Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) User Reviews (114)

WAY better than expected!!

[princesszandra · 9/10 · 5 September 2004]

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.

A humdinger of an action film that should please his fans, fans of animation in general and fans of spy thrillers in the James Bond mode.

[toqtaqiya2 · 7/10 · 19 October 2010]

Hayao Miyazaki's debut as a film director is assured, original, and very funny. The Castle Of Cagliostro is a cool, classy caper that respected Monkey Punch's original material, but Miyazaki still made it his own. With the help of Yasuo Otsuka, the giant of the anime industry who had been his mentor in his early career at Toei, Miyazaki takes elements from the original novels that inspired Monkey Punch, American and European films from Chaplin to Bond, and blends them into a superbly paced and beautifully shot picture. Yuji Ono, the Lupin III house composer and one of Japan's most beloved jazzmen, provides a score that mixes funkadelia and orchestral themes with true panache. If you need more evidence for the brilliance of Miyazaki's creation that the film itself, look at the way it's been mined for inspiration by other animators, most notably Disney, in The Great Mouse Detective (1986). Miyazaki tones down Lupin's usual lascivious and mercenary interests for this adventure, but he seldom lets the action flag.

What a movie!

[Jeremy Bristol · 7/10 · 26 February 2002]

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.

The grand debut of the master of anime

[action-6 · 22 February 2004]

"The Castle Of Cagliostro"(TCOC) from 1979 is the grand debut Hayao Miyazaki, one of the world`s finest filmmakers and a master of anime. TCOC is a movie that has it all; action, adventure, romance, comedy. It is a superb movie that appeals to everyone. The main character is Lupin, the master thief, who you may know already if you have read the manga which this is based upon. Lupin travels to a European country called Cagliostro, where he intends to uncover the secret of The Castle Of Cagliostro. This is a must see, and it is also my favorite of all the Miyazaki-films.

10/10

Worthy of respect it's denied

[Ryuji-2 · 10/10 · 16 January 1999]

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.

Best Animated Movie Ever

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 10/10 · 28 January 2001]

The second big screen outing of Lupin III is already one of the best Anime movies ever made, while rivalling anything Disney or Pixar has to offer. Green ogres, fat superheroes or a zillion gigabytes of computer animation still cannot compare to 12 frames of hand drawn charm.

For the uninitiated, Lupin III is the grandson of Arsene Lupin, the gentleman thief, created by Maurice Leblanc in the Twenties. He's always breaking into some impenetrable vault, or has a zillion gadgets up his sleeve to help with escaping if things go awry. He's also rather wacky and buffoonish, which makes his antics a joy to watch.

Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle), in his movie debut, tones down the out of control wackiness of the Lupin III TV show and gives Lupin a rather decent plot to dig his teeth into. This is not an excuse to string together a bunch of insane set pieces.

Seconds after robbing a Monte Carlo casino, Lupin and Jigen discover that every dollar note they have swiped is a fake. Only one place in the world is known to make these counterfeits and Lupin's underworld knowledge leads them to the tiny European country of Cagliostro (think Luxemburg, only much, much smaller).

Half a moment after crossing the border, Lupin and Jigen are involved in a car chase and rescue the Lady Clarisse from a bunch of goons. But she's promptly kidnapped again, though manages to leave Lupin a clue in the form of a strange wedding ring.

Their suspicions over the kidnapping lead them to the titular castle where they discover that an evil Count has seized control of the country, using - guess what? - funny money. And the ring is the key to a great treasure that can only be uncovered when the Lady Clarisse is married to the Count.

Lupin deliberately blows his cover to Inspector Zenigata (the perpetually stressed Interpol officer who is always chasing him) as a diversion, while he breaks into the castle to rescue Clarisse. What follows is scene after scene of hairs breadth escapes and impossible scenarios.

Miyazaki's attention to detail is what truly elevates this beyond typical animation quality. There are enough moments of quietness and atmosphere to balance out the loud scenes. A strong sense of setting also comes from the imaginative "photography". Too many animated movies disorientate the audience with frenetic direction and over-indulgence, but Castle Of Cagliostro works so much better by taking its time and choosing the best angles to cover the action. His trademark flying machines and overeating scenes make their first big screen appearance here.

Far from his typical sub-genre of eco-friendly animation, Miyazaki is obviously a big fan of Lupin and has made a movie that refuses to be missed. Even Spielberg called CoC "one of the best adventure movies ever." Any fan of Miyazaki should check out this film immediately.

