Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye

7/10

Having already had Lupin the 3rd team up twice with Detective Conan, the studios have sought a new property to crossover and can fit Lupin's world, one from the 80's. Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye, on Amazon Prime, brings together prolific anime/manga master thief Lupin the 3rd and his gang and Cat's Eye, a trio of sister art thieves trying to retrieve all the artwork by their missing father. The two groups find themselves in competition for a trio of paintings, which the dangerous Syndicate is also pursuing.

Much how the Lupin/Conan movies felt more like they were set in the Conan world, the tone here feels more like a Cat's Eye film than a Lupin film (at least I think, I don't have a lot of experience with CE), more emphasis is put on the sisters and the movie has a more grounded tone than some other Lupin entries. Not that I'm knocking it. The tone of Lupin has varied frequently over the decades with you getting a bit more lighter Lupin movies over the years than weighty ones, and people who prefer the latter will like this. It's not a hard "adult" title like the early years of Lupin, but there are moments where the situations get more threatening than the majority of the films. 

The sisters are played pretty straight and just aren't as entertaining as the Lupin gang. Also, it hurts the Cat's Eye as main protagonists and believability as professional thieves when Lupin & co. seem quicker on the uptake than them. Lupin is the only member of his group that really gets a chance to shine, with the others just kinda being there. The best use of characters in this are definitely the pairing of Lupin's foe Inspector Zenigato and Cat's Eye's foe detective Toshio Utsumi, who serve as a sort of comic relief. They are both quite similar in goals and outlooks, but their different personalities make things interesting.

As for the basic plot itself, it's solid. I wouldn't say it's the most standout adventure, but it's up there as one of the better Lupin films. Theft/fight scenes are good and everything moves at a steady pace.

The movie utilizes 2d backgrounds with cell shaded 3D characters. Can't say this is the best looking anime I've ever seen, but competent effort was definitely put into this. Backgrounds are detailed and character designs aren't too shabby. However, the filmmakers decided to have the Lupin characters designs changed to fit more into the more realistic aesthetic of the Cat's Eye character designs. Lupin's chin is too short and it bugs me. An interesting detail is that to match the Cat's Eye world, which was very 80's, they had Lupin wear his pink jacket which he wore during that period of time on his third show. Although, I don't think the color blends well with the rest of the scenery.

Kinda recommended. Not a must-watch, but if you're looking for an adventure film, this is a good time. Does stand out a little from the plethora of Lupin films that blend together. 

Lupin III: Prison of the Past

7.5/10

In this latest Lupin anime TV movie, master thief Lupin and the gang try to break Finnegan, a famous Robin Hood-style thief, out of a formidable prison in the Kingdom of Dorrente.

This is one of the most lighthearted Lupin movies in recent years. The director Hatsuki Tsuji was a key animator during the second series during the eighties, perhaps a reason for it's more playful, old-school feel. 

The movie's creative in a weird way. A lot of unexpected concepts are thrown at you. Though this isn't the first story where Lupin has had to get out of a prison, this is the best executed. In fact the movie manages to be one of the more memorable Lupin entries in general as it does things a little differently than the traditional formula. (Not to say that you won't find certain Lupin cliches in this.)

Movie's entertaining, but I admit it's not perfect. There are a lot of fun ideas, but, especially in the beginning when the exhibition is set up, you also get a bunch of dialogue scenes that are just okay. Some of the random or goofy parts might be too random or goofy, especially if you prefer more adult or serious Lupin. It's difficult to connect point A to point B when it comes to the villain's plan and how he or she got his or her operation set up in the first place. 

The movie does a good job of juggling all the main cast and having them interact with each other. This is one of those situations where Lupin and his rival Investigator Zenigata end up being in the same boat and have to work together. That's always fun because it doesn't happen too often. I'm liking how they handled Zenigata all together here. The script manages to include him in the main story more than a lot of other films. They also play him smart and resourceful here, which not always interpretation of Zenigata does. Interestingly, this special reuses a character other than the main five. (Lupin is like Scooby-Doo in that's it's a small gang of recurring characters.) Zenigata's assistant Goro Yatagarasu returns from Lupin series six. I'm okay with adding someone new to the formula. Since Zenigata isn't on Lupin's side, it makes sense to finally give him a regular to talk to and interact with. Though the movie might lean a little too hard on Goro's being wet-behind-the-years, he's a decent enough character who's endearing in his earnestness. 

