Gōshō Aoyama’s Detective Conan series has charmed audiences for decades with its clever mysteries and character hijinks. In the 27th movie entry, a perplexing crime in historic Hakodate provides fresh intrigue. We find favorite sleuths Conan Edogawa and Heiji Hattori traveling to the northern port city, where troubled events soon demand their deductive skills.
As with each yearly film, Aoyama expands his fictional world. Hakodate Heist spotlights supporting players like Heiji while exploring new terrain—both literally, in beautiful Hokkaido backdrops, and figuratively with an unusual treasure hunt-driven plot. Despite packing in extra storylines, the movie retains Conan’s witty spirit.
Familiar faces reunite amid scenic locales for another chapter in this juggernaut franchise, sure to delight dedicated fans and casual viewers alike with its stylish puzzle box of a mystery.
Between Swords and Shadows
The film opens with an unexpected visitor arriving at renowned samurai family the Onoes’ warehouse—none other than phantom thief Kaito Kid, targeting a pair of ancient blades for his latest heist. But Kid’s plan is stalled when young detectives Conan Edogawa and Heiji Hattori arrive, guarding the swords on the Onoes’ behalf.
Soon, darker matters demand the sleuths’ attention. In Hakodate for a kendo tournament, Heiji instead finds himself investigating a lawyer’s murder, the bizarre wounds hinting at links to the swords or even Kid himself. Conan lends his skills, and together they follow clues through the picturesque port city.
But they’re not the only interested parties. A menacing arms dealer also seeks the swords, which hold significance beyond their craft—hieves to a legendary lost treasure. And as Kid’s motivations prove complex, he too remains tangled in this hunt, sometimes aiding and other times obstructing Conan and Heiji’s queries.
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As the case deepens, several groups now compete to locate whatever fortune the swords may unlock: the detectives, Kid, the arms dealer, and even the surviving members of the doomed Onoe clan. With new revelations raising more questions about each character’s true intentions and danger closing in from all sides, Conan must rely on both brains and bravado to solve the mystery.
Alternative Stars Shine
Conan took a step back from the spotlight this time. While ever observing, he drove little of the investigation—an unexpected role. Heiji instead commandeered center stage. With a personal stake in the swords through his kendo and a will to outsolve even Conan, he pursued truths passionately. His fun friendship with Kazuha bloomed too.
Kaito Kid also confounded expectations. Seeking weapons, not jewels, his part in this caper proved unconventional. At turns aiding and thwarting Conan and Heiji, his true designs stayed veiled. Did some deeper design drive his peculiar interest in the swords? His interplay with the young sleuths stimulated mystery.
A new threat emerged too: arms trader Brian, fixated ruthlessly on the swords. Alongside eccentric newcomer Hijiri Fukushiro and the stern Onoe clan, they stirred intrigue. But the swift plot left little room to explore these colorful characters fully.
Even the beloved Detective Boys saw scant involvement here. While disappointing diehard fans, it represented narrative boldness to shine creative lights elsewhere. With varied protagonists flitting in and out of focus, the movie maintained unpredictability right until it’s stunning finale.
Hidden Depths & Burgeoning Bonds
Treasure seeking took precedence this time, sidelining the usual whodunit plot. But did it fulfill thematically? The search injected intrigue as our heroes chased answers through history and Hokkaido’s breathtaking terrain.
Cooperation between unlikely allies also blossomed into an enriching theme. With Conan and Kaito joining forces, their begrudging respect matured into full-fledged teamwork against shared mysterious foes. Additionally, Heiji’s dedication to Kazuha shone through, showing that even rivalry conceals caring hearts.
Their deepening bonds imparted this installment with extra soul. As the case grew dark, mutual understanding brightened the way through teamwork and trust. And examining personal connections between familiar characters lent extra poignancy to their portrayals and stakes.
