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Naruto: Uncut Box Set 1
Score: 90%
Rating: 14+
Publisher: Viz Media
Region: 1
Media: DVD/3
Running Time: 325 Mins.
Genre: Anime/TV Series/Box Set
Audio: English,
           Japanese
Subtitles: English


Features:
  • Collectible Naruto Storyboards Booklet, Episode 8
  • Production Art
  • From Sketch to Screen: Storyboard Comparison Episode 1
  • Volume 2 Sneak Preview
  • Episodes:
    • 1. Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!
    • 2. My Name is Konohamaru
    • 3. Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?
    • 4. Pass or Fail: Survival Test
    • 5. You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision
    • 6. A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves!
    • 7. The Assassin of the Mist!
    • 8. The Oath of Pain
    • 9. Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior
    • 10. The Forest of Chakra
    • 11. The Land Where a Hero Once Lived
    • 12. Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns!

When I heard out about Naruto: Uncut Box Set 1, I thought it was a great find. My brother has been into the show since the beginning, but I had only seen a few episodes. Since I had liked what I saw, when I found this compilation of the first 3 volumes in their uncut versions, I jumped on the chance to get caught up.

The first Uncut Box Set takes you from the episode that introduces Naruto, the Nine-Tailed Fox and the Hidden Leaf village, all the way to the rogue ninja Zabuza's apparent resurrection in the land of the waves. Everything from Naruto's graduation from the academy and being deemed a Genin, to his assignment to Squad 7 with Sasuke and Sakura and their near failing of their last exam under their new sensei Kakashi is packed into these 12 episodes.

These shows lay the groundwork for the battles and personalities that are showing up in the later episodes currently coming out. With these shows, you get to see exactly how and why Naruto is so determined to become the next Hokage (the top ninja for the Hidden Leaf village) and how he reacts to Sasuke's sheer raw talent.

This boxed set also comes with a complete storyboard book of Episode 8, "The Oath of Pain". In this episode, Naruto kicks himself for being scared stiff during a surprise attack and vows upon his own blood to never let it happen again. Scenes from this episode will be remembered in later shows like the ones recently released in Volume 8 where Sasuke finds himself paralyzed by fear and Naruto knocks him out of his stupor.

This collection concludes with Squad 7's first A-Ranked mission where they are forced to defend a bridge builder from an assassin named Zabuza. In these early fights, you also get a brief look into how well Squad 7's teamwork is building and how their efforts together early on will help make them an unrivaled strength later.

If you are a fan of Naruto and you haven't been getting the DVDs as they come out, then definitely pick up this collection. As for the "Uncut" aspect of the individual episodes, I didn't notice any different scenes between these and the ones that came out individually. The only real difference seems to be the use of the original Japanese intro and credits songs.



-J.R. Nip, GameVortex Communications
AKA Chris Meyer

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