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Lupin III Coming to Hollywood

Secret anime ninja writes "A story in today's Toronto Star says, "Master thief Lupin the Third, a comic book hero in Japan for more than 30 years, will soon make his Hollywood debut." The story goes on to say that it's been optioned by the producer of Minority Report, Schindler's List and Jurassic Park." Lupin III is currently airing on Cartoon Network and several Lupin movies are available on DVD. Castle of Cagliostro, directed by Miyazaki is a great movie.

238 comments

  1. Question by choctawgh · · Score: 2

    for those of us not in the know, anyone wanna step up and fill us in a bit about this?

    1. Re:Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Imagine the A-Team, with incredibly skinny legs, and instead of helping people out, they try to rip people off. Oh, and a hot chick that is a backstabbing bitch, and also the only character with normal looking legs.

    2. Re:Question by skahshah · · Score: 5, Informative

      If you want to know more about the original Arsène Lupin, gentleman-burglar, and the author, Maurice Leblanc: here and there

    3. Re:Question by Thomas+M+Hughes · · Score: 5, Informative
      for those of us not in the know, anyone wanna step up and fill us in a bit about this?
      I'll leave the technical details about the show history out for someone else to fill in, but I can give you a basic rundown of the plot and the characters...

      Lupin the 3rd is basically a story about the exploits of four legendary thieves and an Interpol investigator who's constantly on their trail. They seem to try to rob and rip people off more for the challenge of it then for the actual money (though, they do seem to enjoy the money as well). Central to Lupin's character is that he doesn't seem to be a killer, just an unorthodox thief.

      Lupin (pronounced Loop-ON, I believe) is the grandson of a legendary criminal, and has taken on his legacy of performing impossible crimes under the very nose of authorities many times. His main ability seems to be his quick wit and extreme intelligence when it comes to stealing things. He (as well as the rest of the crew) is a fairly good master of disguise.

      Jigan is a guy who tends to wear a suit and a dark hat, drinks an awful lot, and is a damn good shot with a revolver. He's generally a rather pragmatic figure who tends to just like hanging out with Lupin, because Lupin's an interesting guy.

      Goemon is a legendary swordsman (a kind of stereotypical samurai), who also enjoys just hanging out with Lupin and Jigan. Of all the characters, he is probably the most outlandish, performing rather impossible feats with his sword. However, it would not be difficult to mute this down to reality's level.

      Fujiko (not positive on the spelling of these names by the way) is who Lupin is particularly smitten with. She has rather um...large breasts (sorry, there's really little else to say, since they're kind of central to her character). Of the 4 criminal characters, she is probably the most in it for money. She is probably the best at disgusing herself, and will often backstab multiple people just to get more money for herself. She often attempts to pull one over on the other main characters to enrich herself. Jigan and Goemon aren't too fond of her, but put up with her because of Lupin.

      Zenigata is the Interpol inspector who has gotten pretty good at figuring out where and how Lupin works, but he has some behavioral problems so the local authorities tend to not believe him or comply with him fully when he makes requests. As such, he's usually there to witness Lupin's hijinks, but he never seems to catch him. Also referred to as "Pops."

      That's the basics of it. Its a pretty fun, though simple show.
    4. Re:Question by Hubert_Shrump · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't forget the hair on the back of the hands.

      And that the girl's so top-heavy her head could fit in her torso about 3 times.

      --
      Keep your packets off my GNU/Girlfriend!
    5. Re:Question by M-2 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Just to follow up, the creator of Lupin III, who uses the name 'Monkey Punch', did once note that Fujiko was named after Fujiyama (better known to us foreign devils as Mount Fuji), the largest peak in Japan. Because, well, she had... large peaks herself.

      This has been your totally useless trivia moment.

    6. Re:Question by steveha · · Score: 1

      Good summary. A few more notes:

      "Lupin", being French, is pronounced like "loop Ann", accent on the "Ann".

      Goemon's sword is supposed to be a legendary sword that can cut anything. Some of the humor is seeing him cut a tree in half or something like that. And he's annoyed each time he uses it on an object instead of a person--which is all the time since it's not a violent show. "Once again, I cut a worthless object."

      You got it right: "Fujiko" is the correct way to spell her name in Roman letters. She cares more about money than Lupin does, a lot.

      steveha

      --
      lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
    7. Re:Question by mbourgon · · Score: 1

      Imagine the A-Team, with incredibly skinny legs

      The idea of Mr. T with skinny legs is making me laugh.

      --
      "Sometimes a woman is a kind of religion, she can save your soul & set you free from all your sins" - Bad Examples
    8. Re:Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Personally, I'd rather watch paint dry, but...

    9. Re:Question by amuro98 · · Score: 1

      Back in college, my roommate and I would come back from long study sessions saying "Once again, I have learned a useless fact..." after seeing Goemon in action.

    10. Re:Question by jafac · · Score: 1

      My first thought is;
      Toshiro Mifune as Goemon.
      (maybe 15 years ago. . . :(...

      My impression from watching several episodes on Cartoon Network is that Lupin isn't really a thief, per-se, rather, he tends to prefer foiling other criminals' plans by either stealing from them, or pre-emptively stealing something that the other criminal was going to steal - and later the valuable object or money ends up getting returned or destroyed anyway.
      (seems the insurance companies are the big losers here).

      One other observation -
      Castle Cagliostro was an awesome movie - and Steven Speilberg is quoted back in the 80's as claiming it to be the greatest action-adventure movie of all-time. I don't think he's too far off.

      --

      These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
    11. Re:Question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Personally, I'd Rather watch paint dry... On naked ladies!

    12. Re:Question by meta.chris · · Score: 1

      In honor of Mardi Gras,
      I agree with this post.

  2. Anime fans by gazoombo · · Score: 1

    What im wondering is how much money they'll be able to make off the crazed American anime fans. Are there more than i think?

    --
    John Hancock
    1. Re:Anime fans by Hott+of+the+World · · Score: 1

      When your this smooth, everythings free.

      --
      | - | - |
    2. Re:Anime fans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, with a LITTLE bit of luck, We'll remember other Japan-to-Holywood conversions, and be just a BIT sceptical.

    3. Re:Anime fans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When I was in college, I studied my ass off foolishly thinking I'd not burn out or I'd get somewhere, instead of chasing and presumably getting tail. During that time of studying, I wondered why some friends always hung out on Friday evening watching adultish cartoons, which I refused to do lab work or study or whatever.

      Those days past, I bought a TV and got cable. Outside of Farscape, anime is the only thing that seems to hold my interest.

      iow, personally, I like it but realize it's not for everyone. What's taken me by surprise is how interested I've been. I started with Ghost in the Shell. Then Akira. Then Cowboy Bebop. I buy box sets when I can. I keep an eye on the TV schedule. I thought about getting and setting up a sat dish when DB GT was on international channel (although DBZ isn't really all that great--fun, but not great).

      This is from a person that never understands serious fan craze/fandom, or pop culture, or those that have to have every CD of musician, etc....generally I've never really taken entertainment or my enterainment seriously, and this anime stuff sorta just bit me. I find it original, rather well done most of the time, and with some compelling characters and storylines. Even the violence seems to "make sense" somehow; maybe it's the expectation or the genre.

      Anyways, I really still don't take entertainment that seriously and am not a rabid fan, but I just enjoy the stuff enough that I'm willing to buy a DVD set instead of a new hard drive, or try to see or get a DVD of a new anime series I may never heard of simply because it's on an Amazon anime list or has gotten mention or a good review.

      And, while the anime folks may not be huge in number or agree on everything, they usually are sanely dedicated and social with disposable incomes. They will not only go to see a movie but will have their friends come along too, of which some of them, the bug will bite.

  3. Castle of Cagliostro is great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Castle of Cagliostro is an excellent anime movie, with lots of humor and action.

    Recommended!

    As for life-action: we'll see it when we see it... I doubt Hollywood can do it, the character of Lupin the 3rd doesn't seem to fit any of their stereotypes.

