Naruto Unleashed - Series 3 Part 1 [DVD]

RRP: £24.99
Our Price: £5.98 (subject to change)

Let the final exam begin
Review date: 2008-07-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

After the long wait after series 2 part 2, Naruto returns with series 3 part 1. This 13 episode set contains episodes 53 -65.
This set carries on where the last one finished off, with the introduction of Jiraiya, the toad mountain sage. Jiraiya appears to be a comedic character who has immense strength; so much that Naruto gets him to train him for the final exam. The first part of this set is quite light hearted and fun, as opposed to the more serious tone of the last series, which is a breath of fresh air. Episodes 53 - 59 are set in th month leading up to the final exam. These episodes consist of Naruto's training, some characterisation of the villain Gaara and a filler episode involving the mischiveous Konohamaru. The final exam is a tornament between the finalists and takes up episodes 60 - 65 and is continued in the next DVD set. One thing that puts people off Naruto is the pacing of the series. Single fights can stretch over several episodes. However, the purpose of this is to allow characterisation, and reveal some back story. I personally havent had too much of a poblem with it, but I did find that the fight between Naruto and Neji Hyuga did drag a bit. It does seem quite silly the amount of dialogue these characters get through during the fight, but it is all for the pupose of developing both characters personalities. On the contrary, the second fight in this set; Shikimaru VS Temari, is absolutly fascinating. If you havent yet warmed to Shikamaru's lazy, yet cool personality, then this is the fight that you will.
Sasuke fans may be disappointed as he makes very few appearances in this set. However, this is merely a build up for Naruto series 3 part 2. However, it is nice to see Sasuke on the front cover for this DVD. It makes a nice change because up until now, Naruto has been on all the covers.
Once again the animation is simply gorgeous, perhaps even better than the previous sets, especially when it gets to the final exams; you wont want to look away. The music is also very nice, with a couple of new tunes entering the fray such as the third opening song and the third and fourth ending song. The special features consist of just some old trailers...again. A behind the scenes featurette or even a commentary would be nice, but I can't see them doing that.

Naruto series 3 part 1 contains 13 episodes these are:

53. Long time no see :Jiraiya Returns
54. Summoning Jutsu :Wisdom of the toad sage!
55. A feeling of yearning, a flower full of hope
56.Live or die! Risk it all to win it all!
57.He flies! He jumps! He lurks! Chief toad appears!
58.Hospital besieged: The evil hand revealed
59.The final rounds: Rush to the battle arena
60.Byakugan VS Shadow clone jutsu!
61.Ultimate defense: Zero blindspot!
62.A failures true power
63.Hit it or quit it: The final rounds get complicated!
64.Zero Motivation: The guy with cloud envy!
65.Dancing leaf, squirming sand

Naruto fans need to get this DVD set now as this series keeps getting better. People who are new to Naruto should pick up series 1 and 2 boxsets and/or try out the movie. This is a fantastic set. It's probably not my favourite out of them all, but is still fantastic in it's own respect. The build up for the fight between Gaara and Sasuke shows that the next DVD set is going to be even better.

