Boruto: Naruto the Movie Review

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The Uzumaki Legacy Continues

Set 15 years after the final showdown of Naruto Shippuden. Boruto the movie provides fans of the original series an insight into how their favourite characters’ lives have progressed in that time and introduces a new generation of ninja into the mix.

The film opens with a fight scene introducing the movies main villains, fighting against series veteran Sasuke Uchiha. The first thing that struck me while watching was how good the animation was. The opening fight looked incredibly smooth, well choreographed and set the movie up in a strong and fast paced manner.

The main plot of the Boruto movie revolves around the relationship between Naruto, his family and the newest round of the Chunin exams. The exams are a great way of introducing and demonstrating the skills of the newest generation of ninja. Consisting mainly of characters’ children from the main Naruto series’. Those familiar with Naruto will know that these exams allow entry level ninja (Genin) to be recognised as advanced (Chunin) ninja if they pass.

Boruto. Son of Naruto and main character in the movie

The twist to the regular Naruto formula comes in the form of a scientist group that reside in the leaf village. These scientist have developed a product known as a ‘ninja tool’. A tool that is worn on the wrist that is able to expel small scrolls. The scrolls are pre-loaded with jutsu information and can expel powerful attacks without users needing to master techniques or hand-signs. Allowing anyone, not just ninja to now perform powerful attacks.

This tool doesn’t sit right with Naruto. Now appointed as the 7th Hokage of the village and he bans their use in the Chunin exams.

It’s not all Jutsu and Rainbows

Now we come to the second main theme running in the plot. Naruto’s family life. Or really the lack of one. The film follows Naruto’s son Boruto and it is revealed fairly early in the movie that Naruto isn’t around much as a father. He’s under a heavy workload at the office as Hokage. Sending his shadow clones back home to perform minor fatherly duties rather than spend time himself with his family.

This causes Boruto to despise his own father and seeks the mentor-ship of his former rival Sasuke. Sasuke initially refuses to train Boruto until he can demonstrate a certain ability. But when he can’t perfect it, he accepts a ninja tool from one of the scientists to perform the jutsu for Sasuke and receive training.

Boruto seeks out Sasuke to train him

The Chunin exams proceed and are full of awesome action scenes. It appears that rather than trying to do well to become a Chunin. Boruto is actually progressing in the exams to try and gain affection from his father who spends very little time actually being a father.
This was hard to see after being a fan of the series for so long. The Naruto seen in the earlier acts in the movie is not the same one we know and love from the main series. There were a couple of times while watching that I thought to myself “wow, he is a really bad father”.

The Chunin exams get interupted in their later stages by the villains Sasuke faced in the opening scene. This pushes the plot into its final act which for the sake of avoiding spoilers I’ll be vague plot wise.

Massive Climactic Team Up

It involves Boruto and Sasuke coming together with a handful of other high-end ninja to assist in defeating the villain. The villain of the film is quite bland. He had very similar motivations to another major villain from the Shippuden series. And followed a cookie cutter template used multiple times in the past for Naruto filler and movie villains.

Main villain of the film: Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki

While the villain itself wasn’t the best. The climax of the battle and how things come together in the finale was the highlight of the film. It had Naruto and Sasuke teaming up together again, which was something that wasn’t in the majority of the core series. All topped off with some great father/son moments where you get to see that Naruto isn’t necessarily as bad of a father as we were lead to believe and wants to be better.

The movie has a great soundtrack that ramps up any time there is a big action scene. The Naruto series has always had amazing music and this film is no different. It adds so much emotion to the climax of the final battle.
It’s no wonder this movie earned $388K during it’s limited run in Australian and New Zealand Cinema’s. It is incredible.

Naruto and Sasuke team up once more

Final Thoughts

Overall Boruto the movie Is a great film and an amazing addition to the world of Naruto for fans of the original series. The movie holds it’s own as an additional piece of the series unlike the previous films and doesn’t just feel like a non-canon add on. It deals with some more serious issues than the series is used to, but the slight tone change is welcomed.
While the main villain could have been better, the final fight along with the silky smooth animation and lighting throughout well and truly made up for the handful of small faults and is a must see for fans.

Be sure to wait it out through the credits for a great fanservice after credits scene. The Bluray special features include: The Day Naruto Became Hokage OVA, English Trailer, Promotional Videos, Concept & Character Art & Storyboards.

Head to Madman to pick up a copy today.

All images © 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO/2007 SHIPPUDEN © BMP 2015

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8.5

Watched On: BluRay

  • + Didn't feel like a regular non-canon anime movie
  • + Music added so much to powerful scenes
  • + Great eater egg moments from the original series


  • - Villains were quite bland

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