| Death Note (Live Action - Dub & Sub) | 
 enlarge | Director: Shusuke Kaneko
Actors: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Kenichi Matsuyama, Takeshi Kaga
Studio: VIZ VIDEO
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.98
Buy New: $15.17
You Save: $9.81 (39%)
New (33) Used (8) from $9.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 3242
Format: Anamorphic, Dolby, Ntsc, Subtitled, Surround Sound
Languages: Japanese (Original Language), English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 120
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: VIZDYDNE01D
UPC: 896911001126
EAN: 0896911001126
ASIN: B0017SVH5Q
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Viz Media Llc Release Date: 09/16/2008 Run time: 120 minutes
Amazon.com
The first live-action feature based on the manga Death Note covers much of the same material as the first 12 episodes of the animated series. Handsome Light Yagami has just passed the bar exam, but he's repelled by the injustice of modern society. His life changes dramatically when he finds a Death Note, a notebook dropped into human space by Ryuk, a Shinigami (god of death). If anyone writes the name of a human in the book, that person will die within minutes. Under the pseudonym "Kira," Light launches a gradiose vigilante campaign to rid the world of criminals and create his vision of a perfect society. But the string of deaths attracts the attention of the police, who refer the baffling case to the eccentric but brilliant detective known only as "L." The police are reduced to pawns as the investigation becomes a high-stakes battle of wits between Light and L. Director Shusuke Kaneko and screenwriter Tetsuya Oshi add a dramatic subplot: the fiancee of one of Kira's victim deduces the killer's identity. Tatsuya Fujiwara makes Light more understandable and more likable than his animated counterpart. Kenichi Matsuyama looks properly pallid as L, but his addiction to desserts looks silly in live action and weakens the character's intensity. The hokey Ryuk never blends in with the real sets. Death Note ends inconclusively, but continues in a sequel.(Unrated: suitable for ages 16 and older: grotesque imagery, violence, violence against women, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Slightly different than the original series for its film adaption, the frst "Death Note " film on DVD is just fantastic! November 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Based on the manga and anime series that has captured the attention of viewers worldwide, "Death Note" the live action film makes its way to the US on DVD.
"Death Note" is an adaption of the popular manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata and stars Tatsuya Fujiwara (known for his work in the popular "Battle Royale" films), directed by Shusuke Kaneko (known for the 2006 hit film "Gamera") and the theme song "Dani California" by the popular band RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
.
The film focuses on Light Yagami (Fujiwara), an intelligent student who wants to work in criminal law and follow his father's footsteps and catch criminals. But one day after hacking into the police department's computer system, Fujiwara is just sickened to know that the police has released criminals who should be incarcerated. One night, Yagami discovers a notebook called "Death Note" that has specific rules:
-The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
-This note will not take effect unless the writer has the person's face in their
mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will
not be affected.
-If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the person's name,
it will happen.
-If the cause of death is not specified, the person will simply die of a heart
attack.
-After writing the cause of death, details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
-This note shall become the property of the human world, once it touches the
ground of (arrives in) the human world.
-The owner of the note can recognize the image and voice of its original owner,
i.e. a god of death.
-The human who uses this note can neither go to Heaven nor Hell.
Anxious to test this book out, Light writes the name of a criminal, thinking that the book is a joke. That is until the person's name that was written actually dies. Thus Light finds a way to get justice and does what he can to rid the world of all evil and become "the God of the new world". He also meets the owner of the Death Note, a shinigami (God of Death) named Ryuk, who is fascinated by Light of his ways of killing the criminals but the way his mind works.
Light who uses the name "Kira" starts writing the names of criminals in the Death Note and each die by heart attack and thus causing a frenzy in the media and the police force who now need to go after the person killing the criminals. But Kira is not your average criminal, as he is quickly generating a large fandom of people who support Kira's goal of eliminating criminals.
Of course, the police force led by Light's father, Soichiro Yagami, has no idea of how to go after this criminal but unbeknownst to them is a mysterious person that goes by the name of L. An intelligent detective who has an unorthodox way of catching criminals and so far, has been very succesful with his cases worldwide.
The cat and mouse chase has begun as L goes after Kira and Kira realizes his greatest enemy is L and thus the battle begins.
The film stars an all-star cast with "Battle Royale" actor Tatsuya Fujiwara as Light Yagami, Kenichi Matsuyama who starred in films "Linda Linda Linda" and "NANA" as the mysterious detective L.
