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Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro (Special Edition)




  • 033 4  Hayao Miyazaki has been called the Akira Kurosawa of Animation , and the Disney of Japan . Neither term is sufficient to describe his genius . Among his many fans , there is much debate as to which of his movies is the greatest . Some people say Castle in the Sky . Some say Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind . And many feel that this film is his best . Hard to say , but I would definteily say it's one of the best movies ever made , to say nothing of one of the best animated films ever . Lupin the Third is big series in Japan . You might say he has a following like that of James Bond in the United States . But that would be a serious understatement . There is Lupin Manga , Lupin OAVs , Lupin movies , Lupin games , a Lupin TV show . And that's just what I've heard of . But despite the fact that Lupin is a huge phenomenon spanning a huge variety of media , everyone seems to agree that the crowning achievement as far as Lupin goes is the castle of Cagliostro . And the best part is , you don't have to know anything about Lupin to enjoy it ! The animation is old , more than 20 years . But like all of Miyazaki's animation , it looks better than much of what passes for animated films today . The backgrounds and mechanical devices in his films in particular are always amazing . The film transfer on this DVD isn't exactly the greatest . At times , it shows scratches and metal flecks on the print . At one or two points in the film it looks a little dim and washed out . But in the good parts , the use of color and detail is truly awesome . The characters in this film are great . Lupin himself comes across like a combination of Jim Carey and James Bond ( in the best possible way ) , and his many sidekicks ( from his heavy firepower loving right hand man to the serious samurai and sometime love interest Fujiko ) all are just great . The villain is pretty evil , making the great escape and showdown at the end of the movie that much better . But the real stars of the show are Lupin and the beautiful young girl he has sworn to rescue . Both of them are just PERFECT . This film also features great action sequences ( the great car chase , a gyrocopter getaway , and steel-clawed assasins come to mind ) . And let's not forget about the music . From the opening credits to the ending of the film , the score does not disappoint . Speaking of sound , the Japanese dub features the same perfect voice acting you will find in every Japanese version of a Miyazaki film . And this dvd features a great English dub too . People with young children should take note , though . The English dub has more harsh language than the Subtited version . I'd say about the difference between a PG and a PG - 13 rating ) . What makes this movie for me is it's wonderful sense of BALANCE , something Miyazaki has mastered absolutely . There is adventure . There is action . There is comedy . But most of all there is the infectious idealism and beauty of the human spirit that makes all of Miyazaki's films absolute classics . Everyone should see this movie . Any animation fan should buy it .
    • 001 4  One of my all-time favorites . I personally prefer it with the original Japanese dialogue , but the english dub included on this DVD isn't bad . Though I must say the English dub directed by Carl Maceck was better , if less literal . ( Quickly dodges all the Robotech-haters out there . . . ) ( Carl Maceck's translation is NOT included on this DVD ) Lupin III is a master thief . With his cohorts Jigen and Goemon and the unwitting help from his ex-girlfriend Fujiko as well as Lupin's self-proclaimed nemesis , Inspector Zenigata , they free a beutiful Princess from her evil captor who is intent on marrying the young princess to steal the family fortune . Like all of Miyazaki's other works , this film has gorgeous animation that compliments a very intricate and heartful story . Fans of the original Lupin III comic by Monkey Punch may not appreciate it as much since the characters act a little ' nicer ' than the fans may prefer , but Miyazaki's talent lies in weaving a good story together with beautiful animation , and it is clearly evidenced here . This film stands not just as a good example of whats good about Japanese animation , but as a good movie in general . . . Interesting characters , clever plot twists , amazing action , and a good dose of heart . I still stand surprised that some hollywood shmuck hasn't bought the rights to it and mangled it into the lame blockbuster live-action formula that America is currently plagued with . But I digress . . . I can think of no better introduction to anime than Hayao Miyazaki . Castle of Cagliostro is definitely one of his better works , and you will find yourself amazed at how ' real ' this hand-drawn animation feels compared to the generic pocket-monster-giant-robot-half-naked-girls-with-guns-otaku-fanboy-teenager-boobshow stuff . . . in fact I'd say that's the only thing this film is missing . : ) . . . again , I digress . . . This work is a cut above and deserves a higher respect , as it's done by a man who clearly has more respect for the art .
    • 002 4  Be warned : while the anamorphic video quality of this release is top-notch , and it has some great extras , Manga Video replaced the gorgeous , dream-like opening titles animated sequence with a series of still frames with English credits superimposed over them . This is a dreadful liberty taken with one of the greatest animated movies of all time .
    • 009 4  Acclaimed Anime genius Hayao Miyazaki scored his first box office hit with this charming , fast-paced , enjoyable tale about a clever thief coming to rescue - - you guessed it - - a princess from a dastardly monarch who wants to marry the lass for his own purposes . He's accompanied by a loyal gunman and a solemn but cunning ninja and pursued by a Japanese police detective who actually helps him at one point of the story . Along the way , there are a bunch of other obstacles to overcome , including bad guys with armored claws , the mazelike corridors of the Cagliostro castle itself , and a counterfeiting scheme . The animation is obviously dated , since the film is over 20 years old , but there are elements of Miyazaki's characters in his later films to be found in the designs of the protagonists and antagonists - - the big , round eyes , wide-opened mouths when laughing and / or shouting , and of course , their everchanging facial expressions . The jazz-rock underscore by Yuji Ohno lacks the richness of Joe Hisaishi's scores for Miyazaki's films after this one , but it suits the tone of the film perfectly . Although not as beautiful , meaningful , or powerful as Miyazaki's later films , CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO is a joy to watch , with plenty of action-packed sequences , humor a-plenty , and enough fun to keep one enchanted . ( Wait until you see the tools that the hero posesses ! ) The DVD version features a respectably good transfer presented in its 1.85 : 1 aspect ratio , even if it does show its signs of age , such as occasional film scratches and / or smudges . However , this is probably best to be expected since the film is over 20 years old . The Japanese language track is presented in mono , and sometimes sounds as though it was transferred through , say , a telephone . ( A characteristic of the recording techniques of the early years , no doubt . ) The English language track , on the other hand , is presented in clear stereo with a full , rich sound . One wonders how they were able to clean up the soundtrack for this dub - - it sounds like it could have been made recently . I only spotchecked the Japanese language track , but the acting is decent , from what I heard . The film was originally dubbed in English by Carl Mecak of Streamline Pictures . I have not seen this dub , but I heard it received mixed opinions ; it has its fans while others detested it . However , I DID enjoy this new dub created by Manga Entertainment , which follows the script closely , despite some questionable inclusions of profanity in the dialogue ( We're rich bastards ! ) . The voice cast is well chosen and sound like they are having a great time hamming it up . On the downside , the DVD contains no special features other than trailers for MANGA releases , rather lame menu selections , second-rate packaging , and not enough chapter selections for advancing . A film this wonderful deserves a better treatment . A Making-Of documentary , please ? Don't let the drawbacks hold you back , though , CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO is * * * * * material , as can be expected from the master of Japanese animation . I recommend it very highly .
    • 011 4  When I saw the rotten DVD cover art work , I was a little hesitant in getting this , but I've seen Miyazaki's works ( Nausicaa , Mononoke , Kiki's Delivery Service , Whisper of the heart ) and so far none of them have ever dissappointed me . Five minutes into the movie , I was saying to myself . . . hmm . . . okay . . . a little slow . . . maybe a little too comical and then woooah , it shifts into high gear and I've been glued to it throughout the movie ever since then . It's funny , has a strong character developement , okay dubbing , okay AV quality , and there's lots of action . I do wish it was longer . but do try this , it's a great addition to your Anime collection . I'll definitely watch it again . Now if I can just get my hands on My Neighbor Totoro for my 6th . . . too bad the DVD versions aren't out yet . . .
    • 012 4  I'm very happy with the release of Castle of Cagliostro.I'm a animation student and Miyazaki's my favorite director of film.If anyone reading this review is trying to find out about this golden nugget of a director or the quality of his films . His films are just outstanding and everyone of his films is a chamelion from his last and everyone are classics in film ; not just in animation.With Castle of Cagliostro it's a classic caper film that has terrific action sequences and great comedy ; but not campy humor.I beleive anyone ; adult or child would truly enjoy this film and is such a treasure that you don't waste your time renting this film or any other of Hayao Miyazaki movies ; you just buy them and enjoy these wonderful , graceful , and timeless films for many years of viewing to come . After all on the back of the video case it says that Steven Spielburg has called it one of the best action-adventure films of all time .
    • 013 4  After owning a VHS Japanese copy for years , I've been waiting for the American DVD for months and when I viewed it , was shocked at the inferior quality of the transfer . It is a GREAT story with fantastic animation . If you are a Miyazaki fan , you will not be disappointed . This film was one of his early works . The only problem is the constant weaving of the picture . It makes the viewer dizzy . They did not stabalize the film when transfering and this jiggling weave is constant throughout the film . During the action scenes , it is not noticable , but it is most evident on very quiet scenes ( which there are many ) . The beginning sequence is also too dark - a poor job of color correcting . Someone should have proofed the transfer .
    • 015 4  Well let me first say I have watched this possibly 50 times . But that was on VHS . Since the VHS copy I have was looking really bad I decieded to get the DVD copy . It looks fantastic . One thing I found a little strange though . . . they re-did the voices . It's almost a different movie with the new soundtrack . The conversations they have are completely different . Granted the new soundtrack makes more sense then the original , I still had a little trouble with it . And there was a few shots that were re-edited . So the story went a little differnt . I would have liked if they included the other track . But otherwise a great movie . Lots of action with alot of comedy . Which is why I love to watch it so much .
    • 016 4  Miyazaki demonstrates his early mastery of the movie world in his first film , Castle of Cagliostro . I have never seen any other Lupin movies , but in this movie , the characters are fun and beautifully designed , as is standard for Miyazaki films . The plot is excellent , with moments that are funny , dark , solemn , and cover just about every single mood possible . Fujiko may very well be my favorite Miyazaki girl . Lupin robs a casino with his buddy Jigen , only to discover that the money he has stolen is fake . In order to uncover the funny money's origin , he and Jigen travel to Cagliostro . On the way , they rescue Clarisse , who is being chased by some strange men . She is later taken by these men , but she accidentally leaves behind a ring bearing the crest of the royal family . In an attempt to return the ring , Lupin , Jigen , their comrade Goemon and their archrival Inspector Zenigata uncover a huge plot that could shake the foundations of the nation . Some previous reviewers gave this video a low rating because of things such as language . I think that's fairly stupid . There * is * a warning on the back saying Parental Guidance Suggested , you know . It was never advertised as a children's movie . But all in all , this is a great movie !
    • 022 4  This film is great ! A great mix of genres ( suspense , action , romance , humor ) , a feel-good tone throughout the film , and a great , light-hearted story make this a must-see film for anime fans and even non-anime ones . Fujiko goes from being brunette to blonde in this one , although it's not really important . A bit of Lupin's past is revealed when he and Jigen trail a counterfeiter to Castle Cagliostro . What can I say ? It's just good . The English dubbing ( on the DVD , as I've never heard the original English dub ) is excellent , far beyond the horrid dubbing used for the TV series . Unlike Tony Oliver , David Hayter ( Metal Gear Solid ) does a perfect job of capturing the same tone of the late Yasuo Yamada . Sadly , this was the first and last Lupin show / movie he did ( as of now ) . The dubbing people of the Lupin TV series should watch this film and pay attention on how to make a good dub ! But enough said , the movie's EXCELLENT !
    • 023 4  Made in 1979 , but you won't be disappointed . Lupin the 3rd was a very popular T.V . series during 1970s and 80s . Lupin is a master thief , grand son of French Ar sene Lupin . He has very characteristic companies : Jigen : a master gunman who can shot anything he wants . Goemon : a samurai , who can cut any object with his sword . Fujiko : Lupin's enemy and lover . Zenigata : a inspector from Tokyo police who has been pursuing Lupin , but never succeed . Castle of Cagliostro , was made in 1979 by a famous director Hayao Minazaki , and this was his first movie . I've watched this movie in Japan when I was a little kid , and I never forgot about it . I recently purchased DVD and watched in English dubbed . The translation is little different from the original , but I think they did pretty good job . I can tell they tried to make it easier language . The most exciting thing in this movie is Lupin's character : a thief who is skillful , gentle , kind , and having sense of humor . Lupin was manage to steal princes ' heart in the story , but had to leave her at the end . It was Lupin's dandyism which takes your breath away . Scenario is also well written . There are some intelligence conversations with political background . Lupin was pursuing the secret of counterfeit in a small nation , Duchy of Cagliostro , and run into a princess who was forced to be a bride against her will . This movie , there are some similarity to Shrek . : To rescue a princess locked in a tower , unmanned camera pictured Lupin when he tried to get into the castle , and Lupin breaking into princes ' wedding ceremony and said I object ! . This is still enjoyable to those who are not familiar to the T.V . series . Animation looks old compare to today's one . But I don't think you will be disappointed . One of my friends who never knew Lupin , watched this movie , and said You can call me Lupin , if you want . This is still one of my favorite .
