However, she is. Arsene and his partner steal a mountain of money from the casino, but they are all fake. Then the accomplices go to the Duchy of Cagliostro - a kind of cosplay of Monaco. The Count prints counterfeit money, the currency of various countries. He is also going to marry his distant relative to become the head of the family. But on the heels of Lupin sits the inspector of Interpol, and one of the maids in the castle is not only an embedded agent, but also the former Arsene.
What is called, the sea hedgehog and the hedgehog of the forest met alone in a fairy tale. They both think, what kind of beast is this? I mean, an adventurous action movie isn't what comes to mind when you hear the name "Miyazaki," right? Hayao-dono, although he acted as a screenwriter and director, was, in fact, an employee. I got into someone else's sandbox. It is very noticeable that this is not a separate work, but part of the franchise. Fans of spy and criminal stories, as a rule, do not watch Miyazaki’s work.
It should be noted that for 1979 the drawing is more than decent. I'd even say great. I liked this full-length.
Lupin III: Cagliostro Castle is the first feature film in Hayao Miyazaki's career. The man who determined the direction of creativity in the art of anime. Of course, one can hardly judge this through the work about the famous thief Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, about whom Maurice LeBlanc wrote. But some notes are noticeable from what we are used to seeing in the famous Master! .
As for me, this is how I decided to watch and follow the work of the genius, as I learned how it all began. I’ve even watched Lupin III, where the future Maestro made 15 of 23 episodes of the green jacket. And now it is the turn of a full meter!
Okay. Secure. “Castle Cagliostro” came out at the time when a year as a series of “red jacket” was produced. The Castle itself is chronologically the second released film about the famous "gentleman-robber" who successfully continues the work of his grandfather. And for myself, I have not yet decided whether I will watch all the TV series and still films, or limit myself to the paintings and TV projects of my favorite Japanese creator! . .
This time Lupin and his partner Dzigen go to a fictional mini-country, quickly finding out where the legs of the production of fake bills grow, so inappropriately turned up by them during the robbery of the casino. At the same time, the inspector of Interpol now arrives at Cagliostro Castle Zenigata - Lupin's old "enemy". Lupin himself was already waiting for a secret agent Hoemon. And in the castle already worked out its role Fujiko (and here the emphasis on the word "his"! - we already know this cunning fox!). . . ) .
But in fact, I'm the one who's compressed the information. And from the wrong start. After all, on the approaches to the castle, our two (Lupin and Djigen) witnessed the chase - the young princess Clarissa was pursued by the henchmen Count Cagliostro. (again, this all acquaintance was just ahead!).
And in the castle... It was like the atmosphere of 'Kisha' songs. The essence of the plot leads to the fact that the count must marry the princess/princess (differences of translation), because Clarissa is the legitimate heir to the throne, and only through a legal marriage the count will be able to take over the secret treasures that this Castle conceals. . .
So, we got the values of the ring, which became a certain (and) McGuffin(-us). Their purpose is the role of keys, which should open the mechanism with waterfalls, which, in turn, can not be further spoken!!
All in all, Lupin was involved in this whole mess. And if he is drawn in, it is up to his ears. The picture gives us in addition to the spy thriller (as in the series) some kind of "Indiana Jones", but with a local flavor! Anyway, even though Mater's handwriting was just breaking through here, but still it is somehow perceived in Miyazakovsky. It is warm and cozy in the soul. .
But to call it some of the greatest creations is to shave your soul. Compared to what happened next... Well, excuse me! .
And yet it's a good tape! Sometimes falling into buffoonery (these crazy jumps from acceleration on the roofs and columns of the castle!.), but more and more pleasantly pleasing with traps and dungeons!.. In the end, I saw a bridge to the next project. Isn't that a miracle?!
Excellent viewing experience!!! And good luck!
Due to the particular popularity of Hayao Miyazaki’s later cartoons, Lupin III: Cagliostro Castle may go unnoticed, but in my opinion the picture is definitely worth watching, even despite such a distant 1979 year of release.
I confess that I watched it much later than the same “Ponyo Fish on the Cliff” or “Ghost Away”, but now I can say with confidence that the cartoon is created at the same high level (of course, not in terms of animation, although for those times it is amazing, but in terms of moral message).
The protagonist Lupin III, a charismatic criminal, a bit reminiscent of the manner of James Bond, even before the release of “Castle Cagliostro” appeared in the pages of popular manga and several other cartoons dedicated to him, and this time we are watching his next adventure. First of all, I want to share my impressions of the drawing of the locations themselves.
Miyazaki himself said that when creating this cartoon was inspired by Italian landscapes, and indeed those who have visited Italy at least once will notice the similarity. Cagliostro Castle itself amazes the imagination no less than the frames with nature do. So large to show all these huge towers, terrible dungeon and secret passages, but without confusing the viewer, few would succeed.
Now the heroes. Each of them is interesting in its own way, even if it is the most negative character. Lupin and his team, despite the illegality of the actions, are most sympathetic, and later we understand why – representatives of the law and even governments of different countries seem to us by no means positive, caring only about appearing good in the eyes of others.
