Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 08/29/2006 Run time: 109 minutes Rating: NrHayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro) achieved his first international hit with this delightful 1979 adventure yarn. Quick-paced, high-spirited, and loaded with wit, Cagliostro is a dandy throwback to the caper pictures of the ’60s. International man of mystery Lupin III stumbles back into the picturesque European duchy of Cagliostro with his faithful and gruff sidekick, Jigen. They will encounter, in no particular order, a runaway bride, a magical ring, an evil count with a dastardly plan, an inspector bent on catching Lupin, perilous rooftop chases, hooded guards with superhuman powers, a well-used dungeon, a counterfeiting scheme, and an ancient mystery promising grand treasure. Lupin deploys an array of Bond-type gadgets, razor-sharp wit, and a surprise up both his sleeves. Despite the hail of bullets, this caper is great fun, never taking itself seriously. Miyazaki’s career illustrates how limiting the term anime can be for these films; there are hardly more than 10 live-action films of this genre as entertaining. Far less mean than Hollywood fare, it nevertheless is for ages 9 and up with language and gunplay. The Lupin character has been featured in other anime films, but never as successfully or with as much fun as in Miyazaki’s film. The new English-language dubbing is excellent to boot. –Doug Thomas
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March 5, 2010
#1
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
March 5, 2010
#2
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.
March 5, 2010
#3
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.
March 5, 2010
#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.
March 5, 2010
#5
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.