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May 1, 2023
I ain't gonn sugarcoat it: this movie is amazing! So many of the trappings that plagued the newer films are gone. The pacing is great and there's no ever a dull moment. The characters are fun and everyone gets their chance to shine in the spotlight. This is easily one of the best Detective Conan movies ever, no cap.
Throughout this whole movie, every awesome scene is followed up by another awesome scene. Not only do they help develop the case, but they also help push the story forward. Aside from the obligatory pop quiz, which was probably shortened because they didn't want to waste too
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much time on it, there was never a single moment where I felt like we were just meandering around waiting for stuff to happen. Everyone was working together to get stuff done AND I LOVE IT!
It should be worth noting that this movie not only takes place after the Trembling Police Headquarters case, but also the Wild Police Academy storyline. As such, a lot of references are made to those two storylines. Even though I was somewhat familiar with both of them, it was a little hard to keep track. The movie did try its best to explain as much of it as they could, but obviously those who have actually gone and watched them would get more out of it. With that said, what I like about this aspect was that instead of it feeling like filler, it felt more like an extension of the main storyline. Even if these movies aren't canon, this one, as well as the earlier Conan movies, make it feel like as if they are.
I could say more, but I think you get the picture. If you're trying to decide if you should see this movie, do it! Even if it has a lot of callbacks that'll go other your head, this is still a really well put together film that is easily worth anyone's time. Go watch it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 1, 2023
If I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure how to feel about this movie. On one hand, it's a fine movie with some cool moments. But on the other hand, it just seems so insignificant in the grand scheme of things that rewatching the Akai family history special doesn't exactly seem worth it to me.
To start, I love how this movie opens up. The chase at the beginning was like I was watching a completely different movie. Of course, Conan and the kids afterward remind me that this is a modern Conan movie.
I should really stress that I like the film's concept: skilled sniper
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Akai Shuichi and his family team up with the FBI to save the Japanese Olympics (and something about a bullet train, I guess). I like some of the chases, the fights, and even the long shot of a snipe. But again, like most of the newer films, it just can't resist having yet another outlandish, over the top action scene that defies all laws of physics. Seriously, with all the crazy stuff that happens at the end, you'd swear that there should be no way these kids should be alive.
For the Akai family, I'd say they weren't handled too terribly. Even Shukichi, whose date with his fiancée went on longer than I would've liked it, at least gets a moment to be cool in the climax. Sera and Shuichi are still their usual awesome selves. While I can understand Mary's reason to not be heavily involved in the case, I can't help but feel like more could've been done with her. For the most part, these guys were the best part of the film.
I guess my biggest peeve with this movie is how it feels a lot more like an extended episode rather than an actual movie. Like, it has everything it needs to be one big, epic masterpiece. It's just the way it's put together is less than ideal. I dunno. I just feel like more could've been done with this idea. It's far from the worst one and I would definitely go back and watch again. But at the same time, I'll always feel like I've seen better.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jul 13, 2020
A trip down memory lane may not be the best place to start for new fans.
The premise for Episode “ONE” seems simple enough; it retells the story of how high-school detective Kudou Shinichi became the elementary school kid, Conan Edogawa. But it also goes beyond that and shows us what the other major characters were up to during that time. This is pretty fun for fans of the show, as it lets us them see what everyone was up before Shinichi gets shrunk. But what this ends up doing is introducing a lot of unnecessary details, characters and plot threads that don’t have any relevance
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or even reach a satisfying conclusion. The special even starts off during the aftermath of one of the cases in the show. Although the biggest culprit has to be the karate tournament Ran won to get Shinichi to take her to Tropical Land. That said, once it reaches where the original episode begins, it gets so much better. Not only are the story threads more focused and consistent, but it also really goes to show how much better it looks compared to the original. Overall, a little messy, but still has some merit.
If you purchased the Blu Ray version released by Discotek Media, this special features an all new English voice cast for the series. Upon hearing this, I was cautiously optimistic. I wanted it to be good, but even I’m all too familiar with how bad it can turn out. Thankfully, that’s not completely the case here. Almost every single actor does a great job embodying the personality of the characters. That said, I was a little underwhelmed by Shinchi’s voice, as it kind of came off as generic. The only times he really shined were his deduction scenes, where he’s both cocky and confident, as the character should be. Conan was handled a little bit differently. He sort of comes off as a shrunken version of Shinichi’s voice actor, which is both weird yet hilariously fitting. The only distracting thing about her is that when she tries to act serious, she comes off more as a women rather than a child. While it’s a shame that the voices for the main characters don’t quite hit the mark, the overall quality is still pretty good. The only other issue is that some of the dialogue and deliveries can come off awkward, which is fairly common among most English dubs. But aside from that, I wouldn’t mind seeing these actors return in future productions, as they will only get better with time.
