Anime Review: Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Distributed by VIZ Media
95 minutes

As I mentioned in my review of Naruto: The Lost Story, Naruto just isn’t my thing. I feel that too many potentially good things about that franchise are weighed down by its negatives: unfunny humor, repetitive character interactions, and the tendency for the story arcs and fight scenes to overstay their welcomes.

That, combined with the rather lackluster OVA that was The Lost Story, had me feeling just a little hesitant about putting Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow into my DVD player. But after a fairly well-paced hour and a half where I wasn’t bored out of my mind, I must say that this Naruto movie is actually not half bad.

Synopsis
The story begins with our three young ninja heroes, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, watching “The Adventures of Princess Gale,” a movie starring actress Yukie Fujikaze. Not seeming to care that it’s, at best, a B-movie with some rather good special effects, Naruto enjoys it. The character of Princess Gale appeals to Naruto, as both press forward with courageous conviction.

Imagine their surprise when they see Yukie, the leading lady herself, fleeing from unknown pursuers just outside the theater. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura give chase, attempting to route Yukie’s would-be captors and lead the actress to safety. But, as Naruto learns the hard way, Yukie is not nearly as brave and resolved as the woman she plays on the big screen; she and Princess Gale couldn’t be any more different.

What follows, a few misunderstandings later, is a journey to the Land of Snow, a place of perpetual winter. The next Princess Gale movie is to be shot against the backdrops of this cold landscape. But when the fake princess turns out to be more real than expected, Naruto and company find themselves mixed up in a plot of betrayal and revenge, and Yukie must face the destiny she has been running from her entire life.

Storytelling/Characters
It’s funny how interesting a Naruto story can be when it sheds the trappings of its most typical downfalls. This movie doesn’t concern itself with the ongoing and convoluted narratives in the main Naruto-verse, instead telling a story outside of those plotlines that still manages to be relevant to the growth of our orange-clad, spiky-haired hero.

Naruto’s interactions with the self-pitying and distant Yukie are definitely the high points of the movie. It’s interesting to see Naruto’s mind change about actors and acting in general while watching Yukie switch between her normal and Princess Gale personas. It isn’t unlike seeing your favorite movie star being a total ass in public, shattering whatever image of that star you pictured in your mind. But Naruto himself is pushed to his limits, and pressured by Yukie’s assurances that giving up is the only recourse in life. His boundless optimism and stubborn ideals are more heartfelt in this film because of now they contrast with Yukie’s views. Yet, it doesn’t feel as if Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow is Yukie’s story “featuring Naruto.” It is very much Naruto’s story, too; in fact, he’s the main player.

Things aren’t perfect, though. Naruto’s compatriots don’t play a very big role outside of the fight scenes, save for a few Kakashi moments where he recalls his past in the Land of Snow. While Naruto’s interactions with Yukie are welcome, he doesn’t interact with his friends nearly as much, limiting them to simply being Naruto’s companions and nothing more. The villains are your typical power-hungry bad guy types, lacking the necessary charisma to be truly menacing. A few silly lines and situations rearing their ugly heads, along with the film’s need to push its fight scenes, gets in the way of what could have easily been a stronger showing.

Animation/Visuals
While the visuals aren’t anything that will blow you away, they are definitely better than TV-quality. The various ninja powers are flashy and sexy, in some cases using CG to good effect. The world itself is well drawn and comes to life, especially the barrens of the Land of Snow and the dank prisons of the villains’ fortress.

Voices/Music
The dub is more or less the same quality you’ll find in the Naruto TV show and The Lost Story. It’s an okay dub, with English voice actors portraying the abundantly melodramatic characters appropriately enough. Maile Flanagan’s Naruto is well played, which is important given Naruto’s position at center-stage for most of the movie.

The music is easily forgettable; it’s non-intrusive but uninspiring. The tribal drum themes–typical Naruto fare–are curiously absent from most of the movie, popping up only near the very end. Considering said drums are a staple of Naruto, it’s somewhat surprising and a little disappointing; they would’ve spiced up the soundtrack.

Overall
While the movie’s ultimate outcome will surprise absolutely nobody, and while things still move towards a series of inevitable showdowns between Naruto’s group and the villain’s forces, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow carries a bit more polish than your average Naruto story arc.

I don’t see this film converting anybody who isn’t already a fan. I know that I’m still not going to actively seek out all things Naruto because of it. But it does set the bar a bit higher, and I think I’ll be somewhat less hesitant to review the next Naruto movie. That said, if the next movie isn’t at least as good as this one, I’ll be disappointed.

Naruto the Movie is available now on DVD.