Death Note: L Change the World (2008)

A spin-out sequel to the popular Japanese thriller. This time it focuses on the character "L."

Director:

Hideo Nakata

Writers:

Tsugumi Ôba (story and characters), Takeshi Obata (story and characters)

Stars:

Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Alistair Abell, Michael Adamthwaite

Cast

Credited cast:
Ken'ichi Matsuyama	...	L
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alistair Abell	...	Doctor / Medical Dispatch (voice)
Michael Adamthwaite	...	Rei Iwamatsu (voice)
Sota Aoyama	...	Detective Matsuda
David Bueno	...	Scientist
Garry Chalk	...	Commanding Officer (voice)
Shannon Chan-Kent	...	Misa Amane (voice)
Louis Chirillo	...	Pedestrian (voice)
Ted Cole	...	Kimihiko Nikaido / Medical Dispatch (voice)
Richard Ian Cox	...	F / Medical Dispatch / Pedestrian (voice)
Trevor Devall	...	Medical Dispatch / Train Passenger (voice)
Michael Dobson	...	Koichi Matsudo / Corporal / Doctor / Pedestrian / Security Guard (voice)
Michael Donovan	...	Daisuke Matoba (voice)
Brian Drummond	...	Hideaki Suruga / Ryuk (voice)
Shunji Fujimura	...	Watari

Storyline

A spin-off of the popular Death Note films, 'L: Change The World' focuses on the legendary detective L as he uses his final 23 days to solve crimes all over the world. When a young girl and boy come to him for aid, L is soon faced with what may be his most difficult case yet: stopping a group of corrupted scientists from spreading a lethal virus throughout the earth.

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Plot Keywords:

character name in title | 

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Taglines:

The final death note showdown!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

(at around 2h) The robot that L gives Near at the end of the movie is the same robot that is shown in the anime series that belongs to Near.

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Goofs

(at around 12 mins) When a helicopter gunship fires a rocket at a pickup truck and destroys it, it is clear that at least one of the 7 round rocket pods is full, in spite of the helicopter firing both pods earlier.

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Quotes

L: Whatever the reason may be, murder is always wrong.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits there is a scene showing L sitting on a chair eating chocolate. He then turns around and walks off. It then says L Lawliet rests in peace.

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Connections

Follows Death Note (2006)

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Soundtracks

I'll be waiting
Song by Lenny Kravitz

User Reviews

Spin-Off

I imagine you have seen or at least heard of the anime/manga "Death Note". I'm not gonna spoil anything about "Death Note", but as you can imagine, as with every spin-off, you have one major character from "Death Note" appearing in this movie.

This character is none other than "L". A mysterious but very funny character, with some very weird and funny addiction habits. I don't know if this spin-off is based on an anime too, but I can say, that apart from a really fresh and exciting beginning, this movie lacks many things from the original "Death Note" (series). The actor who plays "L" (the same guy who played him in Death Note too) is fantastic in his role depiction. True to his anime roots, but only as much as the story allows him to be.

And there lies the problem. This movie is way too serious (a few absurd moments still exist) and way too dramatic. A shame then, that the thriller elements can't save the movie either. The best moments lie in the comedy or character (mostly L) bits, but even those can't save the movie entirely. My tip: Watch both "Death Note" movies and the anime series instead!

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros [Japan] Warner Bros. [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese French Italian Thai English

Release Date:

2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Death Note: L Change the World

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$35,319,632

Company Credits

Production Co:

Horipro, Nikkatsu, Nippon Television Network (NTV)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1