Reviews

Let the final exam begin.
Review date: 2008-05-31 Rating: 10 out of 10

After the long wait after series 2 part 2, Naruto returns with series 3 part 1. This 13 episode set contains episodes 53 -65.
This set carries on where the last one finished off, with the introduction of Jiraiya, the toad mountain sage. Jiraiya appears to be a comedic character who has immense strength; so much that Naruto gets him to train him for the final exam. The first part of this set is quite light hearted and fun, as opposed to the more serious tone of the last series, which is a breath of fresh air. Episodes 53 - 59 are set in the month leading up to the final exam. These episodes consist of Naruto's training, some characterisation of the villain Gaara and a filler episode involving the mischiveous Konohamaru. The final exam is a tornament between the finalists and takes up episodes 60 - 65 and is continued in the next DVD set. One thing that puts people off Naruto is the pacing of the series. Single fights can stretch over several episodes. However, the purpose of this is to allow characterisation, and reveal some back story. I personally havent had too much of a poblem with it, but I did find that the fight between Naruto and Neji Hyuga did drag a bit. It does seem quite silly the amount of dialogue these characters get through during the fight, but it is all for the pupose of developing both characters personalities. On the contrary, the second fight in this set; Shikimaru VS Temari, is absolutly fascinating. If you havent yet warmed to Shikamaru's lazy, yet cool personality, then this is the fight that you will.
Sasuke fans may be disappointed as he makes very few appearances in this set. However, this is merely a build up for Naruto series 3 part 2. However, it is nice to see Sasuke on the front cover for this DVD. It makes a nice change because up until now, Naruto has been on all the covers.
Once again the animation is simply gorgeous, perhaps even better than the previous sets, especially when it gets to the final exams; you wont want to look away. The music is also very nice, with a couple of new tunes entering the fray such as the third opening song and the third and fourth ending song. The special features consist of just some old trailers...again. A behind the scenes featurette or even a commentary would be nice, but I can't see them doing that.

Naruto series 3 part 1 contains 13 episodes these are:

53. Long time no see :Jiraiya Returns
54. Summoning Jutsu :Wisdom of the toad sage!
55. A feeling of yearning, a flower full of hope
56.Live or die! Risk it all to win it all!
57.He flies! He jumps! He lurks! Chief toad appears!
58.Hospital besieged: The evil hand revealed
59.The final rounds: Rush to the battle arena
60.Byakugan VS Shadow clone jutsu!
61.Ultimate defense: Zero blindspot!
62.A failures true power
63.Hit it or quit it: The final rounds get complicated!
64.Zero Motivation: The guy with cloud envy!
65.Dancing leaf, squirming sand

Naruto fans need to get this DVD set now as this series keeps getting better. People who are new to Naruto should pick up series 1 and 2 boxsets and/or try out the movie. This is a fantastic set. It's probably not my favourite out of them all, but is still fantastic in it's own respect. The build up for the fight between Gaara and Sasuke shows that the next DVD set is going to be even better.

Series three part one
Review date: 2008-05-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

This boxed set of this great but sometimes annoying anime series includes the first thirteen episodes of the shows third series (episodes fifty three to sixty five of the show as a whole). This volume follows Naruto's training with the eccentric Toad Sage as he prepares for the final stages of the Chunin exam and learns how to tap into the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox. The series then moves on to the first round of the exam itself where the action and intrigue kick off.

If you have seen any of the previous Naruto series you can pretty much guess what this series will be like: fun and exciting but taking an age to get anywhere. The episodes on this volume are all good to varying degrees but there are also some good exposition episodes that tell the histories of the Hyuga clan and the sand ninja Gaara. The animation and voice acting is at the same level as has been previously shown in the series and the ongoing plot is interesting but still rather slow in coming. Naruto is a good series that despite its flaws is funny and a great joy to watch.

now this is where it kicks off
Review date: 2008-03-27 Rating: 8 out of 10

any fan of naruto should anticipate getting this dvd and the seris second parter, this is the seris with the awesome conclusion to the chuunin exams and the 'destroy the leaf' incident, i believe it (the whole of seris 3) goes up to episode 78, which is the very begining of the anime's jinchuuriki fight but before that it contains greats such as the slightly bewildering Neji-Naruto fight, the clever shikamaru-temari fight and the titan battle between the third hokage and his former pupil Orochimaru.

none of these are fights to be missed and neither is naruto's training for the fourth part of the chuunin exams.

so i say buy, you wont regret it, even if you're just an anime fan whos thinking about it, it's basically dragonball z with a less repetative story line and a hell of a lot more seriousness (which i don't think is a word).

btw, you may be wondering why i'm so exited about it, and yet i've only given it 4 stars, well, thats because i've seen the fourth seris like so many others and i know that is five stars.

Product Details/Specifications

Artist(s):
Naruto Unleashed

Recording label: Manga Entertainment
Manufacturer: Manga Entertainment
EAN: 5022366506342
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-04-07
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 306 minutes
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: Japanese (Unknown)