I am a huge anime buff. Anything from something old and classic like Doraemon to something a bit more modern day and serious like Death Note, I love anime. But like many, I don't just watch to see what'll happen but I watch to see WHAT makes it good, see character development. I basically pay attention so small detail and enjoy analyzing the anime, good or bad, for it's most redeeming and it's worst qualities. I also enjoy discussion.
I saw the Detective Conan movie ( in USA: Case Closed) "The Fourteenth Target" tonight. It's on the old side because it was one of the first Conan movies and I'd venture a guess it was made around 1997-1999. Even though the animation wasn't great, the story was well thought out, the characters were in Character, there was character development everywhere and it has plenty of action with a bit of romance. It was by far one of my favorite Conan movies and defiantly a classic. Much better then some of the more recent up to date movies that have been released within the last few years.
Now, I have mainly two reasons for bringing this movie up and that'll help bring me to my next point. Although I do love discussion, many fans aren't into discussing something media related ( anime/movie/TV or not) in the least and simply say: "It's just a show. Get over it." It's really discouraging, because for MANY movies, animated films or not there are many people that work VERY hard to make these movies as good as they are. And a lot of famous screenwriters and artists write and draw out these beautiful/amazing stories for a reason. (like Miyazaki's films for example)
So Here's my question DrunkDuck ( sorry for the ramble ) Do you watch your anime/movies like I do? ( even look through comics in the same way) and is it ever hard to find good conversation when you want to express your thoughts about the movie you just watched and get opinions from others?
Do you watch to watch or are you watching for something more?


Feel free to talk about a movie/comic/Tv show/book or otherwise that you'd like to talk about also, anything goes.

I had a class in upper secondary school that was called Motion Pictures 101 (well, it was really called Rörlig Bild A, but I'm translating here), and during the course of the class, we analysed a whole lot of movies.

Nobody knows the first three minutes of The Matrix better than I do. Trust me on this one.

But yes, back to the point. We analysed a lot of movies - I did a personal project on Myiazaki, which was extraordinarily rewarding and interesting - and the methods and interesting things we learned over the course of the class have gotten stuck in my brain so that now, whenever I watch a movie (animation or otherwise), my mind analyses the heck out of it, whether I want to or not.

It is, I believe, a more interesting way to watch movies. The film makers pile on layers and layers and layers of symbolism and meaning and foreshadowing, presented in such a way that it goes into our minds and stays there without any conscious thought. I mean, when was the last time you went to see a movie and thought "Oh! The light falls on his face through the blinds, creating horisontal strips of shadows and light - which looks like the iron bars of prison cells! This represents the character's feeling of entrapment!"? Really, be honest now.

But that's the way I watch movies. It might not always be as spelled out as the example above, but I spot these little tricks all over the place and then I get excited, because a good film maker can build these little hints up and still make the big reveal surprising.

is it ever hard to find good conversation when you want to express your thoughts about the movie you just watched and get opinions from others?

For me, it isn't. Because my brother is as big a film nerd as I am, and he went to school for film, so whenever I want to geek out over colours or camera angles or lighting effects, I go to him. *shrugs* I've been extraordinarily lucky, though - most people I know my age aren't interested in film the way I am.

Except my former classmates, of course. >.> We're a strange bunch.

I guess I'm in the 'watch to watch' crowd here.

I don't like to analyze my movies, or any other form of fiction for that matter, because it just seems to take too much fun out of it for me. I prefer to watch them and enjoy the story being told and if I get anything more out of it then yay for me.

I just feel that too much time is spent analyzing everything when it should be spent enjoying it.

But if you like to watch your movies that way, then be my guest.

I enjoy talking about and thinking about media, but when I'm actually watching the damn thing I never analyze. Not only does it distract you from the ride that's crafted for you, it's too much work for something done for enjoyment.