    1. Re:Castle of Cagliostro is great! by Mogomra · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There was an old rumor floating around that said Steven Spielberg really liked Castle of Cagliostro. I don't know if that was ever confirmed, but it's interesting that someone who produced three Spielberg movies optioned Lupin.

      I really have a hard time visualizing who could pull off the character, though. Jim Carrey is the first one that comes to mind, but do we even want something like this?

    2. Re:Castle of Cagliostro is great! by Robotech_Master · · Score: 1

      And after you watch Cagliostro, I suggest you download and listen to the commentary. :)

      --
      Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
    3. Re:Castle of Cagliostro is great! by amuro98 · · Score: 1

      Jim Carrey would make a better Zenigata - as long as his comic hijinks are kept in tight check.

      As Lupin himself...I dunno. Lupin is a mixture of James Bond and a hopeless letch (like Ataru Moroboshi from Urusei Yatsura.)

      I can't see Jim Carrey playing Lupin because he just can't carry "Smooth" and "Suave" off without overdoing it.

    4. Re:Castle of Cagliostro is great! by PinkStainlessTail · · Score: 1

      There actually a Spielberg quote on the DVD case if memory serves (at work, can't check).

      --
      "Slashdot is about legos and staplers." -Cmdr. Taco
    5. Re:Castle of Cagliostro is great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unfortunately, anyone that could do justice to Lupin III is probably out of the budget range of the filmmakers.. Damn them!

  4. Cartoon Network by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OK, the Lupin the Third cartoon series looks like it is from the 80s or maybe even late 70s, but the dialog often refers to modern day pop culture stuff. Is this just a case of excessive liberties taken in dubbing?

    1. Re:Cartoon Network by aronc · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It is indeed from the 70s, or most of it is anyway. Many, many changes were made by the dubbers. This would be acceptable perhaps if the actual dub was good, but alas it is not. I'm a huge Lupin fan but I couldn't make it through more than about 15 seconds of the CN version.

      --

      jello.
      aka aron.
    2. Re:Cartoon Network by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      If they just translated it word for word, it'd probably make little sense and virtually none of the jokes would survive.

      Puns and wordplay and snappy dialogue doesn't translate.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    3. Re:Cartoon Network by argmanah · · Score: 4, Insightful
      It is indeed from the 70s, or most of it is anyway. Many, many changes were made by the dubbers. This would be acceptable perhaps if the actual dub was good, but alas it is not. I'm a huge Lupin fan but I couldn't make it through more than about 15 seconds of the CN version.
      Agreed. For better or worse, we have a habit of Americanizing anything that comes over here. Watching anime transform from original Japanese to American television is often a scary process. You sometimes wonder if the editors understood why the anime had appeal in the first place. Good seiyuus (voice actors), interesting storyline, mature issues... many of these things often disappear when the American producers get ahold of it.

      Then you watch something like Cowboy Bebop and you regain some faith in the system.

      Bringing it over dubbed and edited can still be good, but only if the company doing it is competent.
      --
      Overrated Moderation: This posts sucks... because.
    4. Re:Cartoon Network by amuro98 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The original dialog was full of Japanese cultural references, not to mention puns galore. Sure, hardcore fans like myself wouldn't mind those left in...but that's not the audience CN is aimming for by putting the show on the air.

      While not faithful to the original dialog, the English dub is pretty faithful to the original intent, tone, and to the characters themselves.

      Yeah, I know the dialog's been peppered with cultural references that didn't exist when the show was originally created, but the jokes *work*, and sometimes being able to laugh in the right places is more important than a literal translation.

      Besides, the DVDs are in stores now, and contain both the original Japanese language with subtitles, as well as the English dub as heard on CN.

    5. Re:Cartoon Network by bani · · Score: 1

      sure the jokes would survive. a lot (most?) of the jokes in lupin are of western origin or reference. a lot of it is slapstick, which doesn't require translation at all.

      besides that, it's not like japanese is some language of space aliens from alpha centauri. plenty of japanese jokes come across just fine with word-for-word literal translations.

    6. Re:Cartoon Network by aronc · · Score: 1

      It's not so much the cultural stuff I mind (although it wouldn't kill someone to learn a little bit of someone elses culture) so much as the truly horrid voice acting. Made me want to put out me ears.

      --

      jello.
      aka aron.
  5. Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore... by Requiem · · Score: 1

    Bloody lupins!

    1. Re:Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore... by trikberg · · Score: 1

      For those who don't get it: Monty Python
      I was going to post it myself, but Requiem beat me to it.

      --
      This post is free (as in cheese in a mousetrap).
    2. Re:Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore... by Un+pobre+guey · · Score: 1

      dum dum dum de dum...

    3. Re:Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore... by ryanvanderzanden · · Score: 1

      yes, I too was beaten to this one:

      Moore: Stand and deliver.
      All: Dennis Moore!
      Moore: The same. And now my lords, my ladies ... your lupins, please.


      -r-

  6. animated or live-action? by mr.henry · · Score: 0

    The article doesn't say. Hollywood likes to turn comics, etc. into movies with live action stars.

    1. Re:animated or live-action? by GigsVT · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think they would have trouble finding people with legs that skinny.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    2. Re:animated or live-action? by katarac · · Score: 1

      And shoes that big. And eyes that big. Man, I hope it's animated.

    3. Re:animated or live-action? by gilesjuk · · Score: 1

      I'm just waiting for Disney to buy it and call it Disney's Lupin. Cus like yeh dood we created it :)

  7. Funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    First american movie based on a japanese anime based on a french book (arsene lupin).
    Will a french adaptation be made after that?

    1. Re:Funny by nightsweat · · Score: 1
      I wish they'd translate those Arsene Lupin books to English. I read the one translated one I've ever seen and it was a hoot.

      --

      the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
    2. Re:Funny by nightsweat · · Score: 1
      A-ha! A friend just showed me they have released some of the books in paper.

      Search your favorite bookseller for Maurice LeBlanc (the author) if you want to read the inspiration for this series.

      --

      the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
    3. Re:Funny by Oneeyejack · · Score: 1

      There was a TV show called "Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Cambrioleur" in France in the seventies.
      [link in French]http://www.topkool.com/series_tv/arsenelupi n.htm

    4. Re:Funny by Robotech_Master · · Score: 3, Informative

      You can actually find quite a few of the Arsene Lupin novels and stories--including a couple that I donated to be scanned for Gutenberg (though they haven't made it to Gutenberg yet for some reason)--at BlackMask.com. Just search on Maurice Leblanc. They're very good.

      --
      Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
    5. Re:Funny by nightsweat · · Score: 1

      Were the translations from before 1923? Even if the work is before the magic copyright date, the translation may still be protected.

      --

      the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
    6. Re:Funny by Robotech_Master · · Score: 1

      Yes, they were--and Gutenberg said so, too. These are the original printing hardbounds. My guess is that they're still undergoing distributed proofing or something.

      At any rate, they're right there on BlackMask. Read 'em. Especially the one by Leblanc & Jepson, the novel of the play that was made into the Barrymore movie. It's one of the best.

      --
      Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
    7. Re:Funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A t l a n t i s

  8. Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by gpinzone · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    CLIFF HANGER!

    1. Re:Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Heh! Best laserdisc game ever!

    2. Re:Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who the fuck modded this offtopic?! CLIFF HANGER was a laserdisc game based on Lupin! Crack-smoking mods!

    3. Re:Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by SScorpio · · Score: 1

      Calm down.. I agree this is on topic; however, you can't expect everyone to know that Cliff Hanger was a laser disk game that used footage from the Lupin III movie Castle of Cagliostro.

    4. Re:Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      alt.binaries.emulator.arcade to get the mpeg's

      Google for Daphne emulator! :)

      I have been playing Dragons Lair, Space Ace, Cliff Hanger and alot of other LD games.

    5. Re:Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by amuro98 · · Score: 1

      Why is this offtopic?