The narrative itself is very exciting, but there is no overabundance with the richness of events. Everything is balanced, and at the right moment we are shown the most suitable, whether it is an episode with intrigue, mystery or just a beautiful view. I think fans of other works of Hayao Miyazaki, who have not seen this masterpiece, should definitely devote their time to it. "Castle Cagliostro" isn't too loading, but at the same time is more than just an entertaining story. In addition, it is corny interesting to look at the very first full-length work of the director and analyze how his vision and skills in animation have changed over the years. Moreover, in our time, projects comparable in importance to data are not so often released.
What the Japanese do not care about is the originality of the approach. Everything, absolutely everything, they will take any samples of the culture of Western civilization, decompose into elements, understand in their own way and reassemble into something new. So it was with music, so it was with anime. So it became with Lupin, a franchise of tabloid fiction originally from France.
However, as usual, the Japanese ' went the other way ' and did something completely new and unexpected. Has it gotten better? Debatable. Rather, made even more affordable 'film-fiction' which will be more interesting to children than adults. The franchise itself, alas and ah, hardly pulls on 6 out of 10, and as we know, quantity does not always turn into quality, Hegel was sincerely mistaken in some places.
What specifically distinguishes this part of the franchise from the rest is Miyazaki’s work. As far as I remember (correct me, connoisseurs) it was his debut on the big meter. And as the debut work of an entertaining crime drama, it looks quite itself. Bright? Bright. Do you understand? Got it. A script without holes? By the way, the scenario is quite integral, balanced and not leaky. Entertainment? Entertainment. What else do you need? . .
What you need is music. The music is above all praise. 1979, ' when the synthesizers were big ' and the so-called 'symphonic jazz ' was very popular on soundtracks (again recalls French cinema), the Japanese did not fail and here ' to be inspired ' and to do something of their own. And do it with a bang.
I recommend it to all fans of vintage.
My acquaintance with the work of the maestro, which I postponed for many years, I decidedly began in chronological order, but expecting to see an unremarkable episode of an archaic TV show with cartoon villains and a flat hero, I thought to skip the debut picture, "Castle of Cagliostro". However, something prompted me to watch at least the introduction and I was amazed by the style, humor and, most importantly, the charismatic character.
The plot is simple, reminiscent of the old James Bond films, includes many unique characters, in particular, very unusual for the work of Miazaki. A really caricatured and comic-book, insignificant anti-hero inspector who pursued Lupin would have been more suited to the role of a key antagonist, in my opinion, although there are other films in the franchise. Lady Lupin’s heart is the most charming girl in Hayao’s filmography, but does not have a memorable character, but this is compensated by the main character’s combat girlfriend. And his companion is my favorite character in the film: not chatty and in a hat.
Cagliostro Castle (the castle itself) is an even more significant element of the picture than its secondary characters; courtyards, walls, rooms, dungeons, towers and, of course, the clock with its mechanism create, albeit not invent, a dark-epic atmosphere. Even a pity that the owner of these premises does not correspond to their grandeur.
What I like most about Cagliostro Castle, like Laputa Castle in Heaven, is the balance between entertainment and storytelling. The rest of Miazaki’s work, except for the masterpiece Gone by Ghosts, is often depressing either by the dramatic, fatal to animation, or by the unanticipated simplicity of the idea. In the last act of this tape, the most cheerful, in my opinion, style of narration in action anime is maintained.
I recommend seeing this picture to anyone who has heard of it, because only those who should like it have heard of it.
The cartoon is a modern analogue of the story about Robin Hood. It is interesting to watch, the plot is rapidly developing, the characters are pleasant. The narration is easy and unobtrusive, and the drawing of the anime of the time, I think, is more pleasant to the eye than modern. After watching, there is a feeling of lightness, as from the best comedy-adventure films.
Of the obvious disadvantages, one can note an overly clichéd villain. The Count is a Doctor of Evil. His motives are completely unclear, illogical, his actions are strange. Of course, as it seemed to me, this cartoon is just a joke parody of adventure films, but it was not worth overdoing the stick.
As a result, Miyazaki’s beautiful debut in full-length cartoons. Fun, interesting and beautiful. Perhaps for the criminal genre too kind, but it is Miyazaki.
7 out of 10
Hayao Miyazaki is a talented animator, director and screenwriter. He creates wonderful and exciting cartoons that immediately become masterpieces. This cartoon Miyazaki created back in 1979, and it is amazing, because the cartoon is chic, and its story is interesting, original and well-twisted.
“Lupin III: Cagliostro Castle” is an adventure cartoon that takes us into the story of the famous thief and how he met the beautiful princess who needed help. The brave hero, for whom there are no impossible missions, decides to save her, and we see an incredible and well-thought-out story that will not leave without delight any cartoon lover of the famous Japanese animator.
For 1979, this cartoon is gorgeous, and that's a fact. The cartoon looks on his breath. I can only say one thing: thank you very much, Miyazaki, for another amazing cartoon!
8 out of 10
