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[UnemployedVillain]

The core premise is the notebook's abilities, it's abuse, and the cat and mouse game that results from it. The fact that Ryuk exists and is the one who dropped it are entirely incidental to the main plot. It might actually be beneficial to drop Ryuk since he's a cartoony grim reaper in a supernatural crime thriller, and he spends most of the plot doing little of consequence other than being there.

This is ridiculously wrong. Misa's whole character and plot revolves around the rules for shinigami and their powers.

The existence of shinigami and whether a person can see them or not were also significant parts

You not enjoying those elements doesn't make them insignificant.

 

[SenorArdilla]

How would they explain Shinigami Eyes without the existance of Shinigami?

 

[Killer Queen]

How would they explain Shinigami Eyes without the existance of Shinigami?

I just realized how weird that'll look in live action.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Now you got me wishing his name was White Turner in this adaptation. LOL

Hahahaha, it should have been

 

[Zoe]

The film will be produced by Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Jason Hoffs, and Masi Oka.

And they still let the casting play out like this? SMH

 

[chrisPjelly]

You know what, if they tried to make this their own thing ala edge of tomorrow with a somewhat different cast and altered story, I'd be okay with it

 

[Lights and Waves]

The couldn't make L a Japanese actor..?

 

[Apath]

I do not understand why there is a belief that because this is based on a Japanese work of fiction, this adaptation should star a Japanese American.

There should be more movies with Asian-American stars, but latching onto the issue for this movie simply because it's an adaption of a Japanese story is silly to me.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

wait Ryuk isn't in this?

wat

 

[Zoe]

I do not understand why there is a belief that because this is based on a Japanese work of fiction, this adaptation should star a Japanese American.

There should be more movies with Asian-American stars, but latching onto the issue for this movie simply because it's an adaption of a Japanese story is silly to me.

It doesn't help that they deliberately excluded Asian actors from trying for the part.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

It doesn't help that they deliberately excluded Asian actors from trying for the part.

Did they? Like, was the casting calls specifically 'Caucasian'? No Ryuk and bad casting calls~ netflix why

 

[#sorrynotsorry]

Asian actors are probably deliberately excluded from just about every part unless they're going to play a tech wizard.

That's Hollywood. This is the norm. Boycotting one movie will do nothing. Plus this is the wrong movie to do it for. It'll make it sound like you only care because it's a Japanese IP.

 

[bobbytkc]

I'm scared but on the other hand, it can't be worse than the Japanese movie adaptation.

But the japanese movie was fantastic. Also a better ending than the manga.

 

[Oddish1]

This is ridiculously wrong. Misa's whole character and plot revolves around the rules for shinigami and their powers.

The existence of shinigami and whether a person can see them or not were also significant parts

You not enjoying those elements doesn't make them insignificant.

It has nothing to do with whether I like them or not. I like Ryuk in Death Note just fine, but in a movie adaptation that is also changing geography and culture I don't think there is anything particularly wrong with cutting shinigami from the story and still have it be recognizably Death Note.

You could either have the shinigami eye powers be one of the rules in the notebook or you could remove that entire Misa subplot entirely. It's not meant to be a 1:1 adaptation.

 

[sphagnum]

The couldn't make L a Japanese actor..?

L was only 1/4 Japanese anyway.

 

[A Link to the Past]

Did they? Like, was the casting calls specifically 'Caucasian'? No Ryuk and bad casting calls~ netflix why

It's so weird too, because Netflix doesn't even have to worry about the racial politics of Hollywood.

 

[sappyday]

I have no faith in this adaptation. Not only do I think Wingard is overrated, but there's also no way they can adapt what made Death Note so great in 2 hours. Especially if there is no Ryuk equivalent.

 

[KarmaCow]

This is ridiculously wrong. Misa's whole character and plot revolves around the rules for shinigami and their powers.

The existence of shinigami and whether a person can see them or not were also significant parts

You not enjoying those elements doesn't make them insignificant.

It's been a while since I watched the anime but how significant were shinigamis actually being there that couldn't be also solved by the book itself having the rules in it? I think it's easier to explain why the Death Note would have gamble for humans in it than trying to portray Ryuk in a movie that already changed the setting, names of characters, and who knows what else for mainstream western audiences.

The bigger problem is that Ryuk served as a exposition dump and a sounding board for Light early on. Having him just do all the early experimenting and planning alone seems awkward with Ryuk curiously observing.

 

[Professor Renegade]

Light Turner......

 

[BreezyLimbo]

It's so weird too, because Netflix doesn't even have to worry about the racial politics of Hollywood.

I'm more worried about there being no Ryuk

He's like half the damn story

 

[Joni]

It's so weird too, because Netflix doesn't even have to worry about the racial politics of Hollywood.