      The footage from Cliff Hanger is actually from the movie "Lupin III: Cagliostro Castle" available now at your local video hut.

    6. Re:Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by mink · · Score: 1

      It also used footage from 2 other films.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
    7. Re:Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And it's dead scene was taken from "Lupin III: Lipin VS Clone".

    8. Re:Screw that, I wanna see a remake of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's already done.

  9. Swell... by LeoDV · · Score: 1

    The artist leaving artistic control in the hands of a Hollywood producter? Boy, I can't wait! ...Am I the only one who smells disaster?

    1. Re:Swell... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hollywood can make some good soft-porn. They probably won't take away too much from the movie. At worst, they'll probably just require that the female characters look a little older considering how squeamish most Americans are about pedophilia.

  10. Re:Homo Tuesday by doublem · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Yes. I'm sure the Hollywood version will

    --
    "Live Free or Die." Don't like it? Then keep out of the USA
  11. Lupin ? Hollywood ? by koh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It is often hard to derive Japanese art and not lose that something that made the movie enjoyable.

    I hope Hollywood does a better job with Lupin than with The Ring... I don't have much hope, touch, since Lupin is 1) animation and 2) based on humor.

    Maybe it will be better than scooby-doo...

    --
    Karma cannot be described by words alone.
    1. Re:Lupin ? Hollywood ? by Thomas+M+Hughes · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Lupin III is interesting because it really doesn't need to be a cartoon. Meaning, the effects taken aren't that outlandish (ala, Scooby Doo, or Dragonball Z). In fact, Lupin III could have been a very interesting live action piece from the very beginning as far as I can tell. The main reason to go animated over live action is that you can afford a lot more animated explosions and flying planes and exotic places internationally with drawings and ink then you could with a real set.

      I think the comparison with 007 is really valid in this case. Whenever I watch Lupin III, it feels really similar to watching 007, if he had a set of good friends he hung out with, and he was a master gentleman thief.

      Having said all that, I won't be seeing this movie, as interesting as it might be. A tight budget means entertainment tends to get cut first.

    2. Re:Lupin ? Hollywood ? by devnull17 · · Score: 1

      Pfft. The American version of The Ring was creepier, more coherent, and much more aesthetically pleasing than the Japanese counterpart.

    3. Re:Lupin ? Hollywood ? by mandrake*rpgdx · · Score: 1

      if you call creepy "silly gross out contests". I mean come on, all it was was trying to gross out the veiwer, the dead horse, the fingernail cracking, etc.... the original had a creepy atmosphere. It was creepy in an alfred hitchcock sense. And I don't udnerstand the more coherent part...her being "born evil" is coherent? Or the scene where the fly is pulled from the screen? I don't see coherency.

    4. Re:Lupin ? Hollywood ? by devnull17 · · Score: 1

      OK, the fly was completely incoherent, but the plot flowed much more smoothly in the American version--I forget specifics, but I remember seeing each and thinking, "oh, they added that part to explain x."

      As for grossing out the audience, I thought that for a Hollywood horror movie, The Ring was more than tasteful. The strongest asset of the story was a strong feeling of dread that would nest itself in the pit of your stomach, and both versions of the film used that effectively. But seriously, watch the American one and then watch the original. Ringu just looks... cheesy by comparison.

    5. Re:Lupin ? Hollywood ? by mandrake*rpgdx · · Score: 1

      I disagree...I thought the original had a much more hitchcock sense to the directing...while the US one was very much modern hollywood horror. I dunno i perfer the less is more style...

    6. Re:Lupin ? Hollywood ? by katarac · · Score: 1

      Tightest...Budget...Ever.

      "Hey man, you wanna go see this movie in 3 years when it's done?"

      "I don't think so. I gotta save up for that glasses 'script I'll be renewing around then. Those lenses ain't cheap."

      I wish I had your disipline.

    7. Re:Lupin ? Hollywood ? by devnull17 · · Score: 1

      I could shit in a box and it would be better than Scooby-Doo.

  12. However... by rde · · Score: 5, Funny

    However, it's being renamed Lupin to accommodate the foolish americans who haven't seen Lupins I or II

    1. Re:However... by Occam's+Hammer · · Score: 1

      Actually, I believe that they will still call it "Lupin III". It's much easier to make a profit by producing a sequel.

      --
      (sig on loan to Smithsonian)
    2. Re:However... by GothChip · · Score: 3, Informative

      Not based on an urban legend but actually based on truth.

      The movie is based on a play by Alan Bennett called "The Madness of George III". The popular story in the UK is that the movie's title is different from that of the play because it was thought the American audience might mistake it for a sequel. While not wholly true, director Nicholas Hytner has confirmed that it was "not wholly untrue" and it is now widely held that this almost certainly did play a part in the titling of the film. In the UK it would be obvious to anyone that "George III" referred to King George III, but it was felt that elsewhere this might not be so clear and that adding "King" to the title might help. While this explains part of the title change, it glosses over the dropping of the "III", adding renewed weight to the original theory.

  13. Distribution Deal by CleverNickName · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have it on good authority that this will be distributed by Dennis Moore.

    1. Re:Distribution Deal by ericdano · · Score: 2, Funny

      And you're starring in it right? ;-)

      --
      It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
      I moderate therefore I rule!
      --
    2. Re:Distribution Deal by DarkRabbit · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Galloping through the sward
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      And his horse concorde
      He steals from the rich
      And gives to the poor
      Mr Moore, Mr Moore, Mr Moore

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Riding through the night
      Soon every lupin in the land
      Will be in his mighty hand
      He steals them from the rich
      And gives them to the poor
      Mr Moore, Mr Moore, Mr Moore

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Dum dum dum the night
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Dum de dum dum plight
      He steals dum dum dum
      And dum dum dum dee
      Dennis dum, Dennis dee dum dum dum

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Riding through the woods
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      With his bag of things
      He gives to the poor
      And takes from the rich
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Riding through the land
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Without a merry band
      He steals from the poor
      And gives to the rich
      Stupid Bitch.

      Apologies to Monty ...

    3. Re:Distribution Deal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let's see, you've got a tiara, you've got a tiara, you've got a tiara, you've got one in a box.

    4. Re:Distribution Deal by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Blimey, this redistribution of literature is trickier than I thought."

      KFG

    5. Re:Distribution Deal by Bob+McCown · · Score: 0, Redundant
      I have it on good authority that this will be distributed by Dennis Moore.

      obPython:

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Galloping through the sward
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      And his horse concorde
      He steals from the rich
      And gives to the poor
      Mr Moore, Mr Moore, Mr Moore

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Riding through the night
      Soon every lupin in the land
      Will be in his mighty hand
      He steals them from the rich
      And gives them to the poor
      Mr Moore, Mr Moore, Mr Moore

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Dum dum dum the night
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Dum de dum dum plight
      He steals dum dum dum
      And dum dum dum dee
      Dennis dum, Dennis dee dum dum dum

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Riding through the woods
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      With his bag of goods
      He gives to the poor
      And takes from the rich
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore

      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Riding through the land
      Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
      Without a merry band
      He steals from the poor
      And gives to the rich
      Stupid Bitch.

    6. Re:Distribution Deal by TClevenger · · Score: 1
      Actually, a good commentary on Hollywood anyway, yes?

      "He steals from the poor, and gives to the rich. Stupid bitch."

  14. so funny! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is great news! He was so funny when he went "turtle turtle" that it will make a great movie!

  15. But will it be lost in the translation? by Wino · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    When the producers port it from anime to movie, they will need to work hard to keep the essence of truly good anime... 1. 15-minute-long, psychic S&M duels. 3. Recycle the same footage over and over, should save production costs for live actors too! 2. Use YOUNGER actors to play OLDER characters. 3. Use the latest CGI special effects to enlarge the actors' eyes at least 30%. 4. Random fictional product endorsements. I guess real product endorsements will do. 5. T&A

    1. Re:But will it be lost in the translation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1,2,3,3,4,5?

      apart from that, you are absolutely correct. I cant believe anyone over the age of five gets off on that shit

    2. Re:But will it be lost in the translation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      3. Use the latest CGI special effects to enlarge the actors' eyes at least 30%

      Actually, I believe the writers are pushing for 40%

  16. Lupin by stratjakt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've been watching the cartoons on cartoon network. I get the sense that it was probably really funny in its original japanese, but it's all lost in the translation, and whats left is sort of a lukewarm and lame attempt at humor.

