Why is this 'War' so BAD!??
I've screamed and shouted about this in other threads, but i haven't got much attention with it. I know there are others who agree, but I'm amazed at how few people actually do criticize this manga and its complete failings over the last year or so
OK, obviously there have been some necessary developments, such as Naruto and Sasuke gaining power independently. Their encounter has been turned into the main focus, fine.
But everything else that the manga stood for, and championed, has been left in the dirt and replaced with lazy storytelling THROUGHOUT!
i) I appreciate the symbolic quality the edo tensei provides us, having today's shinobi face off against their past. I feel the main theme of the war is that off surpassing those who came before
BUT! Because all of these characters had been defeated before, by the shinobi who were still alive, it meant that it provided NO dramatic tension whatsoever. They knew how to beat them, they did, no risk.
ii) Even the edo tensei that could have been dangerous (I'm excluding Madara, because he's a special case) like Nagato, Hanzo, Kimimaro, potentially devastating warriors, were dealt with easily. In fact nearly all of the edo tensei were dispatched with little risk to anyone who fought them (I'm referring to the main characters now, obviously the Third Raikage took out a lot of fodder, but who cares about them?).
iii) The focus has been all wrong. Everywhere. We saw the entire fight with the Gold and Silver Brothers, spread out over chapters, yet we saw mere glimpses of Kakashi and his team taking out the Seven Swordsmen. Enough said.
iv) It's a war. Who has died? This is my biggest problem. If the whole war is supposed to be showcasing the younger generations development (I'm referring to the Konoha 11 specifically), then why have we not seen them pushed? There was only Choji who finally got it together, but he had SO MUCH help and encouragement. If this is a war, and these characters are to truly grow up and take over from the previous generation, they need to actually feel pain. At this stage, I'm wishing they were all killed during Pain's attack. WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN THEM ALL IN ACTION!!?? WHY HAVEN'T ANY OF THEM DIED?? OR AT LEAST INJURED!!?? THIS IS A WAR!!!!!!!!!
v) Finally, bringing Sasuke and Itachi together at this stage. Too early! I know it keeps the Uchiha fanboys happy, and it lets them show off EVEN MORE Sharingan techniques, but its ruined Sasuke's dramatic potential. Not only is he being made look like a chump by his dead brother, but he is also losing any threatening quality he had built up over the past year or so of complete BADASSERY! He took out Danzo after raping the Kage summit, by himself essentially. Now he can't even keep up with what's going on.
I would have preferred if he continued on the crazy streak, attacked the Konoha kids, killing some of them off preferably, and then move into the main battle with Naruto. Itachi could have seen/spoken with him then. But it would've been too late and it'd be left to Naruto (like everything else)
If he goes back to the mad man after being a ***** around his brother, well I can't buy that. I think Kishi's gone too far with it anyway, he's making it up as he goes along. ULTIMATE DISAPPOINTMENT
(last bit, the worst part in the whole manga was that LAZY uncovering of Orochimaru's hideout...WTF!!?? Total bull and so unimaginative...even the crappy spider he drew coming down the wall...C'MON!!!!!!)
GOD DAMN IT!!
This is a bit of a rant....I apologise