Death Note

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

I watched it last night and sort of kicking myself for not watching the rental I got a few weeks ago.  Oh well.

It was the familiar story of roughly the first half of Death Note told very differently.  Having read the manga or seen the anime is no reason to skip the live action, because it's different enough that if interested, you'll see an alternate telling of the story.

Just some random stuff that occurred to me while watching it:

Naomi Misora was in it, chasing down Raye's killer, but her part of the story was much different, and her end ended the first movie.

I liked the casting, especially for Light and Soichiro.  Ken'ichi Matsuyama was terrific as L, but they really should have messed his hair up for that part.  

I thought Takeshi Taga was great as Soichiro, but he was reminding me so much of Edward James Olmos. Anyone here ever watch Miami Vice?  I would say Soichiro had a very definite Lt. Castillo vibe, especially in his physicality (the hair too).  He's not nearly as emotional as the man in the manga or anime, so we didn't get to see any of his outbursts.

The task force had very litle to do and there was only one Matsuda moment: Light kills Lind L Taylor, then L reveals the trick.  The big task force at the NPA are watching and Matsuda stands up, points to the screen and yells out "AWESOME!"  "MATSUDA! This is serious, watch your mouth!"  Other than that, he has a few things to say, but his character has been kind of stripped down, a lot like they did with Aizawa's.

The task force working with L has a chick on board.  No idea who she is, but she's getting some of Matsuda's lines.  There was one scene where L is sitting in the chair talking and his task force is standing in a group watching and listening.  The girl was in the back behind the guys - you could only see the top of her head over the guys' shoulders.  That kind of had me on the floor rolling.  But what's she doing there?  They put a girl on the team for the sake of having a girl?  Nothing against the actress playing her, but why?

One thing I liked, they had a couple of scenes where L is up all night working and task force members are sacked out all over the floor.

Ryuk was very cool!  They did a great job with that character and I was glad to hear Shidou Nakamura's voice again.  His voice was processed, so he didn't sound like he was in the same room as everyone else.  The character looked like he was actually part of the scene, but my only problem with him was that way too often he moved like a puppet.  All I could think of was 'marionett.'  They changed his character a little bit too - towards the end of the movie, Light kills his girlfriend to get close to L and Ryuk definitely expresses an opinion about that.  "Devil in disguise" and "you're worse than a shinigami" kind of surprised me.  Ryuk was pissed and very sympathetic towards the girlfriend.  The Ryuk we know from the manga and anime doesn't give a poo about anyone.  I thought that was interesting.

And I love how they ended it, L shows up at the scene where Naomi Misora and Light's girlfriend died, eating the same potato chips Light was eating while the cameras were in his house.   I thought that was brilliant.  I have to say L can eat an epic potato chip just like Light. 

This was the blu ray release and I thought the audio was really good in this - it made use of all my speakers, so it had good surround.  And of course the video looked really sharp and clean too.

Because this is a retelling, I can't wait to watch the second movie to see how it's going to end.  I know it'll end up a lot like the anime and manga did (and I did get spoiled about who dies and who doesn't), so seeing how they get to the end will be fun.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

Another cool thing.  Lind L Taylor was talking in English (almost sounded like he was from Texas), and there was a translator translating him into Japanese.  And of course the English subtitles. LOL

[Afrokuma]

    I really liked these movies if you get the second one and like it to then I would suggest you get Death Note save the worLd. I own then all and can't say why but watch them all the time. The save the worLd one is a movie all about L defiantly my favorite out of them all. If you were asking me I would say get them all if you liked the first the collections badass to watch.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Afrokuma wrote:

    I really liked these movies if you get the second one and like it to then I would suggest you get Death Note save the worLd. I own then all and can't say why but watch them all the time. The save the worLd one is a movie all about L defiantly my favorite out of them all. If you were asking me I would say get them all if you liked the first the collections badass to watch.

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Wow, good to know!  I expect I will be getting this - I have all the other DVDs, I want my collection to be complete.

