Lupin III: The First (correctly said; "Lupin the third, the first" which sounds kind of weird) features crackling action and a breathless pace, plus gorgeous visuals, for a first (not third) rate evening of movie entertainment which will thrill the whole family. The story combines Dan Brown-style historical mythology with Studio Ghibli verve, and is very fun indeed!

My experience and understanding of the Lupin III franchise was nil as I approached this movie, though my teenager lists Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro as one of their favorite films, so when this stunning Blu-ray presentation landed in my lap, I had to take on the challenge. I'm happy I did!

Lupin III: The First swings into furious action from the get-go, and never really lets up. Per most action movies, which this one most definitely is, an opening caper sets the story up, eventually revealing, and circuitously leading to the fulcrum of the plot. Lupin III, a young master thief with a team of real characters, battles Nazis and rival thieves to recover the Bresson Diary, an mechanical artifact possessing secrets that could aid the resurrection of the Third Reich.

As per my experience, it's not necessary to have any understanding of the Lupin III franchise. Created by Japanese artist Monkey Punch, the Lupin world has been around for decades, and if you're not familiar, this movie just might make you want to dig back into it. If not, you'll undoubtedly be enraptured by the searing, gorgeous visuals, combining super-realistic environments with cartoonish character designs to delirious effect. Lupin himself looks a bit like a monkey crossed with Jim Carrey.

Though characterizations are decidedly retro; there are tons of rash, macho men, and two women, one the ‘love interest' and the other a sexy thief, viewers can still enjoy the rousing storytelling and cinematic excitement, both of which are the equal of today's superhero blockbusters.

Lupin III: The First doesn't break ground as an adventure movie. (Whether it does so as a Lupin movie isn't for me to say.) It feels like a ‘60s throwback, with continental action of high-style and verve, and suffused with macho swagger and light chauvinism. That said, it swings like a pendulum, full of breakneck action and truly stunning ‘3D' CGI animation. If you're a Lupin III fan, or just looking for some state-of-the-art animation, consider this release Recommended.

The DVD

Video:
Lupin III: The First roars at you in Blu-ray form in this pristine 1080p 2.39:1 presentation. Though the character design takes the otherwise hyper-real visuals into uncanny-but-just-weird-valley territory, the presentation on my low-rent 4k set looked spectacular. It's clean, clear, precise, and holds up under speed and in dust, fog or darkness. Colors are rich and incredibly vibrant. It's near reference quality for Blu-ray.

Sound:
Audio options include both the original Japanese audio and the English dubbed version, in 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound. The mix is tight and thunderous when needed, with enveloping 5.1 design, and a great score mixed nicely. The dynamic range is solid, and dialog is well-placed and clear; a great sound experience overall.

Extras:
Shout! Factory delivers this GKids package with a few nice extras for your time, though my co-reviewer was not interested in the nuts-and-bolts bonus materials. Firstly, Optional English, English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are available, as well as Trailers and Promos. But you also get a DVD Copy, plus 52 minutes of Audio Interviews with the English Cast presented in a visually appealing way. A 12-minute CG Model Gallery and an 18-minute Animation Breakdown Featurette will appeal to the art geek in anybody, while 33-minutes of Interviews with the Director and Japanese Cast, plus a brief Yellow Carpet Premier sequence finishes things off.

Final Thoughts:
Lupin III: The First doesn't break ground as an adventure movie. (Whether it does so as a Lupin movie isn't for me to say.) It feels like a ‘60s throwback, with continental action of high-style and verve, and suffused with macho swagger and light chauvinism. That said, it swings like a pendulum, full of breakneck action and truly stunning ‘3D' CGI animation. If you're a Lupin III fan, or just looking for some state-of-the-art animation, consider this release Recommended.

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