Crime caper Lupin the Third steals the show 犯罪映画「ルパン三世」はショーを盗む

LUPIN THE THIRD Movie Review 映画「ルパン三世」批評記事

Lupin the 3rd promotional poster

Put Now You See Me, Quentin Taratino and Guardians of the Galaxy together and what do you get? Lupin the Third, an eclectic and entertaining globe-trotting crime caper that manages to mesh together a romantic subplot, a katana-wielding samurai, superb gun-toting action, humour, craftiness and fistfights a many. Barely a month after its August 30 premiere in Japan, Lupin the Third hits Singapore's shores.

Meisa Kuroki as femme fatale Fujiko Mine

Skin-tight stealth bodysuit check. Guns check.

The movie starts off in nightfall Singapore, with femme fatale Fujiko Mine, clad in skin-tight stealth bodysuit and fellow thiefs Pierre and Jiro pulling off a heist at the fictitious Hougang Museum of Art. Thereafter, the crooks jet off for a clandestine meeting of thief cabal 'The Works' in Hong Kong. After a heated exchange, master thief Michael bolts off with the prized Crimson Heart of Cleopatra with Lupin the Third and friends hot on his heels.

(From left to right) Tadanobu Asano as Koichi Zenigata, Gō Ayano as Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Shun Oguri as Arsène Lupin III, Tetsuji Tamayama as Daisuke Jigen and Meisa Kuroki as Fujiko Mine

Partners in crime

Throughout its 133 minutes running time, the movie is jam-packed with witty humour, crafty thieving tactics, over-the-top action and Shun Oguri's (as Lupin) hopeless attempts to woo Fujiko-chan (as he addresses her endearingly) over. The movie was shot in several Asian countries including Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand, where the majority of its scenes were shot. What makes it stand out from other Japanese movies is the glittery international cast assembled and the filming of scenes in each country's native language, giving it a truly global feel. Those itching to hear the beautiful Meisa Kuroki speak in English and astonishingly, Mandarin will be delighted.

Once again I have cut a worthless object また、つまらぬ物を斬ってしまった

The constantly-vexed Inspector Zenigata

Korean Kim Joon plays computer expert Pierre, F4's Jerry Yan plays the conflicted master thief Michael while veteran Thai actor Nirut Sirijanya plays Thai magnate Pramuk and Thai darling Ratha Phongam plays his impassive assistant, Miss V. In addition, Japanese actor Go Ayano plays Goemon, a skilled samurai who seems to have lost his way from the Rurouni Kenshin movie set, adding much-welcome hilarity in his over-the-top methods of dealing with modern criminals and obstacles. Coming off from Guardians of the Galaxy, Lupin the Third is fairly reminiscent of the fun-filled action and good camaraderie between comrades in the undisputed best movie of the summer.

Meisa Kuroki teaches us how to fight

Meisa Kuroki teaches us how to tease (or deceive?)

The story is fast-moving and decent too, albeit with a few plot holes here and there; it is entertaining enough to keep you hooked for the two-hour ride if you are not too particular about supposedly-Singaporean police officers shouting in Japanese or furious keyboard-bashing equals to hacking. The thieves' crafty tactics are interesting to watch while Inspector Zenigata and Commander Narong's futile pursuits of Lupin and friends are laughter-inducing. Without a doubt, the alluring Meisa Kuroki steals the show by not only teaching us how to fight, but also how to deceive and how to tease while delivering her lines in fluent English, Japanese and Mandarin.

Plotting to infiltrate the Ark of Navarone

Explosions aplenty and Thai mercenaries

Employing many special effects such as transparent smartphones, ricocheting bullets, holographic computer screens, constantly-evolving laser traps and explosions aplenty, the movie gives off a high-tech and futuristic vibe. The cinematography, while starkly different from Hollywood films, is similarly magnificent here, employing many quick close-up shots and several unorthodox camera angles such as the ones used during Fujiko's and Maria's breathtaking bathrobe catfight scene to tell the story effectively. Some scenes are baffling and fail to make an impact though, such as the unusually-shot demise of a certain semi-significant character in the movie.



Music-wise, the scores accompanying the movie, as composed by Aldo Shllaku are appropriate and fitting for the different scenes they have been employed for. The soundtrack has a very old-school Mission Impossible spy and espionage feel to it. After all, aren't thieves as covert in their ways of operating as secret agents are too? TRICK ATTACK the main theme of Lupin the Third, composed by Tomoyasu Hotei, features prominently in the movie too and is used to good effect, making the movie an enjoyable and lively romp.

Hell has officially frozen.

あららららら！？

If you like spies and espionage, watching crafty thieves getting around the law, what happens when a samurai is displaced in a modern metropolis and Meisa Kuroki, then this is the movie for you to catch this weekend. Japanese filmmaking at its best for a modern, international audience. Did I forget to mention that there is a Meisa Kuroki bathing scene too?

Wait, a Meisa Kuroki bathing scene!?

She is too... beautiful

LUPIN THE THIRD ルパン三世
Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Starring Shun Oguri, Meisa Kuroki,Tetsuji Tamayama, Gō Ayano, Tadanobu Asano, Jerry Yan, Kim Joon, Nick Tate, Nirut Sirijanya, Rhatha Phongam and Thanayong Wongtrakul
VERDICT: 4/5 ★

Special Ducati bike and pop-up store in Tokyo, August:
Source: http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2014/08/07/125/

Damn, Meisa Kuroki...why are you so beautiful? ((“o(>ω<)o”) ﾄﾞｷﾄﾞｷ♪
黒木メイサさん、 なぜあなたはとても美しいですか？((“o(>ω<)o”) ﾄﾞｷﾄﾞｷ♪