Buzz
While Detective Conan Episode 26 doesn't boast an extraordinary plot, the film continues to dominate the Vietnamese market, surpassing Hollywood blockbusters.
As the clock ticks, the renowned Detective Conan brand returns to Vietnamese theaters with its 26th installment titled Black Iron Submarine.
The production unexpectedly outshines the blockbuster Mission: Impossible - Fallout Part 1 to claim the top spot in the weekend box office rankings by Box Office Vietnam, an independent box office monitoring unit.
This signifies the allure of the Japanese animated brand, with a significant fan base in Vietnam willing to invest in experiencing the Conan story on the big screen.
The New Case of the Renowned Detective
Adapted from the renowned manga by artist Aoyama Gosho, the storyline of the Conan Movie series remains faithful to the original. The protagonist, Shinichi Kudo, a talented detective still in high school, takes center stage in the film.
One day, Shinichi falls victim to the enigmatic Black Organization, tricked into consuming a poisonous drug that transforms him into a 7-year-old. Despite his altered appearance as Conan, he continues to harbor a passion for detective work, discreetly aiding the police in solving perplexing cases.
Conan Movie 26 unfolds an entirely independent storyline. This time, the setting is the Hachijo Island south of Tokyo. Talented engineers worldwide gather here for the unveiling of a cutting-edge camera system with global connectivity and facial recognition capabilities.
Although unrelated, Conan receives an invitation to the island along with his close friends. However, the trip takes an unexpected turn as the Black Organization intervenes, plunging the situation into chaos. To make matters worse, the life of Haibara, Conan's close friend, is also put in jeopardy.
Lack of Detective Essence
By Episode 26, Japanese filmmakers have nearly mastered the key elements to entice audiences to theaters. The script follows the familiar formula: combining humor and mystery, while injecting tense situations to captivate viewers until the final moments.
One of the key factors contributing to the success of the Conan Movie series is the intricate and challenging cases that keep everyone on their toes. Through wit and keen deduction, the main character Conan consistently presents sharp arguments, leading the audience from one surprise to another.
However, as we step into the 26th film, the team seems to have struggled in innovating the cases. Instead, they allocate more time to action scenes, sometimes making the storyline feel unfamiliar.
The screenplay is a major drawback of the piece. Due to stuffing too many characters, the writers have failed to delve into their personalities and fates. New characters are introduced hastily, while many old ones only make fleeting appearances, leaving little impression.
Several plot details in the movie are straightforward and not too difficult to predict. Action sequences are consistently inserted but lack truly thrilling moments. Towards the end, the story loses its vigor, creating a sense of monotony despite the relatively fast-paced plot.
On the flip side, the project still manages to make a positive impression with meticulously crafted visuals and sound. Particularly, renowned composer Yugo Kanno skillfully blends electronic music with fast-paced rock tunes, adding a bit of tension to the action scenes.
Certainly, Conan fans will be disappointed with a plot full of loopholes and irrational twists.
Continuing Triumph in the Vietnamese Market
Alongside the robotic cat Doraemon, Detective Conan is a renowned Japanese animated series that has captured the hearts of Vietnamese audiences. Last year, Episode 25 titled Halloween Bride triumphed at the box office, grossing over 58 billion VND in Vietnam alone. Therefore, the production of Episode 26 was a foreseeable success.
In reality, Conan Movie 26 has been released in the Japanese market since April. In its home country, the film has performed exceptionally well, earning over 96 million USD in domestic box office revenue, according to Box Office Mojo.
Released late in Vietnamese cinemas after 3 months, the film still caused a sensation as it faced minimal competition. Both highly anticipated Hollywood blockbusters, Barbie and Oppenheimer, did not premiere in the Vietnamese market, paving the way for the Japanese animated project to claim a major victory.
On the Box Office Vietnam rankings, following Conan Movie 26 are films like Mission: Impossible - Newspaper Mission Part 1, Insidious: The Endless Red Door, Land of the Elemental. These are older films that premiered in the previous weeks, lacking the intrigue of the Japanese detective's story.
In general, Conan Movie 26 falls short of being an outstanding masterpiece. Nevertheless, the film still achieves good revenue in Vietnam due to its loyal fan base and a strategically favorable release time.
