Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3480 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-10-17
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 92 minutes

Customer Reviews

Great film, brilliant fun even for non-anime-addicts.
A dashing young thief robs a casino, blowing up police car tyres and sneaking out of windows, and manages (Ocean's Eleven notwithstanding) to escape with the money, only to find it counterfeit. Causing an immediate traffic jam by shovelling it out of his physics-defying car, he decides to track the money down to a little-known European kingdom. That's just the first five minutes of this terrific film, and the fun has hardly begun.

Cagliostro's Castle was my introduction to anime, and it's hard to imagine a better transition-- if this were live-action, it would be world-famous. The hero, Wolf (Lupin in Japanese, I believe), is a likeable rogue with impossible gadgets, a bizarre streak of chivalry and a determined policeman on his tail, and if that doesn't sound like a recipe for great fun I'm not sure what does. Throw in an eternally unruffled swordsman, a matter-of-fact sharpshooter, a refreshingly love-to-hate villain, a sassy lone agent and a beautiful 19-year-old damsel in distress, and you've got this amazing film, which mixes romance and action with comedy and doesn't waste a single minute.

One word of advice: get used to EITHER the subtitled OR the dubbed version, don't try to like both-- they seem to have been based on scripts at different stages of production, and as a consequence don't always match up even at crucial moments. If you speak fluent Japanese, fine.

Not your usual Miyazaki film... but still very good.
The Castle of Cagliostro doesn't really conform to the usual expectations one might have of the great Miyazaki's work, particularly in light of his more personal and celebrated projects like Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro. However, that said, it is worth noting that the film will definitely appeal Miyazaki's die-hard fans who are interested in seeing how their master's unique visual style would develop from this, his first theatrical film, through to the films aforementioned. It is also an important document within the whole world of Manga/Anime, as it represents what some fans consider to be the definitive film adaptation of the long-running and highly celebrated Manga series Lupin III.

Although it is true that the film lacks the flair and the individual charm that Miyazaki would develop throughout his later work for his famed Studio Ghibli, we can certainly see his unique style and his intuitive approach to character developing through the high-risk escapades found here. The Lupin III series focuses on the suave gentleman thief Arsène Lupin (distilled from the character found in Maurice Leblanc's long running series of novels... hence the lineage), who gets himself into all manner of scrapes and adventures whilst trying to readjust the economical balance. The film gets off to a great start with Lupin and his gang making a getaway from a robbery just pulled on the national casino of Monaco. When the gang discover that the haul has left them with a fortune in counterfeit cash, they head for the small European duchy of Cagliostro to lay low and investigate. However, once there, Lupin and his chums inadvertently stumble across a national conspiracy going back hundreds of years, and find themselves having to rescue the beautiful Clarice from the hands of the evil Count de Cagliostro, whilst, in the process, trying to solve the mystery of a hidden treasure dating back to the 15th century!!!

Although the plot outline sounds a little confusing (it might just be my poor description!!), the film itself is a great adventure, with Miyazaki showing early signs of his firm grasp of action (it is often said that a certain Steven Spielberg once called Cagliostro the greatest action movie ever made!!), as well as offering many great moments of piercing high-tension. As always, the director is just as capable of creating great scenes of drama (and even some subtle moments of pathos) as he is at creating the more high-octane moments, whilst always ensuring that the characters are likeable and totally believable in what they do.

The Castle of Cagliostro may seem a little out of place when viewed alongside the director's more iconic films, though that isn't to say that the film is without merit. Here Miyazaki shows his depth as a filmmaker, creating a rousing action adventure with great characters, some broad humour and a handful of memorable moments. It's probably not the best place to start for those new to Miyazaki's work (try Spirited Away or My Neighbour Totoro), but at the same time, it shows his development as a filmmaker, as well as offering a great story, and a more than welcome addition to the Lupin III canon.

one of the best!!!
I 'm Japanese and I grow up with Hayao Miyazaki's work.
I assure this film is the best film of Lupin the third altough Monky Paunch did not like it.
offcourse this is one ob the best of his total works as like "laputa".
It is not like "Kiki" "mononoke-proncess",but,this is his early work and he had best team for making this,Music,Mechanic Design,producer,etc when he made this.
You will find out the essense of fis talent, his tecnich and his story telling.
I think his best work are this film and "Laputa" ,you must see them!