There might be other politics at play, for instance the Japanese movie firm not wanting to compete with another Asian-lead Death Note movie. It will in any case help differentiate them when this one flops as I'm not too optimistic about it.

 

[Linkstrikesback]

Hmm. Nah.

Might watch the existing Japanese death note movies again though, I remember those being pretty good.

 

[A Link to the Past]

I'm more worried about there being no Ryuk

He's like half the damn story

They probably couldn't decide on enough bad ideas they were adding to take out to fit him in

 

[Goldrush]

Personally don't want a faithful adaptation. Hoping they pulled off something like the Ring where the Japanese supernatural elements were given a Western occult flavored twist.

Ryuk isn't vital to the plot (for the most part, there are parts where Light uses him to complete tasks), but he does make the show more fun. Without him, Light would just be talking to himself 80% of the time.

Moreso than Ryuk's involvement in the plot, this is the most compelling argument for a Ryuk-like character to me. Light needs someone to bounce his ideas off because showing Light's thought process through narration would be boring. I can see the movie try to use a human character (possibly Mia) to fill the role, but it would completely change the dynamic by spreading the blame somewhat.

 

[AntraxSuicide]

Personally don't want a faithful adaptation. Hoping they pulled off something like the Ring where the Japanese supernatural elements were given a Western occult flavored twist.



Moreso than Ryuk's involvement in the plot, this is the most compelling argument for a Ryuk-like character to me. Light needs someone to bounce his ideas off because showing Light's thought process through narration would be boring. I can see the movie try to use a human character (possibly Mia) to fill the role, but it would completely change the dynamic by spreading the blame somewhat.

Honestly, they could just do some really cool mental exposition with the same inner style from the anime where Light turned red and L turned blue. I think a few other characters had their own themes in the mental world as well (Near was white, Mello was yellow, the Afro cop was green)

 

[CronoShot]

Light...Turner?

 

[Metal B]

Ryuk actually does nothing for the plot. He's a reason behind the book but it's not explored. The rules for the book itself are more important than Ryuk. You could literally write Ryuk's part as additional need-to-know on the inside of the book and the point will get across. His commentary and prodding of Light don't interfere with the plot, the only one that does is the female waifu shinigami. Even then that was horribly done.

Ryuk isn't important for the plot, but he is very important as a storytelling device. Light needs someday, who he can explains his plans and his reasons to, so that the audience can follow his line of thinking. In character he would never tell anybody or write it down, since this could expose him. Constantly talking to him self would also be too wired. Ryuk is perfect as stand in for the audience as he is complete neutral and his motivation is entertainment.

This is very similar to House of Cards. Frank Underwood, similar to Light, would never tell anyone his secrets or his true throughs. This would make him vulnerable. So he breaks the fourth wall and explains everything directly to the audience.

 

[Pyramid head]

I can't believe there are people who don't want the Shinigami in this. Ryuk watching events unfold with detatched amusement and the dynamic between him and Light were the most interesting aspects for me. The entire thing would be prettty fucking without them, I probably wouldn't bother watching.

 

[thepotatoman]

Hard to imagine Death Note without Ryuk. He doesn't really add all that much to the main plot outside of explaining stuff that could just be written out in the Deathnote, but he bookends the story so well, and does so much to set the tone and define Light's character.

He would need a major redesign though. They perfectly brought his traditional design to life in the japanese live action movie, but I don't think that design works in a western movie. Maybe they could give him a bit of a western horror movie redesign that might work, but who knows how much money they're spending.

I imagine there's no chance for Near, but I hope they'll keep matsuda. They could still do a similar ending by having

Spoiler

L die, but finding out enough in the process to point Matsuda/Light's father toward Light, leading to Light's eventual death by either of their hands.

Overall I don't mind change. The only absolute disaster would be if the creators of this movie are one of those many weirdos that think

Spoiler

Light is the protagonist of the story and wished he came out of the story as the absolute winner and rightful ruler of the entire world.

 

[jack_package_200]

Light...Turner?

An adaptation of a popular manga and anime where they change the last name of the main character to turner can only mean one thing...

FAIRY GOD PAREN- I mean SHINIGAMI

 

[Miracle]

He'll have to be a jock too. Smart kids aren't popular in American schools like in Japan.

Spoiler

Light in the anime was a high school champion Tennis player.

 

[Dirtyshubb]

Seemingly no Ryuk? Utter Bullshit if true.

Those saying he isn't needed are missing the point. Not only have people given examples of why he is import to the story but it's also a great way of differentiating it from everything else.

Adding the whole idea of a supernatural world with beings that view the humans and their lives as a simple time filler that they can gamble on is vital to the overall theme.

Spoiler

this is especially important for the end where after years of light shaping the world dramatically only to lose and for him to be discarded as just a fun time filler and everything going back to how it started within a year and Ryuk just moving on adds to the whole idea that even light was just another disposable humanand people will just be people.

