The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

I am going to make this short and sweet. If you are watching this movie because you enjoyed the original Death Note series then you are wasting your time. The poorly thought out plot and development of the story will leave a sour taste in your mouth. While there are some cameo appearances from the original cast - it doesn't save the film from itself, but uses them as cliched plot hooks to make you think there is something bigger a long the way.Here is a spoiler and it really disturbs me the most. The idea that L and Kira/Light both had time to store their DNA, or have children is absurd. I mean to the point of the absurdity that it doesn't even make sense. I've read the Manga, Watched all the Anime, seen the live action films, and even ready the light novels. and not once, in any of that source material - key words here are SOURCE MATERIAL - is there an ounce of Kira/Light having a child, or L storing his DNA. Now only ten years have passed and these clones and children are full grown adults? give me a break!!!Anyways, This movie is awful, Sorry dudes you failed big time

I'd be blunt: I was disappointed. If you wish to carry Death Note in your title, you should at least carry on or live to the standards set by the prequels. My main and constant distraction is the characters. The interesting stories behind L and Kira were all gone. Instead, we were shoved with uninteresting characters that are a disgrace to their source material. Take for example Ryuzaki. He was my favorite character in the Manga and in the movies. I've always praised K'enichi Matsuyama's portrayal of L in the prequels. It was like, he was born to play L. And here comes Ryuzaki in this film who was a trying-hard L. He looked like a thug auditioning for a scientist role. And it was painful to watch him do all those L-like acts that are so not him. He was a constant distraction which made the overall watching experience a disaster. Even "Neo Kira" wooh! was really a bore. Kira may not be the best role model for kids, but hey, we're not kids. So where's the fun you ask? None really. The entire movie was a letdown. Not even the cat-mouse play of L and Kira helped.The story was also a mess. The explanation of Neo Kira wasn't so clear to me. I really didn't understand everything can someone just please explain to me how Neo Kira came to be...well, it would be a spoiler if you haven't watched it yet, came to be the person revealed to be Neo Kira. Which brings me, there was a first Neo Kira. Wooh, I'll stop here or I'll be commenting on how his all-white formal attire with a one-sided hairdo kinda ruined the Kira image for me. And the ending!!!! Wow, I thought I've seen the worst..the ending would cement my not-so-enjoyable experience actually.The production values here are fine. But its Death Note we're talking about here. We loved the Manga, the story, the characters. Even the shinigamis. Sad to say, this one's not Death Note.

Death Note is the one of the best original work that Japanese have developed and created a truly mysterious story, with creative characters. Honestly, I really loved the story (plot) and the developed characters. The story is quite inspiring, full with excitement. Based on the famous Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power.NOTE: The only reason, why people dislike it, is that the two characters "Light" and "L' is not too involved at all in this series.

As a Death Note fan, I was excited when a new film is green-lighted. It is only later when it is revealed as a sequel to Death Note: The last name. Though doubtful, I was still looking forward to see how the saga of Kira could be continued. Crafted as an original story, the first trailer looked intriguing. So how does the final product fare? Death Note: Light up the new world is a decent installment to the popular franchise, paying homage to the franchise. Although it is a sequel, it could easily be a stand-alone film with all the new characters. It may not match the standard of the first two films directed by Shusuke Kaneko but it is a step up from Hideo Nakata's L: Change the world.The story: Set 10 years after Death Note: The last name, Shinsuke Sato (Director of Gantz) goes straight into the thrills as he opens with a killing rampage in Tokyo. He keeps the pace brisk without slowing down for character's development. The viewers will be thrust into the middle of the cat-and-mouse chase. I think it will be helpful to watch Death Note: New Generation, a mini-series that is the prequel to this. The new characters are interesting enough but nothing beats Light and L. The third act falls to Shinsuke's familiar territory. A thrilling chase followed by an action-packed climax with revelations. Some twists may be a little surprised but if you know Death Note, it wouldn't come off as a big surprise. Shinsuke directs with enough thrills to keep the film afloat. Acting is alright. The characters are fighting for their own screen time. None of the characters stand out. Even Ryuk, the iconic shinigami, has limited screen time. Music is throughout and adds to the thrills.Overall: It may not hold a candle next to first two films in term of smartness and thrills but it is decent enough to warrant a watch. It is definitely not boring and the CGI has improved a lot. The CGI of the three shinigamis feel more realistic and organic. Is it worthy of being in the Death Note franchise? I would say a 'Yes'. It ends with a common cliffhanger and I wouldn't seeing Death Note taking a new direction. But it will have to wait until this film is deemed as successful. Meanwhile, let's see if the Hollywood remake in 2017 is worthy of its title.