Death Note on Netflix
Do you know Netflix produced an original film adaptation of Japanese popular manga, Death Note? It was directed by Adam Wingard and released in 2017. How was it? Frankly, shortly, it was… HORRIBLE. I analyze why Netflix version Death Note resulted in a total disaster.
On the previous post, I discussed what makes the original manga/anime Death Note so attractive and interesting. Please check it out from here.
As I said there, the original Death Note is almost perfect and has a lot of appeal points. Nevertheless. Netflix version completely failed. Why? The answer is led easily. Netflix Death Note ignored and cut off all the attractiveness of the original. Unbelievable, but true. You can see the cause of failure, just taking a look at the original’s strong point.
Here’s a list of the reasons why Netflix version Death Note became a failure.
The worst stupid, unstylish hero and characters
At this point, the story is already worthless, for it cannot be stood only if he is not a genius. If he is just an ordinary man, he would never get high, noble ideal.
He is a true stupid and geek. Netflix Light is a timid, bullied student at the least hierarchy. He miserably gets surprised and screams when Ryuk appears. He boasts and babbles loud about Death Note to his girlfriend in public. When feeling cornered, he obviously shows an upset expression on his face. Who wants to root for such an unstylish hero? We support Light because he is charismatic, brilliant, cool, and handsome. Otherwise, even if he has a noble thought, we never get so passionate.
What’s worse, other characters – mainly, L – are idiot too. I continue in the next chapter.
Where is a skillful mind game?
Since there are only stupid people in the story, Light and L’s battle is really poor. Light immediately gets upset and exposes his faults. His tactics with the note are also too desultory to cover it. L is as terrible as Light. Illogical and not alarmed. He claims incoherent argument and finally grabs a gun to chase Light. I say Death Note is interesting because its battle is NOT PHYSICAL. We want to see excellent game of wits. Not the idiot’s skirmish.
Cheap theme
Such stupid Light never has a high ideal to create a peaceful world. He just uses Death Note for his excitement and curiosity. Are there any difference from other cruel murderers? Justice or something is not important in this movie at all, in spite of the fact that it moves the original forward to a masterpiece.
Instead, what is emphasized in Netflix version is cheap love story and over-described harsh scenes. The scenes where people die is like ones of “Final Destination” series. (I like the series though.)
CONCLUSION
Netflix Death Note is almost totally changed from the great original, even though the title is the same. You could enjoy it if you thought it was just an action comedy B-picture.
Anyway, it is so regrettable that Japanese masterpiece was made into Hollywood turkey. Thus, I want to actively take part in Hollywood remake of Japanese IP in order not to create a waste.
