I just finished watching the latest Naruto Movie: Blood Prison yesterday . . . and I must say I'm disappointed. I'll try to avoid spoilers for any random people like me who for some reason didn't watch it right as it came out ^^

First, I guess I'm not that big a fan of movies based off on animes in general. Wait! Don't lynch me!! There are some AMAZING anime movies out there, but I would suggest that they're the exception rather than the rule.

Second, I recognize that movies based off of animes are just plain hard to make well. Trying to take a 200+ episode series and sum up all the writer's themes in 2 hrs often leaves the movie knee-deep in soap opera waters. It often takes slow pacing and revelations over long periods of time during the anime show to teach us what the writer's trying to convey. We kinda feel like we're discovering it all by ourselves (an important writing technique) which makes the discovery more real and precious to us. But because of time constraints in anime movies, the producers often end up throwing glowing neon signs at the heads of their viewers. Do Right! Fight for what you Believe! Never give up!!! Which are important but in that form they do just as much good as motivational posters in lunch rooms -.-

Third, many times anime movies are simply cultivated to get money for the company. Now, don't get me wrong, money isn't bad but I refuse to believe that you can't make an awesome movie without failing financially. I mean, wouldn't more people be willing to buy and/or advertise the movie if they knew it was actually of a decent quality.

Fourth, I'm just plain tired of pathetic plots and characters. I figured out the reason Konoha let Naruto be carted off to prison 5 minutes into the movie, and if I figured it out a significant portion of the population also knew. And the girl who was supposed to be a guy? I thought she was a girl all along! I even got confused when Naruto accused her of being a cross-dresser because it was so obvious that she was a girl. I'm also tired of all these female heroines being rescued by Naruto. It's the typical "I'm unwilling to care/believe in anyone else because I'm afraid of being hurt" and then Naruto comes along and gives them something to believe in. Sorry but it's waaaaaaay over done. I think it's one reasons I like the Animal Riot of Crescent Moon Island better than the other movies because of the other guy main character. Plus, why does every fight have to include Naruto to win?? I mean, he's a genin for crying out loud and he's really not that great of a fighter in the beginning. But even when Naruto's powers were dampened in this movie all the other ninjas basically just stood around :Q Seriously???

Anyway, I don't know. Maybe I'm just being too skeptical and demanding about it all? What do ya'll think? Has anyone else felt this frustration over anime movies besides me!?! I'd appreciate commiseration or even disagreement if you care to back up your argument