I can't vouch for the voerall quality of the episodes, but I do know that at least parts of the fights between the Third and Orochimaru, and Sasuke and Orochimaru in the forest exam, were animated by Norio Matsumoto. Those are probably worth checking out as well. The fight between Rock Lee and Gaara was tolerably done, as well, but it was without doubt a bit drawn out.

And yeeeeeeah. Nothing about it makes sense. Fucking christ I hate that retcon.