Meitantei Conan Review Pages

Meitantei Conan
(Detective Conan)

14 Banme no Target
(The 14th Target)

Copyright: 1998 Shogakukan Video
Length:
Rating: NR, Parental Guidance Advised
Format: Japanese Language (VHS, LD, DVD)

dvd jacket

What a way to start the day; having a nightmare about your mother being shot! However, Ran has no idea about the significance of the nightmare until finding out that ten years ago, when her father was on the police force, her father (Mouri Kogorou) had shot her mother (Kisaki Eri); possibly in order to arrest a murderous card dealer - Murakami Jo.

Murakami Jo however, has just been released from prison after serving 10 years for murder; the arresting officers being Mouri Kogorou and Megure Juzo. What however, is Murakami's motives in seeking out Mouri Kogorou after his release?

One week after Murakami's release from prison, Mouri's acquaintances are being targeted by an unknown assailant. The first target being Detective Juzo Megure who was shot by a crossbow bolt while jogging in the park. Who shot him and what is the significance of the sword like object found in the park near where the incident happened? The second victim shortly after the shooting incident was the poisoning of Kisaki Eri through the use of poisoned Swiss chocolates. Tied to the chocolates was a paper flower which again was strangely familiar. Target #3 was Dr. Hiroshi Agasa; the mad scientist who was shot by a crossbow wielding biker. Again at the scene of the crime, a strangely familiar looking object was left behind, only this time Conan knew exactly where the objects were coming from. It appears that someone has been using items found on the character cards from the Spades; the King's dagger with Megure Keibu, the Queen's flower, for Kisaki Eri, and the Jack's spear hilt with Dr. Agasa. Likewise, the decision of which card for which person was not accidental. Megure Keibu's name Juzo is made of the two kanji characters for ten and three which would signify the thirteenth card or the king. Kisaki, means Queen in English; and Agasa Hiroshi's kanji for "shi" is made of the kanji for ten and one joined together or 11 for the eleventh card. Given this very clear number clue for the targets, will Mouri or Conan be able to figure out the identity of the next intended victim before it's too late, or will Murakami end up succeeding in killing his next victim rather than just injuring someone? Also, why is Murakami Jo being so obvious about his identity in his bid for vengeance against Mouri Kogorou? Also, at the time of Murakami's original arrest, did Mouri think that he could avoid shooting his wife when aiming for Murakami when he held Eri hostage or was there an ulterior motive in shooting his own wife... and will Ran ever know the truth behind her parents' separation shortly after the shooting incident?

This is the second of the Meitantei Conan movies. The story is fairly decent for a kids movie designed for young kids with an interesting although a touch unrealistic plot. Really now, how many people are going to go around targeting 13 people just to really kill 4? That's a little extreme by any count; but if you're really warped, I guess anything goes. Likewise, the idea of using the number characters in one's name to choose targets is an interesting albeit a touch twisted way of doing things. The overall story tends to keep one guessing as to the identity of the perpetrator for a fair chunk of the movie (unless you really think about a couple of unusual things which are said whereupon it can be very easy to pick out the perpetrator fairly early. Of course it really helps if you can understand Japanese really well too, otherwise you might overlook some important points). The really disappointing thing about this movie was that the voice acting was rather mixed with some half hearted acting with some characters and a bit of over-acting with Mouri's character. Likewise, there were a few scenes which were very tongue in cheek meant to be fun for young kids and yet there's information throughout which would not normally be known by little kids. Perhaps a touch educational?
- JN, 99.07.12

Original: Subbed: Dubbed:

Story: N/A N/A

Direction: N/A N/A

Acting: N/A N/A

Animation: N/A N/A

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Translation: N/A N/A N/A

Overall Rating: N/A N/A

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