I get annoyed at ppl who actively try to guess their way out of the plot of a movie. It's like they don't have the self discipline to just stay put on the seat and stay buckled in. And I hate sitting next to them.

mlai
I get annoyed at ppl who actively try to guess their way out of the plot of a movie. It's like they don't have the self discipline to just stay put on the seat and stay buckled in. And I hate sitting next to them.

Agreed on the hating to sit next to them - everyone is welcome to analyse and guess the plot, as long as they're quiet about it. My brother and I have a strict no-talking policy when it comes to watching movies.

While I half-consciously analyse things, I try to avoid guessing the entire plot. It's fun to pick up on hints, and appreciate the crafting of the film, but guessing the entire plot sort of... defeats the point of watching it.

I watch a lot of Detective Conan (hundreds of episodes, all 11 movies), and I love having someone to discuss it with. It's definitely an interactive series. That's true of most "mystery" shows. I don't do it with all of the movies and shows I watch, but Conan is designed (for the most part) as an old school murder mystery series. It'd be hard to watch it without saying "Oh, that's the guy that's going to get killed." or "I know she didn't do it because she's too obvious." etc. It's the most fun to watch with other people, so you can show how clever you are (or enjoy having your foot in your mouth at the end).

I like discussing many shows/movies with people (afterwards; during messes up the experience -- especially in the cinema), but lately, a lot of the movies that have come out just aren't interesting/deep enough for conversation. It's sad, because I think part of the movie experience is really examining the deeper parts of the story, the nuances, etc. With TV shows, we talk during commercials. ;)


(Sorry for the following, I just don't meet many Detective Conan fans...)

BTW, The 14th Target wasn't bad. I was disappointed the first time I saw it, because the first Detective Conan movie I ever saw was Countdown to Heaven, which is movie number 5 and really "actiony." I also saw movies 6-9 before that one, because the early movies were really hard to find with subtitles. I hope Funimation keeps up with the releases. It's fun to see how they dub them. I'm amazed that they managed the 14th Target.
The original version was based entirely upon the Japanese names containing numbers. Shinichi => ichi = 1 = the Ace

The third movie is called The Last Wizard of the Century. It's fantastic. It has Kaito Kid (aka Phantom Thief Kid) in it. It also contains Ai Haibara, so I'm not sure how they'll manage it, since her introduction episode was never released in America. (It was released in the manga, though -- Volume 18.)

usedbooks
I watch a lot of Detective Conan (hundreds of episodes, all 10 movies), and I love having someone to discuss it with. It's definitely an interactive series. That's true of most "mystery" shows. I don't do it with all of the movies and shows I watch, but Conan is designed (for the most part) as an old school murder mystery series. It'd be hard to watch it without saying "Oh, that's the guy that's going to get killed." or "I know she didn't do it because she's too obvious." etc. It's the most fun to watch with other people, so you can show how clever you are (or enjoy having your foot in your mouth at the end).

I like discussing many shows/movies with people (afterwards; during messes up the experience -- especially in the cinema), but lately, a lot of the movies that have come out just aren't interesting/deep enough for conversation. It's sad, because I think part of the movie experience is really examining the deeper parts of the story, the nuances, etc. With TV shows, we talk during commercials. ;)


(Sorry for the following, I just don't meet many Detective Conan fans...)

BTW, The 14th Target wasn't bad. I was disappointed the first time I saw it, because the first Detective Conan movie I ever saw was Countdown to Heaven, which is movie number 5 and really "actiony." I also saw movies 6-9 before that one, because the early movies were really hard to find with subtitles. I hope Funimation keeps up with the releases. It's fun to see how they dub them. I'm amazed that they managed the 14th Target.
The original version was based entirely upon the Japanese names containing numbers. Shinichi => ichi = 1 = the Ace

The third movie is called The Last Wizard of the Century. It's fantastic. It has Kaito Kid (aka Phantom Thief Kid) in it. It also contains Ai Haibara, so I'm not sure how they'll manage it, since her introduction episode was never released in America. (It was released in the manga, though -- Volume 18.)