    • 026 4  This movie is Miyazaki's first big screen feature film and what a bang it is ! The story is by one of the manga most innovating authors Monkey Punch . That may be a little bit disappointing for some who expect to see a characteristic Miyazaki film . Some may say the story is a bit more traditional but it is a perfect action comedy nevertheless . Granted , it is far more lightweight than most of the Muyazaki's later works , still you see the hand of the master everywhere in this movie . Miyazaki was one of the original creators of the Lupin TV series in the early 70 ' s and even though he did not create the characters from the scratch , there is a lot of Miyazaki in the way the characters are animated . On the backside of being lightweight , this movie is has a lot of laugh-out-loud humor , the story is captivating and the action is superb . The main characters : a chivalrous thief Arsene Lupin the 3rd the Wolf , his sharp-shooting chain-smoking associate Jigen , a cool samurai Goemon , sexy and dangerous Fujiko - - all are extremely likeable bunch . If you are craving for more , try to find the two TV episodes also directed by Miyazaki ( Aloha Lupin - series finale - and Albatross : the Wings of Death ) , these were released in the US and are available from some videostores . There are at least 5 more Lupin the 3rd feature films ( some refer to Rupan in their English titles , that's how the Japanese pronounce Lupin ) . None of these is directed by Miyazaki . The two that i saw were quite entertaining , not really Miyazaki level , but good if nothing else as a chance to meet the great characters again . This movie is highly recommended to any viewer , i am yet to meet a person who did not like it . As usual , i prefer the subbed version , although the old dub was not bad , don't know if there is anything different about the re-release .
    • 027 4  Right from the get-go , this version irked me . The introduction plays stilled images versus the [ original ] beautifully animated sequence . English translating , while not bad , forcefully swears quite a bit . Manga Video's dubbing may not be entirely clean but it was hardly bothersome . It is unfortunate that these issues ruined what is an otherwise great story .
    • 029 4  I love most of Miyazaki's animation pictures . Actually I have been a Miyazaki fan since 1978 , when I saw his anime on TV at the first time . The Castle of Cagliostro is my favorite , and I'd like to give five stars to it , however , I dare to give three because of the picture / sound quality of this particular release . Compared to the DVD for Japanese market , the contrast of picture is too strong , and sometimes dark colors turned to simple black . Reel change sign and dust on the film bothered me . I also noticed in a scene , the picture swayed horizontally , with poor focus . The frequency range of sound is narrower than Japanese version . If you can playback region 2 DVDs , I strongly recommend you to buy it from amazon.co.jp . Japanese version of The Castle of Cagliostro is five stars in every sense of the word .
    • 030 4  It's a Friday night , and you don't know what to do . Solution : watch The Castle of Cogliostro . This fun little film can be enjoyed by anyone - provided you have a little imagination . This film has everything that one could possibly want : humor , action , mystery , and even a little romance for all you love birds . If you have little kids I suggest that you preview this film . While it is not violent in nature , there is mild profanity . ( Probably nothing that they haven't already heard , but it wouldn't hurt to take an active role in your child's life . This movie would probably get a PG . ) If you're looking for a DVD to put your VHS to shame then this isn't exactly it . There are ` cigarette burns ' in the print , and while they aren't too annoying this should not happen on DVD . There is also some ` graininess ' , but it doesn't detract too much from the movie . If it makes you feel better , I've seen the VHS version and this is far superior to it . Also , while the sound is good it is only presented in stereo . So those of you with expensive audio systems will miss out . The film is presented in letterbox or wide screen , so nothing is left out . Also , they were kind enough to let us choose between the original Japanese track , and the newly implemented English track . I've watched both , and I must say that I was greatly impressed with the English voice acting . This is good for all of you who hate reading your movies . Overall , this is the best version of the movie out . If you've seen it , then you know that you should own it . If you haven't , I strongly suggest that you at least rent this soon . The Castle of Cogliostro is a fun movie that can be watched at anytime .
    • 037 4  I think this is Hayao Miyazaki's best movie . Though this movie is a little bit old , it is very exciting and impressive whien you watch it now . This movie is sometimes a good action movie , and sometimes a good lovestory . This scinario is really nice . Especially their talk tempo is really comfortable , and the back picture of all thescienes are very beautiful . Mr.Zenigata's talk of the best scine is very famous in Japan . If you like the movies of Hayao Miyazaki , you shold watch this .
    • 038 4  Castle of Cagliostro has everything a retro 70 ' s action / adventure film should have : a fearless hero with faithful sidekicks and slick gadgets , an evil villain , a damsel in distress , a castle , plenty of humor , daring escapes and chases and of course , music from the 70 ' s . This is probably because it was made during the 70 ' s ; - ) . Seriously speaking , Lupin is a successful merger between James Bond and Indiana Jones , with a personality and sense of timing which surpass both . The movie is a lot of fun to watch . Jigens ( his partner in crime ) is also a great character . This movie is a lot of fun . Everything is stereotyped ( Lupin is the typical charming rogue which gets away with all his thefts ) . I don't think you'd regret watching it and even buying it ( if you collect anime ) . On the technical side , the animation shows its age ( both in detail , frame rate and quality of picture ) . The soundtrack is good ; however , in my copy the Japanese track is simply _ horrible _ ( technically speaking ; the voicing is wonderful ) . I don't know if it's because of my system ( an old amplifier ) or because that's the way they recorded it , but compared to the English track it sounds like it was passed through a telephone speaker !
    • 039 4  Whether or not you're an anime fan , Castle of Cagliostro is a fine movie for kids and adults . Hayao Miyazaki's art is beautiful and Monkey Punch's story and characters are a lot of fun . The opening action sequence - - actually ALL of the action sequences are just amazing . The English voice acting in the DVD release is pretty good and makes the movie accessable to kids . But to fully appreciated Cagliostro , listen to the Japanese and read the subtitles .
    • 044 4  Ref . Editorial Review for story . The movie reminded me of the old Peter Sellers movie The Pink Panter Strikes Again with a touch of James Bond . The setting is similar and there's a lot of the same kind of gags . Not that this has to be a bad thing , but it does give the movie a slightly dusty 70 ' s odor . The same goes for the animation in selected scenes . For example , the movie's damsel in distress , Fujiko , is drawn in a cute anime girl style that looks a bit dated today . On the positive side , the movie * is * a lot of fun , and well worth watching . Not to mention that the story appeals to all ages and is fairly safe for family viewing ( no nudity , violence limited to slapstick comedy ) . A lot of the animation is really good as well , just don't expect overall visual quality like Princess Mononoke or other more recent works .
    • 045 4  It's my understanding that the Japanese culture is totally different from American culture in that animation is not exclusively for children , but for adults as well . So keep this in mind that this movie is not made for children , though children will most likely enjoy it and probably the language is no worse than some of the stuff that appears on cable television . Having said that , I will tell you this is a terrific film and Lupin is a wonderful character - sort of a screwball comedy in the best sense , with James Bond thrown in for good measure . And this movie lends itself well to rewatching it - and I have . Many other reviewers here have gone into the technical details much better than I'm capable of doing , so for that info please check their reviews . I have seen the subtitled version , so I don't have an opinion of the dubbed version . But I do have an opinion of the content of the movie and that is it's a terrific movie and you _ need _ to see this great movie to appreciate Japanese anime ' .
    • 046 4  Great DVD with extras that aren't on the VHS version . Dubbing in English isn't that good , so I recommend watching the Japanese soundtrack with English subtitles . This is a classic and is a must have on DVD !
    • 057 4  This review is from : Lupin the III : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Special Edition ) ( DVD ) But his best sets so very high a standard that not even he can always rise to it . This one left me with very mixed impressions , so let's start with the good in the mix . The story is well above ordinary , for animated movies . Lupin , a thief , spends most of his time one border-crossing ahead of the law . This time , meets the beautiful but mysterious young woman under bumbling circumstances , and they end up in Castle Cagliostro . It turns that she's a princess , held against her will , and that there's a deeper secret in the castle's recesses . . . It's an exciting , kid-safe bit of fluff . A few things didn't work very well for me , though . There were just a few characters too many , so some didn't get the development they needed to become real personalities . More annoying , the movie generally stayed close to the anime standard look : lipless , willowy-thin , and long-legged , with wild rubbery facial expressions . Each time I'd start to take the plot a little bit seriously , one of the animators would fall back into goofiness better suited to saturday morning ` toons than a feature film . Since Miyazaki was involved , there are some great , painterly backgrounds and exotic aircraft . The latter included an autogyro , familiar to James Bond fans , and a fleet of Israeli Aravas or something with similar configuration . On the whole , this one's for the Miyazaki completist , or for anyone who wants animated adventure with chaste romance and minimal bloodshed . / / wiredweird
    • 058 4  But his best sets so very high a standard that not even he can always rise to it . This one left me with very mixed impressions , so let's start with the good in the mix . The story is well above ordinary , for animated movies . Lupin , a thief , spends most of his time one border-crossing ahead of the law . This time , meets the beautiful but mysterious young woman under bumbling circumstances , and they end up in Castle Cagliostro . It turns that she's a princess , held against her will , and that there's a deeper secret in the castle's recesses . . . It's an exciting , kid-safe bit of fluff . A few things didn't work very well for me , though . There were just a few characters too many , so some didn't get the development they needed to become real personalities . More annoying , the movie generally stayed close to the anime standard look : lipless , willowy-thin , and long-legged , with wild rubbery facial expressions . Each time I'd start to take the plot a little bit seriously , one of the animators would fall back into goofiness better suited to saturday morning ` toons than a feature film . Since Miyazaki was involved , there are some great , painterly backgrounds and exotic aircraft . The latter included an autogyro , familiar to James Bond fans , and a fleet of Israeli Aravas or something with similar configuration . On the whole , this one's for the Miyazaki completist , or for anyone who wants animated adventure with chaste romance and minimal bloodshed . / / wiredweird
    • 064 4  There has been a flood of other Lupin DVDs put out since the success of this disc . But don't be fooled , this one is easily the best of the bunch . Reminds me of an anime version of Princess Bride . Action packed , very funny , and a decent English dub for those ( like me ) who enjoy watching movies more than reading them . Adding foul language was poor a dubbing decision , but it's my only minor quibble with an otherwise excellent film . Recommended for ages 6 to Adult . Fighting , some intense scenes , but no blood .
    • 065 4  If you want to see a runaway bride carrying an extremely important ring , an evil Duke , a good crook , and a gullible detective , then this anime is for you . I found the plot somewhat slow moving , but the ending was great ! However , with all of the screaming and yelling you definitely know it's anime !
    • 074 4  This video is awesome if you love mystery , adventure , and humor . It's the best movie I've ever seen ! ! ! I reccomend this because it is totally awesome for anyone 8 - infinity ! I'm sure whoever watches it will agree with me .
    • 086 4  The Castle of Cagliostro is a great action film about that lovable thief Lupin the Third ( i.e . the Japanese grandson of the French gentleman thief Arsene Lupin , a character invented by Maurice Leblanc in the early 20th century ) and his buddies Jiggen , Goemon and Fujiko . The baddies are superbad - they are the Monaco-like royal family of the tiny European kingdom of Cagliostro - and somehow Lupin outwits them all . Of course , he also marches into danger and allows himself to get beaten up . But , like Mifune Toshiro in Yojimbo , he outsmarts the bad guy , who eventually gets his just desserts in a very oddball way , and gets away with millions in loot . Of course , while Goemon and Jiggen are barely in the film , and some of the brushes with death are really just too close to be believed ( hey , I know it's an animated film but there's no reason to out-deathdefy Indiana Jones ) , it's still a pretty good film . This time I watched the dubbed-into-English version , and the voice of Lupin was done by my old high school classmate David Hayter , who calls himself Sean Barker - the character he played in his only feature film , the Guyver 2 - and who also does the voice of Solid Snake in the North American version of the Metal Gear games . Quite a blast from the past - he sounds quite a lot like I remember him from 1982 . . .
    • 105 4  This is THE best Anime ( Japanese or otherwise ) that I have ever seen . I first saw the Japanese VHS version 7 years ago when my wife had her video collection shipped from Japan . Getting it on DVD is a real treat as it can be viewed either with the original Japanese soundtrack ( with or without English subtitles ) or in dubbed English . The Japanese Lupin character's voice is a classic , so I would definitely recommend watching it in Japanese , as the dubbed version does not fully capture the mood ( or the dialogue ! ) This is definitely a Five Star classic keeper !
    • 110 4  I love the budget estimate at the top , good stuff . Anyways , the movie is awesome , an instant classic of all time . . . but nothing has really changed . . . If you already own it , theres no reason to re-buy it . Nothing has changed , you'd figure they'd at least at 5.1 Dolby .