But now we have come to the decisive part of this review, that being wether or not a new fan should start with this special. This, unfortunately, is where one of this special’s most unique aspect gets in the way. Because we are introduced to specific characters way earlier than planned, the casual newcomer will end up getting spoiled with certain characters (it’s also worth pointing out that these characters are built up after several episodes of speculation and mystery). A much better alternative would be to portray them as background characters going about their daily lives, as was done with the news reporter Hidemi Hondou. This way, the new fans won’t be spoiled while the old fans will still have fun seeing them again. But in the end, this special serves more as a fan-service special rather than a replacement for the original. But who knows? Maybe it might be different for you. But I'd honestly recommend you watch the original episode one and come back to this once you're caught up.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Feb 3, 2020
After first hearing about this movie, I had a pretty good feeling about what I was getting into: it will be really weird, but a little fun. For one, I had no idea how a movie set outside japan will be done, let alone it being focused on a character I almost forgot about. However, with it being another Kaito Kid movie, I felt assured that we would at least get some fun moments thrilling heists and goofy not-Shinichi moments. And sure enough, that's exactly what I got (warning: long review full of spoilers).
To start with, this movie looks really good! Whether it’s because of
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how much effort they put into the art style and animation or I’ve just gotten used to the old style while re-watching the series, this is definitely one of the best looking movies in the series. The luxurious setting of Marina Sands Bay really makes it possible for some beautiful eye candy. The animation during intense scenes is insane and over the top (as is the norm with these movies).
Kaito Kid returns and he needs Conan’s help! Having been rivals for nearly 23 years, it’s always fun to see them working together. The pacing of this movie is also really good. Everything moves at a snappy pace when it needs to, only slowing down either to reflect on the case or for some much needed down time. My favorite scenes are definitely Kaito’s heists as these are the scenes where the most action is going on.
Lots of high praise, for sure. But unfortunately, this movie does have some faults I can’t ignore. While the mystery is interesting, there were some bits that were a bit hard to follow. It also doesn’t help that the villains aren’t particularly impressive. The central antagonist is just so blatantly bad. For the real culprit, I had a hard time understanding how he was able to manipulate everything to his favor. The only other villain I can enjoy is the one who just wants to fight Makoto and he barely gets any characterization.
The other weak point for me was Makoto and Sonoko’s subplot. It’s got its moments, like Sonoko going out her way to help Makoto get back into the tournament, when she gets attacked as well as the secret of Makoto’s bandage. My only problem was this whole drama that develops between them. I don’t really think it was necessary. Also, I’m not a big fan of how the main antagonist... uh... “hypnotizes” him to not fight and stuff until the end. That was just weird.
So yeah, weird stuff. But overall, the pros out way the cons (just slightly). If you love Kaito Kid and really cool action, then you’ll totally dig this film. Who knows? Maybe you might like Makoto and the villains more than I did. For me, I would probably put this movie between Movie 9 (Strategy Above the Depths) and Movie 1 (The Time-Bombed Skyscraper). A very fun movie, despite its flaws. Check it out if you’re interested.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 10, 2019
After 1 year of airing on TV, Detective Conan would finally get his chance to shine on the big screen. In 1997, the first ever Detective Conan movie, The Time-Bombed Skyscraper, was released to the public and became every fans' favorite movie. Despite its shortcomings, this movie is still very fun to watch to this day.
Throughout the movie, Conan has to find bombs spread throughout the city before they blow up. Seeing him chase down and deduce the location of these bombs is one of the highlights of this movie. Another thing is how much Ran plays an active role in the finale. In later
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films, she would rarely be allowed to be any more than a damsel in distress. Speaking of finale, everything done there is just so good, it has to be seen to be believed.
On the other hand, I do want to say that the culprit isn't that hard to figure out. Because of that, many people may get bored as they wait for Conan to finally catch up with them. Also, The version that I saw had some pretty shabby subtitles. While the translation itself was great, the editing and formatting was nonexistent. Characters' dialogue keeps getting mixed with title cards and song lyrics. While there are many better subtitled versions out there, the one I reviewed is quite literally a mess.
With all that said, this movie still has some charm going for it. Despite being nearly 25 years old, the art style is so well done that people can still enjoy it. If you have just started watching Detective Conan, then definitely watch this movie when you can. It's definitely a very good first impression!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 10, 2019
After the success of The Time-Bombed Skyscraper, the movie staff made plans to make the next movie bigger and better by having it center on serial attacks on the people close to Mouri Kogoro. Figuring out who's going to be the next target is very fun. Not only that, but aspects from Kogoro's past come to light that forces Ran to question her father's character(although, people may find the truth behind it easy to figure out). All of these things make The Fourteenth Target such a treat to watch. That said, I feel like a lot of the choices the main characters make are pretty
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dumb(e.g. was it really a good idea to use an elevator in a building that's falling apart?!). A lot of trouble could've easily been avoided if they were just a little smarter(which they're supposed to be). While the first half was very fun, people might get a little bored in the second half with very little action taking place. Despite these gripes, I still had a very good time watching The Fourteenth Target and would definitely say it is a very fun Detective Conan movie.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 10, 2019
The Last Wizard of the Century used to be a very fun movie. I liked how the movie was about a very popular legend about a surviving family member of Nicholas II of Russia (this legend was disproved years after the film). Coming back to this film, I feel a little disappointed with how some of the side characters aren't as involved in the main story and just show up because they have to. This is their first appearance in the movies and it seems like they don't really matter much here. While I'm fully aware that this is an old movie, it's art and
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animation have aged so much that it keeps me from enjoying this movie as much as I ought to. There are little moments where this movie does look great, but not much beyond that.
