Death Note - MovRev part 10

"Death Note" is a 2017 Netflix original film based on the manga series of the same name by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. Directed by Adam Wingard, the film tells the story of Light Turner (Nat Wolff), a high school student who discovers a mysterious notebook that grants him the power to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. As Light begins to use the Death Note to rid the world of criminals, he attracts the attention of a brilliant detective known only as L (Lakeith Stanfield).

The original "Death Note" manga has a large and dedicated fanbase, and adapting it into a live-action film was always going to be a challenge. Unfortunately, the Netflix adaptation falls far short of its source material, delivering a film that is tonally inconsistent, poorly paced, and lacking in both character development and coherent storytelling.

One of the biggest problems with "Death Note" is its lack of focus. The film tries to cram too much into its 100-minute runtime, resulting in a disjointed and confusing narrative. The film's pacing is uneven, with long stretches of exposition and dialogue followed by sudden bursts of action that feel disconnected from the rest of the story. This lack of cohesion makes it difficult for the audience to become invested in the film's characters or plot.

Another major issue with "Death Note" is its tonal inconsistency. The film can't seem to decide whether it wants to be a dark thriller or a campy horror-comedy, and as a result, it fails to be either. There are moments of genuine tension and suspense in the film, particularly in the scenes between Light and L, but these moments are undercut by the film's frequent attempts at humor. The result is a film that feels muddled and unsure of itself.

Perhaps the biggest problem with "Death Note," however, is its treatment of its characters. While the original manga is known for its complex and compelling characters, the film adaptation reduces them to one-dimensional caricatures. Light, who is supposed to be a brilliant and morally ambiguous character, is portrayed as a whiny and entitled teenager with little to no depth or nuance. L, meanwhile, is transformed from a quirky and enigmatic detective into a generic action hero, with little of the intelligence or charisma that made the original character so compelling.

The film's female characters fare even worse. Misa Amane (Margaret Qualley), a popular model and actress in the original manga, is reduced to a vapid and shallow love interest with no agency of her own. Similarly, Light's girlfriend Mia Sutton (Kathryn Newton) is little more than a plot device, used to drive the story forward without any real motivation or personality of her own.

Despite its many flaws, however, "Death Note" is not without its strengths. The film's visual effects are impressive, and the sequences in which Light uses the Death Note to kill his targets are well-executed and visually striking. The film also features a strong performance from Lakeith Stanfield as L, who manages to inject some much-needed energy and intelligence into the film's otherwise lackluster cast.

In the end, however, these strengths are not enough to save "Death Note" from its many weaknesses. The film's poor pacing, inconsistent tone, and shallow characters make it a disappointing adaptation of the original manga. Fans of the series are likely to be disappointed by the film's many departures from the source material, while newcomers to the series are likely to be confused by the film's convoluted narrative. All in all, "Death Note" is a missed opportunity, a film that fails to live up to its potential and falls far short of its source material.