Synopsis: Light joins the task force searching for Kira in an effort to avert suspicion from himself and also, to get rid of L. The mystery deepens as another Death Note with its God of Death, is brought into the human world.
A second and third Kira complicates the mystery. Making things even more unpredictable are the 'Eyes of Death', given to the second Kira, enabling the owner to know the true identity and lifespan of any person. Who would get hold of the 'Trump Card' which would determine the outcome of events? And who will be the Last name?
Tatsuya Fujiwara plays the role of Light Yagami, a genius law student who picks up the "Death Note" and uses it to "cleanse" the world of evil. Upholding justice obsesses him and he envisions himself as a god in the crime-less utopia he plans to create.
As criminals continue to die in unexplainable ways, people start saying that it must be the work of a "messiah", of whom they call Kira. L, played by Kenichi Matsuyama, works for the International Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO) and is deployed to solve the Kira mystery.
In "Death Note 2: The Last Name", the story continues as Light devises a plan to be part of the Kira Task Force headed by L. While the two geniuses are busy dealing with each other, a second Death Note drops into Earth. Rem, a Shinigami, brings the second notebook and Misa Amane (Erika Toda), a pop star and Kira worshipper, comes into possession of it.
Becoming a Kira herself, she accepts the offer to have the 'Eyes of the Death' which will enable her to know the name of any person without being told. As Misa and Light work together to get rid of L, a new character, Kiyomi Takada (Nana Katase), comes into the picture as the third Kira. With the disclosure of the new rules of the Death Note, the mystery becomes more complex, with a satisfying storyline and a completely unpredictable finale. (Note: the movie will NOT end the same way the original comic does.)
With the introduction of new characters and new elements being added to the "Death Note" saga, "Death Note 2" is definitely more intriguing and unpredictable than Part One. More character development and better cinematography allows director Shusuke Kaneko to feature a film that will live up to the manga series' name.
In the first movie, the three main characters, Light, L and Misa never get to meet each other. But in the sequel they do! And this dynamic interaction of deception is beautifully executed by the actors with their screen chemistry and finely-tuned performances. Fans of Misa will also be pleased to know that this time around her character has more complexity.
Scenes of her room, which is decorated with 'Hungry & Angry' stuffed animals and sensual dolls specially designed for her, clearly reflect Misa's taste in 'Gothic Lolita' and add depth to her personality.
Apart from physical illustration, the movie also concentrates on symbolism. One example is in the beginning of the film where Light and L engaged in a game of chess, which is the best representation of their hyper intellectual and psychological duels with each other.
Every action is calculated. One wrong move and someone dies. Who will win and who will lose? Who will have the last laugh? The answer is written in "Death Note 2: The Last Name"!
This sequel picks up from where the first movie ends. In "Death Note", Light Yagami (Tatsuya Fujiwara) is a law student who is concerned with the increase in crime in his country. When the shinigami (the God of Death) drops a magical book on Earth, Light picks it up and decides to use it wipe out the criminals using the Death Note.
In "Death Note 2", the attempts to catch the kira (or the perceived Messiah) is more challenging. L, played by Kenichi Matsuyama, finally meets Yagami and their psychological duel enters a new phase where whoever is careless for even a split second will lose!
When both of them are dealing with each other, another God of Death, Rem, drops another Death Note on Earth. This time, it is picked by Misa, a television presenter for Sakura Television Broadcasting.
Fujiwara has proven how gifted he is to the audiences in both the two movies. His character, Yagami, is well-adjusted - especially when he is attending his girlfriend's funeral and when he cries in a climactic scene, while Matsuyama's portrayal of the eccentric criminal investigator L in the movie is highly praised because he manages to imitate how L looks in the comic version of Death Note.
The images of the Death Gods, Ryuk and Rem, are beautifully illustrated in Death Note. The graphic designers have obviously done a great job in sketching and drawing them. The overall sound effects and other computerised effects are also perfectly modified.
With the disclosure of the new rules of the Death Note, the mystery becomes so complex that even the geniuses Light Yagami and L are perplexed. Amongst this chaos, only one person sees through the whole thing. Who? And who will win? Who will die?
The answer is written in Death Note 2 the Last name! MORE REVIEW :
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