    Humor just doesnt translate like action does.

    The premise is solid enough to make a good movie. Just so long as some good writers write a good script in english, and dont try to translate some old scripts.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    1. Re:Lupin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      From what I can tell (haven't seen much on CN), most of the translations seem like a rush job, with parts that just "don't fit."

      One episode that aired a few weeks ago, Lupin made a reference to "Who Wants To Be A Millionare." However, the episode seemed quite dated, making me believe that it was something the English VA director decided to add in, as opposed to something that was in the original Japanese script.

      Besides, just because something is popular doesn't mean its good. Just look at Dragonball Z. =P

    2. Re:Lupin by Rand+Race · · Score: 1
      Oh come on! When Lupin's buddy, the guy with the beard, said "Like Kansas said, we're all just dust in the wind" I almost wet myself.

      I don't know if they meant for that to be funny though.

      --
      Insanity is the last line of defence for the master diplomat. But you have to lay the groundwork early.
    3. Re:Lupin by Chocolate+Teapot · · Score: 1

      What you say?

      --
      Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise. - William Shakespeare
    4. Re:Lupin by amuro98 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, the cartoon originally aired in Japan in the late 60s/early 70s... This is why the animation seems so "dated."

      Even as newer Lupin comics, movies and TV shows were produced, the artist kept the same style.

    5. Re:Lupin by Fishstick · · Score: 1

      But that's ok. What is distracting is the apparent "updating" of the dialog (dub) by peppering it with references like this.

      --

      There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
      Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.

    6. Re:Lupin by fenix+down · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but would you rather have it peppered with references to 60s Japanese soaps?

    7. Re:Lupin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, if they did something like ADV's "Vid-Notes" on the Excel Saga DVD.

      Keep all of the original humor, AND make some context for it, without completely destroying the dialogue so it'll sound even dumbER 20 years from NOW. What an idea! =P

    8. Re:Lupin by amuro98 · · Score: 1

      You've seen how many pop-ups there can be during Excel Saga, yes?

      Can you imagine trying to air something like that on Cartoon Network? In some cases, there are so many pop-up notes, they totally obscure the screen (and the subtitles!)

      Besides, do you REALLY think a joke about Japanese culture from 30-40 years ago, fully explained in a pop-up, is going to be funny?

      What about Japanese languge specific puns? Unless you know Japanese, you're not going to get the joke anyways.

      Furthermore, this would require the show to be shown in Japanese, with subtitles - something most Americans are NOT comfortable with.

      Yes, I know many anime fans prefer subtitles, literal translations, and cultural notes - but you have to understand that that group is in the *MINORITY* compared to the audience at large.

  17. Why Lupin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I personally don't like Lupin at all. Too cheesy, but to each their own. I can think of more popular and bigger name anime to make a movie about then this, not that they should either. Anime should stay anime. Why ruin a good thing. We have all seen how Hollywood gets a hold of comics or other things and totally trashes the original story and uses actors/actresses that don't even come close it the writer's or fan's idea of the character or story. Lupin is not my cup of tea but just leave it as anime.

  18. I hope it doesn't suck =( by offpath3 · · Score: 1

    Man, I just can't but help thinking "sellout" when I read that article. Kato says he'll leave artistic control to the film professionals. Ouch. I don't like the way hollywood does anime. =(

    1. Re:I hope it doesn't suck =( by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I don't like the way hollywood does anime."

      Name one example. To the best of my knowledge, Hollwood has yet to "do" anime, despite the fact that a number of projects (Akira anyone?) are currently pending.

      People will be pissed off regardless, but in the right hands, this might not be too bad.

    2. Re:I hope it doesn't suck =( by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Man, I just can't but help thinking "sellout" when I read that article. Kato says he'll leave artistic control to the film professionals

      Yeah, know what you mean. Guy's probably got a wife, kids, mortgage, bills to pay... DAMN HIM! Damn him to HELL!!

      Seriously, if it helps, imagine him as the Linux-loving, MS-Bashing SysAdmin forced to run NT because of his job in the Fortune 500.

      ...or can only artists "sell out?"

    3. Re:I hope it doesn't suck =( by offpath3 · · Score: 1
      Name one example. To the best of my knowledge, Hollwood has yet to "do" anime, despite the fact that a number of projects (Akira anyone?) are currently pending.

      Call me a purist, but I have yet to hear a dubbing that I like, and that includes Miyazaki's works. And frankly, I'd kill myself if I had to watch Dragonball in something other than the native Japanese. I guess when I said hollywood, I meant American producers in general. Thus things like Transformers (a very obvious bite of popular Japanese series like Gundam, Macross, etc) count.

    4. Re:I hope it doesn't suck =( by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      G-Saviour (based on GUNDAM series...supposed to be...)

    5. Re:I hope it doesn't suck =( by mink · · Score: 1

      Street Fighter, Fist of the North Star. Hollywood has no clue what it's doing.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
  19. Hurray for Hollywood by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Lupin and his gang will save some Jews from the Nazis and steal some fertilized dinosaur embryos, but are finally captured when Zenigata uses some prescient bald freaks who live in a quantum hot tub to finally get their man.

  20. Lupin Moive by E-Rock-23 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Thanks to Cartoon Network, I've been able to finally see the Lupin III TV series. Despite it's dated nature and the modernization of the dub script (tons of modern refferences), I find the show enjoyable, and watch it damn near religiously.

    But a live action Lupin movie? And from Hollywood, no less? Has anyone here seen G-Savior?

    I think that, because it's Lupin, I'll hold on to a little hope that the fruitcakes in Hollywood won't mangle it, but I'm afraid that my hope is misplaced. They might try a live action "Cogliostro," which wouldn't be bad, but would probably insult the greatness that is Haiyo Miazaki (just like I'll bet they'll snub him at the Oscars).

    Another sad option is that they'll try to turn this whole thing into another "Hudson Hawk." They could try to turn it into an action flick (almost making Jigen and Goemon the stars as opposed to Lupin), but then they'd offer the part to not-so-awesome "action stars" like Vin "I Look Good Standing Next To Hot Cars" Diesel or Duane "The Rock" Johnson.

    If Hollywood were smart, they'd drop the idea entirely. But they're not smart, they're money hungry, so they'll jump all over it and turn it into overproduced fluff. Still, I have hope that somehow, someway, by some wild twist of fate, Hollywood can overcome it's current stigma and actually make a good flick based on an excellent Anime...

    --
    Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
  21. Na, Dragon's Lair was the best by BoomerSooner · · Score: 1

    However, Cliff Hanger was a very close second. Space Ace was a tad bizzare.

    I wonder where you can find those old games to buy.?. hmmm.....

    1. Re:Na, Dragon's Lair was the best by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      eBay

      or you can just keep your eyes open. I had a chance to pick up a working Time Warp (D Lair 2) for 200 bucks. I didnt because the cab was in shitty shape.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  22. Better Than Disney by VGMSupreme · · Score: 1

    Hollywood getting a crack at a Anime Movie. It is better than selling the rights to Disney. Honestly, if it is animated, they are probably going to either

    1) Port over one of the movies and dub it all to crap, probably casting either Hollywood's bigshots, or some no-name actors/actresses.

    2) Redo the entire thing in American Animation, screwing around with all of the character's backstory and personality until they have no relation to their Anime counterparts, AND probably casting either Hollywood's bigshots, or some no-name actors/actresses.

    I do wish Hollywood the best of luck with creating Lupin. I do plan on seeing it when it comes out and hope for the best. But, judging from how they are doing American Comics and Games in the Movie Genre, I do not think the Import "Lupin the III" would be as great as most anime fans want it to be.

