fˈɛloʊ ˌeɪˌɛnˈɛn ɹᵻvjˈuːɚ kˈɑːɹloʊ sˈæntoʊz dᵻskɹˈaɪbd ɪɾ æz "ɐn ɛkstˈɛndᵻd fˈɪlɚɹ ˈɛpɪsˌoʊd" wɪððɪ ɐdˈɪʃən ʌv nˈuː "dɪspˈoʊzəbəl kˈæɹɪktɚz", haʊˈɛvɚɹ ɪt nˈoʊts ðæt wɪð ɐ θiːˈætɹɪkəl pɹədˈʌkʃən bˈʌdʒɪt ðə fˈɪlm ɪz "ɐ dʒˈɔːdɹˈɑːpɪŋ, fˈɪstpˈʌmpɪŋ bˈɛst ʌv kˌɑːmpɪlˈeɪʃən ʌv ˈɔːl ðə ʃˈɪkaɪ, bˈæŋkaɪ, ænd fˈaɪɾɪŋ stˈaɪlz ðæt mˌeɪk ðə sˈɪɹiz sˌoʊ daɪnˈæmɪk".
Fellow ANN reviewer Carlo Santos described it as "an extended filler episode" with the addition of new "disposable characters", however it notes that with a theatrical production budget the film is "a jaw-dropping, fist-pumping 'Best Of' compilation of all the shikai, bankai, and fighting styles that make the series so dynamic".