    • 114 4  Just to let people know in advance , I have not seen the new MANGA vertion of this film . However I have heard that it was a pretty chip-chop , cheesy , spoofess , dub ! In other words , the new dub was a big pile of monkey doo ! I will be getting the movie on DVD for the sake of getting it on DVD , however for a couple of years now I've been honored to own the Streamline Pictures dub of The Castle of Cagliostro ! I don't know what happened to Streamline , but my gusse is that they went out of bussness ( Who knows ? ) ! But even though they're gone , they're excellent dub stays with us ( Or at least , whoever had bought the tape before it was discontinued ) ! The dub for Cagliostro is one fine dub ! All the charicters voices are top-notch , well casted , suiting , and they are great actors too ( Much like the english cast of Tenchi Muyo ! ) ! The cover for this movie is very good ( Much better then MANGA's cover ) , and the quality of the film excellent to boot ! The story is also well-paced ! It has enough comedy , action , drama , ann more chase sceans in 100 minutes then I remember in any of the 007 movies ! It's just more proof that , even though new to directing movies , Hayao Miazaki had talent ! And he knew how to use it ! If you can hunt down an old copy of the original Streamline dub I recomend you do so ! You won't regret it !
    • 115 4  I was extremely skeptical at first . I hadn't seen many of Miyazaki's movies ( just Mononoke , Totoro and Kiki's , all highly recommended ) , and this certainly didn't LOOK as good as Princess Mononoke . . . at least , I thought so . I was wrong . This is one of the best movies I've ever seen . The animation easily meets Hayao Miyazaki's high standards , and , in many ways , goes beyond them . The story , though typical , is interesting and especially humorous at times . This is recommended for anybody , literally , anybody . I'd give it more stars , but . . .
    • 116 4  While I personally cant say weither the new dubbing is good or bad ( normally I am not a fan of dubbing though AD Vision normally tends to do a good job ) , I can say this ; the subbed version is an absolute blast ! I normally preffer subbed because this way you can watch a imported movie / ova / tv in its purest form while still understand the dialogue . From beging to end , the movie is flat out fun . The movie comes at you at a fast pace , normally stops for small bursts to catch its breath ( and build character relationships . A must for a successful anime ) . The humor is lighthearted and thoroughly enjoyable . the action is fun to watch ( and really doesnt take itself all that seriously ) . And the drama sequences actually make you care about our protagonist . All while in an atmosphere that so Pink Panther like that you can't help not to enjoy it . If you are an anime fan looking to see its roots , this is a great place to look into . As for the dubbing , Take the other reviewers advice . Its best that you see it subbed anyways ^ _ ^ .
    • 117 4  The Castle of Cagliostro is one of the greatest animated features of all time , sparking with adventure , wit and even humor . It's visual impact is expansive , and it's characters have a life of their own . . . Which is why this DVD is such a tragedy . This is not the Caste of Cagliostro , as raved about by the likes of Steven Spielburg . This is a second-rate parody of it . The entire vocal soundtrack to this DVD has been removed and replaced with one which may well have been written by a first-timer , with no knowledge of the story - and performed by vocal talent that couldn't get a job on a Wendy's commercial . The end product is entirely unwatchable . Gone are the snappy quotes , and well-paced vocal patter of the film's stars . . it almost feels like the script was improvised on the spot , with the actors having never even seen the film beforehand , let alone been given a storyline to stick to . I waited paitently for two years for Cagliostro to come back onto the market . . . and it appears that I'm still waiting . The only bright hope I have now is to locate a pirated copy of the real version of the film , because I'm not keeping this one . By The Real Version I refer to the 1979 dub , sold by Streamline Pictures . Only released on VHS in the american market , it's far superior to the MANGA version . That's the version of the film that won all the awards , and catipulted this film into the history books . That's the version to get . This DVD has been in my posession for a little over an hour now . . . just eough time to get it out of the box and into the player - to see the devestation wrought by MANGA Video , and to decide to not only return the thing , but also to warn potential buyers that they're being gypped . This is not the film as advertised . Don't watse your money .
    • 119 4  I would not have bothered to write a review , except that other opinions were mostly extremely negative or extremely positive , which does not represent the movie fairly , in my opinion . This movie has a cute , fairy-tale plot which neither repulses nor excites . A lot of action . It might be fun to see this film remade in live action . A lot of fantastic Indiana-Jones type of chases and escapes . The dubbing is adequate , but certainly far from the top-notch job Disney did on Kiki's Delivery Service , for example . Miyazaki's films are always beautiful to look at . Oh , I did find the music a little on the schmaltzy / cheesy side . It is fun to watch once or twice , but I honestly can't see what anyone would find to strongly love or strongly hate about this product . The greatest animated movie ever ? Nah . Just a sweet , watchable , passable Miyazaki effort that doesn't take itself too seriously ( which Princess Mononoke possibly does do ) . If this sort of thing is your cup of tea , don't be deterred by the nit-pickers who only gave it one star . If you are hoping to be blown away , you'll probably be disappointed . Before seeing this , I had seen Totoro , Kiki , and Mononoke , and I considered this a lesser film , a slight let-down . Still not bad , though .
    • 120 4  I have been looking forward to the DVD release of this movie for some time . The original dubbed version on VHS was a treat and had a charm all of its own . However while the DVD release has the same animation , a redone script has been included . While the new script may be more faithful the the original Japanese version , I find the original dubbed script to be more entertaining . I would only buy this if you MUST have this on DVD as the new script changes the feel and atmosphere of the characters . A disapointment .
    • 127 4  Why wasn't the 1979 english dub of this film put on the DVD ? Okay , great - we've got the japanese version , and some cheap new dub - but where's the original dub ? Where's the version of the film that we've been watching and enjoying for twenty years , already ? And these bozos have the audacity to cover the package with encouraging quotes from the likes of Steven Spielburg , Protoculture Addicts , and the Hollywood Reporter - all of which are actually quotes about the original 1979 dub , and NOT on this flaky , cheap hack job MANGA is passing off . Even the cover looks rushed - with an amateurish photoshop-logo that could have been churned out by someone's secretary over a short lunch . This whole package reeks of cheapness , and corner-cutting . I'm insulted that they thought so little of the audience that they'd fail to provide the film in the format that made it famous , and doubly angered that they'd attempt to pass this drek off as that same version . Just how stupid do they think we are ? MANGA should be ashamed of themselves for this . It's a disgrace .
    • 132 4  I've had a copy of this film in my video collection for a number of years now . It's one of the entries on my all-time ten-best-ever-made animated features list . I've been eagerly awaiting it's release on DVD , ever since it was withdrawn from the market , pending the new release . Unfortunately this new DVD release is a severe let-down . Cheap workmanship , zero features , a lousy cover , and to make things even worse , they've redubbed it - and the new dub is crap . I can understand how someone who's never seen the better version of this film might see this new dub and find it worthwhile - after all , the original film which this redub is based on is of such high quality , that it's hard to totally water it down . But to anyone who's owned one of the original version videos , and who like myself considers this one of the all-time greats , there's no comparrisson . Unlike some of the previous reviewers who've been incensed at the lackluster quality of this release , I won't be automatically returning it . The original japanese version is here , and so are the cleaned and restored letterbox visuals . But I won't be listening to the english dub again , and I'm severely let down and embarrassed for the company responsible for putting this product out . I wouldn't want my company's name on this shiny , plastic tragedy . I only hope that if they ever decide to provide a more features-packed release , worthy of the title , that they have the understanding to provide the 79 ' dub as one of the audio selections . But until then , don't waste your money on it . You'd be better off hunting up the Streamline release with the 79 ' dub on it , thru someplace like ebay , or any local comic / anime shop that handles used videos .
    • 134 4  This movie is interesting and if your looking fro an action packed movie this is it . This movie isn't rated and does contain fowl language . But that's because it's dubed in American and it needs to be more Americanized . If your kids want james bond but are too young try this .

  • 063 4  Once again , I had looked into this movie originally because it was directed by Hayao Miyazaki , personally one of my favorites ! I later learned that this movie is a part of a really long series from what I understand of and Television series , of Lupin the 3rd . This movie is really good , has the main characters , Lupin , Jigens , Fujiko , Zenigata ! It's story is ok , not too original , but still good ! The characters are funny . . . I don't really know what else to say , except it's good !
    • 081 4  Lighthearted fun and a visual feast ! The car chase was especially clever and exciting .
    • 109 4  This is a fun movie . Period . This rollicking adventure story is full of humor , colorful characters , action and the animation is very good .
    • 136 4  This is a fun flick for adults and teens but there are substantial cuss-words that prohibit viewing by small kids . . . an unexpected dissapointment . . .

  • 138 4  We got this movie for Christmas based on the great reviews I read here at Amazon . My children and I sat down to watch it with eager anticipation . The first 5 minutes had 4 or 5 swear words in it . The envelope mentions mild language , so I was not surprised to hear h . . . and d . . . . But there was also a b . . . . . . , s . . . , and Ch . . . . ! I would not reccommend this movie for families , at least in this translation , no matter how wonderful the plot .
    • 090 4  My grand-children ( 5 to 13 ) and I enjoyed this cartoon immensely . Sometimes we laughed out with delight . Imagine a James Bond hero with all the gadgets and savoir-faire of James Bond , but none of the violence , or grown up stuff . And on top of this the images are beautiful.LRG
    • 125 4  I have just discovered that Lupin the Third and The Castle of Cagliostro is a sequel to Lupin the Third and the Mystery of Mamo , i still don't know wich is better or worse , but I truly love Cagliostro , but I have seen more acclaim on this sequel than on the first part , but the DVD of the first part it's currently not aviable , when they re-realease it i will definetly buy it , to see the first days of Lupin the Third .
    • 139 4  Although the plot is fine for children , there is such an abundance of 3 - 4 - and 5 - letter bad words that I do not want my 7 - yr-olds watching it . All unneccesary , because it was dubbed and could have avoided those vulgarities .

  • The Castle of Cagliostro . I guess I was afraid that since this anime came out in 1979 , the animation would be disappointing . I needn't have worried . While the animation is limited to the technology of the day , the quality that is so much a trademark of Miyazaki dazzles even here . The story is a page in the life of the lovable rogue , Lupin the 3rd . A man with the gadgets and mystery of James Bond , the charm and skill of the Man in Black ( from the Princess Bride ) and the constitution of an iron kettle . In this yarn , Lupin is off to a small country in Europe to discover the source of counterfeit currency . In short order he encounters a runaway bride , a whole gang of well-equipped thugs , an evil Count and his old nemesis , Inspector Zenigata . Nothing could be better for Lupin and his buddies Jigen-a gruff , gun-toting side-kick - - and Goeman-a samurai with a passionate wish to see action and a chance to use his sword . Action , gunplay and hilarity ensue in this action-packed story . While Miyazaki makes use of almost every cliché in the book in this story , he manages to utilize them in such a way that the entire story feels fresh . This may have been one of Miyazaki's first movies , but fans will quickly see that his mastery exists even here . The movie is , of course , dated with the illustration of clothing and cars capturing the 1970s surprisingly well . And the animation doesn't have the depth and breadth of the modern masterpieces like SPIRITED AWAY or PRINCESS MONONOKE . Yet , all the touches are there in Lupin that make it more than just a fun adventure with average animation : scenes of the clouds moving over fields , delightful movement that evokes Miyazaki's love of the dizzying heights and gear run machines . Fans of the later movies will see all prototypes of scenes and characters that the director will make use of in future movies . I will admit that folks who fell in love with the more youthful SPIRITED AWAY , CASTLE IN THE SKY , and KIKI's DELIVERY SERVICE , may be less than enthused by the purely adult cast in this movie . There's a good deal of gunplay and some adult language involved-this is not the movie for younger children , and is more appropriate for the older child and teenager . Despite the violence and language , there is no gore , no adult scenes or sexual situations . And , did I mention the movie is a romp of the first order ? Loads of fun , laughs and non-stop action make this a perfect movie for a teenager's introduction to what animation can offer beyond little kid cuteness . I highly recommend this to any anime fan that has yet to view it . And to anyone looking to explore the world of anime movies , this isn't a bad place to start . For those who enjoy this and would like to explore more excellent anime , check out the rest of Miyazaki's films and you might also check out COWBOY BEBOP the series . Happy Viewing ! ^ _ ^ Shanshad
    • 003 4  This review is from : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Lupin the III ) ( DVD ) Grown-ups and non-anime fans should not be put off by the cover art for this DVD . This is a great action movie that reminds me of a Bond movie . It has exciting car chases , a clever hero that gets himself out of precarious situations , and an evil super-villain . But Bond with a big difference : ironically , this movie is LESS cartooonish than the real Bond movies ! Bond has lots of gadgets that are incredibly specialized yet just happen to come in handy EVERY TIME , villains who are usually just too loony to be believed , and he has babes who want to jump in the sack with him after eyeballing him for 30 seconds . As a teenage boy fantasy movie , Bond rules ; but if you want to see a fun , rollicking adventure / spy movie , then Castle of Cagliostro is actually a better bet . As other reviewers have mentioned , this is one of the earliest movies by a Japanese director named Miyazaki . Most Americans have never heard of him , but in Japan he's looked upon like Spielburg and Lucas rolled into one person . Many people have compared him to Disney , but I think that's not a good comparison . While Disney worked in the same medium , his films were much more child-oriented , and for better or worse , he established many of the animation formulas and cliches that have become the norm for American animation ( with notable exceptions like the superb Iron Giant ) . Disney has become synonymous with dumbed-down and formulaic . No one would EVER use those terms to describe Miyazaki . While it is really Miyazaki's later work , such as the incomparable Spirited Away , that earned him his reputation as a genius , this film is still very much worth seeing . In fact , what I generally tell anyone who will listen is that you can't go wrong treating Miyazaki's name as a sort of brand name : just rent or buy anything made by him and you're guaranteed to see a movie that is well made , thoughtfully written , a visual feast , and most of all , wonderfully original . How many directors can you think of that fit that description ? The main character of this movie , Lupin , is from a long-running series . But I haven't seen any of the other episodes , and I assure you that you don't have to see any of the series beforehand to be able to enjoy this movie : it stands on its own . In closing , let me mention that there is a persistent myth perpetuated on various Internet sites that Steven Spielburg called this one of the greatest adventure movies ever made . As far as I can tell , he never said that . Still , this wonderful movie doesn't need any made-up endorsements . See it , and you'll see why .
