Death Note (2017):
Full disclosure- I have seen the Death Note Anime- I don't think that it's fantastic... I think the anime has some very solid writing and a plot that fizzles out in to being straight up bad not a third of the way through the series.
As far as this film goes- I enjoyed it.
Adam Wingard's influence as a director is present here- as his slick means of composing a scene really ties together each frame with a distinct visual flair. Each character feels defined and is casted to varying degrees of success.
I am very, very thankful that the film DID not try to replicate the story of the anime- because condensing so much in to 90 minutes would have just resulted in an easily hate-able watered down version of the original series. Instead, the film follows the immature mind of a developing and grieving high-schooler. Mixing the film with the remnants of a twisted and mutilated love-story helps to solidify and give credence to the type of power fantasy that such angsty teenagers could hope to live.
With regards to the characterization of Light Turner as opposed to Light Yagami, I much prefer that of Light Turner- Yagami is a man who's been biding his time of which to fulfill his plan... however, Yagami, for all intent purposes, is a sociopath of whose murderous tendencies aren't much of a moral qualm- they are merely given manifestation due to the power that he now has. Turner does seem to embody the innocence of youth- whose convictions are pushed to the brink by both Mia and Ryuk.
Yes. The film is different. It's fine. It's enjoyable. Did you like The Guest? Give this a shot.
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