Review of Death Note (2017) by Jennifer%20 G — 27 Aug 2017

No, no, no, no, NO. No, just...no. Good GOD why is it that Hollywood cannot adapt a manga/anime successfully? They always have to jack it up!

Anyway...I'm not a big Death Note fan, but I know enough about it that I understand the gist of the whole thing--and I know how the main character, Light Yagami, is.

This movie's version of Light is NOT the Light you love to hate. He's just a bratty, angsty teen in this adaptation. No longer is he the egocentric, cold-hearted, eccentric genius that he is in the Japanese version--no longer is Light calm and calculated in his decision. No longer is Light apathetic about the people he kills with the Death Note, all for the sake of preserving his own twisted sense of justice.

The Light in this Netflix film is a fucking SAP! He feels guilt over certain kills, he loves his girlfriend, he's only book-smart and not maliciously ruthless in his intelligence. He's just....a kid...who wants revenge. Wow, big deal!

I don't like Light Yagami--he's a narcissistic prick. But that's what makes Death Note really interesting: The lead character is someone you can't stand but are intrigued by anyway because he's so clever and manipulative. The Netflix movie ruins this image entirely!

And Mia is no Misa. Mia is a bratty teen girl with some emotional issues. She's not the adorably naive girl that you can't help but pity in the Japanese story. Misa loved Light in the manga/anime but he didn't love her--he just used her, like he did a lot of people. The Netflix movie turns their relationship into a sappy teen romance with a Death God thrown in the mix to make it "interesting.".

NO. JUST. NO.

I will say, I did like the actor playing "L." He did a good job with the role, even if it wasn't exactly the "L" we know and love. But the character was much better represented in the Netflix film than Light and Mia/Misa. I also liked Willem Dafoe as the voice of the Death God, Ryuk. Very awesome touch, but I sure hope he got paid well for this because he is too good for it.

Seriously, just read the manga and/or watch the anime, or maybe watch the Japanese live-action films. Granted, this movie wasn't a complete disaster, but it certainly isn't going to become a modern legend like the manga and anime.