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Death Note
David’s coworker lent him a Japanese thriller called Death Note. Since Blue Ray jacket depicted a set of wings and a guy with heavy makeup biting his thumb, I dismissed the movie as an adaptation of some popular video game or anime series that didn’t interest me. But there’s nothing like the pressure to return borrowed property in a timely fashion to make you not procrastinate. We watched the movie last night and I was pleasantly surprised.
It’s about a student who finds a ledger – the Death Note – abandoned by an undead, clown-like, winged grim reaper with feathery epaulettes and heavy-metal jewelry. Creepy but interesting. He follows the student around, offering up advice and historical anecdotes while chomping down on apples, er…the forbidden fruit. His ledger, he explains, grants the person who possesses it (finders, keepers) the power to kill with impunity just by writing the victim’s real name down on one of the pages. The holder of the book can also specify the time of death and how he wants his victims to die. But luckily the film stays focused on the supernatural aspect of the deaths and not the killings. There are a couple of foaming-at-the-mouth scenes but at no time are we treated to creative murders, like impalements on household objects or stiletto heels piercing through the eyeballs.
The student initially uses his power to rid the world of murderers and sleazebags, but then starts scheduling random hits to cover his tracks and to off anyone who gets in the way of his killing. The entire law enforcement community gets involved to help solve the supernatural killings. Some of the crime theories made no sense but they won’t detract from the story as long as you accept that the Death Note follows its own logic.
The story of the death note sounds cinematic to inspire an American remake but I doubt it would be very good. The subtle aspects that made the film so interesting probably wouldn’t fly with Hollywood movie executives, who would surely ramp up the American version with over-the-top actors – including an annoying it girl to play the love interest and a comedian to play the intelligent detective – bizarre killings, an obnoxious soundtrack and several car chases. I’m hoping some director will prove me wrong.
Unexpected guest
This little guy flew into our kitchen. It didn’t take him long to find his way back out.
Provence
Some sunshine, sunflowers and some herbes de Provence… Now all I need are my blue wooden shutters.
Eastern Washington
Petrified wood and rock engravings in Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, Vantage Wa.
V, A, A, T and D family blog 