With a budget of $40m, it was quite an ambitious project (that really didn't need such a high budget, which I
assume was mostly spent on the special effects). It's actually interesting that only ~44,000 people have rated it
on IMDb; I wonder how many have actually seen it. The numbers are pretty low, though that's understandable for a
limited, non-theatrical release. It's kind of sad that it had such a poor reception and execution, because the
following movies (which I highly doubt will be getting made) would have most likely expanded the plot better. Then
again, it could also be a "testing the waters" scenario to see how audiences respond to this concept before
going all out and making more movies/media. Kind of like how TV shows get a pilot, then get greenlit if executive and
audience responses are favorable.
Quote by HatedAngelThe love
plot is typical Hollywood, its like they dont know how to do anything without a romantic subplot.
Run-of-the-mill action flicks geared towards teenagers don't know what to do with a female character that
isn't a romantic interest, aside from turning her into the Tomboyish Friend. I can't even remember any female
characters in Death Note 2017 aside from Mia.
Then again, I felt no connection between Light and Misa except teenage lust, they literally had only the Death Note in
common and one could argue that Mia only got close to him to get her hands on it.
Quote by HakaruI don't get
why they changed Misa from pop idol to cheerleader, and yes the lolita style is not suitable for an american movie but
gothic is actually from the west.
Mia being a cheerleader ties in to Light's 180-degree
personality switch too: we can't have people that are too perfect. Mia
comes across as aloof and not at all like the stereotypical bitchy cheerleader, though, glad that stereotype was left in
the '90s. And the concept of "idol" as understood in Asian media doesn't really exist in the West
(they could've made her a model though — and even a gothic-styled one, to show that models aren't just of
one type).
I think the worst offender, and the foundation of the movie, is that they tried to make Light sympathetic. Being in a
half-panicked state all the time after the initial high of using the Death Note? Breaking down and wanting to quit using
the Death Note at the first sign of intervention from the police? Needing Mia to prod him into using the Death Note and
actually falling in love with and trusting her? They obviously wanted us to
relate to Light and want him to go free, whereas the anime let you draw your own conclusions i.e. whether you saw him as
a hero, antihero or villain.