Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro

I don't like Japanese anime most of the time. In fact, the only anime I genuinely love comes from Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Now, I knew this movie was a Miyazaki film, but the fact that I'd never even SEEN or READ Lupin the series made me veeery hesitant to check this movie out. I'd seen it at the Library movie section but wasn't willing to fork over the one dollar to rent it.

I finally saw it yesterday, thanks to my sister, and MAN! was it awesome! I didn't expect it to play out like a regular Miyazaki film, but it did in every aspect I can think of: the animation style, the facial expressions, the plot, storyline and script, and the overall feel of the movie screamed Miyazaki. By the end, I even learned to love Lupin and the whole cast of characters who were all strangers to me at the beginning of the movie.

Aside from the corny 70's music, this movie was fun every step of the way. It was funny, romantic, dramatic, action-packed: everything! So I guess that sums it up well. I'm sorry I didn't watch it before, so now i'm telling you--GET THIS MOVIE! I'm sure you will find at least something in it that will entertain you.

Early feature directed by the now world famous Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki. A roguish thief, Lupin III, attempts to save the Lady Clarisse de Cagliostro from an evil Count, both of them well aware that she holds the secret to a legendary hidden treasure.

The animation is, unsurprisingly, much less sophisticated than in the later Studio Ghibli films, or even those released only a few years after such as "Nausicaa". However, the quality is still very high and Miyazaki's trademark attention to detail, particularly with machines, is noticeable already.

The character animation is much broader and more obviously cartoon-like but this matches the very light tone of the film - this is an all-out action comedy adventure, after all! The details in the film give it a very European feel, from the costumes to the cars (wonderfully animated Fiat 500 and Citroen 2CV), and I was most reminded of Herge's "Tintin" adventure series.

This film is good fun, though I did find the pacing a little uneven, and particularly recommended to those who enjoy their animated films a bit simpler and more conventional than most of Studio Ghibli's output.

Hilarious comedy, tasteful romance, intense action, and colorful characters.. . No one who sees this movie would believe it was a low-budget 1979 flop. With world name director Miyazaki (few of his movies rank under 9 even on this database), the highly successful Lupin cast and the angelic Shimamoto as Clarisse, who WOULD believe it failed? This movie is the most underrated movie of all time.

Just make sure you acquire a GOOD translation, if one exists. Carl "the Butcher" Macek's Streamline Pictures release got horrible ratings due to his unchecked editors, unfaithful translators and third-rate voice actors. Fan-made subtitled copies are far more enjoyable, but quality is still not guaranteed. Good luck hunting; this movie is gold.

I have two Japanese animated feature films from 1979, this one and one of the sequels to Space Battleship Yamato. Compared to the animation in Yamato (which is flat and often motionless), Lupin is Snow White. There is so much movement (more than some of Miyazaki's later films), and there are some truly incredible "set" pieces (Lupin scaling a sheer castle wall, for instance). One of the things that has always been noted about Japanese animation is that while it's not as fluid as Disney animation (12 frames per second as opposed to 24, not to mention the animation is generally before the voice track), it has incredible style and originality in its design and cinematography. Lupin is a perfect example of this, and it's no wonder the movie is still so well revered in Japan.

And I have to say, to some extent, I agree with him. This is certainly the funniest of the pre-Studio Ghibli movies, all of which are extremely good. Even PomPoko and Cat Returns, considered as the weakest Ghibli efforts are well worth watching. Anyway, the best aspect of Castle of Cagliostro is the hilarious mix of James Bond, Hitchcock and the Marx Brothers. When Zenigata is flying the plane, that is one of the funniest bits of the film, as it reminds me of that hilarious plane scene from It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. The title song is so beautiful, and I have it in my head still while writing this review. The script is witty, and very inspired, and the character of Lupin is very likable. The Count isn't exactly sinister, but he is a very convincing and somewhat creepy villain. The animation is very good, as are the voice talents, none of the stars are huge names, unlike Princess Mononoke and the Cat Returns. I also want to say, Studio Ghibli do so many landmark animes, that are completely superior to the atrocious follow up movies from Pokemon. Before I round off, there is one thing, I am confused about. Is Clarice a lady, or a princess, because the version I have on DVD, I think is different to the one I saw on TV? Anyway, Castle of Cagliostro is a 9/10. Bethany Cox