Yes! It’s finally time to dive into Japanese cinema! Japanese cinema is something dear to my heart and I’m glad that the first Japanese movie I’m reviewing is one directed by Hayao Miyazaki. I’ve been watching Hayao Miyazaki movies since I was an infant (most of friends have too). His films not only feature amazing animation, but they have terrific characters and they look unbelievable. And as a person who’s tried animating before, his films are especially impressive. His films almost invite you into another world. And if I were to rank my favorite animated movies, I bet that more than half of the list would be his films. We’ll be looking at his directorial debut which was part of the popular anime franchise, Lupin the Third, entitled The Castle of Cagliostro.
After another successful heist, Lupin the 3rd and his sidekick, Jigen Daisuke, soon discover that the money they stole are all famous counterfeit bills known as Goat bills. This inspires them to go to the Castle of Cagliostro which is allegedly the source of the Goat bills. On their way there, they find a bride, Clarisse, being chased by some bad guys. They find out that the Count of Cagliostro is forcing her to marry him in order to find the ancestors’ treasure, so Lupin goes on a side quest to not only find the source of the Goat bills, but to save the princess as well. Meanwhile, Lupin’s ex-lover, Mine Fujiko, tries to get the treasure before Lupin can and Inspector Zenigata attempts to foil his plans.
After another successful heist, Lupin the 3rd and his sidekick, Jigen Daisuke, soon discover that the money they stole are all famous counterfeit bills known as Goat bills. This inspires them to go to the Castle of Cagliostro which is allegedly the source of the Goat bills. On their way there, they find a bride, Clarisse, being chased by some bad guys. They find out that the Count of Cagliostro is forcing her to marry him in order to find the ancestors’ treasure, so Lupin goes on a side quest to not only find the source of the Goat bills, but to save the princess as well. Meanwhile, Lupin’s ex-lover, Mine Fujiko, tries to get the treasure before Lupin can and Inspector Zenigata attempts to foil his plans.
The Castle of Cagliostro wasn’t terribly successful when it was first released, but after some releases on home video, this movie has only recently become one of the most beloved animated films of all time. It’s definitely not as iconic as other films by Hayao Miyazaki, but this film serves as an excellent preview of his later films. Miyazaki’s fingerprints are all over this thing, especially considering the animation. I’ll admit that most of the animation in prior Lupin the Third shows looked pretty wooden. But in this film, Miyazaki made sure that everything looked like a three-dimensional object. And he succeeds. One of the most impressive scenes in the film is the car chase. Not only is it exciting, but the animation is incredible, especially considering this entire film was animated in only four freaking months. That doesn’t even sound possible considering what they were able to pull off.
This movie also looks beautiful. Every frame of this movie could be hung on a wall. Miyazaki’s style is also evident in the portrayal of the main characters. Lupin the Third is much more heroic in this movie in comparison to any other Lupin show or movie. It’s hinted at that this movie takes place after the shows did. This shows Lupin as a more mature and smarter person. Now he has more compassion for others and sees more to life than stealing. This has caused some dismay to die-hard fans, but others are welcome to the change as it makes the character more likable and relatable. He is still a deceitful criminal, but he always seems to have a plan and continues to do what he knows is right. Also, Yasuo Yamada’s performance as Lupin is top-notch. This guy practically is Lupin and I can’t really imagine anyone else playing him.
This movie also looks beautiful. Every frame of this movie could be hung on a wall. Miyazaki’s style is also evident in the portrayal of the main characters. Lupin the Third is much more heroic in this movie in comparison to any other Lupin show or movie. It’s hinted at that this movie takes place after the shows did. This shows Lupin as a more mature and smarter person. Now he has more compassion for others and sees more to life than stealing. This has caused some dismay to die-hard fans, but others are welcome to the change as it makes the character more likable and relatable. He is still a deceitful criminal, but he always seems to have a plan and continues to do what he knows is right. Also, Yasuo Yamada’s performance as Lupin is top-notch. This guy practically is Lupin and I can’t really imagine anyone else playing him.
Unfortunately, some of the other characters from the show are sadly underused including Jigen and Goemon. Jigen certainly has his moments to shine, but he’s missing from most of the middle of the film. For the few scenes that Goemon appears in, he steals the show since he’s just so damn awesome. There are plenty of other great characters including Fujiko and Inspector Zenigata who have plenty of involvement in the film. The main villain, the Count of Cagliostro, is a pretty bland villain and all he really wants is money. Also, the bride, Clarisse, sometimes seems like another damsel in distress, but she does get quite a few moments where she tries to help, displays some bravery, and even has a few moments to relate with the audience. But still, these characters aren’t really what the audience is going to remember. The film is focused on Lupin and the trials that he has to overcome.
What’s also nice about this movie is that there are some quiet moments for you to wonder what the characters are thinking. Of course, this movie also has some really loud moments which is what the audience is more likely to remember. The action in this movie is unbelievable and defies logic. It does the kind of things that animated movies are allowed to get away with. The car chase I mentioned earlier is amazing as well as many of the other chase scenes in the film. Every single scene involving the castle is superb including the clock tower finale. There are so many surprises in this movie that always keep you guessing what’s going to happen next. This movie’s so clever and there are even some Easter eggs foreshadowing later scenes.
What’s also nice about this movie is that there are some quiet moments for you to wonder what the characters are thinking. Of course, this movie also has some really loud moments which is what the audience is more likely to remember. The action in this movie is unbelievable and defies logic. It does the kind of things that animated movies are allowed to get away with. The car chase I mentioned earlier is amazing as well as many of the other chase scenes in the film. Every single scene involving the castle is superb including the clock tower finale. There are so many surprises in this movie that always keep you guessing what’s going to happen next. This movie’s so clever and there are even some Easter eggs foreshadowing later scenes.
I’ve probably seen The Castle of Cagliostro at least fifteen times. This movie has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. It has just about everything that you’d want in a movie. The action, the comedy, the characters, the story, the creativity, the imagery all amaze me to this day. This film is crafted so carefully and brilliantly. I must admit that this may not be as excellent or as thoughtful as some of Miyazaki’s other films, but I could watch The Castle of Cagliostro right now and be happy that I did. The Castle of Cagliostro earns a highest-possible recommendation.
Images from Wikipedia and Fanpop
Images from Wikipedia and Fanpop