Since this is TV, you can't expect the film to be theatrical quality. The budget only goes to far, but the animators are clearly doing the best with what they have. Especially like the backgrounds in this; nice use of color.

Recommended. Not perfect, but it's fun. Not one of the best Lupin entries, but one of the better ones. Definitely more likely to leave an impression than many of the other Lupin films that tend to merge together in your memory.

Retrospective Review- Lupin the 3rd: Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid

 

8/10

In this, thief Lupin III and his cohorts go in search of two jewels that are the key to a treasure that is not what it appears to be. Pretty much par the course for this guy. I thought this was one of the better Lupin specials/made-for-TV movies.

Blood Seal does follow the general Lupin formula, but it brings a certain amount of creativity that makes it memorable in the vast crowd that of Lupin films that tend to blend together. One of my favorite Lupin movies has always been Mystery of Mamo, because it went with some far-out sci-fi concepts. This may be why I liked Blood Seal, too. The film goes with some weird stuff, though not quite as heavy as Mamo, you don't see in every Lupin film. (If you don't like when Lupin goes sci-fi, this probably won't be for you.) 

The film continues the tradition of frequently paring up Lupin with a new female character. Here its' a young orphan. She stands out a bit more than the rest. I'm not saying she's the most original character ever, but her backstory is more interesting than most.   

The villains in this are in the traditional Lupin mold and not that original or fleshed out, but they are appropriately vile. They offer some some nice fight scenes. The final battle is definitely a standout in the series.

The animation is television quality, but seems to make the most of its budget and has a rather distinctive color scheme. 

Overall, I consider this one of my top ten Lupin films and recommend it for any fan. 

Lupin III: The First

7/10

The Lupin III franchise, about a clever devil-may-care, talented thief and his crew, has been around for a long time, spanning multiple television shows, movies, including a couple live-action, and television specials. (It's kind of like the Japanese equivalent of Scooby-Doo in terms of longevity and main character count.) However, this is the first time Lupin has ever gone computer animation. This time Lupin is searching for a diary leading to the one treasure his famous grandfather thief couldn't steal. Also, he's going up against Nazis, not Neo-Nazis, old school Nazis. I liked it but didn't love it.

The movie does a great job of maintaining the ol' Lupin feel: Action and adventure combined with slapstick comedy. There are several bits that are genuinely fun and interesting traps and clues.   

The animation looks great. The Lupin characters are known for their distinctive style and the movie does a great job of recreating that in 3D. The movie is colorful, lively, and has a nostalgic 70's feel to it. There are some impressive chase and fight scenes in this. The opening scene also has this really cinematic feel to it.

The music is retro. Longtime Lupin composer Yuji Ohno brings a 70's jazz feel.

Although there's a lot about this movie I liked, it's not the strongest entry in the franchise. It does suffer a little from basic Lupin plot fatigue. It also has one of its most worn out subplots: guest female with her own backstory that takes up a good part of the film. This one's name is Laetitia. Her story and that of the two main villains in this should've been more compelling. They've all got solid motivations, some interesting twists and the antagonists have more personality than in many other Lupin films. But, their story is too drawn out, you can tell what's going to happen long before it happens, and it takes too much time away from Lupin and his gang. Also, I felt that the darker tones of Laetitia's story contrasted with the upbeat aspects of Lupin's parts. Don't get me wrong, there are several darker or more serious Lupin stories, but those stuck with a tone.    

I can't say this is one of the best entries, but it does manage to stand out in a series whose proclivity causes many of the stories to blend together. The movie has style and some well executed scenes. If you like Lupin, you'll like this, and it's a decent watch for a general viewer, which they can enter without having to see the rest of the series.