Misstuned

Welcome to Mari’s new edition of finding moronic stuff to write about. Mari decided she has so much stoopid stuff to write about in 2008, that Mari wants to have Moronic Monday as well as Stoopid Saturday. So from Saturday till Monday Misstuned will be chock full of stoopid and moronic things for you to read! How awesome! That, and Mari wanted to have the first post of ‘08 be about manga. XD でもマリはおたくじゃないです！ Mari also knows that this is a Tuesday, but Mari wanted it to kick off the year rather than end it.

Mari heard about this before¹, but Mari was just reminded (by reading Death Note the entire way through to greet 2008. XD)

“Raito, can you please make Misa-san be quiet?”

First, acquaint yourself with Death Note (if you haven’t already read/watched it). For those of you too lazy to read a wikipedia page, it’s a Japanese supernatural/psychological thriller manga about a boy who finds a book that kills anyone whose name you write in it. An important note²: Death Note began its run in Weekly Shonen Jump in December 2003.

“L Do you know Gods of Death love Apples?”³

Next, acquaint yourself with Devil’s Diary, first broadcast in September 2007. For those of you too lazy to read an IMDB page:

When two friends, Dominique and Ursula, uncover an ancient book in a graveyard, they discover the book has the supernatural power to grant any desire written in it. Ursula tries it and harms anyone who opposes her. Dominique realizes that the book gives all who possess it with the feeling of ultimate power. Seeking help from people she knows, Dominique tries to destroy the book before it’s too late.
Source.

Here’s Lifetime’s official page on it.

“Humans are hilarious.”

Given the timing, the similarities are just too ridiculous. Of course, the idea of writing down something and having it carried out isn’t new at all, but the timing is key. This movie was first played on 22 September 2007. Death Note began its serialization run in December 2003. The first volume of Death Note went on sale in the US in October 2005. Plus, according to people at this forum, one of the characters has L’s trademark dark circles around their eyes. Mari can’t verify that, because Mari won’t soil her eyes with Lifetime made-for-TV movies.

“I don’t like his style… it’s not like Kira at all.”

Mari may be an idiot. In fact, Mari is 99% sure that she is, but Mari can spot a fake Kira when it hits her in the face.

What do you think: total plagiarism or does Lifetime have a little leeway?

By the by, for any of you who aren’t Death Note dorks like Mari, the header titles are all quotes from the manga.

¹ Strangely enough, it wasn’t Mari’s mother, who watches Lifetime, Oxygen, and Sci-fi only that told Mari about this. No, it was Mari’s FATHER. Apparently the title caught his eye and he didn’t realize what channel he was on until commercial, then he kept watching (Mari can totally overlook it. It was 3:00 am on a Sunday. There aren’t even good infomercials - the type you can make fun of - on at that time.)
² It also happens to be Mari’s current favorite manga. Mari is also an L fan. This is totally irrelevant, but it shows where Mari’s bias comes from. Also, admitting it is the first step to recovery. XD
³ Also, Mari is aware that this is not the translation that Mari first saw. The first one Mari saw went like, “L, do you know Reapers only eat apples.” Or something. Mari’s not sure on the official. Mari got that one from Deathgod.org.