Gekijô-ban Naruto: Daikôfun! Mikazukijima no animaru panikku dattebayo!

There's nothing particularly remarkable in this context, except for a significant amount of money invested in numerous lackluster five-minute fights featuring poor choreography. Despite this, the overall standard was quite good; however, I had reservations about the art style. It appeared somewhat inconsistent when compared to the source material. The use of computer-generated imagery (CG) was appropriate and not excessive. It didn't stand out, but it also didn't give rise to any complaints.

The sound quality was mediocre. Naruto has always had excellent audio in general. I won't say that I disliked it; I just didn't hear anything. Not in the sense that it disappears completely into the surroundings, but rather in the sense that it merely exists. Like in the first season of the series, it should breathe life into the desolate wasteland of obscene writing. Though several musical scores were taken from the TV series, that's why it manages to score a 6. Characters while trying to take themselves seriously, were more of a comedic relief than anything else. What this movie needed was the growth of team Kakashi. Naruto being his usual dumb self, Sakura and Lee had as many lines as that Siberian tiger (!), which somehow managed to be incrusted into this mess of a story.

The "villains" were the laughing stock of the movie, their designs, voices, (and what's with the wannabe Jiraya wigs?) no backstory, no motives, no nothing.

To save you the brain cells (or remnants of the aforementioned if one has already managed to watch this "masterpiece") I'll spare you the details regarding the so-called "character development" Well, OK, I'm just being coy. There isn't anything to spare actually.

This movie is only worth for the climax. Otherwise boring. Literally I'm slept while watching.

I love naruto the anime and manga but this film was bad to much time spent introducing the prince's son and the tiger buy the time we where introduced to the main villians I had already lost interest

Like "Stone of Gelel," this was a film I had only seen once back in the day. I was 13 when it premiered on Toonami, and I felt rather underwhelmed with it. However, upon re-watching it, I am happy to say that, while it has its issues, it's actually much better than I remembered it being.

The story is rather basic, but it's executed quite well thanks to the characters that Naruto and friends meet. Michiru and his son Hikaru are both endearing characters who go through compelling arcs of learning to become better and more caring people. Naruto's friendship with Hikaru felt very appealing and believable, even though there were a few too many scenes of them shoving their new friendship down our throats.

We get to see Kakashi Sensei and Sakura again, and joining them on the journey is Rock Lee. While it is cool to see Rock Lee, I'm rather disappointed that he didn't have much to say or do outside of the fight scenes.

We once again get top-notch animation with really interesting and beautiful settings. Most of the action scenes were pretty good. The action scene taking place at the beach wasn't anything too exciting, but the rousing climax definitely makes up for it.

The movie's biggest downfall is the villains. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything, they were pretty awful. Shabadaba (I can't believe that's actually his name) was one of the most one-dimensional bad guys I've seen in a while, and his henchmen were cardboard cut-outs with no personality. The baddies in the first two "Naruto" films weren't exactly groundbreaking, but they were still good enough to keep my interest. The ones in this film did not.

However, with great animation, an engaging character arc, and an exciting battle at the end, this is still a film that I enjoyed despite its flaws. While it's the weakest of the original "Naruto" trilogy, it's much better than I originally thought and it gets a recommendation.

RATING: B

Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom is the final film in the original Naruto trilogy before Shippuden takes over. While it improves upon some aspects of its predecessors, it still suffers from familiar issues that plague the early Naruto movies.

Strengths: 1. Improved Animation & Fight Sequences - The action scenes are visually appealing, especially the final battle where Naruto, Rock Lee, Sakura, and Kakashi each get their moment to shine. The choreography is fluid, and the setting-a luxurious island kingdom-adds vibrancy to the visuals.

2. Naruto's Emotional Growth - The film focuses on Naruto's bond with Hikaru, a spoiled prince who must learn humility. While cliché, this dynamic allows Naruto to showcase his never-give-up attitude and his ability to inspire change in others.

3. Rock Lee's Inclusion - Unlike previous films, Rock Lee plays a significant role, filling in for Sasuke and adding his own brand of humor and unique fighting style. His battle against the circus-like assassins is one of the highlights.

Weaknesses: 1. Weak Villain - Prince Michiru's scheming advisor, Shabadaba, is forgettable and lacks menace. His motivations-overthrowing the monarchy for selfish gain-are bland and uninspired. Even his hired ninjas feel like generic obstacles rather than real threats.

2. Predictable & Formulaic Plot - Like most Naruto movies, the story follows a predictable arc: Naruto bonds with a reluctant ally, learns a lesson, faces a seemingly unstoppable enemy, and wins with the power of determination. This formula makes the film feel repetitive.

3. Underuse of Sakura & Kakashi - While they participate in fights, neither Sakura nor Kakashi contribute meaningfully to the emotional or narrative stakes. They feel like side characters in their own movie.

Verdict: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom is visually appealing and has some solid fight sequences, but it remains a standard, forgettable Naruto movie. It works as a fun, lighthearted adventure, but it lacks the emotional depth and high stakes that make the main series compelling.

Score: 5.5/10 - generic story.