One should be aware that the Maurice Leblanc estate doesn't entirely approve of the Lupin III franchise. As a result he is mostly known in the new Optimum Region 2 DVD version as "Wolf" (get it?). The Manga release of this film was entirely re-dubbed in English with Lupin restored but the new Optimum DVD uses the original English voice actors.

The Adventures of Arsene Lupin III

[Teebs2 · 7/10 · 22 January 2006]

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.

One of those few Japanese animations that ANYONE can enjoy

[Archrival0001 · 10/10 · 21 August 2005]

Lupin the 3rd is definitely not one of the most...well known franchises in America. It's a shame really, because the only real public exposure to the franchise was with 20 somead episodes they showed on Cartoon Network for a year or so. However, this is the real Lupin. The best in the franchise, and why, therein, it BECAME a franchise.

The movie's plot is...sparce. Frankly, how it ends is pretty predictable, and you know that the heros will win. That's not the fun in the movie though. This shows the old euphanism that "its not the end that matters, but the journey that it took to get there". The movie basically starts out with Lupin and his gun-ho buddy Jigen in a car chase from a very nice bank that they just robbed. They finally get away from the police, but to their shock, they realize that the money they stole was fake bills. So, in real Lupin humor, they just chuck it all out of the car and are done with it, as though the whole thing didn't happen. They then run into a girl being chased by suited men and well....thats pretty much all the spoilers I will give. The name of the day in this film is comedy. You will be hardpressed to find a serious moment in this film that doesn't have a sly, comedy edge to it. This film doesn't take its story too seriously, but instead lets its characters create the atmosphere, and the real reason to watch it. Whether it's Lupin doing the craziest stuff imaginable to save some girl he only slightly knows, Fujiko, the commonplace vixen who is trying to make a quick buck in this whole thing, seducing the villain only to find herself on the wrong end of a gun, or Goemon, Lupin's samurai buddy, blushing at the sight of a pretty girl at the flick of a wrist, you will laugh.

This movie is heavily based on sight gags, and just setting up characters in the right place at the right time to generate something hilarious. But don't let that make you think that it is ever forced, it isn't. It's as fluent as the pace in this movie, which has no wasted moments, just nonstop action and fun. If there is one thing that this movie might fail in, and it is really hard to do that with something like this, it is with the animation. Granted, this movie is, at this writing, approximately 26 years old. And, trust me, the age shows. But really, when you get engrossed enough into the movie, that fact becomes a null factor with all the fun this movie has to offer, and pretty soon you will not even notice that it is animated at all, if not for the superhuman stunts Lupin is able to pull off with his gadgetry.

At the end of this movie, it's hard to say that it wasn't enjoyable. Sure, the movie isn't everyones cup of tea. But, if you have a funny bone that needs tickling, this is definitely something to consider. Even if your not a fan of Japanese anime, this is worthy of a viewing. If "Grave of the Fireflies" is the king of anime, then "Lupin the 3rd-Castle of Caligostro" is the joker.

Great Adventure/Action Animation , like a Bond Cartoon...

[pc95 · 7/10 · 9 June 2007]

Although maybe not Miyazaki's best production, this is nonetheless a solid and spirited romp of movie full of adventure and action. It definitely seemed like an animation counterpart to James Bond. Some of the spoof, gags, and humor were a lot of fun. The animation and color in this older outing still holds up excellently, and they've obviously put some work in restoration. I especially enjoyed the mid-third of the movie - getting in and romping around the castle - probably the best in the movie involving getting into the tower and the shenanigans that follow. Our protagonist has a lot of fun goofing around with pretty much everyone else including the antagonists....never really totally serious. This is a playful fun movie with a good mix of adventure and action worthy of at least one sitting surely.

Stephen Spielburg once said it was one of the greatest adventure films of all time...

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 30 March 2009]

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

Accessible, even if you've never heard of Lupin III

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 7 March 2017]

"The Castle of Cagliostro" has one of those really kitschy '70s scores, which I found endearing right from the start; but it proved to be a fun caper flick throughout. Miyazaki weaves a classic adventure using all of the great elements at his disposal; a roguish thief, a centuries-old fortress and a fabled treasure in everyone's sights. The castle becomes a playground for cool set pieces and well-staged action.

I really enjoyed this, and there's some beautiful animation here (obviously). Even something as simple as a car crossing a bridge is easy on the eyes.

