DEATH NOTE COLLECTION

This package from 4 Digital Media marks the UK blu-ray debut of DEATH NOTE, parts 1 and 2 (which is sub-titled THE LAST NAME). While the 4-disc set (2 blu-ray discs and 2 DVDs) purports to house the complete collection of the live-action DEATH NOTE films, it's worth noting that a third instalment - L: CHANGE THE WORLD - is not included. Arguably, that one was more of a spin-off than a sequel proper anyway ... but I just thought I'd mention it.

Disc 1 is a blu-ray containing Shusuke Kaneko's 2006 film DEATH NOTE. Based on the popular 13-episode modern Manga classic of the same name (but thrown into production before that series had been completed!), this comes from the famed Nikkatsu Studio and with a lot of reputation to live up to: the original comic series was and is loved by many.

It certainly starts off in gripping style. A hoodlum is chased by police through neon-lit streets, only to collapse and foam at the mouth when cornered. The following morning, a corrupt businessman is hounded by the press when attempting to leave his home for work - and suffers a cardiac arrest. Elsewhere, a convicted murderer leaves a courtroom, having had his name cleared in light of fresh evidence, only to face an angry mob moments before he too keels over and dies.

The newscasters on TV report these curious occurrences as do the local newspapers, while other criminals keep dropping dead of similarly unexpected heart attacks and the government becomes interested in finding a quick answer to the phenomena.

The youth of Japan insist that the unexplained deaths are attributable to a mystery figure known as Kira, who operates through online forums feeding on the younger generation's desires to see threat removed from their streets.

However, despite a number of them giving statements on television to this effect, the authorities are not initially convinced. And yet, standing anonymously in the middle of a train station crowd, we witness a solemn figure taking notes of ill-doers' names as he catches the latest news on a huge LCD screen ...

It turns out that this individual is Light (Tatsuya Fujiwara), a student training to follow in his father's footsteps and graduate as a police superintendent. He tells his friend Shiori (Yu Kashii), and us via the magic of flashback, of how a jaunt on the police computer system alerted him to the fact that many known criminals are roaming free because Japan's justice system is so apathetic towards taking them off the streets.

One month ago, we're shown, Light even ventured into a bar known by the police to be a hangout for some of the most dangerous criminals. What he saw there was so disheartening that he tossed aside his beloved bible, "The Compendium Of Law" ...

What he doesn't tell Shiori is that he subsequently stumbled across a mysterious book entitled "Death Note". The idea of the book is, if you note someone's name in it, they will die.

Light is compelled to put this to the test. Being the honest, disillusioned hero that he is, his first test subject is a suspected child killer seen on his TV. Sure enough, the fellow snuffs it shortly after his name has been jotted in the book.

Enter a dark, winged demon called Ryuuk (a pretty poor CGI creation voiced by Shido Nakamura) who confronts Light one night and explains that the book is his. He'd dropped it. He agrees to let Light continue to use it, but warns of the agony and sorrow that the keeper of the book is bound to encounter.

Meanwhile, antsy government officials need an answer to the growing questions surrounding this spate of mysterious deaths - and the rock star-like status given to their mythical perpetrator Kira - and so hire cynical detective L (Ken'ichi Matsuyama) to solve the case and find the "serial killer" ...

As you can imagine, best intentions get out of hand as events escalate in this enjoyable mixture of sci-fi and horror. Morality and mortality are both examined closely in what is a fast-paced, visually stylish and well-produced effort.

However, the prime source of concern here is the manipulation of the masses by the media: the way in which news is sold and digested. It's an interesting, pessimistic view of modern life that lends DEATH NOTE some intellectual weight whenever the subtle humour and risible demon FX threaten to ruin its credibility.

While being far from perfect - the CGI spoils the mood on several occasions; the film is quite simply too long at 126 minutes in length - DEATH NOTE is still very entertaining and runs with an intriguing idea, getting fair mileage from it despite never achieving the impact it should have done.

Perhaps the main problem is that it is clearly the beginning of a larger story; there is no conclusion, and the characters - as enjoyable as they are - are slaves to the premise, not yet afforded the opportunity to truly reveal themselves.

The picture quality is largely brilliant in this 1.78:1 transfer, a 1080p affair which is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Right from the high-octane opening night scene it becomes apparent that colours are bold, image detail is strong and blacks are solid. Compression is not an issue and while noise reduction may have been employed, it doesn't compromise what is a fundamentally excellent presentation of the film.

Japanese audio is presented in a rousing, full-bodied 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix that further heightens the viewing pleasure.

The disc opens with an animated main menu page and includes a pop-up menu page including scene-selection choices of 36 chapters, and the option of English subtitles on the main feature.

Disc 2 is home to DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME.

Again directed by Kaneko in 2006, this is a surprisingly effective sequel. In fact, it's superior to the first chapter.

Following a brief recap of the principals of the "Death Note" book, this kicks off where its predecessor ended. Here we see Light - now mourning the loss of his lover - join a police task force assigned with the mission of uncovering the identity of the enigmatic Kira. But will that be enough to get the ever-suspicious L off his back?

THE LAST NAME is an altogether darker beast than the first instalment. It still suffers from crappy CGI that makes the demons look like they were designed for viewing on CBBC, but overall this is intelligent filmmaking that takes on big themes (guilt, remorse, retribution) without compromising the principals of sheer entertainment.

The characters are developed better in this instalment, being given the space to breathe and interact more. It makes for an enjoyable elaboration on the original format.

It's a good film - and I can even forgive the filmmakers for employing the piss-awful (latter day) Red Hot Chili Peppers on the soundtrack. There's even an unexpected outcome to events ...

Once more, the film looks and sounds great, and specifications in these departments are identical to those on the first disc.

This time around, a very similar main menu page gives access to the main feature via a sub-scene selection menu allowing access via 30 chapters (despite this being a longer offering, at 140 minutes). Again, the only feature on this disc is the option of English subtitles.

There are no extra features on either of the blu-ray discs.

Rather, the extra features are presented on the two accompanying DVDs that round off this 4-disc set. Unfortunately these were not provided for review purposes. Therefore I can only advise that the extras include:

For DEATH NOTE:

Press conference footage; a Making Of documentary; Production Diary featurette; an image gallery; original trailers.

For DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME:

A video document of the film's premiere at the Tokyo Forum; press conference footage; a Making Of featurette; more Production Diary stuff; original trailers.

DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME make sense only when packaged together, so it's wonderful that their UK blu-ray debut sees them paired in a single set. They are good films, albeit hampered somewhat by the kiddie-friendly demons that are at loggerheads with the surprisingly bleak tone found elsewhere in each film.

Despite this though, these films do qualify as intelligent entertainment (perhaps a little too anaemic for the hardcore horror crowd?) and they look really nice on blu-ray.

Review by Stuart Willis