Death Note - Great Adaptation or a Waste of Time?
Okay, so I'm here with my first review, which is going on now, and pretty big in the anime community, right now - the Death Note live adaptation on Netflix. Now, before everyone starts going on about everything wrong with it, let's look at the more positive sides of it, then we can view the negatives (which may or may not outweigh the positives. Just saying.) Anyway, let's jump right in.
Death Note Trailer
So, what's are the positives about this?
1) The actors
Now, before I get a lot of flack for saying this, I'm aware of how unrealistic they are compared to the real L, Light and Misa. But, if you look at it this way, these Hollywood actors could reach a much larger audience on Netflix - and audience who has never been into anime before. Maybe, one day, while someone is scrolling through the new movies on the home screen they come across Death Note, and find themselves interested in the movie, and decide to watch the actual anime. (They'll shit on the movie after watching the show, I must point out.) Also, it isn't fair to say that the actors of the live adaptation are terrible. I personally haven't witnessed Margaret Qualley (Misa Amane) act in any movies, but Nat Wolff (Light Yamgami) is a fairly decent actor. Willem Dafoe is also a great choice to voice the Shinigami, Ryuk.
2) The Notebook
The Death Note looks fairly decent compared to the original notebook Light used in the show. It starts the same way - falling from the sky.
Now, let's get into some of the easier aspects - what the hell is wrong with this adaptation.
1) Light "Turner?"
First off, let me start by saying this - who is Light 'Turner'? Are these Shinigami Light's fairy god parents? Let's just say the new opening looks promising:
2) Misa Amane?
Misa's supposed suicide at the end of the series must have carried into the movie, seeing as Light's girlfriend, Misa, doesn't even exist.
However, by what the trailer shows, he falls for some brunette cheerleader from his high school, which he's not even supposed to attend in the first place. Instead, we get Mia Sutton, the brunette Misa stand-in.
All I can say is, if she isn't as clingy, annoying or as 'yandere' as Misa, I'm going to raise a little hell. Also, and this goes out to Misa, here.
Misa Amane, be glad you committed suicide so that you don't have to see this movie.
3) L isn't weird enough
Based off the show, L is the scrawny little man with messy, black hair and dark circles under his eyes. His strange habits and posture is by far the most memorable thing about him, next to his genius. Mostly, the first thing one would think of when seeing the detective would most likely be along the lines of He's in charge of the Kira case? That's the world's greatest detective? That's not very reassuring.
However, in the live adaptation, L is portrayed by a seemingly built black man with normal habits and a somewhat normal posture. Seeing the 'new L' would give anyone reassurance that the Kira case was being well handled. There's a short clip of the new detective resembling L's notorious posture, despite this.
However, when he is first introduced, he is walking up right and normal, along with wearing the normal clothes.
4) Why does Light look like some emo kid? (No offense)
Light's character is clearly portrayed entirely wrong. In the original show, Light is seen as a well spoken, smart, kept together high school student who is going into college. He appeared very pampered and organized, even from the first episode.
However, in the adaptation, he doesn't appear ready for college. He certainly doesn't seem as pampered or as prepared to use the Death Note. Instead, Light Turner almost gives off this vibe (to me anyway) that he's a junior in high school and tends to get into fights. He doesn't seem to carry any of Light Yagami's positive traits. One can only hope he carries Light's intelligence, otherwise there's no point in even bringing L into the movie at all, and certainly no point in killing him.
Death Note Trailer
So, what's are the positives about this?
1) The actors
Now, before I get a lot of flack for saying this, I'm aware of how unrealistic they are compared to the real L, Light and Misa. But, if you look at it this way, these Hollywood actors could reach a much larger audience on Netflix - and audience who has never been into anime before. Maybe, one day, while someone is scrolling through the new movies on the home screen they come across Death Note, and find themselves interested in the movie, and decide to watch the actual anime. (They'll shit on the movie after watching the show, I must point out.) Also, it isn't fair to say that the actors of the live adaptation are terrible. I personally haven't witnessed Margaret Qualley (Misa Amane) act in any movies, but Nat Wolff (Light Yamgami) is a fairly decent actor. Willem Dafoe is also a great choice to voice the Shinigami, Ryuk.
2) The Notebook
The Death Note looks fairly decent compared to the original notebook Light used in the show. It starts the same way - falling from the sky.
Now, let's get into some of the easier aspects - what the hell is wrong with this adaptation.
1) Light "Turner?"
First off, let me start by saying this - who is Light 'Turner'? Are these Shinigami Light's fairy god parents? Let's just say the new opening looks promising:
2) Misa Amane?
Misa's supposed suicide at the end of the series must have carried into the movie, seeing as Light's girlfriend, Misa, doesn't even exist.
However, by what the trailer shows, he falls for some brunette cheerleader from his high school, which he's not even supposed to attend in the first place. Instead, we get Mia Sutton, the brunette Misa stand-in.
All I can say is, if she isn't as clingy, annoying or as 'yandere' as Misa, I'm going to raise a little hell. Also, and this goes out to Misa, here.
Misa Amane, be glad you committed suicide so that you don't have to see this movie.
3) L isn't weird enough
Based off the show, L is the scrawny little man with messy, black hair and dark circles under his eyes. His strange habits and posture is by far the most memorable thing about him, next to his genius. Mostly, the first thing one would think of when seeing the detective would most likely be along the lines of He's in charge of the Kira case? That's the world's greatest detective? That's not very reassuring.
However, when he is first introduced, he is walking up right and normal, along with wearing the normal clothes.
Also, in the original anime, L would never show his face in public, especially when facing Kira. Instead, he hid his face behind a fake voice and a calligraphic 'L'. But in the adaptation, 'L' can be seen speaking in public, a mistake the real L would never make.
And, no. I'm not saying all this because L is being played by a black man (but, seriously wtf?) I couldn't care less. I'm not racist, but this is clearly not the L we know and love.
Light's character is clearly portrayed entirely wrong. In the original show, Light is seen as a well spoken, smart, kept together high school student who is going into college. He appeared very pampered and organized, even from the first episode.
So, whether or not this little 'adaptation' (if you want to call it that) is good or a complete waste of time, well I can't really say. I'd like to be optimistic and say that maybe it won't be so bad. However, based off the facts that I can give you, it's hard to say that any Death Note fan will be happy. Just be glad that Hollywood hasn't tried to destroy Attack on Titan yet.
And if there's no potato chip scene, we will riot.
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