Board Thread:Naruto: The Last Discussion/@comment-25343176-20150204032611/@comment-25632268-20150205101627

I have a good theory why it is like that. It is very simple: because The Last is focused on romance and not on action. Of course, action is there because who, other than hardcore NaruHina fans like myself, would want to watch a movie that is only about this two getting together? (not too mention that such movie could be pretty much an OVA, five minutes long). Madara was a world dominance type of villain, he may said all this bullsh*t about perfect world, but at the end he wanted to become pretty much a new god. But Toneri is not such a villain, he is the one from damsel in distress cliche. All he needs to do is take away girl main character has feelings for (preferably not long after protagonist confesses), make her his captive and then loose so hero can rescue her. That's it, everything else is just a background. Minato rescued his future wife before so Kishimoto probably thought "ok, make Naruto do the same, fans will love it".

Hinata is weaker in the movie with Hamura's powers than she was in manga with Kurama's chakra. Why? Because she is not suppose to take care of herself, it would not be "romantic". Her plan with deceiving Toneri was good, it make sense and could work. But of course, in what damsel in distress scenario girl is capable of protecting herself? So she fails with destroying altar the first time and Toneri captures her. And then we get another "romantic" scene - wedding crashing. Wedding that is not even legitimate in the first place cause bride is not there by her own free will. Naruto could pretty much take his sweet time and arrive five hours later, it would not matter. As long as he beats the crap out of Toneri, break his control jutsu and stops his plan he still could marry Hinata on Earth like he did. But again, it would not be romantic that knight allows his lady to get married to villain. And movie goes with DID cliche to the end - Hinata must fulfill her role so of course she gets capture once again and ends up in a cage to watch fight between villain and protagonist.

So why bother with Toneri? To make use of Hamura, that was introduced very late in the manga (notice that even Madara, who known world history very well, has no idea about him, Hamura is not mentioned the first time Kaguya and God Tree story is introduced). That and because manga outcome pretty much closed all logical possibilities for villain interested in Hinata on Earth. Orochimaru was always after sharingan and not byakugan, and old "bad Kumo kidnappers" card got burned because of "peace and love" between villages.

If The Last was a pure action movie like the previous ones then I believe Toneri would be stronger, maybe Hamura's power would not look so pathetic and maybe Hinata, if she even was there, would be stronger. But it is a romance, with a lot of great couple moments, but no that great plot.