    • 004 4  Grown-ups and non-anime fans should not be put off by the cover art for this DVD . This is a great action movie that reminds me of a Bond movie . It has exciting car chases , a clever hero that gets himself out of precarious situations , and an evil super-villain . But Bond with a big difference : ironically , this movie is LESS cartooonish than the real Bond movies ! Bond has lots of gadgets that are incredibly specialized yet just happen to come in handy EVERY TIME , villains who are usually just too loony to be believed , and he has babes who want to jump in the sack with him after eyeballing him for 30 seconds . As a teenage boy fantasy movie , Bond rules ; but if you want to see a fun , rollicking adventure / spy movie , then Castle of Cagliostro is actually a better bet . As other reviewers have mentioned , this is one of the earliest movies by a Japanese director named Miyazaki . Most Americans have never heard of him , but in Japan he's looked upon like Spielburg and Lucas rolled into one person . Many people have compared him to Disney , but I think that's not a good comparison . While Disney worked in the same medium , his films were much more child-oriented , and for better or worse , he established many of the animation formulas and cliches that have become the norm for American animation ( with notable exceptions like the superb Iron Giant ) . Disney has become synonymous with dumbed-down and formulaic . No one would EVER use those terms to describe Miyazaki . While it is really Miyazaki's later work , such as the incomparable Spirited Away , that earned him his reputation as a genius , this film is still very much worth seeing . In fact , what I generally tell anyone who will listen is that you can't go wrong treating Miyazaki's name as a sort of brand name : just rent or buy anything made by him and you're guaranteed to see a movie that is well made , thoughtfully written , a visual feast , and most of all , wonderfully original . How many directors can you think of that fit that description ? The main character of this movie , Lupin , is from a long-running series . But I haven't seen any of the other episodes , and I assure you that you don't have to see any of the series beforehand to be able to enjoy this movie : it stands on its own . In closing , let me mention that there is a persistent myth perpetuated on various Internet sites that Steven Spielburg called this one of the greatest adventure movies ever made . As far as I can tell , he never said that . Still , this wonderful movie doesn't need any made-up endorsements . See it , and you'll see why .
    • 005 4  I heard from a friend of mine who spent a lot of time in Japan that Lupin III is their answer to James Bond and Batman . Seeing the movies and videos , I say that Lupin can easily whip either of them . His humor , cleverness , abilities , and wise choice of loyal friends ( Jigen , the sharpshooter ; Goemon , the swordsman ; Fujiko , the femme fatale ; and Zenigata , the inspector ) , make him overcome enemies and obstacles that would make Bond and Batman pause . It's too bad that , while popular in Japan , Lupin never had much of an exposure stateside , like Pokemon and Sailor Moon . Hopefully , the re-release of Castle of Cagliostro would change all that . For some time , I owned the Japanese version of the film , and with a downloaded English translation , I still enjoyed the film despite my limited ( more like nascent ) knowledge of Japanese . The well-crafted plot and story , with Lupin and the gang at their best , makes this my favorite animated feature . I also own copies of the other Lupin TV movies ( the latest being Fujiko's Unlucky Days ) , but while all are rather good , Castle of Cagliostro is still the top of the form . Watching it finally on DVD further re-affirmed that belief . I wonder of Spielberg still considers this one of the best action / adventure films even , but I wouldn't be surprised if he did . My advice , get the DVD or subtitled versions . Like Pokemon and Sailor Moon , Lupin is best in the original Japanese , and the subtitles are more accurate than the English voice-acting .
    • 006 4  There is probably no anime character as revered or as celebrated as Lupin the 3rd ( well maybe Captain Herlock ) . Lupin's adventures are truely some of the most entertaining in the entire medium . And The Castle of Cagliostro continues that tradition in spectacular fashion . Directed by the legendary Hiyato Miyazaki who directed Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away , The Castle of Cagliostro follows Lupin , Jigen , Fujiko , and Goemon to the European country side . There they find that the Duke of Cagliostro is about to wed a young lady , who has ties to Lupin's past . This is , without a doubt , an absolute joy to watch . At a time when so many anime series are overly tedious , brooding and melodratic , it's refreshing to see a film that has a grand sense of adventure and being humours at the same time . Lupin the 3rd may be the world's greatest thief , but in this film he gets to play the hero . Which is a great change of pace for Lupin . One of the great things is that even if you're unfamiliar with Lupin the 3rd , you'll have no problem following this film . This is almost a stand alone movie . The transfer is excellent . The color is very clean even for an older film . The original audio track is presented in 2 Channel Dolby stereo as is the English track . One of the things I couldn't get used to was that the English voice actors are different than that of the current voice talent on the Lupin the 3rd series currently airing on Adult Swim and released by Pioneer . But if you listen to the original Japanse dialog that's not a problem . The DVD has a very good menu layout . There are animated scene selection menus , which I found very nice considering that most older DVD's don't feature them . One of the things is that the Extras are a little sparse . There's some background on Miyazaki , trailers and really that's about it . This movie is wall to wall fun . With so much anime being so deadly serious , it's great to sit back and have a good laugh . If you like anime , or even just good films in general , then this is a can't miss for your library that director Steven Spielberg once called one of the greatest adventure movies of all time .
    • 007 4  This tale stars the infamous gentleman-theif Lupin , along with Jigen the expert marksman , and Goemon the samurai of the old school . With Lupin and Jigen heading for Cagliostro ( Europe's smallest country ) they become involved in an adventure including preventing a fixed marriage , a Princess and an evil Count . This being one of my favorite movies , and Miyazaki being my god , I cannot recommend this movie enough . Highly original , Cagliostro's action sequences will leave you breathless while the emotion brought forth from the highly addictive story will draw you in and leave you lingering in a world that is simply too beatiful to want to leave . From the fist scene where Lupin and Jigen rob the Monte Carlo , and while escaping leap over several bicycle racks and sub-humanly glide 12 feet with perfect ease while a comical springing sound is made , this instantly becomes a classic . Thank God for Manga for re-releasing this film treasure .
    • 008 4  If you're coming to CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO after having admired Miyazaki's other work , you'll be extremely disappointed - it's his first feature as a director , and is clearly a work-for-hire based on Monkey Punch's popular ( and VERY Seventies ) LUPIN III manga and anime . So there's very little of Miyazaki's humanism or love of nature here - and a lot of Lupin III's outlandish sideburns and 007 - Meets-Benny Hill schemes . However , if you're coming to this movie looking for Lupin III , you'll be delighted because it's an outstanding adventure for him and his usual gang of cohorts ( including Inspector Zenigata - who has to work WITH him for a change to catch a genuinely dastardly villain ! ) . If any touches of Miyazaki are evident , it's in the movie's treatment of women and sex - the heroine Clarisse seems tremulous at first glance but proves to have a lot of courage in the clinch , and for once Fujiko is more effective female hero than doublecrossing tease . Even Lupin's perpetual horniness is toned down considerably - he comes off as a genuinely gallant gentleman thief than the loud jacket-wearing stunned-ox-in-heat he often comes across as in the anime series ( currently playing on Cartoon Network's ADULT SWIM block ) . Another good touch is the portrayal of Zenigata - Pops isn't a totally-incompetent bullying buffoon in Miyazaki's view , but a good cop driven bonkers by his fruitless pursuit of a great adversary . He knowingly risks his career ( and life ) and teams up with the man he's been determined to arrest since - well , forever ! - to stop the villainous Count Cagliostro's schemes . Of course , the movie ends just as almost every Lupin III adventure does , with Zenigata chasing Lupin - again ! - and Lupin , Jigen , Goemon and Fujiko getting away from him with foolish ease . . . again . . . . If you go into CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO looking for a fun lighthearted adventure , you'll be delighted - just don't expect to see much of the man who would later give the world classics like TOTORO , PRINCESS MONONOKE or SPIRITED AWAY .
    • 010 4  I'm a Miyazaki fan . I've seen a good deal of his work and loved it , so I don't know why I waited so long to see Lupin the 3rd : The Castle of Cagliostro . I guess I was afraid that since this anime came out in 1979 , the animation would be disappointing . I needn't have worried . While the animation is limited to the technology of the day , the quality that is so much a trademark of Miyazaki dazzles even here . The story is a page in the life of the lovable rogue , Lupin the 3rd . A man with the gadgets and mystery of James Bond , the charm and skill of the Man in Black ( from the Princess Bride ) and the constitution of an iron kettle . In this yarn , Lupin is off to a small country in Europe to discover the source of counterfeit currency . In short order he encounters a runaway bride , a whole gang of well-equipped thugs , an evil Count and his old nemesis , Inspector Zenigata . Nothing could be better for Lupin and his buddies Jigen-a gruff , gun-toting side-kick - - and Goeman-a samurai with a passionate wish to see action and a chance to use his sword . Action , gunplay and hilarity ensue in this action-packed story . While Miyazaki makes use of almost every cliché in the book in this story , he manages to utilize them in such a way that the entire story feels fresh . This may have been one of Miyazaki's first movies , but fans will quickly see that his mastery exists even here . The movie is , of course , dated with the illustration of clothing and cars capturing the 1970s surprisingly well . And the animation doesn't have the depth and breadth of the modern masterpieces like SPIRITED AWAY or PRINCESS MONONOKE . Yet , all the touches are there in Lupin that make it more than just a fun adventure with average animation : scenes of the clouds moving over fields , delightful movement that evokes Miyazaki's love of the dizzying heights and gear run machines . Fans of the later movies will see all prototypes of scenes and characters that the director will make use of in future movies . I will admit that folks who fell in love with the more youthful SPIRITED AWAY , CASTLE IN THE SKY , and KIKI's DELIVERY SERVICE , may be less than enthused by the purely adult cast in this movie . There's a good deal of gunplay and some adult language involved-this is not the movie for younger children , and is more appropriate for the older child and teenager . Despite the violence and language , there is no gore , no adult scenes or sexual situations . And , did I mention the movie is a romp of the first order ? Loads of fun , laughs and non-stop action make this a perfect movie for a teenager's introduction to what animation can offer beyond little kid cuteness . I highly recommend this to any anime fan that has yet to view it . And to anyone looking to explore the world of anime movies , this isn't a bad place to start . For those who enjoy this and would like to explore more excellent anime , check out the rest of Miyazaki's films and you might also check out COWBOY BEBOP the series . Happy Viewing ! ^ _ ^ Shanshad
    • 014 4  This film is incredible . Every time I watch it , it seems to get better and better . A large part of that is due to the masterful direction of Hayao Miyazaki . The story revolves around Lupin III as well as his compatriots Jigen the gunman and Goemon the swordsman . Lupin becomes involved in a plot of counterfeit money and a princess that doesn't want to marry the evil ruler that she is betrothed to . Lupin and his friends end up saving the day , and avoid capture by the bumbling Interpol Inspector determined to bring the thief Lupin to justice . Lupin comes complete with interesting gadgets and this fantastic car , as well as the luck and cunning of 007 . This film is well over an hour and a half of action and adventure , with a measure of comedy thrown in as well . The animation is crisp and refreshing , with the character design quality reminiscent of Speed Racer and other late 70s Japanese cartoons . No wild colorful hair or huge eyes in this one kids . And unlike most Japanimation offerings , this is one that your children can watch . So make sure to pick up this Hayao Miyazaki classic , a man referred to as the Walt Disney of Japan . If you like Miyazaki's other offerings ( My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service ) then you are sure to enjoy Lupin III : The Castle of Cagliostro .
