Forum - View topicREVIEW: Death Note II: The Last Name
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penguintruth
 Posts: 8459 Location: Penguinopolis |
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I thought these movies were decent, though obviously low-budget and rushed pacing. A lot of people prefer the ending to this second movie to the second arc of Death Note. I tend to prefer the Near/Mello material, but I completely understand the other preference. I really liked how, even though there was a low budget, they managed to recreate the set up the investigation team had with the computers, albiet in a smaller building. All my favorite scenes took part in that building. Actually, most of the movie took place in that place.
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tygerchickchibi
 Posts: 1448 |
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I guess I'm the only one who noticed that it wasn't the same dubbed voice actress playing Takada. It was Lisa Ann Beley, who was Hal Linder in the dub. So that's another actor change
Then again, I've been listening to her voice in anime for years. I love an opportunity to hear it anyway. I loved her as Takada. |
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RogueJedi86
 Posts: 501 |
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Why was Rem male for this movie? Did it have to do with the Japanese dub having a male actor for Rem?
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DuelLadyS
 Posts: 1705 Location: WA state |
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I think so- I'm not at all familiar with the Deathnote anime, but in the behind-the-scenes material you do hear Rem's Japanese voice- and it is male. I just know me and my sister were pretty annoyed by a gaggle of girls toward the back who kept laughing and screaming 'you're a girl!' every frickin' time Rem talked. We know, now shut up! (And, after several days of "you know sis, there's no guarantee this is going to end excactly the same as the anime...", she believes me know!  )
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El Oso
 Posts: 105 Location: Rummaging through camp sites. |
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I actually prefer how the whole story played out from the movies compared to the anime/manga. The explanations for both of the movie endings were quite fitting in terms of the DN universe. They also managed to have spoiler[L solve the case before he dies]. That's the way I would have preferred it, instead of dragging it out in the anime. Unfortunately, it's the low budget with some poor acting and cheesy bits that prevent me from calling it a great movie. |
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_Emi_
 Posts: 498 Location: Langjökull |
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I'm not interested in the Death Note anime or manga, but after reading this review, I think I might pick up these movies. It's a shame that the production values aren't up to snuff, but it sounds like the way they told the story will make up for it. Besides, it'll be a lot cheaper than getting the anime.
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Cocytus
Posts: 3 |
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I have yet to see a Japanese manga/anime-related movie that doesn't have its share of shoddy acting. I don't know if it's the standard directing style, or just a low acting standard, but between Tatsuya Fujiwara's totally boring characterization of Light and the heart attack sufferers' overdramatic deaths, made me a little sad. Also, I think someone with a ton of makeup would have been better than the CG shinigami. Then maybe they could have spent more money on where it was needed.
Having said that, I think that overall the two movies stayed quite loyal to the source material, and I agree that the portrayal of L is inspired. The plot was satisfying, the conclusion ... well, conclusive! Because of the excellent source material, these movies didn't need to work hard to capture an audience. And really, what more could we ask for, given a total three-hour plot arc? All in all, a good effort, and an enjoyable film duo. |
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vashfanatic
 Posts: 3489 Location: Back stateside |
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I liked the plot of the first one a lot, but the CG on Ryuk as well as the godawful acting made it a "rental" for me (to use Shelf Life's system). I have a feeling this one will be the same.
So, no soundtrack this time around? The first movie had a great one by Kawai Kenji (Ghost in the Shell, Higurashi, Moribito, etc.), and he's listed as doing "original music" for this one here at ANN. Maybe I'm not getting your meaning right? |
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JacobC
ANN Contributor
 Posts: 3728 Location: SoCal |
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For me, the story itself is just...too broad to do a live-action movie to very easily. I saw the first movie and it honestly made me kind of ill. What possesses the Japanese to do live-action versions of this story when it's so good, so engrossing as an anime to begin with? With things like Honey and Clover or Nana, it seems a natural transition, but Death Note was made to cash on the hype and it shows...
The commercials for this one made me laugh. -.-' If there's any draw for me to see this, though, it would certainly be L. He did do a perfect job with the role, and I don't think they could have cast it better. (That being said, it's impossible to capture the eerie hotness of the anime version, who looked both slobbier and more animalistic than any real-life counterpart, and cooler/craftier at the same time.) Could someone PM me how the 2nd movie ends, though, like all the key differences? I...really have no desire to see the movie, but I'm curious as to how they made the ending "better." I liked the anime ending a lot with the exception of the Mello/Near arc dragging on too long. |
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posterior_praiser
 Posts: 296 |
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Well the first movie was made before there was an anime, probably it to get money out of a franchise they never thought would get an anime. Alot of people (including myself) were skeptical of an anime adaptation because of some of the content. I still believe that it would not have happened if the second arc of the manga didn't happen, and if it didn't end the way it did. |
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JacobC
ANN Contributor
Posts: 3728 Location: SoCal |
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Ah. Thanks, that clears things up. The anime was a bold decision, as very young children watch most anime unless it's on REALLY late at night, and this was a Jump property. Of course, if they make one movie, they have to finish up with another. Makes sense. |
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bglassbrook
 Posts: 1243 Location: Gaithersburg, MD |
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The CG for Rem is worse quality-wise but the animation fits better than how Ryuk moves, which surprised me as it looked much better in the screen-caps.
And thus is my favorite version of the story. I eagerly anticipate Viz soliciting the BDs for these movies. However ...
I really hope they leave this out. It features way too much of the director talking ... and given his particular take on the universe, it left me wondering if the reason Misa's actress kept her hair color was that he didn't want anyone to out blonde him. As I think of it now, I would almost rather they had Near than listen to him talk about how he made all these changes because the original manga/anime didn't show well enough just how evil Light is ... almost. |
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Xagor
Posts: 192 |
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I thought the idea of making Ryuk CG was that it would make him look out of place? What with being supernatural and all.
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pachy_boy
Posts: 1323 |
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I get the sense that I'm the only one who has an appreciation for the actor that played Light/Kira. I watched the first movie, regarding it as basical thrilling entertainment, and in that context I think the actor did just fine. Althought the movie was a summary of the anime, I think the sense of Light falling into darkness from human to a true psychopath was done really well. The first movie had a lot of great moments that the series didn't have, as much as the series blew me away. I missed the second movie in theaters, but after reading this review I'm especially looking forward to its DVD release, whenever that may be. I loved the ending to the series, and if the movie's ending is different and similar at once, it just piques my excitement.
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tygerchickchibi
Posts: 1448 |
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Yeah....unfortunately, some Light fans at another site disagreed, she thinks they ruined Light's character because the director showed favoritism between L and Light, and Light was displayed as the "OMG LOOK HOW EVIL LIGHT IS" but... to show the extent that Light can go in a timed movie, well...you have to play that out, you know? I don't feel it should've been left out  .
And ...spoiler[I could have sworn the director stated it was more of justice for Light's father than L.] o_o *shrugs.* Oh well... |
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