Posted 23 December 2007 - 07:34 AM
Everyone had to ruin movie 4 for me!!
Now that I know the whole graveyard incident with Sakura screaming didn't happen, I'll just give my two cents on why it turned out that way:
The trailer that said "Naruto Dies!!" was giving us what that seer saw. Not what actually happens.
I'd imagine this movie is going to be similar to the 3rd InuYasha movie: The two rivals start fighting each other, but eventually team up to fight a greater evil. So long as the animation is kickass, it will be worth seeing.
Also, about the animators favoring one pairing over the other: No, I don't think that's the case. First off, Hinata has not appeared in any of the movies so far (she MIGHT in this one, but as of yet there is no indication). Sakura has been with Naruto in every movie, even the 1st. After watching the first dozen episodes of Shippuden, the only thing I think went wrong was the beginning of Naruto's return. I liked it in the manga when Naruto ran into her, and we got a shot of her looking stunned (and the angle and size of the panel hints that he feels the same way). However, I think the date scene was an improvement (in the original, she looked peeved. In the anime, she looked like she was looking forward to it so long as he payed.) When Naruto told everyone he had the fox, Sakura had a flashback to when she was a child looking at Naruto, and seemed a bit more shocked. In my mind, another improvement. Also, if Hinata keeps fainting around Naruto, NaruHina will never happen. And that's what I hear happens in the fillers. When a movie looks more into a different pairing or tries to avoid romance altogether, I think it has more to do with getting more people, particularly those who are sensitive about pairings, to watch it. I doubt that the animation team would alter the main pairing from the manga, unless the reception of that pairing was THAT bad.
NaruHina was just to buy time, make money, and explore an idea. It doesn't mean it will lead to anything.