    • 017 4  Hayao Miyazaki is one of these anime directors who always manages to maintain a level of excellence that can never falter . His recent efforts with Princess Mononoke ( Mononoke Hime ) is proof of this . Long before Porco Rosso and Kiki's Delivery Service , Miyazaki introduced us to a character called Lupin the third ( or Wolf as he became known in the west ) . An exceptional thief with gadgets that make James Bond look like a second rate pretender , and thieving talents to rival the Pink Panther . Lupin , with his partner Gegan , stumble across a money counterfeiting operation that emcompasses the world , originating from the small country of Cagliostro , ruled by the villianous Count Cagliostro . Meanwhile , the count is knee deep in a scheme to uncover a fabulous treasure , which can only be found in an arranged marriage to Princess Clarisse . Lupin , of course , has to intervene . Quite a few hilarious moments and action sequences . The car chase is the highlight . Animation is of the typical Miyazaki fare , some what simplistic , but does the job . With the story that's presented , it's always going to be a winner . A top film .
    • 018 4  This review is from : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Lupin the III ) ( DVD ) Possibly one of the three greatest animated theatrical features ever produced , I could never give this outstanding film less then 5 stars . However , I miss the Streamline / Macek dub . The original actors had sweeter voices and better acting . The new voices sound like horrible Saturday morning cartoon rejects . Another negative detail is the heavy color correction which gives an appaling contrast that pinpoints all the painting inconsistancies . Upsides are the restored original credits , and the pure fact this cinematic masterpiece is even on DVD . The picture is crisp and the original Japanese sounds are great ( the dub lays obnoxiously intrusive over the picture ) . This anime classic is a must see for all animation fans , and the action antics have inspired some of the greatest directors of the late 1900s . Working on many levels , this sweet ' knight rescues princess ' story is all around family entertainment . The violence is well handled , and non-gratuitous . This is a must have DVD .
    • 019 4  Possibly one of the three greatest animated theatrical features ever produced , I could never give this outstanding film less then 5 stars . However , I miss the Streamline / Macek dub . The original actors had sweeter voices and better acting . The new voices sound like horrible Saturday morning cartoon rejects . Another negative detail is the heavy color correction which gives an appaling contrast that pinpoints all the painting inconsistancies . Upsides are the restored original credits , and the pure fact this cinematic masterpiece is even on DVD . The picture is crisp and the original Japanese sounds are great ( the dub lays obnoxiously intrusive over the picture ) . This anime classic is a must see for all animation fans , and the action antics have inspired some of the greatest directors of the late 1900s . Working on many levels , this sweet ' knight rescues princess ' story is all around family entertainment . The violence is well handled , and non-gratuitous . This is a must have DVD .
    • 020 4  The Castle of Cagliostro is one of my favorite films by Hayao Miyazaki , but this U.S . version made such an unforgivable change on the opening title sequence ! The original Japanese version features beautiful scenes of Lupin and Jigen traveling though Europe . But the U.S version changed these fully animated scenes into a bunch of still images so that it could lay English titles over them ! This is such an unfortunate rendition of the masterpiece , and for that , I give it 4 stars . Otherwise the movie easily deserves 5 stars , and this special edition has superb picture quality as well .
    • 021 4  Castle of Cagliostro is Miyazaki's first feature and stars the characters of the Lupin series . Miyazaki worked on much of the first season of Lupin and did two episodes in the second including the finale . I haven't been able to determine if these episodes are avaible on any in-print English release . While the animation is considerably cruder then Miyazaki's later works , the film is filled with thrilling adventure and fun humor . The breakneck pace and knock out action set pieces make up for the cruder animation style . Even without any prior knowledge of the Lupin characters , the story is simple to follow . Only the appearances of the female spy and the samurai seemed odd to an unititated viewer . Film : 4 stars out of 5 . It is not Miyazaki's best , but it is easy to see his style emerging . The character designs for the count and the bride would soon appear in Nausicaa as Kurotawa and Nausicaa . Castle of Cagliostro is a great adventure film , but lacks the emotional realism and epic narratives that make up his later films . It may be Miyazaki's best on a pure entertainment factor . Think of it as a James Bond film by way of Pink Panther with Jackie Chan . Manga's dvd is less then stellar . Picture quality is dicey . Most of the time the picture is fine with good color , but there are problems that pop up . Black spots appear on the film from time to time and several times heavy black blobs show up on the frame . The print also suffers for instances when the images shudders and appears to shake a bit when there isn't movement in the frame . These problems do detract , but generally they didn't distract from my viewing . The video is presented in letterboxed format with subs that are half on the frame , half on black . I avoided the dub because the Japanese audio was just fine . Purists might be annoyed to find that the end credits are typed in English over a black screen without music , I don't know what the orginial Japanese print had . There aren't any extras other then several lame Manga Video ads . Castle of Cagliostro is not part of the Disney / Ghibli deal so don't plan on them for releasing a new dvd . I would still recommend this dvd , although hopefully someone in the future will release it without the minor picture problems . Pioneer and Funimation both have recently put out other Lupin dvds , but I don't know of plans to pick up this title . DVD : 3 out of 5 stars .
    • 024 4  My two kids ( 7 and 8 ) love this flick . They never get tired of watching it , and I think I understand why . It is everything that your typical Disney animated flick is NOT : imaginative , whimsical , not-too self-conscious , unpredictable and slightly irreverent . It's also a welcome break from the overload of space operas , bounty hunters , cyborgs , androids , aliens , giant mecha and doe-eyed cutesy girls that is typical of every other Japanese anime available now . By the way , I ( 39 ) never get tired of watching it either !
    • 025 4  I made the mistake of avoiding The Castle of Cagliostro for many years . I never really liked the Lupin III character , and I was not sold by the box cover . Yet , it kept appearing on Best All-time Anime lists , and I could not deny that it must have some merit . I finally watched it , and now I know . It deserves to be on any Best All-time Anime lists . This is like a Miyazaki movie with Lupin III running around in it . ( Hey ! What do you know . It IS a Miyazaki movie with Lupin III running around in it . ) Although this was one of Miyazaki's first films , it shows his quality in every aspect . The animation and story are not dated at all . Lot's of time spent flying . This is one of the few Miyazaki films aimed at a teenage audience , rather than children . It is definitely more adventure orientated . Also , it is rare in that it has a male hero . Lady Clarisse de Cagliostro is a strong character and the romance between her and Lupin is touching .
    • 028 4  Please don't let reports of swearing deter you from purchasing this animated classic . I would also like to point out the swearing was for the most part added in by the distributer , Manga . The original Japanese track has only one or two bad words . However , the additional swearing in the English track may not be suitable for small children . The violence is for the most part cartooney , although the use of guns and grenades are used frequently in the film . There is one scene where blood is present , but none of it is gratuitous , and is more for dramatic effect . The film itself is the very first theatrical direction of the legendary , Hayao Miyazaki . IMHO it is up there with Sprited Away and My Neighbor Totoro . The animation is gorgeous for beign a 27 year-old film and makes it look as if it were made in 1985 ! You can also see elements of Miyazaki's storytelling : Brave heroines , flying sequences and character development . A little insight on the main character of this film . Lupin III is one of Japan's most-loved characters . He was originally created by Katou Kazuhiko , better known to the world under the pen-name , Monkey Punch . In the original manga Lupin is more of a dark horse , but an equally entertaining character . In Castle of Cagliostro , he is portrayed more kindly and sentimental . This is because Miyazaki wished to represent Lupin an the twilight of his career where he's looking for fulfillment that he cannot find in thievery . It hints he may even be bemused by his past . This also probably the closest Lupin III gets to being like his grandfather ( Arsene Lupin ) of the Maurice Leblanc novels . Lastly , this is probably one of the finest performance of the late Yasuo Yamada , who voiced Lupin from 1971 - 1995 ( he passed away on March 17 , 1995 due to cerebral hemorrhage ) . To his Japanese fans , Yamada was the spirit of Lupin III .
    • 031 4  The moment I pushed play on my player , I threw my VHS copy of Castle of Cagliostro out the window . Manga has done such an amazing restoration job to this film . It looks like it was made 2 years ago instead of the twenty years it has been since its theatrical release . The colors are vibrant , the lines sharp , and the sound clear as crystal . The new dub job is quite good , and much more accurate to the original dialogue than Streamline's original VHS release . My only complaint is the lack of an anamorphic transfer , but I have very little else to complain , aside from the complete lack of extras . And of course , the film itself is top-notch . Still one of my top five favorite animated movies _ ever _ , Hayao Miyazaki takes the character of Lupin III and elevates him to an all new level of pathos and sympathy - - all while keeping the action non-stop and absolutely hilarious . This is one of the few pure adventure movies the whole family can enjoy together , and perfect proof that Japanese animation is not just for college kids with a lust for gore and sex .
    • 032 4  Lupin the 3rd , Castle of Cagliostro is Miyazaki's best Family Action Movie . Unlike stereotypical anime like Akira , Cagliostro allows pure edge-of-your-seat action without the extreme gore . . . and therefore allows for 100% family entertainment . If you do buy this film , watch it first with the original Japanese Dialogue with English Subtitles . There is nothing better than to watch a movie the way it was originally made . This Miyazaki work is great for new anime fans as well as the avid collector .
    • 034 4  This movie is extremely enjoyable , and it obviously carries Miyazaki's destinctive touch . It's a very funny film that captures the qualities of sixties spy movies very , very well - that's part of what makes it so funny ! The characters are well depicted , even when the viewer has not seen the show this movie was made for ( Lupin III ) . This was a great place for Hayao Miyazaki to start his directing career and it's a great buy for any Studio Ghibli fan . The DVD is good quality , including the Japanese language track and English subtitles , but I ( as I usually do ) found the translation in the English Dub rather disappointing . That's to be expected though , and it's okay , as you can just watch it in it's original format .
    • 035 4  I don't know who that guy is , but he's emphatically not Lupin III . Lupin is a sexist , arrogant jerk , and the hero of this film is eminently likeable - - a gentleman thief with a quirky sense of humor , honorable despite himself and a terrific reluctant hero . He's an action hero who's more interested in showing the villains up than in killing them . Lupin has just committed a daring heist of cash when he discovers the money he's stolen is counterfeit - - they're the legendary goat bills , near-perfect forgeries created to devalue the world's coinage . Tracing the money to its source , he finds his way to Cagliostro , a fairy-tale kingdom full of beautiful women , hidden treasure and deadly perils . Like most Miyazaki films , Castle of Cagliostro feels like it was aimed at adults while remaining suitable for children . There aren't any terrifying moments like in Spirited Away , just a fun spy romp . Young kids may need the concept of counterfeiting explained to them , though . This film is , however , very similar to Laputa : Castle in the Sky , though with fewer fantastic elements and a simpler ending . Overall , I'll admit that Laputa has better visuals , but Castle has more interesting characters and holds up better on later viewings .
    • 036 4  I first saw this movie in Japan and while I didn't understand a word being said , I found that I was very interested in the goings on . A few years later , I purchased this movie on VHS when it was released in the US . So when I saw the DVD was out , I took a chance and purchased it . Having watched the VHS version so many times , I was immediately struck at some translation differences ( in English ) . While the story was the same , there were parts that were very differently translated so that certain parts were almost like a different movie . I was annoyed until I did some checking ( and watched the original Japanses version which is also on this DVD ) . As a result , I've come to the conclusion that the DVD contains a much better translation than the VHS version . If you like your DVD's to have tons of extras , you may be dissappointed with the lack of goodies in this one . However , if you are a fan of Lupin III , this is a must-have DVD . The story , characters , anime style ( though dated ) , and humor are what make this DVD so special . Of all the Lupin III's I've seen ( TV or movie ) , this one is the best .
    • 041 4  Lupin the III is one of the most comical good / bad guys I've seen ! He's a sort of Robin Hood in modern times - - steal from the rich and all that . The only problem here is really the language . Lupin goes to some little European country and finds out about a big conspiracy , and recruits his kooky friends to help him out . It's a fun , great story , and I'm sure kids would enjoy it as much as adults , but for some reason they decided to make it as an ' adult ' sort of movie . Delete the language and it would be a great family film .
    • 042 4  This is the cream of Lupin films and was created by a celibrated master storyteller and director . It's got everything a good adventure aught to have . The dashing roguesh hero . His faithful assosiates of great skill and daring . A beutiful damisal in distress . And evil and dastertly villan . Lost tresure . Harrowing escapes and great car chases . All of which are crammed into this rip-roaring ride that is Castle of Cagliostro . Throw in international esponage and intrege . Add a dash of comic relief.While stirring in the boys from Interpol and you get the general idea . This film simply ROCKS ! !
    • 043 4  Dont let the fact that this anime produced over 20 years ago sway you from watching this classic . Its definitely one my favorite Miyazaki productions . Its goofy , silly , fun where hints of Inspector Cleuseaus , James Bond , Our Man Flint come through in the main character Lupin the thief . There are unexpected scenes in this movie portraying them as chain-smokers , eating ramen noodles with chopsticks while staking out a castle , and a Samurai sidekick that shows up in traditional garb smack dab in a make-believe European country ! Truly hilarious .