7/10

A Great Anime Film by Miyazaki

[DJKennedy90 · 10/10 · 21 February 2006]

When I first decided to watch this, I was unfamiliar to the director's other works and only wanted to watch this because it has Lupin III in it. As the film went on, I discovered that the Lupin in this movie isn't the exact same Lupin in the T.V. series, but a more serious one. Sure the film is pretty much light-hearted, but we see an unfamiliar side to Lupin than the one in anime (or at least to my knowledge). The man who directed this movie, Miyazaki, was one of the main animators/ directors of the Lupin III series and is the director of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away and I consider him to be one of the greatest directors of our time. His unique way a delivering a story is a rare gem in the coal mine that is the movie industry (which includes animated and non-animated movies). The ending of this movie is a touching (a word I don't use much) and wonderful ending. Just be sure to get a newer one on DVD, where they use the actual name of Lupin instead of "Wolf", which Lupin is a direct translation of from French (I think).

Simple enough with hints of the Miyazaki genius

[KnightsofNi11 · 7/10 · 29 July 2012]

Lupin the Third was a name I was not at all familiar with before seeing this film. He's a popular character that started out as a Japanese manga comic and then eventually became a TV series that spawned a plethora of film adaptations. Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro is, arguably, the most popular of all the Lupin films for one reason and one reason only... Hayao Miyazaki. This is the very first feature length film from Mr. Miyazaki, the now legendary anime director. It's a fun and light hearted adventure film where the eccentric and noble thief Lupin the Third attempts to find the immense fortune of the Castle of Cagliostro, but on the way he falls in love with the princess of the castle who is set to marry the evil Count of Cagliostro. Lupin rearranges his priorities and sets out to save the princess in lew of the riches. It's a film that is simple, easy, and pretty entertaining.

It's interesting to watch this film because it has Miyazaki elements all throughout, but you can tell that it is his first film. His style hadn't quite developed at this point and it is clear that this film was more of just an attempt to get his feet off the ground so he could go on to make more impassioned projects like My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away. That being said, he puts enough effort into Lupin the Third to make it a pretty dang fun film.

There isn't anything very special here, nor does the story go any further than what you get on the surface. It is a very simple adventure story that doesn't try to incorporate any complexities or deep thought into it. But it's simply not that kind of movie, and I can gather that Lupin the Third isn't really that kind of character. He's a likable thief and there's not much more to it than that. The intrigue and fun just comes from seeing what kind of antics he can get himself in and out of. With that in mind this film gets the job done. It's fun and makes for decent escapism entertainment. There are some very creative Miyazaki-esque elements on the overall visual side of the film, but nothing like we see in his later spectacles. This is just a fun little flick that you don't have to think too much about. I don't have any strong opinions on any aspect of the film. It's just a pretty good little flick.

Ok?

[invisibleunicornninja · 5/10 · 23 December 2018]

This movie has nice animation, but its kind of boring.

A classic Anime for Everybody!

[AMIO-PatricioMunoz · 16 November 2003]

This film is very enjoyable!

I can see how this film can appeal to both young and older audiences. It is filled with memorable characters. It is entertaining. It is also quite visually stunning and fast paced.

If you have not seen an anime before, then this is a great one to get you started. This is a very energetic film and it has a very fast pace to it. The storyline is easy to follow. It is also filled with comical and touching moments that bring an honest smile to your face.

Quite honestly, I cannot think of anything really negative to say about this film at all. I suppose it is an older movie so the animation is dated by today's standards, but this will likely be the last thing on your mind as you watch the film.

It is far too enjoyable to watch right from the very beginning to the very end! It is quite inspirational.

Great early effort by Miyazaki

[zetes · 9/10 · 21 December 2000]

Ever since I first viewed the Disney-released version of Princess Mononoke last year, I have done everything in my power to see Hayao Miyazaki's other films. My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service, at least the dubbed versions, were readily available, and they were perfect. The next one I found was this film. It was released on DVD by Manga company. This one does not contain the visual mastery, or even the storytelling mastery, as the other three films of his that I've seen, but there is definitely great promise shining through. The animation is not great. It's a lot more stiff than what would come later. There are a few physics-defying scenes that kind of made me cringe (the car driving sideways up a steep incline, Lupin jumping off the roof of the castle is still able to catch the side of a turret). The story is quite good. It has a lot of excitement, reminiscent of the Indiana Jones movies. The characters are fun. In short, it is just a very entertaining film.

