If you are a big fan of the “Naruto” manga/anime series, I highly recommend “Boruto – Naruto the Movie”. Action-packed, full of drama and excitement. Recommended!
Image courtesy of © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto/2007 Shippuden, BMP 2015. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Boruto – Naruto the Movie
ORIGINAL THEATRICAL DATE: 2015
DURATION: 90 Minutes
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, DTS-HD Master Audio: English and Japanese 5.1, 2.0 Stereo, Subtitles: English
COMPANY: Viz Media
RATED: TV 14
Release Date: March 28, 2017
Originally Created by Masashi Kishimoto
Director: Hiroyuki Yamashita
Screenplay: Masashi Kishimoto
Character Design by Hirofumi Suzuki, Masashi Kishimoto, Tetsuya Nishio
Music by -yaiba-, Yasuharu Takanashi
Art by Akemi Konno, Kazuyuki Hashimoto, Kentaro Akiyama, Masanobu Nomura, Mutsuo Koseki, Naruyo Kiriyama, Satoshi Matsuoka
Art Design by Hiroto Tanaka, Masaaki Endou
Chief Animation Director: Tetsuya Nishio
Anime Production: Pierrot
Featuring the following voice talent:
Junko Takeuchi/Maile Flanagan as Naruto Uzumaki
Yuko Sanpei/Amana C. Miller as Boruto Uzumaki
Akira Ishida/Liam O’Brien as Gaara
Chie Nakamura/Kate Higgins as Sakura Uchiha
Daisuke Namikawa/Xander Mobus as Momoshiki
Hana Takeda/Laura Bailey as Kurotsuchi
Hidenori Takahashi/Max Mittelman as Konohamaru Sarutobi
Hiroki Yasumoto/Wally Wingert as Kinshiki Otsusuki
Kokoro Kikuchi/Cherami Leigh as Sarada Uchiha
Kouki Miyata/Brian Beacock as ChÅjÅ«rÅ
Nana Mizuki/Stephanie Sheh as Hinata Uzumaki
Noriaki Sugiyama/Yuri Lowenthal as Sasuke Uchiha
Ryota Takeuchi/Catero Colbert as Darui
Ryūichi Kijima/Robbie Daymond as Mitsuki
Satoshi Hino/Ben Diskin as Sai
Showtaro Morikubo/Tom Gibis as Shikamaru Nara
Yoichi Masukawa/Brian Donovan as Rock Lee
Atsushi Abe/Spike Spencer as Inojin Yamanaka
Hisao Egawa/Catero Colbert as Killer Bee
Kengo Kawanishi/Bryce Papenbrook as Yurui
Kensho Ono/Todd Haberkorn as Shikadai Nara
Saori Hayami/Melissa Fahn as Himawari Uzumaki
Yukari Tamura/Danielle Judovits as Tenten
Boruto: Naruto the Movie takes place in the Hidden Leaf Village with Naruto as the Seventh Hokage. The Hidden Leaf Village is planning to host the Chunin Exams to train new shinobi from the village and from their allied villages. Among the entrants are Sasuke’s daughter, Sarada, Mitsuki, an exceptionally talented yet mysterious shinobi… And Boruto, Naruto’s talented but impetuous son.
Meanwhile, Sasuke who’s been on a mission in another dimension appears before Naruto to warn of a strange impending danger. Shrouded with an evil aura, Momoshiki and Kinshiki appear and attempt to assassinate Naruto. Petrified, Boruto is shielded by Naruto, only to disappear in front of Boruto’s own eyes.
The popular manga series “Naruto†has been going strong since its debut in Shueisha back in 1999 via “Weekly Shonen Jump†magazine.  With 72 volumes published, the manga series ended in November 2014. Meanwhile, the anime series, the first titled “Naruto” began in 2002-2007 and lasted for 220 episodes. And would continue with “Naruto: Shippuden” which lasted from 2007-2017 with a total of 500 episodes created.
The original manga by Masashi Kishimoto is about a young ninja named Naruto Uzamaki, a ninja of the Konoha leaf village who grew up facing prejudiced within his fellow ninjas because the evil nine-tailed fox was sealed inside him. But throughout the series, we have seen how Naruto is a kind-hearted boy who has worked hard in protecting his friends and staying true to his word with the goal of someday becoming the next Hokage of the village.
In 2014, Kishimoto wrapped up the “Naruto†manga and in the final chapter (featured in volume 72), Naruto would eventually become the Hokage of the Leaf Village and he and his wife Hinata would have two children, Boruto and Himawari.
Meanwhile, Sasuke and Sakura would have a daughter named Sarada, Shikamaru Nara and Temari would have a son named Shikadai, Sai and Ino would have a son named Inojin and Choji Akimichi and Karui would have a daughter named Chocho.
Everyone has grown up and Naruto is busy as the new Hokage at the village, this causes resentment from Naruto’s son Boruto who feels that his father was never there for him or the family.
