INSHITE MIRU: 7-KAKAN NO DESU GÊMU [2010]

aka The Incite Mill

Director Hideo Nakata takes a break from creepy long-haired dead Japanese girls with the breezy sci-fi mystery Inshite Miru.

Here we follow ten strangers, trapped in an underground bunker, who all unwillingly partake in a dangerous game of survival for a large sum of money.
It's not particularly original or surprising, in fact it wear it's Agatha Christie influence on it's sleeve, ten little Indians and all.  However it's brisk pacing, atmospheric suspense and wildly entertaining cast make it an easily digestible ride.  Don't expect many twists 'n turns because you'll probably figure it out quicker than you'd like, which is a shame because it takes the fun out of films like these when you're a step or two ahead of them.

3 Guards out of 5

Death Note: L Change the World (2008)

A D Note spin-off featuring the peculiar L in an original story not found in the source text. One of his contemporaries (similarly monikered, of course) sends him a mystery that if unsolved will have worldwide consequences.
Adding to the pressure are a number of time constraints, one of which was brought on by the sleuth's own calculated actions in the Kira case.
The lighter moments showing L out of his comfort zone were the most entertaining, helped along by a spirited performance from the little girl.
The serious parts of the story were often low on tension and too closely resembled an American film in need of trimming.

2½ sweet numbers out of 5

Death Note 2: The Last Name (2006)

D Note 2 continues the story from the point the first film ended. The twisty-turny battle of wills being fought between Light Yagami and the mildly eccentric L grows even more dangerous for both sides.
Misa Amane plays a pivotal role, helping put the moral nature of Light into a deeper perspective. Among other things the emotionally damaged Misa also offers up food for thought about state control and the dual natures of ambition and infatuation.
Shinigami Gelus gets hardly any screen time but evokes more emotion in a short scene than anyone else manages in over two hours.

2½ new leaves out of 5

Death Note (2006)

The Death Note is a book that causes the death of anyone whose name is written on its pages. Any fool can use it, but it takes a sharp mind to fully exploit its uses; that mind belongs to a College student, Light Yagami.
The film isn't as good as the manga or anime that preceded it, but for a TV production it does okay. The shorter running time means it lacks the depth or complexity inherent in the source, but the biggest problem is with the Shinigami (Death God). Ryuk could've been amazing, but he's rendered in a cartoonish CGI that doesn't fit with the realistic aesthetic of the rest of the film. The argument that he's supposed to appear otherworldly won’t change my mind about that. He deserved better.
It's the first half of the story only, with a cliffhanger ending, so it's advisable to already be in possession of Death Note 2 before you begin watching.

3 helpful statistics out of 5