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Digital Cameras - Camcorders - Death Note (Live Action - Dub & Sub)
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List Price: $24.98
Our Price: $15.18
Your Save: $ 9.80 ( 39% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: VIZ VIDEO
Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Kenichi Matsuyama, Takeshi Kaga
Directed By: Shusuke Kaneko
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: DEATH NOTE MOVIE #1 (DVD MOVIE)
EAN: 0896911001126
Format: Anamorphic
Label: VIZ VIDEO
Manufacturer: VIZ VIDEO
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: VIZ VIDEO
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-09-16
Running Time: 120
Studio: VIZ VIDEO
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Slightly different than the original series for its film adaption, the frst "Death Note " film on DVD is just fantastic!
Comment: 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
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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 16×9 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!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Must Watch
Comment: I really really loved this and if you're a fan of Death Note this is perfect. L totally rocked.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: A worthy Live Action adaptation
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Comment: Great movie
The only improvement would have been some bonus materials or special features
Customer Rating:
Summary: What Would You Do With The Power Of The Death NoteBook
Comment: 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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Editorial Reviews:
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*PHENOMENON*:
With over 25 million copies sold, the hit manga series has finally been adapted into two live-action feature films directed by Shusuke Kaneko, widely known for the popular, Gamera, monster film series.
DEATH NOTE was first released in Japan in July 2006, grossing over *$28 million* with 2.3 million tickets sold.
Its sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, was released in Japan in November 2006 and was even more successful, grossing over *$52 million* with 4.3 million tickets sold.
Both movies stayed at #1 on box office for weeks not only in Japan, but also in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.
As a result of this success, a spin-off film directed by Hideo Nakata (director of the original Japanese version of The Ring) will be released shortly on February 9, 2008, titled L: Change the World.
Adapted from the bestselling manga, with original characters and plot twists developed only for live-action film, the story takes unexpected turns before arriving at a shocking ending.
Ace student Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook intentionally dropped by a rogue "Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies. Upset with the current justice system, Light takes matters into his own hands and vows to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of all evil, and become the God of the new world.
Soon, the number of suspicious deaths of reported criminals catches the attention of the International Police Organization.
A mysterious detective known only as L quickly learns that the serial killer, nicknamed Kira by the public, is located in Japan. Light realizes that L will be his greatest enemy, and a game of psychological cat and mouse between the two begins.
*Music by RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS *
*Theme Song: DANI CALIFORNIA** *
We are very proud to be involved and happy to be involved.
- Flea (Base guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers)
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