With that said, I can still see why people would enjoy this movie. Figuring out the little mysteries is fun. Each part of the movie is interesting and unique to keep things fresh. The showdown and finale at the end are the best parts of the film. While I do understand the appeal this movie has with fans, everything I like about this movie is taken and improved on in later films, which makes re-watching this movie feel a little bit... old, I guess? Nevertheless, if you haven't seen it yet, then watch it for yourself and decide what you think of it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 10, 2019
Detective Conan: Captured in Her Eyes is often held as a classic among fans for its great characterization and emotional moments. I would argue that this was the first Detective Conan movie to get the format right, as it has more cohesion and consistency than its last film.
A lot of the emotion comes from Ran losing her memories after a traumatic experience with the murderer. The fact that Conan can't do anything as Shinichi to help her is a very cruel thing to undergo. But despite that, Ran is still still just as much her awesome self as she was with her memories. The fact
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that she still chooses to keep a positive outlook after the incident is probably one of my favorite things about her and why I love this movie so much. One of my favorite parts about this movie is the finale in Tropical Land, which is home to some of the most imaginative environments in a Detective Conan movie. Combine that with a well-polished art style and what you have is a movie that's both fun and good to look at.
The movie itself, while interesting, is admittedly kind of slow. Having to wait while Conan plays catch-up with the audience is one of the least exciting moments in the film. Also, the case itself isn't that very interesting to solve, with the first clue about the culprit being heavily reliant on Japanese wordplay. It's very clear that the movie was more focused on Ran's amnesiac experience than the mystery itself. By no means is that a bad thing, as a lot of the emotion comes from everyone dealing with her loss of memories. If you are looking for a movie with a great mystery to solve, this may not be the one for you.
Captured in Her Eyes is one of my favorite Detective Conan movies. While the case itself isn't much to write home about, the fun character moments and polished visuals are what keeps this movie highly rated for me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 8, 2019
Many Detective Conan fans hold the first 6 movies near and dear to their hearts. Not only were these the only 6 to be released in America, but also because these movies had some of the best writing and character moments of them all. While many would point to The Phantom of Baker Street as the best of these films, I would argue that Countdown to Heaven is the best of the vintage Detective Conan movies.
My first reason is that this movie is bursting to the brim with great moments from the main cast. Conan, Ran, Kogoro, the Detective Boys, & Haibara all get their
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moment to shine in the spotlight. The moments with these characters are so charming and fun that it's able to carry the audience through parts of the movie some would consider to be boring without. That's not to say that the story sucks. In my opinion, it's a very-well told story with several twists and turns that keeps the audience engaged all the way to a satisfying conclusion. I think everyone can agree that everything that happens in the third part of the film has some of the best moments in the whole series(save for maybe Haibara's quick lesson about physics). If I had only one nit-pick about this film is that it is too dark. That is, a lot of scenes in the latter third are shrouded in darkness, making several scenes, including those epic ones, feel significantly less epic. If this movie received a visual update, it could easily become a strong competitor for my favorite Detective Conan movie.
If you are still deciding if you should see Countdown to Heaven, then put those doubts aside and go see it! While it may not have aged well in the art style, don't let that put you off from enjoying this fun and classic movie that showcases the best that Detective Conan has to offer.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 8, 2019
This movie used to be one of my least favorites in the series. Back then, I found it to be weird and somewhat contrived. I understand that this statement may displease some fans. After all, Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street is unarguably a very popular movie among them all and is often considered the best one in the whole series. To this day, I still don't necessarily agree with these opinions. That said, I can finally see why it is that people love this movie so much and why it is still worth recommending to this day.
One of the things I found to
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be very fun about this movie is how it implemented the fiction of Arthur Conan Doyle into the world of 19th century London. The environments of industrial London are very well designed and the fan service for Sherlock fans is, admittedly, a pretty fun treat. The movie felt a lot more like an action-adventure story than the usual "stay-in-one-place" murder stories in most movies.
One of the things that I originally didn't liked was the perpetrators motivation to trap all of the children under threat of death. Even now when I do understand what he really meant to do, it still feels kind of weird, ya know? You don't just go saying things like that only to reveal that you meant completely different. Among other criticisms, the fact that the whole movie takes place inside a game is pretty silly, I thought Yusako's case in the real world was basic(the fact that he had to wait for Conan to reveal the culprit's motive was contrived), most of the dialogue is pretty clumsy and hammy(e.g., the villain revealing his goal), and how there is barley any lack of tension when one of the characters gets offed in the game.
My criticisms may look many, but I assure you that this movie is still quite good. If you just choose to let things be as they are and not worry too much about it, then The Phantom of Baker Street can still be a fun, good time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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