Lupin the 3rd - The Secret of Mamo
by Richard Epcar, Soji Yoshikawa
Our Price: $24.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $10.18 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: George C. Cole, Osgood W. Glick, Richard Cansino, Richard Epcar, Robert AxelrodDirector: Richard Epcar, Soji Yoshikawa
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Japanese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0; Japanese (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0
Format: Anamorphic, Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-07-29
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
Movie Reviews of Lupin the 3rd - The Secret of Mamo
Movie Review: Lupin's Big-Screen Debut Is One His Best Outings
Summary: 5 Stars
The earliest Lupin movie many fans remember is the excellent Hayao Miyazaki adventure, "The Castle of Cagliostro."
In that classic film, viewers were introduced to an honorable and altruistic Lupin that deviated greatly from the
one they saw in the manga. It was this film that set the tone for essentially all Lupin films to follow; in
every subsequent entry, while Lupin still kept his ways of thievery and womanizing, he went about his affairs in
a bit more pure-hearted kind of way (two of the best examples of this are "Dead or Alive" and "The Secret of
Twilight Gemini".) But when Lupin was first put onto the big screen back in 1979, the director's aim was to give
audiences a taste of the lecherous, murderous thief they had grown accustomed to in Monkey Punch's original manga.
Enter "The Secret of Mamo".
Fans of "Cagliostro" beware: this is Lupin like you've most likely never seen him portrayed in more recent specials
and movies. This version of the world's greatest thief is an irresponsible buffoon, who chases after women even
if it leads him into a trap that could spell his death, and who hits people in his car without a second a second thought.
It's scary to think this man also houses what could be one of the world's greatest minds. No matter the situation, Lupin
is able to escape from any ordeal imaginable, by using his unique brand of logic coupled with a questionable brand of
strategy. Watching Monkey Punch's most famous creation at his zany, perverted, brilliant best is worth more than the
entry price.
But that's not all you're going to get from this film. Also housed is an excellent plot, one of the best I've ever seen
in a movie in this series. It all starts when a fake Lupin is executed, therefore convincing the whole world that he's
dead. However, rugged investigator Inspector Zenigata, Lupin's longtime rival, knows our hero(?) better than that.
After further investigation, he discovers that Lupin is indeed alive. The chase begins again, but this time, Lupin
is on the run from a foe much more terrifying than a clumsy detective; after becoming ensnared by his eternal foil,
the lascivious Fujiko Mine, he earns the ire of terrifying genius Mamo, who fancies himself to be a god, and has
plenty of power to back up that claim. Instead of hunting a treasure, Lupin chases Fujiko, and gets involved with
happenings that are infinitely beyond him. Will Lupin survive? Is Mamo really a god? Will our hero finally score
with Fujiko? These questions are answered in the most thrilling ways possible.
Every single second of this film is exciting, a trait which is hard to attain even in today's world of hi-tech
Hollywood blockbusters. There is not a single second in which you wish the movie would end, or that you feel
as if it could be moving a little faster. "Mamo" hits it's stride one minute in, and doesn't let up until
the last credit rolls. Gravity-defying chases, beautiful women, and some of the most devious escapes imaginable,
all traits of the venerable series, are presented with the utmost perfection here.
Unlike some later movies in the Lupin series, which are still great but not masterpieces, this film is one of
the few entries that is completely flawless. With mindbending moments that defy belief (watch for the scene where
Lupin wanders into Salvador Dali's "Melting Time" painting), to gut-busting moments of sheer hilarity (pretty much
any scene with Lupin and Fujiko together), this is one of the best Lupin movies I've ever seen, and one of the
greatest anime films I've seen in general. For the three dollars this costs now (excluding shipping, of course),
you would have to be crazy not to watch this excellent film.
Summary of Lupin the 3rd - The Secret of Mamo
The world's most wanted master thief, Lupin the Third is dead! Despite a coroner's report, Inspector Zenigata is skeptical and discovers that Lupin is actually alive and well and stealing! But who had set up Lupin's death and why? Meanwhile, Fujiko is lured by the promise of eternal youth and beauty by the mad scientist know as Mamo. Pursuing Fujiko leads Lupin and his gang to Mamo's hideaway, where they discover the madman's dark secret and a fiendish scheme that threatens the entire planet! Now, it?s up to Lupin to stop the insane Mamo - before he can complete his 10,000 year-old plans of world domination.KEY SALES POINTS: Lupin is one of Japan's biggest pop culture icons, spawning 6 theatrical films, 10 television films and 228 TV episodes. This is the first THEATRICAL FEATURE of Lupin series (theatrically released in 1978) Digitally High Definition Remastered for DVD release.
DVD FEATURES: Bilingual format (new English dialog 5.1 and original Japanese audio with optional English subtitles), interactive animated menus, scene access. Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation DVD extras include Conceptual Art Gallery, Excerpts from the original movie program and promo poster
BONUS - FREE INSIDE: Lupin Magic keychain (while supplies last), Collectible reversible cover, Booklet of Interviews, movie information, character information and more!
Created by manga artist Monkey Punch in 1967, Lupin III is a master thief, the direct descendant of Arsène Lupin. His off-the-wall escapades spoof the adventures of James Bond and similar rakish heroes. The typically baroque plot of "Mamo" requires Lupin and his sidekicks, the super-samurai Goemon and the beatnik Jigan, to steal the ingredients needed for a compound that produces eternal youth. The mastermind behind this scheme is the mad billionaire-industrialist Hayward Lockwood, a.k.a. Mamo. Lupin's clumsy attempts to seduce Mamo's voluptuous red-haired agent, Fujiko, and his successful evasions of the obsessed Inspector Zenigata provide additional comedy. The features and TV programs in the Lupin III series are much cartoonier and slower paced than more recent anime comedy-adventures, although their influence on Ranma 1/2 and other Japanese tongue-in-cheek heroes is clear. The animation is sloppy, Lupin's features change from scene to scene, and his hands frequently look like scribbles. The Mystery of Mamo is too silly to work as an adventure, but not silly enough to work as a farce, at least in this English version. --Charles Solomon
Similar DVD Movies
Lupin the 3rd - Voyage to DangerFunimation; Release date: 2003-05-20; DVD
Best price: $27.66
Price in other shops:
Lupin the 3rd - the Columbus FilesRelease date: 2005-11-29; DVD
Best price: $25.00
Price in other shops:
Lupin the 3rd - Dragon of DoomRelease date: 2003-02-11; DVD
Best price: $15.96
Price in other shops:
Lupin the 3rd - Island of AssassinsRelease date: 2005-04-26; DVD
Best price: $22.95
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - Lupin the 3rd - Crisis in TokyoRelease date: 2005-08-30; DVD
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Lupin the 3rd - Farewell to NostradamusRelease date: 2005-06-28; DVD
Best price: $16.00
Price in other shops:
Lupin the 3rd Episode 0: First ContactWEA DES Moines Video; Release date: 2010-03-30; DVD
Best price: $16.99
Price in other shops:
Lupin the 3rd: the Fuma ConspiracyRelease date: 2007-10-30; DVD
Best price: $10.94
Price in other shops:
Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro (Special Edition)Fox; Release date: 2006-08-29; DVD
Best price: $8.89
Price in other shops:
Lupin The 3rd - Dead Or AliveFunimation; Release date: 2005-02-22; DVD
Best price: $2.45
Price in other shops: