Thoughts on Netflix’s Death Note
So I just finished watching Death Note on Netflix, and here are a few thoughts I have on it: {disclaimer} (potential spoilers too!)
First, the original anime is way better than this first movie. That being said, a second movie could be possible to help pick up the slack.
Second, the massive changes to the main characters from the anime version to this version is a bit painful to observe. From Light to Mia to L to Watari and Ryuk [though not as much with him!], significant changes were done to the personalities and interactions between all of these characters.
Third, I found it interesting that the makers of this Death Note took the time to write out 90+ rules into the Death Note [while the anime did not have nearly that many!!], so that is impressive and fascinating.
Fourth, the relationship between Light and Mia in the movie bugged me. Mainly because the way it ended was patently obvious from the get-go. That being said, I mostly understand that the appeal to a more American audience as driving the decision making behind most/all of the changes.
Fifth, I am curious about the apparent abandonment of free will in this one compared to the anime; in the anime there was a more focus on the choice of the main characters and a more drawn out evaluation of the possible choices [definitely more intellectual/thoughtful/drawn-out]; whereas this movie cut a vast majority of that out, and a massive component of this movie was the usage of the Death Note and its ability to control people before they die to the advantage of Kira/Mia. I found this boring [especially since they used it on Watari!!! WTF???]
Lastly, why why why did they have to make L so neurotic? [Light too, but less so] I’m not going to lie, the fact that Watari and L have such weak characters [as compared to the anime] is tragic.
Overall, I highly recommend watching both the anime and the movie version of Death Note. Then I encourage anyone to think about whose side, if any, is right, morally speaking, in the actions they take to achieve their goals.
If anyone is eager to discuss, comment either on Medium, or find me on Facebook and I’ll have a conversation about this with whoever so chooses to do so; otherwise enjoy!
Thanks for reading,
As always,
Choices=Reality