NARUTO THE MOVIE: LEGEND OF THE STONE OF GELEL

The Green Lantern

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NARUTO THE MOVIE: LEGEND OF THE STONE OF GELEL

April 12th 2010 20:07

Category: Videos

Based on the manga by Masashi Kishimoto
Director: Hirotsugu Kawasaki
Screenplay by: Hirotsugu Kawasaki & Yuka Miyata
Producer: Jamie Simone
Starring: Maile Flannigan (Naruto), Kate Higgins (Sakura), Tom Gibis (Shikamaru), Liam O’Brien (Gaara), Michael Lindsay (Kankuro), Roger Smith (Temujin), Kyle Herbert (Kahiko), Kari Walgren (Fugai), Megan Hollingshead (Ranke) & Douglas Rye (Haido)
Produced by: Studio Pierrot
English Version by: VIZ Media LLC
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 96 minutes Rating: PG

I picked up this particular anime feature at the library the other day, which was a bit of luck, so once it had been processed I made my way back to my abode to cast the eternal emerald gaze of the Lantern upon its contents. I had to hurry due to the approaching inclement weather, gathering low lying clouds and a rise in humidity made me feel that if I didn’t rush I and the DVD were going to get a good drenching. And when I had initially gone down to the library the clouds were well off in the distance, just goes to show that the weather can be so unpredictable. Once safely home I slid the DVD into the laptop, then sat back in my chair soaking up the contents. Strangely though I decided to be a bit contrary and rather than heading straight into the feature I elected instead to watching some of the extras first just out of a sense of curiosity more than anything.

It was interesting to note that from start to finish it apparently takes about six months to make an English version of a Naruto flick – although from the looks of it that is six months crammed full of hard slog. Once the company who makes the English version VIZ Media get’s a hold of the original Japanese release there is a whole lot of work needed to reversion it for us; the English speaking audience. One wonders if the crew and cast ever actually find time to sleep, eat, drink or even take a breather. But even though the production making process of a Naruto movie is all very fine and dandy no doubt you’re all actually interested in what the Green Lantern thought about the meat of the matter, the actual feature itself. And rightly so…

This is the second of three Naruto movies, its slots in between Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow and Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom. The driving themes behind this feature is how one man’s vision of paradise can be another man’s vision of oppression, and how easy people can be lead into following the visions of someone who does not, under any circumstances, have their best interests at heart. Even though it is very much a standalone feature it is interesting to note how the themes portrayed here are a foreshadowing of things to come within the larger canvas of the television and manga series. One could almost say that there is a conscious effort to tie this film into that larger canvas rather than just solely presenting a standalone feature. Such an effort was not made with Ninja Clash or Crescent Moon Kingdom, the only connection was the characters and the setting in which the drama unfolded in each of those aforementioned features.
A world where war is no more and people can live without fear of oppression and strive towards realising their full potential in life, what a splendid vision, a vision that has been espoused by countless thinkers and pundits all across the world and down through the ages. The only problem is how do you bring such a vision into reality, how can someone realise such an ideal? How can we make a living breathing Utopia? Master Haido, the mentor of the warrior Temujin believes he has the means and the breadth of vision to create such a Utopia, in gathering together a host of loyal followers and adherents to his visionary cause he has left behind the lands of his birth which have been ravaged by war and seeks to build his vision elsewhere. The elsewhere that Master Haido is looking to found his vision happens to be the lands where Naruto and his shinobi comrades dwell.
Now with a little bit of negotiation on his part one would think that Master Haido wouldn’t have any serious problems in forming his Utopia, that in fact everyone would be bending over backwards to try and help him. The only problem is his methodology in forging this grand vision of peace and love, it’s a case of if you aren’t with me you’re against me and if you’re against me you need to disposed of. Essentially it’s the ends justifies the means, for Utopia to be founded sacrifices need to be made and if those sacrifices involve the deaths of non adherents and adherents alike then that’s the price to be paid. Tyrants down through the ages have constantly made such claims and the sad thing is people listen to them and believe them; you cannot build a Utopia on the blood and bones of others instead that only leads to the creation of a nightmare.
Not being a noted political or ideological theorist Naruto isn’t sure what to make of all this talk of Utopia, a world without war sounds great but you get the distinct impression that he’s not so sure about this. And when he discovers just how the construction of this ‘wonderful’ vision is taking place he soon realises that Master Haido is a man who must be stopped in his tracks. He is playing everyone for fools whilst he seeks to set up a tyranny fuelled by the power of the legendary Stone of Gelel, a mystical power source whose usage eventually lead to jealously, dissension and eventually catastrophic devastation. An empire was born using the stones power and it died as a result of that self same stone’s power. This is what Haido is really after and his quest for Utopia is but a tool to achieve that desired end. Unfortunately he had to run into a knuckleheaded ninja from the Hidden Leaf village…
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel was an enjoyable film to watch, filled with action, drama, humour and moments of pathos and tragedy in just the right amounts. Just as master vintners and brewers seek to combine ingredients in just the right mix to create that award winning wine or ale the crew and cast of this feature have taken similar steps. They have assembled all the right ingredients to make a fantastic film, one I would say that if you’re a Naruto fan is a must see…BELIEVE IT!

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