Detective Conan Movie 07: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital
Synopsis
Under the cover of darkness, a masked samurai murders five men across the metropolis of Japan: three in Tokyo, one in Osaka, and the last in Kyoto. In their investigation, the police learn that each man was a member of the Genjibotaru—a thieves gang centered on the theft of Buddhist statues and artifacts and who go by the names of Minomoto no Yoshitune's servants. Without a clear motive or clues to the other members' identities, the case runs dry until a Kyoto temple calls for the famous Kogorou Mouri. Having received an anonymous letter containing a peculiar puzzle, the temple monks ask for his assistance in solving it to recover their long lost statue. Meanwhile, Conan Edogawa and high school detective Heiji Hattori team up in order to solve the cryptic puzzle and find the murderer, as Hattori searches for his childhood love. With Hattori's knowledge of Kyoto, the two scour the streets and gradually discover the truth, but not before the murderer strikes again—killing another Genjibotaru member and, after repeated attempts on Hattori's life, eventually kidnapping Hattori's childhood sweetheart. It is only by working together to bring buried clues to light can Conan and Hattori hope to end the rogue samurai's bloodshed and save Hattori's love. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The audience generally enjoys the movie, particularly its focus on Japanese culture and the prominence of Heiji and Kazuha. However, some find the pacing slow and the lack of high stakes disappointing compared to other Detective Conan movies. The film is appreciated for its solid mystery and cultural elements, though the reliance on Japanese wordplay may alienate some viewers.
Strengths
- Good plot and engaging mystery.
- Showcases Japanese culture, history, and places of interest.
- Strong connection to Kyoto and traditional Japanese elements.
- Features the popular characters Heiji and Kazuha prominently.
- Solid case with a culturally relevant code.
- Good introduction to Kyoto for viewers.
- Enjoyable for Detective Conan fans.
Weaknesses
- Feels more like a 2-hour special episode than a movie.
- Lacks high stakes and drastic events typical of Conan movies.
- Action sequences are lacking compared to previous movies.
- Slow pacing, particularly in setting up the case.
- Reliance on Japanese wordplay may exclude some viewers.
- May feel drawn out or boring to some viewers.