Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel

Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel is an ambitious yet flawed entry in the Naruto film series. While it delivers on action and spectacle, it struggles with storytelling depth and character development.

Strengths: 1. Visually Impressive Battles - The animation is fluid, and the fight sequences, particularly Naruto's battles against Haido and his warriors, are well-choreographed. The use of the Gelel stone powers adds an extra layer of visual excitement.

2. Interesting Concept - The introduction of the Gelel mineral and its mysterious energy adds a fresh fantasy element to the Naruto world, distinguishing it from other entries.

3. New Characters with Potential - Temujin and his comrades have intriguing designs and powers, and their moral dilemmas provide a different perspective on the traditional hero-villain dynamic.

Weaknesses: 1. Weak Villain - Haido, the main antagonist, lacks the depth and menace of the best Naruto villains. His motivations-creating an ideal world through conquest-feel generic and underdeveloped.

2. Underuse of Supporting Characters - While Naruto takes center stage, Sasuke is entirely absent, and characters like Shikamaru and Gaara, despite their appearances, don't contribute significantly to the plot.

3. Pacing Issues - The film struggles with a disjointed narrative. The middle act, in particular, drags with exposition-heavy sequences that don't add much to the overall experience.

Verdict: While Legend of the Stone of Gelel is enjoyable for Naruto fans, it lacks the emotional weight and character-driven storytelling that makes the main series compelling. It's a fun but forgettable side adventure that doesn't leave a lasting impact.

Score: 6.3/10 - Great action, but weak storytelling.

I'm a big fan of Naruto, even though I haven't watched every episode or read every manga.

I really liked the first Naruto movie, and to tell you the truth I was a little nervous that this one wouldn't be as good (or action packed) as the first (mainly because this one in Australia only had a PG instead of an M, which is a PG-13 US or 12 UK). But I was wrong (thankfully)! The animation was more improved (although some drawings of the characters at points looked rushed) and was very good especially in the fight scenes.

Speaking of that, let's talk about the fight scenes! The animation and action in the fight scenes was spectacular and very entertaining! I especially enjoyed the genjutsu battle with kankuro and the fight with Gaara fighting the shape shifting female warriors! All the characters you want are here! Naruto, Sakura, Gaara, Kankuro and Shikamaru! If only Temari was in the movie, Shikamaru could save her from the female warriors in dramatic fashion! And maybe they could have a PASSIONATE KISS! In my summary at the top I say that this qualify's more as a piece of Cinema than just an extended episode. And it does! The action is very cinematic and the animation quality looks very fancy especially during the fighting! Overall, this is a excellent anime Film that is a must-see for any Naruto fan! 5/5! 10/10! 50/50! 100/100! Alright I'll stop!

I am quite surprised to find out that they used the name of Temujin in this Naruto movie, did they get any permission to use it for a guy who is bionde and is sacrificing others for some kinda big achievement?

This felt less like Naruto then the first movie. One thing I hate about these is their insistence on over advancements that don't match the era setting of the Naruto universe, honestly it feels like they're just forcing these advancements just to please the people who only like the action scenes but in doing so the take away the feeling that Naruto normally has. The story itself wasn't that interesting but it wasn't that bad, it was definitely made for the people who like the action more then the story.

This movie at times was a little bit boring for me and the animation was average at best but nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the fight scenes and I would definitely watch this movie again.