Death Note: Light Up the New World fails to outshine its predecessors.

 

 

Given the success of the first 3 live action adaptations of the Death Note manga [Japanese comic] series, many would have high hopes for its newest installment, Death Note: Light Up the New World. Chances are this new film hasn’t come up to their expectations.

Death Note: Light Up the New World is set 10 years after the final showdown between private detective L (Kenichi Matsuyama) and criminal mastermind Kira (Tatsuya Fujiwara) in Death Note 2: The Last Name (2006). While Kira is dead (supposedly), his brand of justice – killing people by picturing their faces and writing their names in a “Death Note” – has lived on. To stop these supernatural notebooks from circulating, L’s successor Ryuzaki (Sousuke Ikematsu), investigator Mishima (Masahiro Higashide) and 6 other officers have to race against cyber terrorist Yuki Shien (Masaki Suda) to get hold of them.

While the story is freshly conceived, many plot devices in this new film have a familiar ring. For instance, Death Note users who give up their notebooks are seen losing their memory again.

“I expected the show to have more brain work, like the 1st two movies,” said Death Note fan Beckham Wee, 17, who’s disappointed at the lack of inventiveness in the story development.

Yuki Shien, Kira's Worshiper. Photo courtesy of: Encore FIlms
Yuki Shien, Kira’s Worshiper. Photo courtesy of: Encore FIlms

The new protagonists also have a hard time filling the shoes of Kira and L, both exciting characters well-liked for their ingenuity and eccentricities. While Sousuke Ikematsu did an admirable job in portraying Ryuzaki, the new L who’s equally smart and quirky, he lacks his own Kira, a charismatic, scene-stealing antagonist whom he can spar with. As a result, the battle of wits in this film pales far in comparison to its predecessors.

Ryuzaki, L's successor. Photo courtesy of: Encore Films
Ryuzaki, L’s successor. Photo courtesy of: Encore Films

Despite that, the film will still make an enjoyable watch, particularly for the uninitiated.

“I think one should go in with an open mind,” said moviegoer Zachary Yap, 22. “Even old fans should learn to accept the comeback of Death Note and appreciate new stuff.”

 

[xrr rating=3.5/5 display_as=textstars label=”Our Rating:”]

Release Date: 10 November 2016

Runtime: 135 min

Language: Japanese with English & Chinese subtitles

Censorship Rating: PG

Genre: Action

Director: Shinsuke Sato

Main Cast: Masahiro Higashide, Sousuke Ikematsu, Masaki Suda, Erika Toda, Rina Kawaei, Eiichiro Funakoshi, Sota Aoyama, Mina Fujii, Ryosuke Takei

 

P.S. A Hollywood-adaption of Death Note is scheduled for release in 2017.