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Naruto Shippuden the Movie
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Wikipedia article
is the fourth overall in the 'Naruto' film series and the first 'Naruto: Shippuden' film, directed by Hajime Kamegaki and written by Junki Takegami. The movie is set after episode 23.
Plot
The film opens with a prediction that Naruto Uzumaki dies battling a monster who kills him. A funeral is held for Naruto at his home village, where others attend. Tsunade looks out at the window and ponders if everything is just decided by fate.
The film's scene returns to a few days previous, where a man named Yomi attacks a shrine to retrieve the spirit of Mry, a demon attempting to conquer the world and create his "Thousand Year Kingdom". Since he is lacking a body, Yomi offers his as a temporary substitute until they can retrieve Mry's original one. The only threat to Mry's plan is a priestess named Shion, who has the ability to seal his spirit away once more; she can also foresee a person's death. He raises a stone army from their slumber to attack the rest of the world while his four subordinates go to eliminate Shion. They are given special chakra creatures to enhance their strength.
To deal with the threat, the Land of Fire sends out many advance teams to stall the stone army. Naruto, Sakura Haruno, Rock Lee and Neji Hyuga are sent to guard Shion, and deliver her to the shrine where Mry's body is kept. They fend off Shion's four would-be assassins, and afterwards Shion prophesies Naruto's upcoming death. Shion's total acceptance of "fate", as well as her selfish attitude, provokes Naruto into antagonizing her. As they head for the shrine, they are again ambushed by the assassins and Shion is seemingly killed. It turns out to be a ruse: the dead "Shion" is actually her servant, Taruho, acting as a decoy by the use of the Shadow Mirror Body Transfer Jutsu. After Neji tells Naruto to escort Shion to the temple alone, Shion explains that her predictions work by using others' lives to protect her own. Naruto insists that he will survive and likewise will keep Shion safe.
Together, Sakura, Lee and Neji defeat the assassins, and at the mountain temple where Mry's body is kept, Naruto and Shion find the stone army waiting. Naruto holds the army back, while Shion heads inside to begin the sealing ritual, where Yomi tricks Shion into beginning the technique with him inside the barrier, allowing Mry's spirit to reunite with his body. After Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Shikamaru Nara and Temari destroy the stone army, Naruto comes to rescue Shion. About to see her prediction of his death come true, Shion uses her bell's power to change Naruto's fate. She is able to tap into her true powers, intending to kill herself and Mry to save Naruto (for whom she has developed feelings for). Naruto stops her seconds before her death, and creates a giant by combining Shion's chakra with his. Naruto drives the Rasengan into Mry and obliterates it.
In the final scene, Naruto asks Shion what she intends to do now. She replies that Mry was a demon created by the dark thoughts of mankind, and that there is bound to be another Mry someday. Because of this, she says that she must continue the line of priestesses that will suppress demons like Mry. Shion then asks Naruto if he will help her (a double entendre asking if he will be the father of her child), much to the shock of Sakura, Kakashi and Lee. Naruto, clueless as usual, agrees without realizing the second meaning of her question.
Voice cast
Production
The film was produced by Aniplex, Bandai Co., Ltd., Dentsu Inc., Pierrot, Shueisha and TV Tokyo. Its official theme song is "Lie-Lie-Lie" by DJ Ozma.
It was released on DVD in Japan on April 23, 2008 and in the United States on November 10, 2009. It was announced that the American version could be pre-ordered with the limited edition of 'Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3' before its release. The English version aired on Disney XD in the United States on May 15, 2011.
Reception
In its opening weekend 'Naruto Shippuden: The Movie' came in at number six. In its second week the movie dropped to number eight and stayed there in its third week. The film grossed $13,219,807 in the box offices. The home media release of the movie was also well received in Japan.
The set up provided by the early trailer alluding to Naruto's death was noted to surprise the fans based on the recent airing of the second animated adaptation the long time popularity of the title character. UK Anime felt the film was too gruesome in general despite the ratings presented to the point he believed the younger demographic would be shocked by the violent acts such as fighters being impaled or losing a considerate amount of blood. 'Active Anime' praised the shocking story of Naruto's death and the large amount of well animated fight scenes created across the narrative. Comic Book Resources listed it as one of the best 'Naruto' movies, citing its darker themes when compared with the previous trilogy alongside the well choreographed fight sequences but considered it as "filler" as it has no impact in the manga's narrative, most importantly due to the focus on Naruto's potential death. Hobby Consolas compared the movie with the first 'Naruto' movie due to the focus on Naruto's work as a bodyguard but more on a romantic tone due to the development Shion shows across the story. The website also praised the animation, claiming the CGI performed on the villains was well executed and soundtrack manages to improve the atmosphere. Despite the dark nature of the movie, 'Animation Scoop' felt that Pierrot managed to balance the media with comedy. Nevertheless, he also praised the handling of animation like Hobby Consolas due to how menacing are the antagonists and how well animated are the fights. UK Anime in particular enjoyed the fight between Rock Lee and one of Yomi's followers as the most outstanding parts of the movie, comparing it to 'The Ghost Army'. In closing the review, 'UK Anime' called it "entertaining enough to be a kind of popcorn movie for normal anime viewers" and "For the Naruto fans however, its a good, solid movie to add to your collection".
References
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