Death Note: The Last Name

Death Note: The Last Name is the second film in the Death Note live-action film series. It follows closely after the first film, telling the second arc of the story.

The Last Name deviates from the manga and anime, although the ultimate conclusion remains the same. There is no time skip between the first and second films, and Near and Mello are omitted from the story. Instead, the first two films keep the battle between Light Yagami and L.

The Last Name is followed by the spin-off film L: Change the WorLd and the sequel Death Note: Light Up the NEW World.

Plot
The Last Name picks up from the end of the previous film, beginning with Light attending his girlfriend's funeral (whom he killed using the Death Note). Using these events to foster hatred for Kira, Light asks to join the investigation team when his father checked on him. While Soichiro Yagami is slightly reluctant, L immediately grants his wish.

Later Misa Amane, using her Shinigami Eyes, kills Kanzo Mogi and two policemen while at Sakura TV, attempting to attract attention from Kira. Sayu Yagami was also almost killed until her father Soichiro crashed into the festival wearing a motorcycle helmet. The ordeal was being broadcasted live on television, and Light and L view the events from the Task Force headquarters. Soon after viewing Sayu being taken to safety and away from the cameras, Light arrives at the station to check on Sayu and his father. At this point, Misa sees Light and realizes that he is Kira, due to him having no Lifespan beneath his name.

Misa looks up the name 'Light Yagami' on her computer and is able to find his address on the internet. Much like in the manga and anime, Misa arrives at Light's house with Rem and the Death Note, and offers to help Light, however, she can. After Light asks why she is willing to do so much for him, Rem explains to Light that Misa's family was murdered. The events leading to Misa's dedication to Kira are shown through a flashback, narrated by Rem. After coming home from school, Misa enters her house and finds the bodies of her parents and young brother on the floor, lying in pools of blood. Misa is horrified and then looks up to see the murderer exiting her house through a window. She gets a good look at his face, and the man is later taken to court. Misa's testimony, however, is not enough to convict the man, and the killer walks free. While reading a newspaper, Misa sees an article saying that her family's killer is dead, and the death is thought by some to be the work of Kira. Misa begins to consider Kira her savior for bringing the murderer of her family to justice.

After hearing Misa's story, Light states that he still isn't sure about letting her join him, as she could turn him into the police after learning too much information, lead to his capture through reckless tactics and mistakes, or kill him. In an attempt to win his trust, Misa offers Light her Death Note, saying that he can keep it and be sure that she won't hinder his goals. She explains that as long as she doesn't technically give up ownership of the book, it will still belong to her and she can keep her Shinigami Eyes. She further states that if he must, Light can even kill her.

Misa is unable hold back her feelings for Light and goes to meet him in college. Shortly after she is arrested by L and interrogated for days. Rem threatens Light into coming up with a plan to rescue Misa. Light surrenders himself to L and is placed into solitary confinement, where he gives up ownership of his notebook, which he buried in the forest.

Rem, under Light's orders, hands over Misa's notebook to TV host and Kira supporter, Kiyomi Takada. She begins killing criminals as the third Kira, but is tracked down and surrounded by police. All the investigators present examine her notebook, giving Light his memories back.

Light kills Takada to regain ownership of his Death Note and gets Misa to retrieve the buried notebook. Afterward, L, suspicious of the 13 day rule, sends Soichiro to hand off the notebook to the FBI to be tested on death row inmates. Light then forces Rem to kill L and Watari. After they both die, Rem dies for intentionally killing someone to extend Misa's lifespan, but as his body crumbles to ash he sets his notebook on fire to make sure that Light wouldn't get his hands on it.

Light, assured of his victory, uses Misa's notebook to manipulate his father into giving him the other notebook. When the command fails, Light is surrounded by police. L shows up and reveals that everything was a trap to draw out a confession from Light. He replaced Misa's notebook with a fake, and managed to avoid death from Rem's notebook by writing his name in the real one stating, "L Lawliet. Dies in 23 days in a peaceful sleep." He admits that he didn't expect Rem to be on Light's side, and that letting Watari die was his "last defeat".

After getting shot in the leg and getting his wristwatch destroyed by Matsuda, Light pleads with Ryuk to kill the task force. Ryuk then agrees but writes Light's name in the Death Note, telling Light that anyone who uses the Death Note is banned from heaven and hell and will instead spend eternity in nothingness. Light dies in his father's arms begging him to believe he acted as Kira to carry out justice, which Soichiro had taught him since his childhood. Soichiro goes home and lies to his wife and daughter, telling them that Light was killed by Kira. L orders the destruction of both notebooks, causing Misa to lose her memories yet again. She is never tried for her crimes and is let go.

23 days later, L has one last conversation with Soichiro, telling him that he was a great father and apologizing for not being able to save Light. Soichiro tells L that is was an honor to work for him and salutes him. L says that "it's time" and gets Soichiro to leave. L dies shortly after, looking at a picture of Watari.

A year later, Light's family is still mourning his death, as the world is slowly starting to suspect that Kira may truly be gone for good. An amnesiac Misa holds a vigil in her apartment over Light, as the camera moves to show Ryuk laughing and flying around Tokyo Tower.

Music

 * "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
 * "Snow (Hey Oh)" by Red Hot Chili Peppers (Closing)
 * Sound of Death Note the Last Name - original soundtrack

Release and reception
Death Note: The Last Name premiered on November 3, 2006 and instantly topped the Japanese box office. It remained at number one for four straight weeks and grossed 5.5 billion yen in Japan by the end of the year, making it one of the year's highest grossing Japanese films.

It was released in Hong Kong on November 3, 2006, in Taiwan on November 24, 2006, in Singapore on December 28, 2006, and in Malaysia on January 25, 2007, with English and Chinese subtitles.

Christy Lee S.W. of The Star, in her review of the second film, stated that Kaneko "did a good job" in pacing the film, adding that the increased pacing towards the end made some of the content difficult to understand. She also said that screenwriter Tetsuya Oishi made sure the characters were "well fleshed out" and easily empathized with.

DVD and Blu-ray
On September 27, 2006, prior to the film's release, a special 15-minute DVD was made available by rental services titled, Profile Report from L. It contained stills from the series, along with music videos and advertisements.

The film was released on DVD in Japan on March 14, 2007. Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name were released together the same month in a complete set that also included a bonus DVD, bonus CD, and booklet in a special box. A limited number of complete boxes were "lucky sets" that had alternate art for the bonus DVD cover, using the cover of Misa Amane's Death Note instead of the regular cover of Light's Death Note.

The two films were again re-released together in a Blu-ray box on November 23, 2011, to celebrate the film's fifth anniversary. The box included making-of footage, the menu video, and the film trailer on DVD, along with director's audio commentary and a message from actors Tatsuya Fujiwara and Erika Toda, who played Light Yagami and Misa Amane, respectively. The DVD was priced down and reissued in October 2016 to commemorate the release of Death Note: Light Up the NEW World.

The film was released on DVD in North America by Viz Media on September 16, 2008. The DVD included both the English subtitled and English dubbed versions. Viz Media later re-released the film on Blu-Ray.

The film was re-released on DVD and Blu-Ray in North America by Funimation on January 22, 2019. It was subtitled and bundled with Death Note, but unlike their previous North American release, these versions are not dubbed. They were released alongside Death Note: Light Up the NEW World.

In France, a collector's edition of the DVD was sold. It came in a white box resembling a Death Note and "Who lives? Who dies?" was written on it in French.