If you’re a Magic Kaito fan, then this Detective Conan film is as good as watching a Magic Kaito film. Kaito Kid (Kappei Yamaguchi) features so heavily in the film that he’s virtually the protagonist of Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram – which also explains why there’s so much action and duelling in this film. Giving Kaito Kid the lion’s share of the screentime means that he gets to engage in the action sequences that Conan Edogawa (Minami Takayama) is rarely able to. It genuinely feels like a completely different film from previous Detective Conan instalments, and in a good way.
There’s so much action!
Synopsis
Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram is an anime mystery film that’s the twenty-seventh in the Detective Conan franchise. It sees the titular character and his allies investigating a case of stolen swords in Hakodate. However, they soon discover that the swords hide a secret – and so do one of Conan’s associates, as well.
Director: Chika Nagaoka
Writer: Takahiro Okura
- Minami Takayama (Conan Edogawa)
- Kappei Yamaguchi (Shinichi Kudō , Kaito Kid/Kaito Kuroba)
- Wakana Yamazaki (Ran Mōri)
- Rikiya Koyama (Kogorō Mōri)
- Ryō Horikawa (Heiji Hattori)
- Yuko Miyamura (Kazuha Toyama)
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Hijiri Fukushiro)
- Takayuki Sugō (Ryōe Fukushiro)
More action, less talking
Being a detective series, Detective Conan films have always necessitated some level of exposition. If the subject matter of the film is something that’s a little more esoteric, such as karuta (in Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter), then even more time has to be devoted to ensuring that the concepts and circumstances are properly fleshed out.
Where Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram is different is that it has a much, much stronger focus on action. The subject matter is about swords, after all – specifically, six swords that are said to hold a secret to the film’s eponymous treasure. And what are swords without good swordfights? Everyone (well, almost everyone) gets to wield a blade and engage in swordplay in this film – from Kaito Kid to Heiji (Ryō Horikawa) to even the guest stars of this film, Hijiri Fukushiro (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) and his father Ryōe (Takayuki Sugō). Heiji’s involvement also means we get to see more stunts by him, such as duels atop a plane and motorcycles crashing through stained glass walls. So it feels like a different movie from the regular Detective Conan fare – an action film with a mystery, rather than a mystery movie peppered with action.
Faster paced plot
As a result of the action (or perhaps, alongside it), the plot unfolds very quickly. Twists and turns come quickly, whether they be in the form of revelations, new characters in the hunt for the treasure, or startling betrayals. It almost feels as if a different production team took on this project – but no, it’s the same production team. So where does this faster pace come from?
I think it’s the fact that the production team gets to play with not one, but two of creator Gosho Aoyama’s creations – Detective Conan and Kaito Kid. While Kaito Kid has always been a supporting character in the Detective Conan series, his greater prominence here (as well as the fact that he’s the star of his own franchise, Magic Kaito), makes it feel like this is a Magic Kaito and Detective Conan crossover – rather than just being a Detective Conan film. That gives greater urgency and weight to the characters in the plot, which has translated into faster pacing and a more riveting story.
Kaito Kid’s character arc
Kaito Kid’s relationship with Conan Edogawa has been speculated for years (actually I think there’s an obscure reference that reveals their relationship a few years ago), but it’s never been outrightly confirmed – until this movie. This film tells us more of Kaito Kid’s background, and by corollary, what his relationship with Conan Edogawa is. It’s been teased repeatedly that Kaito Kid looks like Shinichi Kudō, so therefore there must be some kind of hidden relationship between them.
But it’s openly revealed here, to audience cheers. Half of the fandom can be smug about their speculations (you guys are right), because it resolves and legitimises a popular theory between the two characters. But of course, I’m not going to spoil it here – watch the film for yourself to find out.
A beautiful depiction of Hakodate
I’ve never been to Hakodate (and by proxy, Hokkaido) before – which is where Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram is set. And just like how Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire put Singapore (the setting of the movie) into the consciousness of Detective Conan fans, Hakodate has come to life for me with this film. Places like the star-shaped Goryōkaku and Mount Hakodate came to life in stunning accuracy (the film reveals the real-life Hakodate locations that were used as references for the animation), so much so that I actually looked up Hakodate tickets after the film. The attention to detail and romanticisation really made me feel like Hakodate is one of those places where you can propose (no, I’m not), and take in all the sights. In the film, it’s also the cherry blossom season, so the streets of Hakodate are lined with cherry blossom trees.
Boring bad guys
Since the protagonists are all larger than life, it also means there’s less space for the antagonists. That’s a happy problem, because I’d much rather focus on the established characters and fan favourites (that’s what we’re all here to watch a Detective Conan film for, right?). Nevertheless, apart from Hijiri being eye candy and a sort of rival love interest, he and his father Ryōe have rather flimsy motivations and don’t really add to the film. I can’t see how their presence could have been reduced, though, and on hindsight it does seem like their roles have been reduced to the minimum necessary.
Conclusion
Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram feels unlike the other Detective Conan films that have come before – because the treatment seems to have been to make it a Detective Conan and Kaito Kid crossover. That has worked out in its favour, given the spectacular action and faster pace of the plot. It also helps that the setting, Hakodate, is a beautiful one that evokes so much beauty and wonder. Stay on for a post credits scene, and shots of the real-life Hakodate.
Score: 7.2/10
Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram is out in cinemas 11 July, 2024.
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com.
You might also want to read:
- [Movies] ‘Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet’ has everything you’d expect from a bullet train adventure
- [Movie Review] ‘Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire’ is the closest we’ll ever come to a Singapore anime
- [Movie Review] ‘Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter’ is incredibly talky
- [Movie Review] ‘Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare’ is a good mix of thrilling action and strong characterisation
Leave a Reply