident wussy. Also, in the series, Ryuk and Lights relationship wasn't as adversarial as it was in this movie. In the series, Light and Ryuk was there for some side commentary and answer any questions that Light may have had in regards to the Death Note. In the movie, they really didn't like each other. Ryuk was the true star of this movie and because they played the relationship the way they did, his screen time was pretty limited. All in all, it's going to upset fans of the original anime series. To the point where they will flat out give this a "0" because of those differences. I think if you come in, never seeing the anime series, you'll find this movie to be remarkably average. That's why it's getting the oh so average score of a "5".… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

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5

strifespectreAug 25, 2017

You know, I had the smallest of hopes for this movie. However, it just ruined everything what made Death Note great. Pacing is too fast, Characters aren't likeable or people you can sympathise with unlike the manga, and it's just a mess, butYou know, I had the smallest of hopes for this movie. However, it just ruined everything what made Death Note great. Pacing is too fast, Characters aren't likeable or people you can sympathise with unlike the manga, and it's just a mess, but I am not going to lie; it was an entertaining film to watch. It was cool seeing how the setting was adapted into an american highschool, and William DaFoe was a great casting choice for the film. Talent is certainly there, the actors are just let down greatly by the writers. Effects are pretty nice as well. Otherwise, it's a painfully medicore attempt at trying to "adapt" and westernise a great Manga/Anime series, simillar to what Ghost in the Shell was back in March. The film certainly had potential - and could have been great. But, that's where it failed.… Expand

10 of 10 users found this helpful100

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0

brentwshelton1Aug 25, 2017

First off, I want to say that I really really am rooting for Netflix to start putting out some quality movies - but I think the company is so anxious to produce something noteworthy (beyond some of their excellent tv series) that they keepFirst off, I want to say that I really really am rooting for Netflix to start putting out some quality movies - but I think the company is so anxious to produce something noteworthy (beyond some of their excellent tv series) that they keep green lighting total junk. Secondly, I have never seen the source material that this adaptation is based on so I can't judge the content of this flick against the original. However, this movie is simply god awful dumb all on its own. Between the porcupine/Joker demon with a Deadpool attitude and the truly irritating candy crunching "L"....I couldn't find a reason to sit through the whole mess. I simply did not care what happened to the two annoying lead characters (Light and Misa) or want to find out their fate at the end of the movie. I found them whiny and unsympathetic and provided my own "Kira" execution by turning the tv off. At the beginning, with a heavy nod to the Final Destination franchise with the manner the first two deaths occurred, - Death Note had remote potential to be fun. However, after the first 10 minutes of this confused mixture of genres that really doesn't know what it wants to be - any possibility of an interesting plot was lost. This movie should be a hard pass for anyone who reads this review.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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Death Note

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