    Oh, and before I forget, one of the Lupin Movies is own by Miyazaki (sp?). If he owns it, than Disney definally has it (Seeing as had they brought all of the rights to all of Miyazaki anime movies), which means that Disney might try something to get in on this Lupin Movie Action. Scary thought to see Hollywood and Disney duke it out over some Anime 007. Eh, what can you do?

    --
    The Galatic Freedom Force marches on! Defend!
    1. Re:Better Than Disney by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Technically Fox still has the rights to Totoro until 2004. =P

      And Disney is apparently doing right with Kiki's Delivery Service, Castle In The Sky, and Spirited Away, with nice DVDs coming in a few months.

      Of course, the much-deserved Oscar for Spirited Away could reinforce that as well.

      Now if only Disney would start taking care of other Asian films in their hands (Hero, Shaolin Soccer, etc.) like they've STARTED to with the animated ones...

    2. Re:Better Than Disney by tenton · · Score: 1

      The Miyazaki directed film was Castle of Cagliostro and is not part of the Studio Ghibli/Disney deal (primarily because Studio Ghibli didn't exist when it was made and doesn't have the rights to that movie). It's already released in R1 DVD by Manga Entertainment.

      Disney does not have all the rights to Miyazaki's films. Go here (nausicaa.net) for which films were included in the deal.

    3. Re:Better Than Disney by amuro98 · · Score: 1

      Technically, Disney has the rights to Studio Ghibli's works.

      When Miyazaki did Lupin III: Cagliostro Castle, Studio Ghibli didn't exist. As far as I know, this movie still belongs to Toho - the studio that distributed the film in Japan.

      Were I Toho, I wouldn't be so eager to let Hollywood to do remakes of my films - especially after seeing what they did to Godzilla.

    4. Re:Better Than Disney by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      2) Redo the entire thing in American Animation,

      Or maybe it will be a merged drawing style like Totally SpiesO_O.

  23. CliffHanger by CommieLib · · Score: 3, Informative

    Lupin III was also used to make the classic 80's videodisc game, Cliff Hanger.

    --
    If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.
    1. Re:CliffHanger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Doesn't everyone have to read Animal Farm in school? I know that I did.

    2. Re:CliffHanger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But Animal Farm isn't really as "Orwellian" as 1984. It's an indictment of communism, but not a chilling glimpse into the future of socialism that 1984 was.

      Big Brother, though crimes, newspeak, etc are all concepts from 1984.

      So read that. Or watch the movie, it's got some tits in it and isnt all that long.

    3. Re:CliffHanger by cpt+kangarooski · · Score: 1

      It could very well be a chilling glimpse into the future when animals conquer the Earth, and then one another. That's pretty scary. And the sequel, "Vegetable Farm" is even worse, because vegetables outnumber us by a huge margin.

      --
      -- This and all my posts are in the public domain. I am a lawyer. I am not your lawyer, and this is not legal advice.
    4. Re:CliffHanger by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Waaaaag! Sorry, I used to work for an arcade game company back then, and if I hear the attract cycle for that game one more time, I'll get .. disgruntled .. at somebody. (I think that was one of the ones that they used home laser players in. They died like flies -- except no one ever stuck web servers up their bums.)

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    5. Re:CliffHanger by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Holy cow! They've got ours! (Definitely not based on an anime. :^)

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    6. Re:CliffHanger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Retarded fuckwit.

    7. Re:CliffHanger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't that movie featured Silvester Stallone? What does that have to do with Lupin the 3rd?

  24. Monkey Punch = Kazuhiko Kato? by Thag · · Score: 1

    That's news to me, I always heard him referred to by his penname.

    Jon Acheson

    --
    All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
  25. Hudson Hawk was bad? by Glytch · · Score: 2, Funny

    Am I the only human being alive who actually likes Hudson Hawk?

    1. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by E-Rock-23 · · Score: 1

      Nah, I liked HH too. Just used it to draw the "Theif Pic" comparison.

      --
      Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
    2. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by Your_Mom · · Score: 1

      No, me and one of my roomies stop everything we're doing and watch it every time it's on.

      --
      Objects in the blog are closer then they ap
    3. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by DarkRabbit · · Score: 1

      I have it on DVD and have the soundtrack on casette ... so, no, you aren't the only one.

      How could you hate a movie with villains named after candy bars?

    4. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by Hubert_Shrump · · Score: 1

      If you don't like the Hudson Hawk, you may turn out to be a rock.

      If I knew how, I'd make my phone ring like the handcuff beep.

      --
      Keep your packets off my GNU/Girlfriend!
    5. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by Space_Nerd · · Score: 0

      You're not alone my friend... i really digged that movie too. It has some hilarious scenes like this ones:

      Hawk: Gates tries to blackmail me, you ask me 'did I miss anything?'. Gates gets killed and you say 'did I miss anything?'. I bet you went up to Mrs. Lincoln at Ford Theater and ask 'How was the show? Did I miss anything?'

      [Hawk saves Andie from a pillar]
      Anna: That was bold of you. You didn't have to do that.
      Hawk: It was nothing. Anyone would have done the same thing.
      Anna: No, I mean you didn't have to tackle me and rip my dress.

      [Hawk is being dragged behind an ambulance]
      Girl in passing car: Hey mister, are you going to die?

      MY NAME IS KIT KAT. THIS IS NOT A DREAM.

      Hawk: Don't I know you?
      George: The last time you saw me I was bald, with a beard and no moustache. And a different nose. So if you don't recognize me, I won't be offended.
      Hawk: My high school spanish teacher?

      George: My employer wants to see you.
      Hawk: The President?
      George: No. Someone powerful.

      Darwin: What can I tell you - I'm the villan!
      Hawk: I guess we see who wears the penis in this family.

      Enough for today kids, you can always google for more fun!

      --
      Everybody has a purpose in life, maybe mine is to lurk in slashdot.
    6. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I liked HH, but I have to post anon. so my reputation will not suffer.......

    7. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by mbourgon · · Score: 1

      Another vote for someone who loves it and even owns the DVD, whose commentary explains a lot. The narrator, for one - they deliberately went after the narrator from the Rocky & Bullwinkle movies, to give the audience some idea of the humor to come.

      (although, I suspect, all the people who like it just spoke up on this thread)

      "Hey mister, are you going to die?"
      "Exact change? Exact change?!!"
      (and don't forget that the music played by the handcuffs is the same as the president's phone in the Flint movies)

      --
      "Sometimes a woman is a kind of religion, she can save your soul & set you free from all your sins" - Bad Examples
    8. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by Cranst0n · · Score: 1

      I thought Hudson Hawk was a blast also. Just watching Hudson and Five tone sing to keep track of time was worth it.

      --
      Just realise the reality of the situation..... There is no reality.
    9. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by Zagadka · · Score: 1

      Nope

    10. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by Remus+Shepherd · · Score: 1

      Put me down as another person who loved Hudson Hawk and who owns the DVD.

      "Bunny! Ball ball!"

      --
      Genocide Man -- Life is funny. Death is funnier. Mass murder can be hilarious.
    11. Re:Hudson Hawk was bad? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      According to rumor, "Hudson Hawk" WAS an American-made Lupin the Third movie, that went through some major changes and obviously, a drop of the Lupin license. You can definitely see where many of the elements would have come in.
      That rumor has yet to be confirmed though.
      Tried renting it after reading this rumor....wasn't especially to my taste.

      -Reed Nelson
      http://www.LupintheThird.net

  26. Official website by Apreche · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you've never heard of lupin before head to www.lupinofficial.com to catch a glimpse. It's the official website pioneer set up to advertise the tv/dvd showings of the original lupin tv series on CN. You should be able to watch it Monday through Thursday nights at midnight + 1/2 on cartoon network. Before it starting rerunning episodes (because it takes awhile to dub new ones) me and my friends watched it religiously. We also watch every movie we can get our hands on. Lupin is absolutely hilarious. A great party anime.