So if you have any interest in anime or in Miyazaki, by all means, the DVD is worth buying. Unfortunately, the Japanese soundtrack is a little weak. The English side is much better for its sound quality, but I realize most animephiles despise dubs; this one is particularly good, and the remastered soundtrack makes it worth it. The DVD has a really nice layout. I was kid of expecting it just to have been thrown on a DVD and sent out. At least they took their time. Now, if Buena Vista Home Entertainment (which had no part of this pre-Ghibli film) would release all of his other films to DVD!!!

My favorite director's delightful debut

[burgan6203 · 9/10 · 9 February 2003]

Hayao Miyazaki made this film in 1979; while the animation and story are more a bit more cartoonish than his later works, "The Castle Of Cagliostro" is still a lovely example of quality, escapist film.

The story follows the effort of Lupin III( an international cat burglar who is actually a big romantic marshmallow at heart) to rescue a young princess from the clutches of the wicked Count Cagliostro. It has great action sequences, slapstick humor, buried messages of the fallacy of government, and an ending that is bittersweet without being disappointing.

All in all, an admirable debut by one of the world's greatest directors.

What a count.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 6/10 · 26 June 2021]

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki (prior to the establishment of Studio Ghibli), the film is an adaptation of Kazushiko Kato's 'Lupin III' manga series, itself loosely based on (and not entirely legally) Maurice Leblanc's 'Arsène Lupin' stories. 'The Castle Of Cagliostro (1979)' actually the second in a series of feature adaptations, though it's much more well-known (at least in the west) than its counterparts - primarily, perhaps, because of Miyazaki's involvement. Luckily, you don't need to have prior knowledge of the series to enjoy the piece, which references past adventures but does so in way that just makes its characters feel like they're part of a wider world. The picture is a fun-focused adventure featuring an evil count, a kidnapped princess and a band of gadget-toting thieves. It's generally an entertaining time, with fun set-pieces and enjoyable characters. It mixes humour and action well, ultimately exuding its own kind of charm. It isn't exactly deep, nor particularly gripping, but it's likeable enough and ought to keep you engaged throughout. It's a solid animated adventure. 6/10.

Check out the "Madman Cinema" DVD!!!

[dashfashion · 10/10 · 9 March 2006]

I just saw this on Madman Cinema DVD. I don't know if this is just an Australian distributor, but believe me, they've got their hearts in the right place! I swear I saw this movie when I was a kid, but I always feel that way when I watch Miyazaki's films. This one is my favourite. In terms of adventure movies, I'd say it's second only to "Raiders of the Lost Ark"! At first it's joyous, exhilarating and kind of sweet. Then watch it again and you'll see how clever the writing is and how tightly written the plot is. It does things in adventure movies that could never be done in live action. If this were a traditionally (Disney) animated film it would have sucked. Same if it were done with puppetry, stop-motion animation or CGI. But in the world of Manga, it's a perfect fit. I found it at a local library. See if you can do the same! It's a masterpiece!!!

Simple Comedy or Hidden Secrets,

[monedr · 7/10 · 22 July 2014]

Nice movie, I don't know the reasons why Lupin have to be called Wolf in the US dub, It doesn't have the atmosphere of a Miyazaki movie, but probably because it's not a Ghibli Studio production, I don't know if someone has mentioned before, but this Cagliostro country, resemble too much of Vatican city, small country with their own rules, very powerful through centuries, even count Cagliostro guards look just like Swiss Guards, didn't get much of the final with the roman ruins discovery.. There are other clues in the film, but I have to watch it again. Maybe Miyazaki wanted to tell something or it's just coincidence, Anyway, highly recommended!!

An animated masterpiece

[croatoan1 · 10/10 · 23 November 1998]

Perhaps one of anime director Hayao Miyazaki's most underrated productions, "Rupan sansei Kariosutoro no shiro" is still, in my opinion, one of his best -- and one of my favorite anime of all-time. It's storytelling, high adventure, and slapstick comedy at it's best. And main character Lupin, (a.k.a. The Wolf in the English-language release) gentleman thief and part-time hero, is probably one of the most fully realized characters in anime.

