Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Death Note'

Written by Scott Edwards

Everybody makes lists of people they do not like when growing up, it is just something that we do. Either it’s full of bully’s names or people that just treated you like crap and while nothing usually comes from these lists, what if something did? It is an interesting thought that if you wrote someone’s name down that something bad could actually happen to them and while it seems impossible, it is what Death Note is here to show you. 
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It’s just a normal day at school as Light Turner is sitting alone on a bench and collecting payments for doing his classmates’ homework. But there is something different about this day in Seattle as a huge gust of wind comes out of nowhere and blows the Death Note book in his direction. Not knowing what this is, Light bags the book as rain starts to fall and he makes his way back into the building. Seeing that all is not well as Mia is starting to get into it with a bully, Light takes a punch and winds up in the principal’s office for cheating. While in detention, Light opens up his new book and all hell breaks loose in the classroom as he is introduced to his new friend Ryuk who has an offer for the young man that he cannot resist.

Hearing the bully outside picking on an innocent classmate, all Light has to do is write down his name and method of death and Ryuk will do all the rest. Watching as the threat is no more, Light knows the next person that will be on his list as he is looking for revenge. Hearing that the man who killed his mother died while eating dinner, Light tries to read all of the rules of the Death Note, but his new apple loving friend Ryuk is more than happy to explain them to him. Not being forced to do anything that he does not feel comfortable with, Ryuk is more than happy to find another suitor for the book, but Light needs time to think, because with this power, he could make the world a better place.

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Getting a visit from Mia in the gym, Light tries to blame her for him getting in trouble, but that is not the only thing he has to say. Admitting to killing the bully and being shot down for saying such a thing, he decides to show Mia his newfound power. Finding a hostage situation in the city, Light pulls out his pen and writes a little story about how the hostage taker dies and the two watch on the live feed as the events quickly unfold. Seeing that Light can do something so much better for the world, Mia decides that she wants in on the plan and the two come up with a list of names of the worst of the worst that the world will be better off without.
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But killing people without a cause seems to be pointless, so the two decide to have the name Kira attached to all of these violent deaths. Seeing that someone is now taking credit for the killings, L is called in on the case and being one of the finest detectives in the world, is able to pinpoint where the killer is living. Joining Light’s father on the police task force to take down this new threat, L can easily connect the dots and finds out that the boy is behind it all. Trying to talk Light down from continuing, L knows that he will be a target, but is safe since he has not released his real name. As the two try to fight each other off, there will be losses on both sides, but the power of the pen cannot be silenced as Light comes up with a plan to take out his newest foe.

Knowing only what I saw in the trailers about this movie, I was very impressed with this movie as the pacing and the storyline were very solid. Also, all of the actors did a great job bringing the characters from the page to life and I loved their light-hearted interactions. Only covering one side of the story, I must admit that I was afraid of Mia as she saw what was happening with the book and wanted to get rid of anyone that got in her way. Ryuk did not seem that frightening as the movie played on, as he continued to eat his apples and tried to give Light direction on what to do next. With plenty of deaths, a moral dilemma, revenge, absolute power, a love story and a Death God, it is really a good story that makes you wonder what you would do if given the same power. Finding out that this is based off of an anime series, here is your warning, it is not the same and you probably will not like it as much as I did. If you are going in blind as I did and watch it as a normal movie, you will find yourself pleasantly impressed. Stay Scared.

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