While detours from rigid formulas can disrupt momentum, here flexibility allowed emotive themes to emerge from between the puzzle pieces. Hidden depths were plumbed through unconventional unions that grew fruitful in their temporary putting aside of differences.
Hokkaido’s Allure on Screen
Masterful artistry delivered the splendor of Hokkaido. Hakodate especially shone, its rugged ports and mist-shrouded fort so vividly depicted one felt there. Tourists flocking to follow the film attests to its success transporting audiences.
Crafting a complex plot in one film proved a challenge. Intertwining sword heists, murders, and treasure hunts crafted an engaging premise. But jam-packed details overwhelmed at times, frustrating comprehension. Tighter focus on a core mystery may have balanced well-loved character moments.
Studious animation brought locales and action to life. Fights flowed with excitement, and personalities shone through. Yet tighter editing may have alleviated some repetitiveness to maintain suspense. Subtlety also risked loss amid frantic sequences.
Comedy and heart remained thanks to director skill. Balance didn’t always land, but keeping fan favorites like Kogoro and surprising post-credits scenes signaled care for diverse viewers.
While surpassing past successes, tighter structure and an occasional flourish of stillness to contrast kinetic set pieces could have elevated this from merely satisfactory to superb. Hokkaido’s beauty warranted the finest silver-screen Sherlockian intrigue its places inspired.
Raising the Bar once more
Financially, Hakodate Heist scaled new heights. Outpacing all previous Detective Conanfilms, it reinforced the movie franchise as a reliable hit. Yet box office is just numbers—how did real fans receive it?
Initial reactions from die-hards expressed mixed views. Praise for the artistic Hokkaido backdrops and funny character moments clashed with criticism of a convoluted narrative straining to service too many subplots. Nevertheless, word slowly spread of impressive visuals stimulating intrigue in less fervent viewers.
Ever the juggernaut, Detective Conan continues adapting to sustain interest while respecting its roots. Hakodate Heist’s unorthodox focus on previously supporting players like Heiji was a risk-fueling discussion, keeping longtime admirers pondering what’s next as new fans board for every annual outing.
Two decades in, this legacy endures by rolling with trends while retaining spirit. Its innovative director and $94 million returns prove Detective Conan’s strength lies not in rest but evolution. Fans old and new anticipate what setting and cast the 28th film will enthrall with, confident the acclaimed franchise’s future looks bright.
Hokkaido’s Picturesque Puzzle
With iconic Hakodate as its vivid backdrop, this Detective Conan outing highlighted Japanese countryside beauty. Character laughs like ever-bickering Heiji and Kazuha offered tried and true charms too.
Yet attempting myriad plotlines diluted solving intrigue and congested the narrative. Not all pieces connecting left audiences feeling quite satisfied in the end.
Nevertheless, as a franchise that forges boldly into new terrain with each film, there will always be hits and misses. Hakodate Heist kept longtime admirers conversing and brought atmospheric scenery to new admirers too.
Where the 28th film takes our heroes, and how its lessons influence that story, reserves judgment. Until then, fans can relive this one for its stunning Hokkaido vistas, and debates over its merits will surely continue heating up. In truth, that discussion itself is no small part of what makes this enduring brand so beloved.
The Review
Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram
With its picturesque Hokkaido backdrops and welcome focus on secondary characters, Hakodate Heist retained much of Detective Conan's captivating spirit. However, attempting to integrate too many disparate plot threads within its running time diluted the tightly-woven mysteries the franchise is known for. Overall, it remained an enjoyable entry for open-minded fans, if not the most dynamically paced.
PROS
- Beautiful scenery and depictions of Hakodate brought the setting to life.
- Focus on secondary characters like Heiji was an interesting narrative risk.
- Witty character interactions and humor kept the tone lighthearted.
CONS
- The plot was convoluted with too many intertwining subplots and characters.
- Lack of a clear main mystery diluted the typical mystery-solving intrigue.
- The narrative pace felt rushed, and some scenes could have been given more room to breathe.