Joining the two is one of Japan's most popular actress, Asaka Seto as Naomi Misora, a former FBI agent who's fiance is killed by Kira. Model and actress Yu Kashii as Light's girlfriend Shiori Akino. Shigeki Hosokawa as FBI Agent Raye who is hot on the trail of catching Kira, actress Erika Toda who plays the character of pop star Misa Amane and Takeshi Kaga, best known for the host of the original "Iron Chef", who plays the role as Light's father and head of police, Soichiro Yagami.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
The film is featured in 169 anamorphic widescreen and was originally shot in 35mm (1:85:1 ratio). My main interest was to see how the CGI would be for the shinagami Ryuk. And how that would translate on film and was quite pleased with the 3D character as it looks exactly like it does in the anime and manga series.
As for audio, the film is featured in both English and Japanese via digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo. I typically dislike English dubbing of Asian language films but what brought a smile to my face was that VIZ used the original voice actors of the anime series (which had great English dub work) on this series. So, for those who are fond of Brandon Swaile's Light, Alessandro Juliani's L, Brian Drummond's Ryuk, Shannon Chan-Kent as Misa and the other English dub voice actors will be happy to know that they did the English dub for the live film. That surprised me and definitely major kudo points for Viz Media for keeping things consistent in the voice acting.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Special features include a director's interview and the trailer to the film. Plus there is a trailer for the anime series and "Viz Pictures presents". The features are quite short but it was great to see an interview with director Shusuke Kaneko addressing the challenge the staff had to adapt the manga series to a live action film and what changes that had to be made.
I would have liked to see all features together as one featurette and a "play all" command but that's a minor quirp but nevertheless, I'm just happy there are special features on the DVD.
I was extremely pleased with the live version of the film. I expected that there would be slight deviations from the original manga and anime series because there is only so much you can pack into a two hour movie.
But even with the slight changes, everything worked out. The pacing was well done, the CGI of Ryuk was well done. But those changes from the original series is what gives the film it's own life.
Unlike the manga and anime series, Naomi Misora (Seto) has a slightly different role, as does Shiori Akino (Kashii) that plays a major pivotal role early in the series of how demented Light has become, even with a followup comment by Ryuk. Fantastic!
But the plus for this film was the talent involved. Tatsuya Fujiwara is such an impressive actor that it was great to see him take on the role of Light Yagami. To see Fujiwara's acting show the believable and caring Light Yagami evolve into the killer known as Kira was just fantastic. Kenichi Matsuyama as L was also well done.
But of course, the addition of other talents such as Asaka Seto. She's such a popular TV drama and film star that it was great to see her as the vengeful Naomi Misora and it's great to see Mr. "Iron Chef" Takeshi Kaga as Soichiro Yagami.
I was extremely pleased with the first live action film and the treatment it has received on DVD. I enjoyed watching it in Japanese but watching it again with the voice actors of the original anime series. Again, I'm not fond with English dubbing for a lot of Asian films but VIZ was smart in utilizing the voice actors for the anime series on this live film. Well done!
I highly recommended this DVD! Fantastic!
A Must Watch November 19, 2008
I really really loved this and if you're a fan of Death Note this is perfect. L totally rocked.
 A worthy Live Action adaptation November 10, 2008
This movie is, first of all, a good view because of the high production quality involved. I must say I appreciate the thought that was put into this first live action adaptation of the series. Fans of the manga and of the animated series will find themselves right at home here. The end is a definite teaser for the sequel. My only suggestion is for true fans of the series and cinema in general to turn off the english dubs and to watch this with the original Japanese voice with English subtitles, to alleviate the unavoidable translation issues that happen when trying to cram all that English into the mouth motions of the Japanese language.
Great movie November 4, 2008
Great movie
The only improvement would have been some bonus materials or special features
What Would You Do With The Power Of The Death NoteBook October 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This live action movie follows the series pretty decently as far as I'm concerned especially for the actors they got to play the character of Light Yagami(Also Kira) and the mythical detective L. Like the beginning of the series Light has what most would consider worthwhile intentions punishing the truly guilty and wicked of the world but as the saying goes absolute power corrupts absolutely. The way Light later kills some innocent people later in the movie shows that he's not above abusing the note book for his own gains and in turn is no longer a champion of justice but just a serial killer with a megalomaniac mentality. Then you have the police working in conjunction with L to stop Kira and his agendas as well as bring him to justice. The movie is what you expect if you seen the series and even if you have never seen the series the movie still gives you the beginning pretty well so you can follow whats happening easily. If you want to hear it dubbed they got all the voice actors from the series to do this movie as well so no worries on that part. So if you like the series you'll definitely like the movie as well. All I'm waiting for now is to get the second movie when it comes on dvd.
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