How would you define a movie classic?A movie classic is a movie that doesn't age,and you can watch it when you're 10,20 or 30 and still find the same magic you found the first time you saw it. Rupan sansei:Kariosutoro no shiro-Lupin the third:the castle of Cagliostro in English-is a movie classic,but let's start from the beginning.
Lupin the third was created by Japanese mangaka Monkey Punch.After a colossal success on paper,the franchise has moved into three anime series of equal success and it's still present nowadays thanks to the animated movies."Cagliostro" was the first of this new incarnation
First of all,let's introduce the characters: Lupin III is the Japanese descendant of famous french thief Arsene Lupin,or so he claims to be.The world's greatest thief,he's also a master of disguise.Clownish and bumbling,he's always tracked down by inspector Zenigata,who always fail to capture him.It's not his fault tho,since Lupin also has escape skills of superhuman ability. He has a long time crush on Fujiko Mine,and that causes him more troubles than he'd ever want to admit
Jigen Daisuke:one of Lupin's two best friends,Jigen is a marksman of uncanny accuracy.Of American-Japanese heritage,he can shoot the antennae off of an ant.Always smoking,he never wears his hat off,because he uses the brim to aim.
Goemon Ishikawa:Lupin' second best friend and mate,he is the archetype of a samurai.A real master,he's very strong and agile,but it's when he pulls off his sword that things become really dangerous.His Zantetsu-Ken("the sword that can slice metal")has been created with meteor fragments,and can cut everything.Even iron and steel. Goemon is quiet and silent,and doesn't trust women.Seeing Fujiko,he does have a point,actually
Fujiko Mine:Beautiful and highly skilled woman,she always uses her feminine wiles to their full advantages.She's very dangerous and her only wish is to become richer and richer.Lupin is madly in love with her,which causes him to almost always lose everything he gets.Fujiko is a excellent thief and probably,the smartest of the bunch.
Inspector Zenigata:a Japanese Interpol inspector,hes constantly frustrated by Lupin's ability to escape his highly intelligent traps.But he's so devoted to capturing the world's most wanted thief that he never gives up,even tho he always end up at biting the dust
OK,you pretty much got it,don't you?The synopsis is as simple as it gets,but what makes Lupin so special is the excellent mix of all those ingredients:exotic places,immense treasures,lovely ladies,lots of well-paced action,incredible escapes and good laughs.
But what does this movie do,to reach the Olympus?One word:Miyazaki. Acclaimed all around the world "the best animation director of all times",he puts his magic into this franchise.If you don't know what magic I'm talking about watch Mononoke Hime or Spirited Away;do yourself a pleasure,watch them.And then you will agree with all the people saying it,including me.
He puts the well-working Lupin franchise into a superbly written story,with brilliant dialogs and deep,interesting characters. The animation is that good.And the pacing?Simply incredible.This is not "The Incredibles",this is not cgi,this is not a 10000000 times already told story.This is great action,great laughs,great direction,touching moments,superb soundtrack...and a final showdown really worth it. Not the best animated movie ever,but damn if it's not close. If you don't know Lupin yet do yourself a favor..go out and buy this work of art,you will not regret a single penny.If you already know Lupin,you SHOULD have bought this years ago,fool! I recommend you...no,I COMMAND you to buy Cagliostro.Don't miss it.
10/10
Lupin the third was created by Japanese mangaka Monkey Punch.After a colossal success on paper,the franchise has moved into three anime series of equal success and it's still present nowadays thanks to the animated movies."Cagliostro" was the first of this new incarnation
First of all,let's introduce the characters: Lupin III is the Japanese descendant of famous french thief Arsene Lupin,or so he claims to be.The world's greatest thief,he's also a master of disguise.Clownish and bumbling,he's always tracked down by inspector Zenigata,who always fail to capture him.It's not his fault tho,since Lupin also has escape skills of superhuman ability. He has a long time crush on Fujiko Mine,and that causes him more troubles than he'd ever want to admit
Jigen Daisuke:one of Lupin's two best friends,Jigen is a marksman of uncanny accuracy.Of American-Japanese heritage,he can shoot the antennae off of an ant.Always smoking,he never wears his hat off,because he uses the brim to aim.
Goemon Ishikawa:Lupin' second best friend and mate,he is the archetype of a samurai.A real master,he's very strong and agile,but it's when he pulls off his sword that things become really dangerous.His Zantetsu-Ken("the sword that can slice metal")has been created with meteor fragments,and can cut everything.Even iron and steel. Goemon is quiet and silent,and doesn't trust women.Seeing Fujiko,he does have a point,actually
Fujiko Mine:Beautiful and highly skilled woman,she always uses her feminine wiles to their full advantages.She's very dangerous and her only wish is to become richer and richer.Lupin is madly in love with her,which causes him to almost always lose everything he gets.Fujiko is a excellent thief and probably,the smartest of the bunch.
Inspector Zenigata:a Japanese Interpol inspector,hes constantly frustrated by Lupin's ability to escape his highly intelligent traps.But he's so devoted to capturing the world's most wanted thief that he never gives up,even tho he always end up at biting the dust
OK,you pretty much got it,don't you?The synopsis is as simple as it gets,but what makes Lupin so special is the excellent mix of all those ingredients:exotic places,immense treasures,lovely ladies,lots of well-paced action,incredible escapes and good laughs.
But what does this movie do,to reach the Olympus?One word:Miyazaki. Acclaimed all around the world "the best animation director of all times",he puts his magic into this franchise.If you don't know what magic I'm talking about watch Mononoke Hime or Spirited Away;do yourself a pleasure,watch them.And then you will agree with all the people saying it,including me.
He puts the well-working Lupin franchise into a superbly written story,with brilliant dialogs and deep,interesting characters. The animation is that good.And the pacing?Simply incredible.This is not "The Incredibles",this is not cgi,this is not a 10000000 times already told story.This is great action,great laughs,great direction,touching moments,superb soundtrack...and a final showdown really worth it. Not the best animated movie ever,but damn if it's not close. If you don't know Lupin yet do yourself a favor..go out and buy this work of art,you will not regret a single penny.If you already know Lupin,you SHOULD have bought this years ago,fool! I recommend you...no,I COMMAND you to buy Cagliostro.Don't miss it.
10/10