    • 047 4  With so much anime making its way over to the US with nothing more to offer than 30 minute fight scenes , I find myself more and more drawn to Miyazaki's films . I wouldn't call this one Miyazaki's best , but it is a great deal of fun . I wouldn't reccomend it to young children ; there are instances of violence and death , though nothing too gratuitous . But if car chases , adventure , comedy , and romance are up your alley , you'll probably dig the movie .
    • 048 4  Hayao Miyazaki certainly knows how to tell great stories . He gave us masterpieces like Laputa , Mononoke Hime , Totoro , etc which shows what you can expect from Lupin : Castle of Cagliostro . This is an action adventure tour de force with lots of funny moments , plus with a main character that's cheeky and endearing . Unlike other Miyazaki's works however , please bear in mind that the characters in this film is originally based on the comic manga by Monkey Punch , a great artist in his own right . Trust me on this - when it comes to action , Cagliostro is MUCH better ( and funnier ) than all of James Bond films combined . Miyazaki is the king !
    • 049 4  Fans of Miyazaki are no doubt quite familiar with the old dub of this 1979 classic , and until now this was the only way Castle of Cagliostro could be seen . Although the dub had a certain amount of charm , it was a long ways from being faithful to the original , making significiant changes to Lupin and Goemon's character - - clearly a less than ideal film from one of the world's greatest animators . Fortunately April marks a date that Miyazaki and anime fans can rejoice with this outstanding DVD from Manga video . As should be expected , sound and image are excellent - - something that is especially impressive for such an old animated film , although close viewing will reveal the occasional imperfection in the original . Also , Manga has included a new dub that is far closer to the original language ( often being nearly verbatim ) but lacking some of the charm that the original dub posessed , and also suffering from what to my ears sounds like a less than spirited reading . I will level one more gripe at the dub and that being the homogeneity of the voices - - several voices sound to me as though they are read by the same person , and while I don't know if this is true or not , the voice actor for Zenigata in the original English dub feels sorely missed . Fortunately the subtitled version outshines any of the dubs ( both past and present ) so this still remains the best way to see Castle of Cagliosto on all counts ( sound , image , accuracy . ) But enough of the technical aspects - - CoC remains one of the classics of anime and a film that can be watched dozens of times . The characters are unforgettable and the story heartwarming . While the animation might look a bit old by todays standards , it is personalized , warm and inviting . Like everything by Miyazaki , there is nothing here which will offend and makes perfect entertainment for all age groups . While this is definitely a very early work by the master , it is the first of his films to make it to our shores on DVD , and should be purchased without hesitation .
    • 050 4  . . . I was a little disappointed with the traditional nature ofthis anime feature . I had expected the visual movement of KIKI'SDELIVERY SERVICE and perhaps a more complex look to the scenes and characters . However , the characterizations , action , and cleverly comic elements made up for the initial letdown . In many ways , THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO can be described as James Bond meets The Keystone Cops , though the cleverness here transcends both . DVD or VHS ? Absolutely DVD . The language options allow you to view the movie in English , Japanese , or Japanese with English subtitles ( my personal preference . ) When you consider it , you're getting three movies in one package . The kids who can't read fast enough but who would love the dashing adventures of Lupino can watch one version , and later the purists can have their fill with one of the original language versions . Don't let my initial disappointment convince you not to get this DVD . This movie is still better than much of what is on the market today . END
    • 051 4  One of Miyazaki's older but still lots of fun , especially if you are a Lupin III fan . Lupin III is a very famous anime character in Japan , there are at least 300 1 / 2 hour TV shows , and 5 - 10 movies , however this is Lupin III's only Miyazaki's directed movie . If you like Lupin III or Miyazaki you should love this movie . In Japan Lupin III is a well known criminal character with a couple of henchmen . He is always chased by Inspector Zenigata and saved by his ex-girlfriend . Lots of action and plot in this movie . Highly recommended .
    • 052 4  To begin , The Castle of Cagliostro is one of my favorite / best ever adaptation of the world of Lupin the III . This DVD edition has an impressive new 5.1 English soundtrack and finally 16x9 enhanced for widescreen TVs . My biggest gripe about this Special Edition is the butchering of the opening and end titles and lack of any special features . Watching this DVD the first time then seeing this type of crummy translations are disheartening . Anime to this day should not have this type of Voltron-edit butchering anymore . So now the opening titles are no longer animated and are restricted to still images with English credits . Really an insult to the original anime Hayao Miyazaki's vision of giving a bit of narration even during the credits . Same goes to the end sequence in which it no longer closes with The End and a long shot of the surrounding city . Now it has an extended credit roll sequence in an empty void with the only saving thing is the use of the extended song . A special feature would have suffice of having the original unaltered openings and closings , but alas none . All in all , a good buy for overall sound and picture , but if you are familiar with the original openings , you will find it very disappointing as many fans will still have to wait for a definite version of Lupin the III : The Castle of Cagliostro in their collection .
    • 053 4  A very strong story coupled with a classic cast of memorable characters makes this a must own for any anime fan and a great watch for anyone else . Directed by the award winning Hayao Miyazaki , the plotline is filled with action , suspense , romance and comedy , all strung together magnificently such that the story never drags . The characters look somewhat dated due to their iconic design but overall the visuals still look magnificent . The soundtrack is magnificent and complements the story well . Watch this movie and you won't be disappointed .
    • 054 4  I'm not a big fan of the Lupin III anime , but this movie was delightful . My g / f is not an anime fan and she loved it . It has Miyazaki's touch but still feels like Lupin III ; the humor is great and never overdone , and the characters are all dubbed very well . A must have for fans of Lupin , Miyazaki , or Studio Ghibli
    • 055 4  At first , when I heard about this movie , I was told different things about people liking and not liking The Castle of Cagliostro . Regardless of what people said , I wanted to see how it was for myself . When I actually started watching it , I was quite surprised that I actually liked it . I went in search of it to watch it again and again , but finally decided it was time to buy the movie for myself . What I like about this movie is that it has action , drama , humor , a love story , and never gets boring to watch with all the suspenseful twists and explosions . I would recommend watching this movie before buying it to make sure it's your cup of tea , but if you do like it , you'll most likely end up owning it like I did .
    • 056 4  This is a classic by a master of animation - Hayao Miyazaki . This is the kind of movie that will captivate the kids and amuse and entertain adults as well . Plus some beautiful animation and some slapstick humor that would have made Buster Keaton proud ! !
    • 059 4  Monday , May 03 , 2004 / 4 of 5 / Great caper film which happens to be anime . This was my first full length film exposure to the Lupin mythos . Long ago I had played the laser disc game ` Cliffhanger ' in the arcades when it first came out , it incorporated most of its plot and scenes from this movie . It was great to finally see the whole thing as I only ever made it about half way through the game , heh . Lupin and sidekick rob a casino and during the ensuing pursuit happen upon a princess chased by thugs . Ultimately leading back to a castle , a count , and a small country holding secrets to counterfeiting and beyond this was an excellent early anime with a great plot . It's interesting to see the character and stylistic cues later anime , particularly Cowboy Bebop , took from the Lupin saga . The plot was what surprised me the most , very sophisticated and entertaining for an anime , it was almost like an animated Bond film , or similar spy caper / mystery . Recommended .
    • 060 4  I've seen alot of Lupin III movies and I've seen alot of Miyazaki's films . But this one stands out as by far the best of them . I think it is possibly the best anime made . Actually there were some problems with the dub . One thing I noticed is that when Zenigata introduces himself . He say Inspector Keibu Zenigata but Keibu means Inspector in Japanese so actually , he is repeating himself . Anyways , this has to be my favorite anime overall .
    • 061 4  This Lupin movie was pretty good . It pretty much has all the charecters in it . But it dosen't very well show how cool they can be like in the t.v . and ova series does . Overall the animation is pretty good compared to the others . The story pulls you in and is pretty entertaining as usual . There is plenty of action including car chases , shoot outs , spying etc . . . there is alot of comedy which makes it hallarious and of course there is alot of Lupin . Lupin is what made me fall inlove with anime . He is like a smoother japanese Austin Powers hero kind a guy to me . Very good anime .
    • 062 4  I was asked to describe Lupin once . Here's what I came up with , He's like James Bond , Batman , Jackie Chan , and Indiana Jones , but he's a cat-burglar . I'm a huge fan of the Lupin III series . I'll be the first to admit that the series itself isn't that good and that many of the TV movies aren't that good either . However , the two episodes and the movie which Myazaki directed are hands down some of the best things I have ever seen . With that out of the way , no , this isn't Myazaki's best work . For every other film he does , the characters are his . He creates his characters specifically to fit a role . However with Lupin III , he had to use characters that were already established in the hearts and minds of thousands of viewers . It's amazing how Myazaki manages to take these characters and make them all shine and yet stay true to their original motivations . There's never a point where the viewer thinks , Now that's not something I think Lupin would do . This is something that many of the other directors of the Lupin movies could not achieve . I have seen the Lupin series with a wide range of voice actors , including the Japanese . The cast of this dubbed version of Castle of Cagliostro is the best of the group . They really know how to make the characters shine . The Japanese cast is frightening and unemotional at best , but the English cast of this version certainly makes up for the shortcomings of the Japanese one . Like many of Myazaki's works , and certainly with all of the Lupin III series , you have to bring your imagination along for the ride . Everything will happen , even if you're not quite ready for it . There's car chases , princesses in tall towers , a counterfeiting scheme , instant noodles , and an exploding archbishop . The Castle of Cagliostro is a wonderfully light-hearted film , and the absolute best of the Lupin III series . I would recommend it to anyone .
    • 066 4  This review is from : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Lupin the III ) ( DVD ) The smooth , easy tempo of this off-beat adventure animation is really enjoyable . I learned Japanese by watching this and other Miyazaki films . It is certainly a great improvement over mindless repetition of unrelated syllables . Miyasaki's honorable thief weaves mystery , romance , intrigue in a simple and funny romp through anime . I watched it with a friend , but afterward just had to buy a copy of my own . Great fun .
    • 067 4  The smooth , easy tempo of this off-beat adventure animation is really enjoyable . I learned Japanese by watching this and other Miyazaki films . It is certainly a great improvement over mindless repetition of unrelated syllables . Miyasaki's honorable thief weaves mystery , romance , intrigue in a simple and funny romp through anime . I watched it with a friend , but afterward just had to buy a copy of my own . Great fun .
    • 068 4  I love Lupin 3 . I love everything about it . From the classic mid - 70 ' s music to the bellbottoms . Caslte of Cagliostro is the best Lupin movie ever made , hands down . The subtitled version is great , but some might not like the dub . But I think most people will appreciate the new voices and brand new sound effects . But if I had to choose , it would be the subtitled version . I had to down grade this movie for the poor DVD . There are few extras on it ! Are you telling me the greatest animtors of all time finally gets one of his greatest films put on DVD for the first time and you couldn't find a bunch of extras ! ? Come on . Surely they could have given a breif interview or series summary or atleast a photo gallery . The video and sound quality are good ( even if there is no Dolby 5.1 ) , but all I can say to Manga is that you better hope Miyazaki doesn't see this .
    • 069 4  Thisn film it's comletely fantastic , it has everything of that we go for the movies for , excictment , quality , comedy , and suspense , but the DVD , it's well not so good , i liked the cover , but the back cover it's a disaster , it's full of reviews , and by the way , it's given more credit , to other Manga Entertainment films , ( On the Special Features ) , than to this film , for example suck diasters of films like Tetsuo , Shadow Skill , and all the other film , except for ' Ghost in the Shell , Street Fighter 2 and Sword for Truth , and the worst is the Widescreen format , one black bar it's bigger than the other one , which confuses me of aspect ratio , you rather buy it on VHS , than on DVD .
    • 070 4  Let me ask you this , what's not to like about this movie ! Now note , I have the Manga version of this and I think the actors do a great job ( Zenigata sounds like King Koopa , but still ) . The animation is fluid and very detailed and the action keeps coming with a few well done scenes of character development . Miyazaki-san , keep it coming !
    • 071 4  not only great action and humor , but also a soulful wistfulness for the innocence of youth , embodied by the princess in the high castle . the locations and finale will stay with you ; ingenious and spectacular .
    • 072 4  A copy of the old dub of this movie fell into my hands a few years ago , and quickly became one of my favorite films . The huge mysterious castle with all its secrets , the outrageous physical comedy , and of course the wonderful character of The Wolf himself all make this movie a masterpiece ! I'm delighted to see this movie re-released . I just bought the subtitled edition and I'm very happy with it ! ( I'm keeping my old dub edition too . . . it's got some great jokes in it and the voicing is outstanding , especially Lupin himself ) . However , this new subtitled edition is a MUST-HAVE ! Being so close to the original , it has lots of stuff in it that was changed or skimmed over in the old dub ( like the Princess ' feelings that she had blood on her hands as well because of her ancestor's actions , which adds a lot of depth to her that just wasn't there in the old dub ) . So even if you are familiar with the previous version of this movie , you must also see the sub ! You will love this movie !