I hear they did a live action one shot that isn't on DVD that was release only in Japan that took place maybe a year or three after the series ended that was more or less about Matsuda coming to terms with Light's death.  That's what I heard.  I should try hunting it on youtube, some lovely fan went and subbed then uploaded in three parts session XX of Cowboy Bebop, I can hope that if this exists that it was subbed and uploaded as well.

True, I would be more interested in the animated version of this particular story, but either way, I want to see it.

[Meilag32]

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SpikesMrsSpooky wrote:

I hear they did a live action one shot that isn't on DVD that was release only in Japan that took place maybe a year or three after the series ended that was more or less about Matsuda coming to terms with Light's death.  That's what I heard.

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Where did you hear this?  Because I doubt this exists since I've never heard of it.  As far as I know, there are only three live-action DN movies; Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name, and Death Note: L, Change the WorLd. 

[Bad_Witch]

It's been awhile since I've seen any of the movies, but I remember them being worthwhile. They at least gave us an idea of how it might end if L was there for it.

I'm pretty sure the chick cop was just added so there would be a chick. There is a lacking of female characters in DN, and though chick cop doesn't really add anything new she does have boobs. That, and if I remember correctly, she was the one in charge of Misa (I hope I'm not confusing this with the second movie) and her comments to L about Misa's treatment more more emotional...more like a chick would be.

[Bad_Witch]

Maybe she's confusing it with the one-shot of the manga? Wasn't that set 3 years in the future?

Or maybe the thing where Matsuda blames Near for actually using the notebook. I remember reading somewhere where Matsuda did that and they dug up Light's grave to find the inside of his coffin all scratched up. Can't remember where I read that though...

[Meilag32]

I think the one-shot was one year into the future.  But it didn't really revolve around Matsuda too much, though he was in it and voiced his opinions on those past events. 

*cough* fan fiction *cough*

[Bad_Witch]

Only a year? Hunh, I thought it was longer. Oh well.

Yeah, I remember the bit about Matsuda at the beginning of it...probably where the fan fic got the idea.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Meilag32 wrote:

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SpikesMrsSpooky wrote:

I hear they did a live action one shot that isn't on DVD that was release only in Japan that took place maybe a year or three after the series ended that was more or less about Matsuda coming to terms with Light's death.  That's what I heard.

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Where did you hear this?  Because I doubt this exists since I've never heard of it.  As far as I know, there are only three live-action DN movies; Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name, and Death Note: L, Change the WorLd. 

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Oh darn, I can't remember where I read it. I do remember distinctly the words "live action" and "Matsuda dealing with Light's death" and that it was aired in Japan.

I've been thinking I need to look for that, and if it exists outside the mind of the person who posted that information.  If/when I find it, I'll be sure to post it here.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Meilag32 wrote:

I think the one-shot was one year into the future.  But it didn't really revolve around Matsuda too much, though he was in it and voiced his opinions on those past events. 

*cough* fan fiction *cough*

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LOL, I saw that one shot manga online.  Another shinigami dropped a death note hoping for the excitement that Ryuk had.  The person who picked itup was also well intentioned, but was doing mercy killings.  It took a while for Near to bother to get involved,but called him "C-Kira" for "cheap Kira" and announced to the world that this one wasn't worth bothering with or something like that.  Then that Kira committed suicide.

Not much Matsuda at all in that one, so that's not the special or "one shot" that I was hearing about.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Bad_Witch wrote:

Maybe she's confusing it with the one-shot of the manga? Wasn't that set 3 years in the future?

Or maybe the thing where Matsuda blames Near for actually using the notebook. I remember reading somewhere where Matsuda did that and they dug up Light's grave to find the inside of his coffin all scratched up. Can't remember where I read that though...

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Oh YUK!

No, it wasn't the manga one shot.  The idea of Matsuda blaming Near for actually using the notebook was in the final chapter of the manga - he theorized that Near used the notebook to control Mikami.  

That part about them digging up L's grave?  That HAD to be fanfiction, and ghoulish fanfic at that.  Ok, nightmare time! LOL

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Meilag32 wrote:

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SpikesMrsSpooky wrote:

I hear they did a live action one shot that isn't on DVD that was release only in Japan that took place maybe a year or three after the series ended that was more or less about Matsuda coming to terms with Light's death.  That's what I heard.

