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Death Note: L Change the WorLd
L change the WorLd
2008 128 min Japan 16+
★6.2
Fantasy, Action, Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery
Director: Hideo Nakata
💬 Based on the comic
«Death Note»
byTsugumi Ohba
Trailers
Description
"The human whose name is written in the Death Note shall die." After making the hardest decision ever, another serious case confronts L. There are only 23 days left and without his best partner Watari, L has to solve the case all by himself for the very first time.
Worldwide:
$30.23M
Starring
Ken'ichi Matsuyama
Actor
Sota Aoyama
Actor
Shunji Fujimura
Actor
Key opinion
L: Change the World functions as a polarizing standalone spin-off that abandons the supernatural stakes of the original films for a more traditional action-thriller narrative. While many viewers appreciate the deeper exploration of L's humanity and Kenichi Matsuyama's committed performance, others criticize the film for its disjointed plot and departure from the series' core intellectual tension.
| Acting | Kenichi Matsuyama delivers a dedicated performance that effectively captures L's mannerisms and physical presence, serving as the film's anchor. | |
| Originality | The narrative abandons the intellectual, supernatural "cat-and-mouse" dynamic of the original Death Note films in favor of a generic action-thriller plot. | |
| Theme | The portrayal of L's softer side, including his interactions with children, provides a touching and humanizing arc that contrasts with his previously cold persona. | |
| Direction | Opinions on the film's shift in genre and tone are divided; supporters value the character-driven, sentimental focus, while detractors feel it lacks the tension and "Death Note" atmosphere of its predecessors. | |
| Screenplay | Viewers are split on the screenplay's quality; some find the "saving the world" narrative engaging and emotionally resonant, while others dismiss it as an unoriginal and messy departure from the franchise's logic. |