This leads us to the film “Boruto – Naruto the Movie†which featured anime production from Studio Pierrot, direction by Hiroyuki Yamashita, a screenplay by Masashi Kishimoto, music by -yaiba- and Yasuharu Takanashi and character design by Hirofumi Suzuki, Masashi Kishimoto and Tetsuya Nishio and art design by Hiroto Tanaka and Masaaki Endou.
The film begins with Boruto telling his story and him and his team partners, Sarada and Mitsuki being trained by Master Konohamaru and trying to capture a bear (or panda).  After their mission, the four go to see Naruto, the Seventh Hokage.
And as Boruto gets into a little argument with his father (for not being part of his life due to his duties as Hokage), he reminds his father about his sister and Naruto’s daughter, Himawari’s birthday and how he needs to be there.
Meanwhile a scientist comes in and introduces the group to a new invention. Now, a jutsu can be contained in a mini-seal and put into a bracelet which gives anyone, ninja or not, the power to use a jutsu. No chakra is even needed to use the new technology and the scientists want it used for the upcoming Chunin exam but Naruto is against it and believes a ninja should use their own skills.
Meanwhile, Boruto meets with the scientist and takes the special bracelet.
With the next Chunin exams coming up, Sarada and Mitsuki want to take the exam but Boruto, he has no desire. He doesn’t want to be like his father and that means not wanting to be Hokage. But for Sarada, she wants to be Hokage and tries to get Boruto to take part in the Chunin exam to let his father know he could do it.
Meanwhile, Sasuke Uchiha returns to the village and Boruto, not wanting to be anything like his father, goes to Sasuke to take him in as a pupil. But Sasuke will only agree if Boruto can learn the Sharingan jutsu.
As the groups get ready for their Chunin Exam to see who will become a ninja, round three will be in front of a public audience. During a battle Boruto uses the bracelet to best his opponent, but for Naruto, he is disappointed that his son resorted to such a tactic and disqualifies his son from the Chunin exam and also taking away his ninja bandana as punishment.
This leads to an argument and Boruto complains that his father is never there for him. Meanwhile, a new evil force attacks everyone at the Chunin Exam.
VIDEO:
“Boruto – Naruto the Movie” is presented in 1080p High Definition and the film looks vibrant. Colors look fantastic in HD and with this being a film ,there is a good amount of backgrounds and detail in the background artwork. Picture quality is fantastic!
I didn’t notice any artifacts or banding issues during my viewing of the film.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Boruto – Naruto the Movie” is presented in Japanese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0. Both soundtracks are fantastic and dialogue and music are both crystal clear through the center, front and surround channels.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Boruto – Naruto the Movie” comes with the following special features:
- Special Naruto OVA – (10:23) It’s Naruto’s big day as his inauguration as Hokage is about to take place. But time’s getting late because Boruto and Himawari are arguing. But what happens when Boruto upsets his little sister?
- Clean End Credits
- Storyboards – Featuring a gallery of the storyboards for the film
- Art Gallery – Featuring an art gallery from the film.
- Trailer – Featuring the Japanese trailers.
Watching “Boruto – Naruto the Movieâ€, I can’t help but be entertained by the fact that the film focuses on the children of the characters that many of us grew up reading.
“Naruto†having lasted so long as a manga and anime series was a big part of the lives of many people who watched “Naruto†grow from a child, to a teenager and a young adult. Seeing how his heart and his passion would inspire so many but also seeing him determined to defeat those who threatened the village or his friends.
With Naruto, he is a student that felt he had to prove himself through hardwork and determination.
So, it’s fascinating to see how Boruto is much different than his father. Naruto, who had always said he would become Hokage is now the new Hokage of the Leaf Village but this new role means being busy with work and unfortunately, that means no time spent with the family.
Hinata is literally taking care of both children and you can see how Boruto is upset at his father for neglecting them, but he harbors a bit of anger for his father not being there for him.
What’s even more interesting is that Boruto is not too aware of his father’s past and how he grew up, so he is not aware of the challenges or difficulties his father grew up with.
And because of his feelings towards his father, he asks his dad’s rival, Sasuke Uchiha to become his master.
But during this peaceful time, a lot has changed as well. Scientists have developed bracelets with technology that allow anyone to harness jutsu used by ninjas and to make things worse, a new evil has decided to attack the Leaf Village during the Chunin exams (like what happened to Naruto and friends when he was much younger).
And I’ll leave it that.
This is a new beginning, a new chapter as Boruto will continue the storyline of the ninjas at the Leaf Village and while I’m not sure if “Boruto” will last for another 15 years but for this film to jumpstart the new generation and Naruto’s son, Boruto, now the focal point, needless to say, this series will be interesting, considering that he’s not like his father at all.
And if you think Boruto Uzumaki has special skills learned from his father, wait until one gets to see the included OVA which shows us how powerful Himawari Uzumaki can get.
As for the Blu-ray release, the film is vibrant and with it being a film, has more detail when it comes to art backgrounds. Lossless soundtrack is also well-done and the voice acting for both Japanese and English dub are magnificent.
Overall, if you are a big fan of the “Naruto” manga/anime series, I highly recommend “Boruto – Naruto the Movie”. Action-packed, full of drama and excitement.
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