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Where did you hear this?  Because I doubt this exists since I've never heard of it.  As far as I know, there are only three live-action DN movies; Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name, and Death Note: L, Change the WorLd. 

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Ok, I found it: It was a news report on the Anime News Network.  It was on wikipedia and it provided this reference.  

[Bad_Witch]

Hunh...that is interesting. Wonder if they're still planning on doing it or if it's been shelfed.

They should do one on when L caught Lind L. Taylor. I'd still like to know what crime he committed, why he was sentence in silence, and why L chose him to sit in for him.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Bad_Witch wrote:

Hunh...that is interesting. Wonder if they're still planning on doing it or if it's been shelfed.

They should do one on when L caught Lind L. Taylor. I'd still like to know what crime he committed, why he was sentence in silence, and why L chose him to sit in for him.

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Yeah, I know, I've been looking for a fansubbed version of it all over the place and can't find any, so I'm wondering if it even got made.  Massively popular stuff like this do tend to get fansubbed and distributed that way, especially if they are not released on DVD.

That's a shame, I really do want to see that.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

Oh yeah, Lind L Taylor.  Did you see "The Last Name?"  His scene was cool because he was talking in English with a Japanese translator translating his words.  I thought it was funny, especially since Taylor sounded like he had a Texas (or thereabouts) accent.

[Meilag32]

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SpikesMrsSpooky wrote:

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Meilag32 wrote:

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SpikesMrsSpooky wrote:

I hear they did a live action one shot that isn't on DVD that was release only in Japan that took place maybe a year or three after the series ended that was more or less about Matsuda coming to terms with Light's death.  That's what I heard.

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Where did you hear this?  Because I doubt this exists since I've never heard of it.  As far as I know, there are only three live-action DN movies; Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name, and Death Note: L, Change the WorLd. 

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Ok, I found it: It was a news report on the Anime News Network.  It was on wikipedia and it provided this reference.  

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Cut scenes from Save the WorLd?  It can't be very long since the movie mostly focused on L.  If they even did it.  I see that the date on that post was in 2007.

[Bad_Witch]

Yeah, I saw it. Kinda why I would like to see how all that came about. Taylor was sentenced to death, so I'm assuming it wasn't some white collar crime, and I'd like to know why his arrest and what not was kept quiet.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Bad_Witch wrote:

Yeah, I saw it. Kinda why I would like to see how all that came about. Taylor was sentenced to death, so I'm assuming it wasn't some white collar crime, and I'd like to know why his arrest and what not was kept quiet.

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It was an American voice in the movie (I watch it in Japanese), and Americans on death row can be there for years, if not decades to accomodate appeals process (it happens). If this guy was arrested and sentenced years ago and exhausted his appeals, L could have made a deal with him that would benefit his family.  

I can't see a condemned criminal doing that on their own without having some return, if not for themselves then maybe for their families. It's well known that L is a liar, so I'm guessing he lied about that part, possibly banking on Kira not checking on it, but just killing him instead.  Plus, here is this guy on TV saying he's L.  How likely would Kira (no matter WHO he is) try to check to see if it really was L or a condemned criminal?

Those are my thoughts at least.

[Bad_Witch]

I don't think it's as simple as that. Sure, L is a liar but he still needed someone Kira couldn't kill while setting the whole thing up. He needed to fly in the criminal, set up the news cast, and actually put on the show. Not to mention the amount of time to find the right criminal and make the deal (which I think included Taylor getting off scot free if Kira didn't kill him).

It couldn't be any criminal that was in any way made public, or Kira might kill him before the broadcast, or even in the middle of it before Taylor's big reveal as "L". Plus, L would have wanted to make sure that Kira wouldn't/couldn't kill the criminal before his plan happened. If there was even the slightest chance that Kira could have gotten the information before hand, L wouldn't have been able to move forward like he did.

Whick brings me back to my original question...what crime was so bad that Taylor ended up on death row, yet was still kept out of the papers for his arrest? Or even police reports?