I can understand cutting some stuff out to make it a tighter experience but removing the shinigami is totally the wrong move and takes away from the story and it's uniqueness.

 

[Alienous]

Shinigami → Reaper

Done.

I feel stupid. Of course.

 

[Pluto]

I don't mind them changing the names, if the characters become american that's fine. What annoys me is that the didn't change Light's first name. Who names their child Light?
In the original version the character's name was actually Raito which is an actual japanese name, it was just romanized as Light because the pronunciation is identical in japanese but in story he was just a guy with a regular first name. Now he's a white kid with some weird ass celebrity child name.

 

[twinturbo2]

The name Light is perfect for a spoiled upper-middle class latchkey kid.

Deliberately swapping up the ethnicity on the leads makes sense, if only to make it distinct when it's on Netflix and such.

I forget the guy's name, but I remember an Asian-American actor claiming he tried to audition for Light, only to be told that they weren't casting Asian people in the film.

You think Nerds of Color won't latch on to that to try to sink this film?

 

[Erigu]

I don't mind them changing the names, if the characters become american that's fine. What annoys me is that the didn't change Light's first name. Who names their child Light?
In the original version the character's name was actually Raito which is an actual japanese name, it was just romanized as Light because the pronunciation is identical in japanese but in story he was just a guy with a regular first name.

Sorry, but you're just plain wrong on that one.

In Japanese, he really was named "Light" (i.e. the English word). "Raito" is just how that English word is pronounced when you follow Japanese phonetics.
And no, that's not a regular Japanese name. Not by a loooong shot. Hell, his name actually was the Chinese character for "Moon" pronounced as the English word "Light". That's a textbook example of what Japanese people call "DQN names" (or "Kirakira names", amusingly enough, considering the series we're talking about). "Who names their child that?" indeed.

I seem to remember there was a conscious effort on the writer's part to come up with weird names that you'd be unlikely to encounter in real life... but then again, I also remember said writer was outed to really be Gamō Hiroshi by one of his sons a few years back, and considering how the guy named said son...
[For the Japanese speakers who might be interested: the son's name was "Naoki"... except it was written as "直王輝". Can you guess why? A word of warning: it's very, very silly.]

 

[King Gilga]

Removing the shinigami things would be the best thing they could do for an adaptation.

 

[Hot Coldman]

I believe in Adam Wingard.

 

[Arkeband]

Adam Wingard is great, but good lord, this cast and the way they're changing the story is an abomination.

Either make it a completely separate story or fuck off, IMO.

They probably removed Shinigami because they'd offend the American public with the idea that Heaven isn't real and the moral of the story is largely humanist.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

Not interested. Not even just because of the whitewashing, but also because Asian actors were specifically excluded from the casting of Light.

Ewwww

Bullshit. If a Japanese teenager locks himself in his room for hours claiming he's studying (while secretly murdering people with his supernatural notebook) it's actually reasonable to assume he's really studying.

If an American teenager says they're studying for hours on end while supernatural murders are going on you've found you're fucking serial killer.

Nah, it just means he's looking at porn.

LOL

I mean, Light is an aspiring

Spoiler

cop

LOL, damn this thread is a comedy goldmine at least

 

[Samimista]

Light...Turner?

Misa/Mia as Tootie.

 

[emb]

Light Turner is an awful name change.

 

[lightskintwin]

I do not understand why there is a belief that because this is based on a Japanese work of fiction, this adaptation should star a Japanese American.

There should be more movies with Asian-American stars, but latching onto the issue for this movie simply because it's an adaption of a Japanese story is silly to me.

I gotta reluctantly agree with this. Not to mention Japan, China, South Korea, and India have their own thriving film industry and also adapt Western works of fiction.

 

[What did he mean by this?]

I'm glad Light's white and L's black. I hope Wingard plays with ideas of white supremacy and an unfair justice system.

It would be hard to make Timmy Turner sympathetic if he was a racist though.

 

[Kusagari]

Removing the Shinigami, and especially Ryuk, destroys the entire point.

The entire irony of the story is how Light sees himself as a God when the entire time his life is truly at the whim of a true God in Ryuk.

 

[BronsonLee]

Either make it a completely separate story or fuck off, IMO.

Everything I've seen looks like they're taking the core concept and L vs Light, and binning the rest

 

[Angry Grimace]

How would they explain Shinigami Eyes without the existance of Shinigami?

The Death Note can just explain it.

 

[GuitarAtomik]

Really curious to see how this turns out. I'm a fan of Wingard so I'm not writing this off.

 

[The Adder]

Ugh

Light Turner

I'm sure someone's patting themselves of the back for that little bit of foreshadowing.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

Do some of you forget how L died?