    And I quote

    Ahhhh, the old exploding bear trap on the ass trick!

    --
    The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
    1. Re:Official website by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "A great party anime"

      Hey guys, help me pass out flyers for my ANIME PARTY!!

    2. Re:Official website by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ANIME PARTY = old and busted.

      FARK PARTY = the new hotness.

  27. Waiting for the comic book by tekrat · · Score: 1

    D'oh, talk about Pop eating itself. Because you known that after the movie comes out, some idiot will option the comic rights to the movie. And then we'll have the comic book of the movie of the anime of the Manga (comic book).

    Didn't "Road to Perdition" have a comic come out, based on the movie, which was based on the comic book?

    Check out http://www.anime.com, scoll down to the bottom, click on Feb2003, and the first pick will be Lupin for all those who want to get the DVDs.

    --
    If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
  28. Castle of Cagliostro by astrashe · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I know this is heresey, but I don't think that The Castle of Cagliostro stands up with Miyazaki's best work. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it, but his best stuff seems to be suffused with a kind of human warmth, a real fondness for and understanding of people, that doesn't come through in Cagliostro. It's not that Cagliostro is a bad movie -- it's not -- it just doesn't seem to have the force of some of the others.

    For me the definitive Miyazaki scene is in Tonari no Totoro, when they're at the bus stop, and Totoro shows up. That moment when they're standing there in the rain, and she loans him her umbrella. There's so much that's good in that moment -- wonder, kindness, etc. -- and it all fits together perfectly.

    1. Re:Castle of Cagliostro by Mononoke · · Score: 3, Interesting
      I know this is heresey, but I don't think that The Castle of Cagliostro stands up with Miyazaki's best work.
      I agree with you here. You can tell that this was a Miyazaki episode of Lupin, but that he may not have put as much of his heart into it as he would have one of his original stories.
      For me the definitive Miyazaki scene is in Tonari no Totoro, when they're at the bus stop, and Totoro shows up. That moment when they're standing there in the rain, and she loans him her umbrella. There's so much that's good in that moment -- wonder, kindness, etc. -- and it all fits together perfectly.
      For me the definitive Miyazaki scene is in Nausicaa when she is first given Teto. Teto bit into Nausicaa's finger out of fear and she remained calm, calming Teto in the process and proving to Teto that she could be trusted absolutely.

      --
      NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
    2. Re:Castle of Cagliostro by S.Lemmon · · Score: 1

      Keep in mind this was before Miyazaki had studio Ghibli and was such a big name. As director working on someone else's already well-known creation, he was probably limited in what story elements he could bring to it. Not the best of Miyazaki perhaps, but still it's probably the best of all the Lupin movies.

    3. Re:Castle of Cagliostro by Robotech_Master · · Score: 1

      The irony is, Monkey Punch was reportedly rather upset with the changes to his characters wrought by Miyazaki in the TV series and particularly Cagliostro. Miyazaki's Lupin is substantially more heroic, warm, and caring than Monkey Punch would have liked.

      --
      Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
    4. Re:Castle of Cagliostro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are those warm fuzzy movies really his best? It is really trite, I think, to try to explain his movies or their best qualities in three or four words, even if they are warmth, humanity, etc.

      Frankly, I like the variety of human experience and fun that his movies show, taken as a corpus. Future boy Conan is the Tarzan to Cagliostro's 007. Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service are VERY light and childlike with kid appeal, while Mononoke and Nausicaa have strong, and dark, messages and portent.

      No. I think Miyazaki's real value is not going to win many Academy Awards, though he could, and I don't want to see him wind up running a big machine like Spielberg and Lucas... He really is the great storyteller of modern Japan, sort of a Stephen King. I hope that he keeps finding GOOD STORIES and puts them on the screen. If all the stories are warm and human, he will wind up like Disney since... oh.. the 70s.

    5. Re:Castle of Cagliostro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...sort of a Stephen King.

      You mean he's dead?!?

    6. Re:Castle of Cagliostro by S.Lemmon · · Score: 1

      Heh, yeah the original Lupin was more of a ass was't he. ;-) Maybe truly unsympathetic characters are the one thing Miyazaki can't do all that well. Even his villains usually wind up having some redeeming qualities.

  29. Ringu by mandrake*rpgdx · · Score: 1

    I really loved the Japense version...the american remake seemd like it was trying to hard too "gross out" the audiance.

    I'm not really looking foreward to a live action Lupin 3 movie, since I'm a huge fan of the manga....and live action just doesn't seem to fit.

  30. Live action Lupin? Bleah. by MsGeek · · Score: 1

    I'd rather see a live-action Cowboy Bebop.

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
    1. Re:Live action Lupin? Bleah. by Politburo · · Score: 1

      I'd rather it all stayed in the animated realm, myself. Moving from one medium to another always brings up unneccessary comparisons about which is better, more true to the story, blah blah blah. Instead of trying to make a buck off of what they've already got I wish they would spend the time coming up with new ideas.

    2. Re:Live action Lupin? Bleah. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would have to agree. But who to cast?

    3. Re:Live action Lupin? Bleah. by slouie · · Score: 1

      Too late. It came out in 1974 as live action. Hide the polyester, it was scary bad.... Bad enough where I couldn't actually watch one laserdisk worth... I think there was a plot, but I couldn't get that far...

      Rupan Sansei: Nenriki Chin Sakusen
      Lupin III: Strange Psycho-kinetic Strategy
      Theatrical release: 1974 (Toei)
      Japanese title: Nenriki Chin Sakusen
      Comments: This is the live-action version of Lupin III. The actor portraying Lupin wears a white suit and has an "L" tattoo on his chest. The rest of the Lupin cast is in it except for Goemon. Zenigata does not have his trademark hat and works with two assistants.

      --

      "I may be Love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it."
  31. Let us not forget... by bzcpcfj · · Score: 2, Interesting

    John and Lionel Barrymore, in 1932, starred in Arsene Lupin (with John as Lupin and Lionel as the plodding detective).

    Obviously, this version was based directly on the original French work. Not a samurai in sight.

    --
    ---Any philosophy that can be put "in a nutshell" belongs there.---
    1. Re:Let us not forget... by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      I'd heard that the characters from the Pink Panther series were based on Arsene Lupin, but from the bumbling detectives (Cluseau) point of view.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    2. Re:Let us not forget... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The original Arsene Lupin was actually a series of detective stories (or really, thief stories). They seemed to be fairly popular back in the (19th? early 20th?) century, although apparently more obscure than Sherlock Holmes to the American audience.

      I had one in a small anthology of unusual detective stories somebody got me once. The author (Google turns up Maurice Leblanc--as well as the fact that there's apparently also a set of French graphical novels) was quite famous for them. A French Arthur Conan Doyle, if you will.

      When I first heard about Lupin in Japan (not a big anime fan in general, so I haven't seen it), I immediately noticed similarities, although I don't know if the anime is directly related (although I'd be pretty surprised it was just a coincidence). :)

    3. Re:Let us not forget... by mink · · Score: 1

      Hench the character being named Lupin III.
      He is supposed to be the great grandson of the the character in the French books.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
  32. Castle fairly sucks by mdxi · · Score: 1
    Castle of Cagliostro, directed by Miyazaki is a great movie.

    No, actually it's pretty damned mediocre, both for Miyazaki and Lupin. Of course, it's hard to keep it fresh with 20-something movies and over 100 TV episodes, all with the SAME plot and jokes.

    Still, for my money, In Memory of Walther P-38 is a far better example of Lupin done right.

    --
    Posted with Mozilla
  33. Lupin II casting game, anyone? by Thag · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Lupin - I 've got no good ideas. Based on looks, maybe David Schwimmer? (note: he can do way more than Ross from Friends)
    Jigen - Edward Norton
    Goemon - Hopefully someone Japanese. Or at least Asian. Who was the guy they used for the first Onimusha game? Or maybe Robin Shou?
    Fujiko - With a name like Fujiko, you'd have to go with an Asian, though the character looks caucasian... I hate to say change the name...
    Zenigata - Fortysomething, Japanese? I really don't know many Japanese live action stars. Sonny Chiba?