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Bad_Witch wrote:

I don't think it's as simple as that. Sure, L is a liar but he still needed someone Kira couldn't kill while setting the whole thing up. He needed to fly in the criminal, set up the news cast, and actually put on the show. Not to mention the amount of time to find the right criminal and make the deal (which I think included Taylor getting off scot free if Kira didn't kill him).

It couldn't be any criminal that was in any way made public, or Kira might kill him before the broadcast, or even in the middle of it before Taylor's big reveal as "L". Plus, L would have wanted to make sure that Kira wouldn't/couldn't kill the criminal before his plan happened. If there was even the slightest chance that Kira could have gotten the information before hand, L wouldn't have been able to move forward like he did.

Whick brings me back to my original question...what crime was so bad that Taylor ended up on death row, yet was still kept out of the papers for his arrest? Or even police reports?

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Was the guy even in Japan?  Or was he being broadcast from somewhere else (like the US)?  I ask because I don't think they said that the guy was in Japan, just that his words were being broadcast in Japan.  I'm really asking, I haven't seen the episode in about a week and that's not something I paid that much attention to.

People are being condemned for murder (maybe he killed a cop 10 years previous) that don't make national news, much less overseas.  If this guy was one of those cases, a murder he committed, say, a dozen years ago that didn't get national publicity much less international coverage, there would be no way Kira could know.  

He saw a guy on tv named Lind L Taylor who said he was L.  Why would anyone flip on the computer and do a search of police reports?  I think Light was more interested in showing up L by killing him while he was on the air than checking to see if this "L" was really a convicted criminal.  That wouldn't make any kind of sense at all to me.

[Bad_Witch]

It's been awhile since I last saw that ep. too, so I don't remember if it was even stated that the broadcast was taking place in Japan or not. I could just be remembering that way by confusing where it was being broadcast to instead of from. Not really sure, but it doesn't make much difference anyway.

I realize most criminals don't get national attention, much less international, but L's argument was that Taylor received none what-so-ever...meaning not even in the local papers. The reason L was brought in, or more accurately the reason Mr. Yagami and Matsude went to the world conference, was because Kira was killing criminals all around the world. Those dying in prisons wasn't limited to Japan. L theorized that since the murders started in Japan it was likely that Kira was a Japanese citizen.

At this time L didn't have any working theory on how Kira was managing the murders. Hence the reason for the broadcast. L was hoping Kira woudl take the bait and "kill" him...which is exactly what happened. L had to be sure that Kira wouldn't kill Taylor before the broadcast, so he found a criminal (that's if L hadn't caught Taylor previously) he could be certain Kira wouldn't kill. That means no publicity of Taylor's arrest or connections to the crime(s), and just to be sure that Kira wasn't getting his information from police and/or court records there could be no paper trail there either.

It has more to do with Kira killing Taylor before the broadcast, thereby forcing L to look for someone else, than worrying about Kira looking up Taylor as a possible criminal during the broadcast. I agree, it doesn't make sense for Kira/Light to check on that.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

Yeah.  You're right, good point.

He certainly couldn't be someone that Light/Kira recognised either.  And if the guy was an American (like he obviously was in the movie), it's pretty certain that Light wouldn't have recognised him, especialy if he had been in prison for several years.

But, whether he was arrested, tried and convicted in "secret" is highly doubtful.  L is a big fat liar, so who the heck knows?

[Bad_Witch]

If Kira could have recognized "L" that would have thrown the whole plan out the window I can see Light standing in front of the t.v. going "What the hell is this?" "Is he serious?"

I don't know about being highly doubtful. Arresting and convicting someone in this world in secret wouldn't be difficult. The crime of the person woud be known, but who did it might not. There are plenty of unsolved crimes and a few of them might actually be solved. Perhaps Taylor was an heir to a vast fortune/influential family/etc and his family paid to keep the embarrisment out of the papers. I can see that happening in this world easily. With in the Death Note world it could be even easier. L never seemed to care about justice...especially the rules defining it. If L caught him and he could be sure he was locked up, what would he care about the papers.

I should note here that even though I'm saying L...I don't mean Taylor's case was necessarily L's. In fact, in this scenerio, I'm sure it wouldn't have been since L has solved every case he took. L could have used the name Coil or Denueve to catch Taylor.