Numinous

This movie is so stupid but yet so fun to watch. I put it easily tied with the 3rd Shippuuden movie as the best Naruto movies. Good thing they changed the writer from last movie, because that was a bore-fest.



Well, let's start with the stupid. The timeline confuses me, so Naruto and Bee know each other but no pip about the fourth war? Also A has both arms and Konoha isn't a giant crater, and no CM? Figure THAT one out.

The mission cop-out by Tsunade and co. reeks of lazy writing. If they knew there was the chance of Naruto ending up dead, shouldn't they inform him before, you know, he gets himself killed in whirlpools? And it's not like the justification for the mission makes any sense: in a world where Henge no Jutsu exists, the Grass Fruit's plan only makes sense if everybody and their mothers forget such jutsu exists. But then Maroi and that other guy (forgot his name) use Henge. Great consistency! Also alibi seems to be nonexistent in this plot. Talking about Maroi, how come Mui's seal has a great toll on everybody but him? He uses Henge, Raiton and Suiton and not even a grunt of pain.

Kusagakure is landlocked but somehow has a prison at seashore. If they called it a lake, I'd buy, but Mui specifically says it's a sea out there. Geography, not the producer's expertise.

And, oh boy, the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. In the middle of the prison. In a movie with heavy Greek and Shinto mythology. It's so out of place it isn't even funny. And worst, it's shown time after time like it's supposed to symbolize something, but the Ecstasy's meaning is already patent in its name. Unless Ryuuzetsu got down and dirty while healing Naruto off-screen, it's random as hell. Also, a prison filled with ninja criminals without any sensors?! That's begging for successful escapees.

The Grass Fruit quartet is bland and forgettable. Good thing they were disposed off quickly, but the same I can't say about Naruto's impersonator. He just had two scenes a couple of minutes long each and then he dies. What a waste.

The only useful backup were Gamabunta and Bee. The Konoha nins weren't even needed, get Naruto to hide somewhere and it'd achieve the same thing.

And what's up with people surviving dozens of minutes with a hole on their chest? Kushina and Minato already stretched it, but it was ridiculous in this movie. I'm pretty sure Mui spent almost the entire third act hemorrhaging from his chest but got to defeat Satori.



But I can't bring myself to hate this movie despite its many flaws because it's so damn enjoyable. Maroi and Mui pretty much made this movie work and I liked the Pandora's Box theme. Satori's whole fight was good and I liked that, for once, Naruto can't be credited fully for defeating Satori and Mui was the key for their victory. Muku and Ryuuzetsu's background isn't very elaborate, but it gets its job done. And I chuckled at the prisoner's riot, simple yet effective... MY CORN SOUP!!!



Definitely give it a watch, just expect a lot of nonsense.

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