    • 073 4  First of All , for any of you who shop for imported subtitled DVDs at conventions [ . . . ] , this was originally called the Castle of Cagliostro ; Funny Money Castle and shows Lupin standing tall with white bandages on his head , with a castle in the background . It was also later released as Lupin the 3rd - The Secret of Mamo . This was a great movie . I love the cool soundtrack and the clothing and how everything in so in style . I also love how Lupin is an escape artist . This is worth every penny . Also , if you like Luypin the 3rd , check out animetoxic.com and search for the excellent prequel film , Episode 0 : First Contact . Other DVDs not released from Pioneer or FUNimation : Episode 0 : First Contact TV Special Return of Pycal TV Special ( The Battle to Return the Treasure ) TV Special Fujiko's Unlucky Days
    • 075 4  We are big Miyazki fans . Lupin III was one of the only ones we don't have . However , the dub was done more for teenage anime fans , than for family watching . In the first 4 minutes you have son of a bi * * * , bast * * * , he * * , and sh * * . We stopped there - I can only assume this carries on throughout the film . We watch Miyazaki films precisely to avoid this type of gratuitous language . Usually the PG / PG - 13 ratings have to do with the violence intrinsic to the moral conflict of the film - which is something you can discuss with children . This language was a pointless addition .
    • 076 4  Many of Miyazaki's latest releases are quite different from this film . While the films , such as Princess Mononoke , are amazing works they are far more serious than this film . The Castle of Cagliostro is a fun and comedic romp that will leave you with a warm feeling inside . The story follows Lupin III , a master thief that is similar to James Bond , in his adventure to break into the castle of Cagliostro . He quickly discovers much more behind the castle than he bargained for . The movie is great if you don't want anything to heavy and are more concerned about a light-hearted and fun film . One of my favorites
    • 077 4  Finding out that this movie is part of a franchise was best discovery for me this week . Castle of Cagliostro is an awesome movie with brilliant characterisation and a crazy , inventive plot . My fave character is Inspector Zenigata , if only live action movies had characters as rich and deep in personality as he and Lupin . But you'll find that most of the time animated characters DO have lots of character , to make them seem more real . Live action characters are already real so developing them isn't something you see often . The architecture of the castle and the geography of Cagliostro is also very cool looking . The castle has dozens of nooks and crannies and even more secret passages . The atmosphere of the landscape in the outdoor shots is always very ambient and calm and really draws you into the movie even more . Lupin III is a great character and I am going to try my hardest to see more of his adventures . So far I can only find the Mystery of Mamo on DVD and it is out of print but hopefully Manga will release the rest . If they do it will be a winning decision . Castle of Cagliostro is also VERY different from most other anime movies . It does not focus on ultra-violence and confusing plots . It was quite refreshing to find a film of this sort that is highly , highly enjoyable , full of ace set pieces and an impossible light-hearted tone . You must buy this movie right now to enjoy the most perfect and exciting adventure you'll ever see or have .
    • 078 4  The first time i saw a film by Miyazaki was when i saw the Heidi anime , then not long ago i saw , Mononoke Hime , and it was wonderful , and this one also is , it's very funny , very exhiting , and sometimes suspenful , it's great , i love it .
    • 079 4  The Castle of Cagliostro is the second animated film for the Lupin III franchise , and is also the first feature film directed by Hayao Miyazaki . When watching this film , you can see that it has Miyazaki's touch to it , especially when it comes to the animation . However , there is a difference in the tone between The Castle of Cagliostro and Miyazaki's later films . This film does have a bit more humor than most of Miyazaki's other films ; however , there is also a little bit of blood shown and there are piles of skeletons depicted in one section of the film . It's an enjoyable film , but it's not meant for very young viewers . Personally , I would recommend The Castle of Cagliostro for anime viewers who are twelve or thirteen years of age and older . When it comes to special features on the DVD , there isn't a whole lot to speak of . The Manga 2000 Fanclub Trailer runs for four minutes , and it's a slideshow of the products Manga Entertainment had available at the time this DVD was released . The Manga 2000 Trailer runs for four minutes , and it's made up of video clips of some of the properties available , which is set to music by the band KMFDM . The DVD Catalog is a menu where the viewer can choose what they want to look at ; the links take the viewer to single page entries for the titles ( in addition to anime , this menu includes some live action properties and properties that are not Japanese in origin ) . The final feature is Weblinks , which is a page that provides web addresses for Manga Entertainment and Sputnik 7 . Even with the lack of special features , I would still recommend this DVD of The Castle of Caglisotro to anyone who is a fan of either the Lupin III franchise or of Hayao Miyazaki . In order to write this review , I checked out a copy of this DVD through the King County Library System .
    • 080 4  This review is from : Lupin the III : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Special Edition ) ( DVD ) Lighthearted fun and a visual feast ! The car chase was especially clever and exciting .
    • 082 4  One of the very first anime TV series to get it's own theatrical spinoff was Lupin The Third ( or Lupin III ) . Although this was the third film of anime's favorite thief ( the second one to be animated ) it is considered to be the best feature ever of him , mostly due to the fact it was directed by Hayao Miyazaki . Lupin and his partner Jigen begin pulling off a daring casino heist , but realize all the bills they stole are counterfiet . So they decide to go to the source of the funny money , an un-named small European country run by the devious Count Cagliostro . When they arrive , Lupin rescues a teenage girl from some hoods , although she goes with them in order to keep him safe . Lupin learn that she is the Princess Clarisse who is betrothed to the Count , although he's only doing it to find an ancient buried royal treasure . So , Lupin plans to get her from the Count's castle , by calling in Goemon , and then sneaking into the castle disguised as Zenigata who's arrived with his own Interpol squad . Once there , Lupin is sent down into the castle's dungeon , along eventually with Zenigata , although they both escape , but Lupin ends up getting shot . Thinking that Lupin is dead , Cagliostro goes on with his wedding , but Lupin & Co . ( along with Fujiko ) crash the party . Lupin and Cagliostro have a swashbuckling duel , which leads to the reveal that the lost treasure which is actually a sunken Roman city . Lupin then heads for the hills with the Zenigata Force in hot pursuit . Cagliostro has been viewed by many as a true anime icon . This was in fact Miyazaki's very first animated movie that he worked on prior to him forming Studio Ghibli . It has exceptionally detailed animation , plus some wonderfully original action sequences , such as elaborate fight in the clocktower , and the best non-Speed Racer car chase of the 70s . There have been two releases of this movie in America . The first was in the 90s on dubbed VHS by Streamline Pictures , and the other was on DVD a few years ago from Manga Entertainment . I'd personally say that the Streamline dub had better casting and dialogue , but the Manga version has a Japanese track and better quality . Oh , and you old school arcade kings might recognize some of the footage from this which was used for the laserdisc video game , Cliff Hanger !
    • 083 4  This review is from : Lupin the III : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Special Edition ) ( DVD ) In my opinion the added features are garbage . I dont need to see the movie in black and white stencil . its not a finished product . this is english dubbed so it lost some of original acters speach , and they cut the famous introduction that all of hayao miyazaki movies have . but I like them so much that it realy dosnt matter to me .
    • 084 4  In my opinion the added features are garbage . I dont need to see the movie in black and white stencil . its not a finished product . this is english dubbed so it lost some of original acters speach , and they cut the famous introduction that all of hayao miyazaki movies have . but I like them so much that it realy dosnt matter to me .
    • 085 4  This movie truly is a fantastic adventure . Great characters , eye popping visuals and easily one of the best car chases of all time make The Castle of Cagliostro a classic . If you ever wanted to find out what Lupin the Third is all about ( seriously , there is whole lot of Lupin [ shows , movies , manga ] ) or watch an exciting story this is the perfect movie for you ! One gripe : Instead of the animated opening credits from the theatrical version this special edition shows only stills from it . It's not a big issue but it does cheat one of some extra animation .
    • 087 4  This review is from : Lupin the III : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Special Edition ) ( DVD ) I wasn't going to buy this movie because it was so old I thought the animation and everything else would be outdated , but I got it anyway just to complete my Miyazaki / Ghibli DVD collection . I'm glad I did ! Aside from the music , you wouldn't even know this was released in the 70 ' s ! This movie is great , and downright fun . It's also the most humorous Miyazaki film out there . That whole animation sequence where they're swimming through the aquaducts is amazing . The camera angles were some of the best I've seen .
    • 088 4  I wasn't going to buy this movie because it was so old I thought the animation and everything else would be outdated , but I got it anyway just to complete my Miyazaki / Ghibli DVD collection . I'm glad I did ! Aside from the music , you wouldn't even know this was released in the 70 ' s ! This movie is great , and downright fun . It's also the most humorous Miyazaki film out there . That whole animation sequence where they're swimming through the aquaducts is amazing . The camera angles were some of the best I've seen .
    • 089 4  I've only seen snippets of the TV series and have only ever heard bad things about it , so I was hesitant when deciding to buy this movie . However , the allure of Hayao Miyazaki's name in the credits got me pulling it off the store shelf . And I was certainly not disappointed . After watching it for the first time , the first thing I wanted to do was watch it again . I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen . This movie is certainly of Miyazaki quality and made it easily to the top of my A list . There's few movies I've seen that make being a career thief seem so cool . This film is packed with twists and action , but with plenty of comedy that keeps the movie from getting dark . However , it's certainly not for those with sensitive ears , because there is a good amount of profanity , but I didn't think it took anything away from the movie . Although there is a little death and a lot of guns and explosions , there is a minimal amount of blood and absolutely no gore . This movie can be enjoyed by all action movie-goers , whether or not you are an anime fan
    • 091 4  Absolutely great ! That the animation style is a bit dated is apparent from the start , but don't let that get in the way of enjoying this Miyazaki-directed film filled with non-stop action and hi-jinks . Lupin is quite a loveable character , even if some of the supporting cast are a bit stiff . This was my first Lupin film , and I intend to see rest !
    • 092 4  We enjoyed watching the Castle of Cagiostro with our 3 little boys . It was a little boring in bits . Definitely had an unAmerican tale which we liked - - kind of a Japanese / Austrian / East European tale of spies and princesses . Warning there is violence and macabre in the story . Not just skeletons but gushing blood in parts . Not for everyone's kids . You can really see the beautiful scenery and artwork associated with Hayao Miyazaki's later films . The film really just made me want to watch Spirited Away again .
    • 094 4  The Castle of Cagliostro is the first full length movie featuring Lupin III . Directed by Hayao Miyazaki , who became later on an international superstar ( with movies like Spirited Away , Porco Rosso , My Friend Totoro ) . The Castle of Cagliostro is in the words of Spielberg one of the best action movies of all time . It's catchy , it's intriguing and and it's visually perfect . In the 1970s Hayao Miyazaki directed the first series of TV episodes of Luoin III and also directed a series called ' Conan - the future boy ' - - based on Alexander Key's novel the incredible tide ' . Those who have seen Hayao Miyazaki ' Conan will not fail to recognize that the characters in the Castle of Cagliostro are visually very similar to those in the Conan series . With the exception of spirited away , Castle of Cagliostro is probably Hayao Miyazaki's best movie . As in all the most recent movies by Hayao Miyazaki , the movie makes full use of the four elements ; water , air , fire and earth . Unlike the most recent movies by Miyazaki , Castle of Cagliostro is not pervaded by the magical realism that characterizes spirited away , porco rosso and so on . there is very little magic in the castle of cagliostro . but the movie is permeated by the kindness which pervades all Miyazaki's movies ( and which is th reason why some hard core Lupin III fans were not so happy with this movie ) . but again , the Castel of Cagliostro is a great movie . it's ingenious , it is innovative , it is full of action and it's a lot of fun . one of the best cartoon-movies ever made
    • 095 4  This is a spectacular mix of comedy and James Bond . Beautifully animated and a wonderful collection for anyone familiar with Studio Ghibli or Spirited Away .
    • 096 4  Para los de habla hispana , que sepais que esta es la primera pelicula de Lipin III y tambien es la primera pelicula ( largometraje ) realizado por Miyazaki , antes de su Studio Ghibli ; de hecho fue la unica pelicula que no dirigio dentro de Ghibli , pues su siguiente pelicula fue Nausicaa ( la primera dentro de Ghibli ) . Sobre Cagliostro poco puedo decir que no se sepa ; ya sabeis que Spielberg dijo que era impresionante , sobre todo la secuencia de persecucion de coches . Ademas el film tambien esta en castellano .
    • 097 4  This review is from : Lupin the III : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Special Edition ) ( DVD ) I bought this as a fan of the Lupin the 3rd episodes shown on Adult Swim . It wasn't quite as goofy as the Lupin anime series , but still a lot of fun and interesting . It's got a solid story and an interesting plot - you can see the work of Miyazaki . It's not the deepest of movies or graphically amazing - but it really gets 100% what the point of entertainment is . Fun . And for that , I give it 5 stars .
