Road to Ninja: Naruto, le film

Believe it or not, I have never seen anything Naruto until today. This name though, and the image of the young guy with three stripes on either side of his face, with the yellow spiky hairstyle, and wearing an orange jogging suit has long been familiar to me as a Japanese anime character. However, for some reason or another, I never got a chance nor the interest to see any TV episode nor movie from this franchise before, until my kids convinced me to bring them to watch this film this afternoon on opening day in a local mall.

"Road to Ninja" tells a complicated story where Naruto and his friend Sakura are sent into a parallel mirror world by an evil wizard, where their deepest dreams come true. Sakura, who resents her parents meddling with her life, realizes that her parents have both died as heroes. Naruto who had lived his entire life as an orphan, now enjoys the loving presence of his parents, Minato and Kushima.

Both Naruto and Sakura are still cognizant though that they are living in an illusion that needs to be broken. Powerful ninja battles ensue during the night of the red moon, the only night when the spell can be broken by a mysterious scroll, and Naruto had to invoke the Nine-Tailed Fox within him in an attempt to return their world back to how it used to be.

Despite the fact that I did not even know a single fact about Naruto or his friends, I did not find it difficult to get into the groove of this story. I had to ask a question or two to my son beside me to set me straight on character relationships, but overall it was not too tough to get through.

The story was told very well, without really requiring an in depth knowledge of the animated series. The flashbacks give us the necessary historical background in order to understand better the current situation the characters are in. The clarity of this story development is quite impressive considering this is already the ninth Naruto film!

I can now see why this anime series had been so popular over the years. No wonder this particular installment had just become the highest-grossing Naruto film. I think I might just go watch the first film and really get acquainted with this popular series more.

Imagine that in your life, you have never met a family and one day you meet your surviving family. it's hard to forget, but because the world is different it has to be forgotten

The plot is very basic and with some gaps, the secondary characters are little explored, but the strength of this film is the emotional part, the way is explored the alternative of the naruto had parents is magnificent and the saddest I've seen in series, the soundtrack is beautiful as always, but this can be more emersive, magical and the song "no home" is the best I've heard in my life. It is for me, still the best naruto film, the most emotive and the most wonderful.

Road to Ninja is arguably one of the most emotionally ambitious Naruto films, and for good reason-series creator Masashi Kishimoto was directly involved in writing the story. This 2012 movie explores an alternate universe where Naruto's deepest wish (and fear) is brought to life: a world where his parents are still alive, but everything else is turned upside down.

Strengths: At its core, Road to Ninja is a character-driven story. Unlike many of the other Naruto movies that rely heavily on external threats and bombastic battles, this one focuses more on identity, loss, and belonging. The alternate reality setting allows the film to experiment with the personalities of the familiar cast-Hinata becomes aggressive and bold, Shikamaru is a womanizer, Sasuke is flirty and attention-seeking, and so on. These twisted versions of beloved characters add a refreshing layer of humor and intrigue.

The real heart of the film, though, lies in Naruto's interaction with Minato and Kushina. The emotional weight of seeing his parents alive-and being treated like a normal son-hits hard. It's a powerful "what if" scenario that digs into Naruto's loneliness and desire for connection. Kushina especially steals several scenes with her warmth and maternal energy.

Visually, the movie is polished, and the fight scenes, particularly Naruto vs. Menma (the alternate version of himself), are intense and well-animated. The soundtrack also elevates emotional moments, with melancholy themes underscoring Naruto's internal struggle.

Weaknesses: While the character drama is strong, the actual plot is somewhat thin. Tobi's use of the limited Tsukuyomi to trap Naruto in this dream world isn't fully explained, and the logic of how Naruto breaks free leans more on emotion than solid storytelling. The final battle, though well-animated, ends up being standard Naruto movie fare-Kurama rage mode, a big explosion, and heartfelt declarations of self-worth.

Menma, the alternate Naruto, had the potential to be a really compelling antagonist, but his motivations aren't clearly fleshed out, and he ultimately becomes more of a plot device than a real character. Additionally, fans hoping for deeper exploration of the other AU characters may feel shortchanged-they're mostly used for comic relief.

Final Verdict: Road to Ninja is a standout Naruto movie for its emotional depth and alternate universe creativity. It offers a rare chance to see Naruto confront his greatest longing and face the bittersweet reality of what he's lost. Though the plot structure stumbles at times and the villain lacks impact, the film shines in its quieter, more personal moments. It's a must-watch for fans who love Naruto not just for the action, but for the heart.

Rating: 7.9/10.

Cinema is a beautiful illusion that transports in other world as the illusionistic power of Madara. A world when the sizes are relative and different as the screen. A reflection on the power of the ascension with the spirit and the chakra that can change the reality