    What do you think?

    Jon Acheson

    --
    All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
    1. Re:Lupin II casting game, anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Zenigata - Beat Takeshi
      He rocks!

    2. Re:Lupin II casting game, anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      David Schwimmer doesn't have the emotional energy to play Lupin, I think. He'd be perfect if they had a part for a chronic whiner though.

      Cant see Ed Norton as Jigen, you'd need someone a bit hoarser, rougher around the edges.

      The guy they used for Onimusha is dead now I believe. Used to be in old samurai movies though.

      Fujiko - yeah, looks caucasian, probably will change the name and end up casting Jennifer Garner or something.

      Zenigata - well, he's supposed to be Interpol, so he doesn't *have* to be Japanese. Maybe that guy from Speed....whatshisname. He looks crazy enough. Might be a touch too old though.

    3. Re:Lupin II casting game, anyone? by Maserati · · Score: 1

      No, cast Jennifer Garner as Fujiko, and then keep the name. The Japanese have been putting Japanese names on Caucasian faces (modulo hair color, which varies wildly) for so long it's time Hollywood acknowledged it.

      As for Jigen, go for Christian Slater or, in the rapper-turned-action-star trend, and I'm-gonna-hate-myself-for-saying-this cast Eminem in the role.

      I'd rather have Slater personally, but apallingly enough, Eminem just might work in the role. My "only" concern is he's a bit young for the role. Maybe MikeD ? On seocnd thought, definitely a Beastie Boy. (this is either +1 Insightful, +1 Funny, or -1 Wrong).

      Zenigata ? Christopher Frantz, let him have FUN with a role for once.

      I have no idea who could play Lupin himself.

      --
      Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
    4. Re:Lupin II casting game, anyone? by Robotech_Master · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Some people have suggested Jim Carrey for the role of Lupin III. I think he'd be a very good choice, if he didn't go too far over the top.

      --
      Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
    5. Re:Lupin II casting game, anyone? by amuro98 · · Score: 1

      Fujiko's name is a bit of a Japanese pun, to refer to her....large tracts of land.

      Yes, that's right, Fujiko is the Lupin equivelant of a Bond Girl.

    6. Re:Lupin II casting game, anyone? by fenix+down · · Score: 1

      I think Johnny Depp would be great for Lupin. Don't ask me why, but I bet he could pull it off.

    7. Re:Lupin II casting game, anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just as long as Lupin is not played by Jim Carrey....

      As for Goemon... Why not Chow Yun Fat? CTHD proved he can do some stunning things with a sword.

      You could even get Col. O'Neal from SG1 to play Jigen. Maybe a bit old, but he's good enough in SG1.

      AC

    8. Re:Lupin II casting game, anyone? by Thag · · Score: 1

      OK, that WOULD rock!

      Jon Acheson

      --
      All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
  34. Obligatory Haiku by Chocolate+Teapot · · Score: 3, Funny

    "That's not a lupin!"
    (whips a plant from back of belt)
    "This is a lupin!"

    --
    Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise. - William Shakespeare
    1. Re:Obligatory Haiku by josh+crawley · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      -- Hi! I'm a shareware signature. If you use me send $5. Send $10 for the manual.

      The crack for that shareware signatue is :

      l33t name: tHe sLaShDoT crEw
      serial numbaz: 3C5H1-J00RX-412AZ-B4URN-F5CKA

    2. Re:Obligatory Haiku by saviorsloth · · Score: 1

      hehe wow, a pun and a movie reference, all within a haiku. you should get some sort of triple crown thing :)

  35. Why is it... by Mossfoot · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...that everytime Hollywood uses a much loved idea from other source I get this cold shiver down my spine? ;) Seriously, wouldn't you be worried if Disney decided to do their own version of Spirited Away or Princess Moanoke instead of just getting distribution rights?

    Hmmm.. didn't they do that with The Lion King? I'm pretty sure I've seen a series of a similar theme out here that predates the movie... could be wrong though... I may live in Japan, but I still can't read Japanese ;)

    --
    Fuzzy Knights: New RPG Strips Tuesday and Friday!:
    http://www.fuzzyknights.com
  36. I wonder about the name... by newsdee · · Score: 2, Informative

    Outside Japan, they had to distribute the Lupin III anime with an alternate name, Cliff or Wolf (the latter being closer to the original as lupus means wolf in latin).

    Anyway story-wise the guy is supposed to be the grandson of Arsene Lupin, hence the number. However, the actual grandson of the original French writer has sued companies airing it for usurping the name, which was settled by changing the character's name.

    So, I wonder what kind of deal they have to release a "Lupin III" movie.

    Before anybody starts whining that copyrights are bad, just remember that they're going to turn Lupin III into a commercial trademark (it already is in Japan), so it's like Hollywood making millions by distributing "Linux: the movie" and trademarking the name... ;-)

    1. Re:I wonder about the name... by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      They distributed it to Cartoon Network where it airs as Lupin III. So I'd imagine they've overcome that little hurdle.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    2. Re:I wonder about the name... by tenton · · Score: 1

      The issue over the name is gone. It's no longer an issue (the name is in the public domain in the US).

      For details, you can go here (lupinthethird.org).

  37. Ah, so you're one for the "Everybody but the main cast must DIIIEEE!" style. ;)

    Personally, I had the most fun with "To Hell With Nostradamus!", despite the token cute kids.

    I still want to see "The $1 Money War", though.

    --
    --
  38. It's been revived once in Japan already ... by BillsPetMonkey · · Score: 1

    Why can't Hollywood leave Japanese filmakers alone! Are we being punished for the lack of talent in Hollywood enough with 'The Ring' remake and the adaptation of Battle Royale?

    --
    "It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax
    1. Re:It's been revived once in Japan already ... by Matarick · · Score: 1

      Since when is Battle Royale being adapted? I loved that movie and wonder what are the adapters going to censor from the origional concept?

      I just hope the adaptation keeps the origional message of how oppressive the school system can be.

  39. Options are options, not guarantees by ianscot · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Having something optioned isn't a guarantee it'll get made, ever. Options are... well, they're options. The studio or producer pays for the rights to make a movie, and then they check things out to see if it'll work. Lots of options expire and get re-sold elsewhere, with no movie ever made.

    The Patrick O'Brian series I love -- "Master and Commander," due this Nov, is the source of endless hope and fear among fans -- took forever, with O'Brian getting option money for years and years with no film in the works. O'Brian died before anyone went ahead on a movie.

    My former brother-in-law has had the option on a book of his sold, he collected somewhere shy of a million dollars on the rights, and the book's option has bounced around between producers for a long while now. Clint Eastwood supposedly liked it at first. No signs of a movie being made.

    There are no guarantees. (And as far as it going on "as long as the 007 series," take things a step at a time.)

    --
    "Fundamentalism" isn't about divine morality. It's about human authority.
  40. Actor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does anyone else think that they should sign Bruce Campbell to protray Lupin? I think he would fit the role.

  41. So doomed... by realinvalidname · · Score: 2, Insightful
    At this point, part of the charm of Lupin is the familiarity of the cast and the hi-jinks. The TV movies they crank out every year are designed to give each of the cast members an opportunity to do the things they do best, or to do a little twist on viewers' expectations (the "it's a cop, no wait it's Lupin, no wait it's Zenigata, no that was Lupin" gag from Castle of Cagliostro gets reversed again in the opening to Harimao's Treasure). Is "The $1 Cash War" better than "To Hell with Nostradamus"? Doesn't matter. They're both aimed dead-center at the comfort zone.

    Of course, a one-shot movie wouldn't have that effect -- it'd be like trying to do a "Friends" movie (or, for that matter, like doing a big-budget Zatoichi revival). And can we trust Hollywood to capture what makes these characters appealing in the first place? I'm betting not.

