Not recommended under 14, parental guidance recommended 14-15 (Violence; Themes)
This topic contains:
Children under 14 | Not recommended due to violence and themes |
Children 14-15 | Parental guidance recommended due to violence and themes |
Children 15 and over | OK for this age group |
This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Australian Government Classification Board and the associated consumer advice lines. Other classification advice (OC) is provided where the Australian film classification is not available.
Name of movie: | Boruto: Naruto the Movie |
Classification: | M |
Consumer advice lines: | Animated violence |
Length: | 95 minutes |
This review of the movie contains the following information:
Boruto: Naruto the Movie is the eleventh animated ‘Naruto’ film, based on the manga by Masashi Kishimoto. The film (which is in Japanese with English subtitles) follows Naruto Uzamaki, the 7th Hokage of Konohagakure. Naruto’s young son, Boruto, is set to enter the Chunin exams and train as a shinobi alongside other talented entrants.
The movie details the quests and battles of the exams – Boruto and his team excel during the initial stages. However, when Boruto defeats a particularly challenging opponent with a clone jutsu, his father Naruto realises that Boruto has engaged in underhanded tactics in an effort to win. Disappointed, Naruto disqualifies his son.
Boruto has hated his father for most of his life, as a result of Naruto’s absences and lack of parental compassion. Upon being disqualified, Boruto finally lashes out verbally at his father. Soon after his outburst, two attackers appear and attempt to kidnap Naruto. Although it appears that Naruto dies during the battle, Boruto holds out hope that he is still alive and works to find him.
Children and adolescents may react adversely at different ages to themes of crime, suicide, drug and alcohol dependence, death, serious illness, family breakdown, death or separation from a parent, animal distress or cruelty to animals, children as victims, natural disasters and racism. Occasionally reviews may also signal themes that some parents may simply wish to know about.
Ninjas; relationships and parenting; loyalty and trust; honour and sacrifice
Research shows that children are at risk of learning that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution when violence is glamourised, performed by an attractive hero, successful, has few real life consequences, is set in a comic context and / or is mostly perpetrated by male characters with female victims, or by one race against another.
Repeated exposure to violent content can reinforce the message that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. Repeated exposure also increases the risks that children will become desensitised to the use of violence in real life or develop an exaggerated view about the prevalence and likelihood of violence in their own world.
There are many scenes of violence throughout the film, including extended battles. There are explosions and magic and use of weaponry such as swords and axes. The characters can manipulate elements such as fire, lightning and water in order to defeat their opponents. Examples include:
Children under five are most likely to be frightened by scary visual images, such as monsters, physical transformations.
The frequent violence, which includes magic and transformations, is likely to be very scary for this age group. There are also many scenes of characters in peril, including:
Children aged five to eight will also be frightened by scary visual images and will also be disturbed by depictions of the death of a parent, a child abandoned or separated from parents, children or animals being hurt or threatened and / or natural disasters.
Naruto’s apparent sacrifice of his own life to save Boruto and Sasuke is likely to disturb this age group – however, Boruto does not believe that his father is truly dead.
Children aged eight to thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic threats and dangers, violence or threat of violence and / or stories in which children are hurt or threatened.
Children in this age group may also be disturbed by some of the above-mentioned scenes.
Children over the age of thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic physical harm or threats, molestation or sexual assault and / or threats from aliens or the occult.
Younger children in this age group may also be disturbed by some of the violent and disturbing scenes described above.
None of concern
None of concern
None of concern
None of concern
None of concern
Boruto: Naruto the Movie is an action-packed animated story about family, honour and sacrifice. The film explores the complex nature of relationships, and provides an in-depth commentary on the necessity of finding balance. Naruto is frequently unavailable to his son Boruto as a result of his work obligations, and it causes intense friction and distance in their relationship. However, whilst the film implies that Naruto must re-address his central priorities, it also highlights the need for Boruto to be more understanding towards his father.
The film presents a realistic impression of battle (despite the supernatural and magical elements involved). It also explores the courage it takes to overcome both physical and mental obstacles when engaged in battle. The film’s themes and the many scenes of violence make it unsuitable for children under 14 with parental guidance recommended for slightly older teens.
Values in this movie that parents may wish to reinforce with their children include:
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Content is age appropriate for children this age
Some content may not be appropriate for children this age. Parental guidance recommended
Content is not age appropriate for children this age
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