    • 098 4  I bought this as a fan of the Lupin the 3rd episodes shown on Adult Swim . It wasn't quite as goofy as the Lupin anime series , but still a lot of fun and interesting . It's got a solid story and an interesting plot - you can see the work of Miyazaki . It's not the deepest of movies or graphically amazing - but it really gets 100% what the point of entertainment is . Fun . And for that , I give it 5 stars .
    • 099 4  The sharp images and well-mixed surround sound didn't disapoint my family or friends who have experienced it . Lots of fun extras gave the disc something for everone .
    • 100 4  . . like Repo Man or Six-String Samurai , it's an odd little gem that I still have never become tired of watching . I think it's something to do with the combination of Lupin & Jigen as ruthless chain-smoking ner-do-well master criminals - - who somehow leap right into the middle of a wild romance in an old Europe that Miazaki does an excellent job of capturing ( think early ' 70 ' s James Bond ski lodge sorta vibe ) . Maybe I'm taking more away from this film than Miazaki put into it , but I don't think so - - he's a master , and this is a worthy , if early chapter in his catalog .
    • 101 4  This cult Animation film in 1981 is the debut work for Hayao Miyazaki as a movie director . During 70s Miyazaki often collaborated with Isao Takabata in masterpiece anime works such as Heidi - - the Girl In the Alps ( 1974 ) , one-year weekly run TV animation film based on Johanna Spyri's well known children's story . After collaborating with Takabata's TV animation series of Anne of The Green Gables until the midstage , he became independent from Takabata and went on his own . First one he did was the Lupin The Third series film sure-to-be-hit anime series in Japan . This work I feel is not in concert with other Lupin III works though Miyazaki took up earlier Lupin III episodes around 1973 . And some anime fans might find the influence from FUTURE BOY CONAN ( 1979 ) HEIDI ( 1974 ) , and even Paul Grimault's mastepiece animation film Le Roi et l'oiseau ( The King and the Mockingbird ) . Basic settings are as Miyazaki himself acknowledges came from Le Roi et L'oiseau And some of the beautiful landscape of Italian sides of European Alps reminds me of Heidi . Also Lupin's superhuman mobility reminds me of Conan , the Future Boy . As a fan of Lupin III series I found Lupin a bit too good-natured , and surprised at Lupin's archirival Zenigata a bit too cool . If you are Miyazaki fans you may find this work interesting as you can see how his directing method evolved if you know his pre-Ghibli works so much . Verdict : Enjoyable but not as organized as his later works Rating : 88 out of 100 Recommended : Essential for those who might want to find Miyazaki's pre-Ghibli works .
    • 102 4  This is my third favorite Miyazaki film ( under Spirited Away and Totoro ) and though it is over 23 years old it trumps anthing disney's put out for a looong time ! The charm of Lupin III and the absolutely wonderful pacing / flow of the action catch your attention from the first moment . It doesn't take itself to seriously but by the end every character has a place in your heart ( especially Lupin III ) . In my veiw the animation style is perfect for the light theme and the backgrounds have excellent detale , especially in the castle . As a warning , I would warn parents away from the other Lupin III movies , as they have not been touched by Miyazaki magic ( and turned to gold ; ) There is a little swearing and cigeret smoking in this one as well . . . but the pure fun within makes it perfect for anyone over 6 . An excellent buy for the young and young at heart !
    • 106 4  The Marx Brothers meets Hudson Hawk in this animated adventure that is 20 + years old ! This is a movie I would watch with my children . It's just one of those movies that is just as fun as it is interesting . A lot of the hi-jinks are pure impossibility - but I guess if they could be done that perfectly in real life , then they wouldn't have made the cartoon .
    • 107 4  Probably the best of the Lupin Movies , this is an animated treasure that the whole family can enjoy .
    • 108 4  Lupin III is one of the best animes ever , but this isn't one of the best of Lupin III . Although directed by Miyazaki ( Princess Mononoke , Nausica ) , his direction took too much out of the Lupin III characters . Cagliostro keeps the zany action of Lupin III , but it has little of the ' Lupin ' charm compared to the other Lupin III movies and TV shows . Overall , this is still a good movie , but is more of a ' bangaihen ' or side story type of anime . Overall , this is a good buy and it features an enjoyable story . Manga also pulls of a pretty good dub , although the original dialogue is far better .
    • 111 4  After Spirited Away and Howl's Magic Castle I started buying up all of Hayao Miyazaki's movies and was pleasantly surprised to find this little gem that bears a cover blurb from Steven Spielberg stating that the movie is one of the greatest adventure movies of all time . It was . Frankly , I don't go to movies anymore - - unless perhaps they are by Pixar or receive rave word of mouth . Somehow the folks who make movies these days have by and large decided that the public are a bunch of idiots willing to fork over upwards of twenty bucks to take a date or friend to see their work . Miyazaki's movies , especially Cagliostro , are worthwhile precisely because they respect the viewer . Cagliostro tells a great story with well-drawn characters and perfect plot development . Perhaps the cartoony aspect of the film gets one to lower expectations , but I doubt that . It is , very simply , a caper film ; a thief who is going to outwit another thief and then steal the girl . Common theme but uncommonly well done .
    • 112 4  Omigosh , this is the cutest movie in the history of the world . My friend owns it , and she let me borrow it so i decided to check it out . * since i am the biggest fan of Ghibli * and . . . it just so happens it's my favorite movie ! I was like , oh , gosh i love this movie ! It's got a great story , cool action , lovable characters and it's got this thing to it that you just know it's one of Hayou miyazaki's heart-warming films . It is my faavorite out of all of the films he ever made . It used to be totoro , but i guess i changed . This movie is just so cute ! I could go on forever , but i really don't want to waste all of my time on here ! I'm just saying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . buy it ! You'll love it forever , i just don't know how to express it in words . I cried and cried it's so cute ! You won't be disappointed in the least bit ! I love Lupin ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
    • 113 4  This is the first movie directed by Hayao Miyazaki . Castle of Cagliostro is a really film action adventure film that shows the talents of one of the men that would form Studio Ghibli in the future . I'm giving the DVD 4 stars because a great film like this deservers better than a barebones release .
    • 118 4  When I visited Jafax I bought four DVD's : Ronin warriors vol .1 , Tenchi the movie tenchi muyou in love , Ghost in the shell and of course thte castle of cagliostro . All of which were good ( except Ronin warriors . Don't even bother ) But The Castle Of Cagliostro was definately the best of the pick . The Castle Of Cagliostro is a non-stop action-comedy-thriller . It's about a professional ( and geeky ) theif who accidentally saves a princess . The princess runs away from Lupin . ( the theif dude ) but drops her ring on the way . Lupin uses his detective skills to trace her back to the castle of Cagliostro with the help of the ring . He then finds out she is being forced to marry against her own free will . It's lupins job to save her . Everything about this movie is well done . The animation is actually good despite the cover . The dub is excellent . Perhaps the greatest feature of this DVD . And with every turn lupin takes you'll find yourself keeling over with laughter . You can't beat The castle of Cagliostro .
    • 121 4  This review is from : Lupin the III : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Special Edition ) ( DVD ) I first saw the new Special Edition in a local store and its cover is made to look like Disney's recent Studio Ghibli releases . At first , I thought it may be the Streamline dub version on DVD , but it is merely a re-packaging of the Original Manga release with French and Spanish languages added . And , sadly , still only 2.0 Surround in English . My kids ( all 10 and under ) and I are big fans of Miyazaki's films and this one is no different . However , I made my own edited backup of my Manga DVD and removed over 30 curse words , so we can watch it like all the other Miyazaki films . I guess I'll just keep using mine , since this one brings nothing new to the table . Note : I gave 5 stars for the movie itself , not for the Special Edition release .
    • 122 4  I first saw the new Special Edition in a local store and its cover is made to look like Disney's recent Studio Ghibli releases . At first , I thought it may be the Streamline dub version on DVD , but it is merely a re-packaging of the Original Manga release with French and Spanish languages added . And , sadly , still only 2.0 Surround in English . My kids ( all 10 and under ) and I are big fans of Miyazaki's films and this one is no different . However , I made my own edited backup of my Manga DVD and removed over 30 curse words , so we can watch it like all the other Miyazaki films . I guess I'll just keep using mine , since this one brings nothing new to the table . Note : I gave 5 stars for the movie itself , not for the Special Edition release .
    • 123 4  Wonderful movie , got it for my little brothers who love miyazaki , great addition to their collection of his films
    • 124 4  This is a great movie cause it combines my two favorite things my favorite director and my favorite anime show . This movie ties in great with the anime series . Miyazaki did a great job directing this movie .
    • 126 4  Anyone Remember the game Cliff Hanger that came out in 1983 ? This laserdisk game wasn't as popular as Dragon's Lair but it was one of my all time favorites . that game pretty much was the movie of The Castle of Caagliostro only you could play as Lupin .
    • 128 4  This review is from : Lupin the III : The Castle of Cagliostro ( Special Edition ) ( DVD ) What to do when my 80 - yr . Mother wanted to watch something on TV and there were only old re-runs , series repeats , stale news , sports re-runs , etc . ? I put on DVD player & DVD of Lupin the III , The Castle of Cagliostro . Knowing my mother haden't seen this anime before , knowing she doesn't care for Japanese anime , but she does love James Bond films ( even the new J.B . , ) and mystery programs , I gave it a try . She LOVED it ! She loved the storyline , the plot , the action , the characters , and yes , the animation ! Not once did she say it was a cartoon . Lupin the III is now another one of her favorite heroes ( next to Capt . Jack Sparrow / Johnny Depp , ) and my mother is planning a family party around watching this anime , together , as a group activity . Thank you Mr . Miyazaki for allowing my mother to become an anime fan like I am .
    • 129 4  What to do when my 80 - yr . Mother wanted to watch something on TV and there were only old re-runs , series repeats , stale news , sports re-runs , etc . ? I put on DVD player & DVD of Lupin the III , The Castle of Cagliostro . Knowing my mother haden't seen this anime before , knowing she doesn't care for Japanese anime , but she does love James Bond films ( even the new J.B . , ) and mystery programs , I gave it a try . She LOVED it ! She loved the storyline , the plot , the action , the characters , and yes , the animation ! Not once did she say it was a cartoon . Lupin the III is now another one of her favorite heroes ( next to Capt . Jack Sparrow / Johnny Depp , ) and my mother is planning a family party around watching this anime , together , as a group activity . Thank you Mr . Miyazaki for allowing my mother to become an anime fan like I am .
    • 130 4  but lots of fun . You won't find the great animation of the new Miyazaki movies , in fact , if you're going to be hugely disappointed if you think this is going to be something on the lines of Spirited Away . What you'll find is a lot of old style animation , lots of action , lots of humor , lots of low brow stuff . In fact , I think Spielberg said this was his favorite cartoon . Lupin III is in fact well known in Japan a decade or so ago , at least 300 1 / 2 TV shows , and 5 - 10 movies . You won't understand everything in this movie unless you know something about Lupin III . This is in it's own genre , you'll either love it or hate it . Final note . This movie has more to do with Lupin III than Miyazaki . It's a great Lupin III movie , not a great Miyazaki one , I see nothing of Miyazaki in it .
    • 131 4  This Lupin the 3rd movie which was made in 1979 is great you should go see it . It's fun an adventurious , comedy little romance . Lupin is like James Bond .
    • 133 4  This film has the great animation and intricate story that we expect from Hayao Miyazaki and would be nearly as good a film for kids as his other works except for one thing - the cussing . I was really disappointed by the number of expletives in the dialog and as a result I no longer own it .
    • 135 4  I was dissappointed . This movie has swearing in it . I would not recommend it to anyone who has small children . It's rating is accurate . The movie does have lots of action ( fighting ) and Lupin uses cool gadgets and stunts to get around . If you don't mind the swearing and like action this movie is for you .
    • 137 4  We are a family of four , and buy DVD's for all of us to watch . The two girls , ages 4 and 7 , have loved many Miyazaki films . They often have a young girl as protaganist and they identify with the character . Kiki's Delivery Service , Howl , Castle in the Sky , and Nausicaa may be their favorites . Castle of Cagliostro has more of a prototype feeling . The animation is less detailed , and more common in style . The characters are always in action , and don't stop and have the heartfelt moments that some of the later films have . All in all it seems like what it is : an animated TV show made long . Even his early movies show signs of the greatness that would come later , but I don't think we'll watch it again .
    • 140 4  I bought this DVD because I liked Princess Mononoke so much . However , I found this one to be absolutely boring . There just wasn't enough action in this feature . It felt like I was always waiting for * something * to happen , but it never did .
    • 141 4  Our family has been delighted to view My Neighbor Totoro many times over the years . I purchased this video for my 8 year old son's Christmas stocking and was horrified to hear that the first word spoken was son of a b _ _ _ _ _ . Woman are referred to as broads and these are some of the less offensive utterings during this film . I found it neither entertaining nor suitable for a child 9 , 10 or 12 for that matter . I am not a prude , but this film

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