It's always nice to see other Conan fans. My first Conan movie also was countdown to heaven along with Phantom of Baker street The Fourteenth target was the last on my Conan movie list (besides of course 名探偵コナン 紺碧の棺 = Detective Conan: Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure) I wasn't happy about having to buy the Case Closed version of the film but I was happy to find Japanese option with good subtitles. But being as it IS the 2nd out of the Conan films and doesn't seem to be that easy to find online ( trust me I've looked ) I had to swallow my pride and buy this movie.
I will admit it was not the BEST of the Conan movies but (in my opinion) it definitely was worth watching and wasn't like one or two of the other Conan movies that just did not measure up to a lot of the other movings standards.

Most of my other friends are aren't Conan fans and if they are they're too lazy to read subtitles...T__T; And even if they do watch a Conan episode or two with me or even one of the CLASSIC Conan movies they're still not too into having a discussion about any of it.
I admit it IS annoying when you over analyzed a movie from the get-go and you can't focus on the movie, but for me it happens naturally and before I even realize it. Luckily I feel like enjoy the movie for what it was as well as bringing something to the table for myself as far as insights and knowing a bit more about some of (at least in Conan's case) the deeper social issues in Japan that are brought up in these movies even if many don't realize it. ( Conan is a kid show after all )

mlai
I enjoy talking about and thinking about media, but when I'm actually watching the damn thing I never analyze. Not only does it distract you from the ride that's crafted for you, it's too much work for something done for enjoyment.

I get annoyed at ppl who actively try to guess their way out of the plot of a movie. It's like they don't have the self discipline to just stay put on the seat and stay buckled in. And I hate sitting next to them.

I don't blame you getting annoyed with people who do that...x_x; I'm generally not one of THOSE analyzers and even when the inspiration strikes I do my best to keep a lid on it until the movies actually over and I can be like: "Wow I totally didn't see that coming" or something like that.
When I do watch movies I usually try and watch them by myself for well...obviously the enjoyment factor ( to see what'll happen blah blah) and to not have any unnecessary interruptions along with the 'was it good?' 'how was it good?' 'is this worth me pestering anyone else to see so they might think it was good also?'
In general I do enjoy good discussion; Even a good debate is always fun as long as it's not taken too far. It's just seems to be hard to come by now-a-days. For anime/manga related things at least.....may just be me though.

I feel like enjoy the movie for what it was as well as bringing something to the table for myself as far as insights and knowing a bit more about some of (at least in Conan's case) the deeper social issues in Japan that are brought up in these movies even if many don't realize it. ( Conan is a kid show after all )
Eri is always interesting, and it was a good insight for Kogoro's past. That alone made it worth the watch. Oddly, I often enjoy/appreciate those movies more the second time I watch them. (Of course, watching it knowing who the "bad guy" is makes it a different experience altogether.)

Kid show as it is, I find it a little more grown up and even disturbing at times. (The very first episode contains a beheading! o_0 )

I wasn't happy about having to buy the Case Closed version of the film but I was happy to find Japanese option with good subtitles. But being as it IS the 2nd out of the Conan films and doesn't seem to be that easy to find online ( trust me I've looked ) I had to swallow my pride and buy this movie.
Yeah, I found my copies by dumb luck (obsessively checking Ebay and a handful of online stores). I guard my collection.

The dubbing for that series is pretty good, and they didn't change any of the visuals in the movies. I actually enjoy Meguire and "Richard" more in English. My only real problem with it is that the show insists on pretending it isn't in Japan -- not just changing the names but changing little bits of dialogue and other stuff too. That alone causes some real conflicts with translation, and they have to start making stuff up. A good thing about the American releases are the subtitles are always... coherent. The worst part of it is the WAITING (and the price).

Ah, there seems to be a little clarification in this thread now.

I suppose, now that things have been slightly restated, that I do enjoy finding the subtleties in my movies, but only after I've already watched them.

After the fact, it's enjoyable to go over a movie and try to find the reasons why a character did a specific action or made a poor decision. It makes the movie-watching experience go on a little longer, after the regular entertainment portion is done with.