Today’s quick review: Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. Lupin III, a cheeky international thief, and his partner Jigen take a trip to the small European country of Cagliostro in search of the fabled Gothic bills, counterfeits without equal. Upon arriving, Lupin takes it upon himself to rescue Lady Clarisse, the heir to the country’s royal family, from her forced marriage to the villainous Count of Cagliostro.
Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is a Japanese animated adventure comedy from director Hayao Miyazaki. The Castle of Cagliostro continues the adventures of Lupin and his gang of thieves, the stars of a long-running anime series. The movie delivers the usual Lupin brand of fun, with energetic animation, playful humor, and criminal hijinks. At the same time, Hayao Miyazaki leaves his mark on the film in its beauty and craftsmanship.
The Castle of Cagliostro shows off an early version of Hayao Miyazaki’s signature style. His first film as a director, The Castle of Cagliostro has the gorgeous scenery, endearing moments, and keen attention to detail that his later works would be known for. But being part of the Lupin series, the movie has car chases and gunfights instead of magical realism and coming-of-age themes.
The two halves of the movie fit together surprisingly well. The madcap antics of Lupin and his friends keep the movie light and adventurous, while Miyazaki’s calmer influence gives it some substance. The Castle of Cagliostro switches between ridiculous humor and effortless beauty without missing a beat. As such, The Castle of Cagliostro is an excellent change of pace for Miyazaki fans who may have gotten used to his normal style.
The Castle of Cagliostro is not without its faults, but how much they matter depends on what you want from the film. The story has a few rough spots where the logic doesn’t quite check out. The humor has a mischievous flavor to it that not everyone will find appealing. And although the movie stands on its own, there are moments where it feels more like an episode of the show than a feature film.
Watch Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro if you are a fan of creative animated films. Though not as refined as Miyazaki’s later work, The Castle of Cagliostro manages to be both entertaining and fulfilling. Newcomers to the Lupin franchise can rest assured that no background knowledge is necessary. Those who struggle with foreign films may want to skip it: the humor translates well enough but it takes an extra bit of effort to process.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for gorgeous animation, excellent cinematography, and comedic adventure.