The animation is beautiful, with a fluidity, complexity, and attention to detail that's uncommon even in contemporary titles (a Miyazaki trademark), despite being somewhat simplistic by today's standards. And the story is easily worthy of Hitchcock (albiet, by way of Jim Carrey!). Having seen both the subtitled and the dubbed versions of this film, I would strongly recommend either one to any fan of anime, animation, or film in general. (U.S. release title - The Castle of Cagliostro)

A much tamer and more enjoyable Manga movie

[The-Sarkologist · 6/10 · 12 November 2011]

This is a Manga movie and it seemed a lot like the old Tintin comics. I guess it was because it was set in a small European country and involved a nosey young man fighting the odds and saving the day. The movie is about a famous catburglar named Wolf and his sidekick Jagen. They rob a casino only to find all of the money counterfeit and decide to investigate. They track the source to a small principality of Cagliostro and while on their way through the country, encounter a young lady being chased by hoons. Wolf decides to help the lady to discover that she is a princess who is being forced to marry the evil count Cagliostro and he must stop it.

This movie is not as deep as some of the other Manga movies that I have seen. This is a light hearted movie about a catburgler and his antics. He outwits the police, the guards, and finally the count to get the counterfeiting equipment, save the princess and uncover the hidden treasure. The treasure is a bit lame at the end as I do not see how that would be valuable considering there is a lot around anyway.

Another thing about this movie is that all of the characters were Japanese when it was set in Europe. It is understandable considering the Japanese made it, but even Porco-Russo, which was also set in Europe used European characters with European names. The characters look normal European, but I am told that is how the Japanese see themselves, but the names, especially of the interpol police officer, was decisively Japanese.

Even so, this was an entertaining movie with adventure, action, and the hero saving the girl and then driving off into the sunset leaving her waiting for another man. I guess I like this ending better than girl gets boy because it emphasises that romance isn't the be all and end all of life. Anyway, the Japanese are smart enough to not make their characters too stereotypical. In fact, it is the difference in the way the Japanese create their characters in the Manga that sets them apart from American movies.

A highly entertaining work of art

[maris1 · 10/10 · 6 April 2006]

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

From '79? You must be kidding me!

[scobbah · 7/10 · 23 April 2006]

I didn't know what to expect - they showed this film at the final session of our Japanese course and I hadn't heard about it at all before.

First, I found the flick to contain a lot of great humor - thumbs up for that. Sometimes I find myself having a hard time with anime humor but this one actually got me choking several times - which is a good grade, I'd say. The piece itself invites to a quite cozy adventure with subjects of love, tension, theft and corruption being dealt with. I didn't expect the flick to be from '79, it felt like something much more recent, and I got surprised when I looked it up at IMDb, since the flick is neatly animated.

If you are looking for something suiting for family entertainment or just some general joy, I suppose this one could be a good candidate to keep in mind. 7/10.

Not everything Miyazaki is gold....

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 16 August 2017]

Lupin the 3rd was a very popular manga when it appeared in the 1960s. It was so popular that it spawned several anime television series, several animated films and even some live action films. And, it hasn't just been popular in Japan but other countries, such as Italy. In the case of "Lupin 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro", it's a great film not just for Lupin fans but of Studio Ghibli, as it's Hiyao Miyazaki's first movie...which isn't surprising since he animated/directed many of the television shows before this full- length version. As for me, despite their popularity, I have never seen nor read any of the Lupin stories...so you might want to keep this in mind when you read the review. I have seen just about everything from Ghibli...and that is why I watched the movie.

One thing I noticed up front is that this film, quality-wise, is nothing like a typical Ghibli movie. It looks like a made for television animated show and lacks the high quality animation you've come to expect after seeing such great films as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Spirited Away". Anyone who would give this film a score of 10 is, in my opinion, completely ignoring the picture's visual shortcomings...as it really looks cheap. Repetitive backgrounds, garish colors and a lack of depth to the animation...it really looks like a TV anime stretched to full-length. But, you have to start somewhere!

Another thing you can't help but notice is that this film is NOT intended for kids...which is true of a lot of anime and manga. With ample cursing, it's obvious this is a more adult movie. This is not necessarily meant as a criticism...but you might want to keep this in mind when you think about showing it to young kids. The language isn't horrible...but it is PG-13.

Overall, a mildly entertaining film that may please some Miyazi fans but which bored me and left me marveling at how much better Ghibli became with subsequent films. Only for the curious or insanely devoted fans of Lupin III who, no doubt, will find no fault in this less than inspiring feature. Not terrible but not at all what I was hoping it would be.