  42. Hmmm.... Important casting question... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The big geeky sexist question is... Will Fujiko be properly cast in terms of proportions? (Fujiko is canonically very busty in the Lupin III mythos)

  43. Lupin games by CptnHarlock · · Score: 1

    Although I watch a lot of Anime and have been doing so for many years (my first one being Space Firebird 2772 back in 1980) I first came to know of Lupin III through this pretty cool and unusal game called Punch the Monkey. It's a non-violent game based on your skill to press the various PS buttons to the rythm of remixes of the original Lupin III music and animated flicks. For even more Lupin III games check this out.

    Cheers!..

    --
    $HOME is where the .*shrc is
    -- silver_p
  44. No originality. No imagination. by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 1
    Sheesh. Here is yet another french character/story rip-off. Can't anybody imagine better things than the (already good) stuff that exists??? Helllooo???

    Or are Hollywood producers so deep-stuck in the ruts of their brains that they won't risk unknown new things???

    And those assholes pretend to tell us what to do with OUR computers!!!

  45. Not Just for Anime Fans by m1a1 · · Score: 1

    For those of you thinking this movie will only draw anime fans, I am pretty sure you are wrong. I am nota fan of most anime, but I have watched this show on cartoon network several times, and it seems like the kind of thing that would translate really well into a cinematic format.

    The story revolves around adventures of a thief (Lupin) and some travelling companions. The episodes I saw had a lot of people with guns, jokes about sex, and camels. It is a devestating combination.

  46. More like Rupan III by yerricde · · Score: 3, Informative

    In some countries, the maker of Lupin III can't publish under the title Lupin III because of trademark problems. In those countries, he becomes "The Wolf" (literal translation of "Lupin") or "Rupan III" (transliteration of kana).

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  47. Lupin III by Daimaou · · Score: 1

    I really enjoy Lupin III. I think the puns and humor are funnier in Japanese, but the dubbed versions they are playing on Cartoon Network are not really that bad.

    Whoever has done the translations has attempted to translate the same feel of the show into English; which is very hard to do since Japanese jokes, when translated, usually make absolutely no sense. Sometimes the English jokes are too corney; but at least they tried. I hope the movie remains true to the original (which it won't). Hollywood always has to bung things up for some reason.

    Lupin III was derived from the character Arsene Lupin by author Maurice Leblanc. Lupin, the cartoon, being the grandson of Lupin the book. Most of these books are now out of print, but can sometimes be found at used book stores and libraries. About five years ago, Amazon.com offered a collector's version of some of them, which I bought, but I just checked and, of course, they are no longer available.

    Anyway, these books were fun to read as well, though not as humorous as the Japanese animation, and Arsene Lupin doesn't have cool sidekicks like Goemon and Jigen. I just thought I'd mention it in case anyone was interested.

    One more interesting bit of trivia. There was a legendary theif in Japan, back in the Edo jidai I think, named Goemon. He got away with all sorts of crimes. I'm sure that is who Goemon of Lupin III was derived from. Unfortunately for the real Goemon, he was caught and the officials of the time boiled him to death in a large pot of water; sort of like they did in the beginning of the book Shogun by James Clavell. Ouch!

    Sorry about the rambling.

  48. News? Nerds? by gray+peter · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Honestly, not a troll, but who cares? Is there really nothing more interesting going on today than news about a cartoon? How is this geeky or tech-oriented? Does this character write cobol or something?

    --
    May no camel spit in your yogurt soup.
    1. Re:News? Nerds? by Txiasaeia · · Score: 1

      Nerds --> Technology
      Technology --> Japan
      Japan --> Anime

      It's pretty simple, actually.

      --
      Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
    2. Re:News? Nerds? by gray+peter · · Score: 1
      And all this time I thought

      Japan-->Sushi...

      My Bad I guess :-)

      --
      May no camel spit in your yogurt soup.
  49. Great thing about Lupin by Peterus7 · · Score: 1

    He was the first steriotypical anime 'american.' Nabeshin (excel-saga) and Spike (Cowboy Bebop) and others are just copies off of his casual afro weilding style.

    1. Re:Great thing about Lupin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course except for the fact that Lupin is French....Not to mention Spike ;)

    2. Re:Great thing about Lupin by Peterus7 · · Score: 1

      Haha, to them, it's 'European/American/White" prolly. Except japanese are caucasian in a lot of anime...

  50. Some minor corrections. by Alkaiser · · Score: 4, Informative

    Lupin (pronounced Loo-PAN/PON. The syllablization cuts after the "lu" and depending on who's pronouncing it, it'll sound like Lu-PON or Lu-PAN. If you watch the dubbed anime in the US, they often refer to him as Ru-pan but that's not quite right.) is pretty much like described above, but in addition, will never take the same punch twice. This is why in certain cases you'll see him absorb a tremendous amount of damage...he's studying the foe's moves for the next time they meet.

    Also, Lupin will be smitten by whichever single female the writers put in the plot for that day. He's not really obsessed with Fujiko...she just happens to be in range more often than other women. Lupin has his heart swiped as often as he swipes stuff.

    Jigen Daisuke is Lupin's main sidekick. Looks exactly like Abe Lincoln, and is vicious with his gun...as long as he has his hat.

    Goemon has a love/hate relationship with Lupin and Jigen. Sometime it seems like the group is begrudging friends, other times it seems like Goemon's only there to get paid. His katana cuts through anything. (In the intro to the PS2 game, he cuts a suspension bridge in half.)

    Fujiko is a female character from Lupin's past who hangs around his present to get her share of the loot. It's implied that they had something going on before the comic started but it's never really revealed if this is only in Lupin's mind, or if Fujiko actually agrees upon this. She's a tease and uses her...ample skills to fulfill her role and is basically in it for the money, though if it comes down to it, she'll begrudgingly choose saving the guys over getting away with the loot.

    Zenigata is an inspector that runs around trying to catch Lupin. If he does, it's never for more than a couple minutes, kinda like the A-Team. Zenigata will declare various little truces with Lupin, especially in the movies, because he sees that Lupin's trying to stop a greater evil. (usually for money/the girl.) This allows for Zenigata to look like he's still doing work, instead of just chasing Lupin all the time.

    Castle of Cagliostro is the Lupin film most fans will recommend you watch. It's good stuff. I also enjoyed "The Legend of Harimao's Treasure" and "The Fuma Conspiracy".

    --
    Netjak.com independent reviews of domestic & import video ga
    1. Re:Some minor corrections. by BJH · · Score: 1

      Slight correction: GOemon's katana (the Zantetsuken [Iron-Cutting Sword]) is unable to cut one thing - konnyaku, a kind of jelly made from arrowroot.

    2. Re:Some minor corrections. by Alkaiser · · Score: 1

      Right, right. I forgot about the konnyaku.

      --
      Netjak.com independent reviews of domestic & import video ga
    3. Re:Some minor corrections. by Baiken · · Score: 1


      In a side note, maybe off topic:

      Slayer, the vampire character in this jewel of a fighting game called Guilty gear XX( psx2), he looks a lot like jigan, but more cool, his monocule and smoking pipe gives him a debonair, a wordly guy, maybe the people at Sammy, the creators of GGXX realized the cool attitude of jigan and made an spoof of it, btw, baiken the female samurai looks a lot like rurouni kenshin from samurai X

  51. Good translations can though. by Gallowglass · · Score: 1
    I think they should hire the firm that does the translations for the Asterix comics. (Warning, the site seems rather buggy) Anyone who can translate a comic strip, that depends on French puns, into English and remains "punny" enough to make tears run down my face . . . Well!

    I'm not saying you don't have a point. Myself, I'd just rephrase it as, "Humour is a lot harder to translate than action."

  52. Re:YOU FAIL IT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Post under you real nic you fucking coward!
    Or are you just a lame imposter?

    YOU FAIL IT!

  53. Lupin III is not a good example of Anime. by Whammy666 · · Score: 1

    I'm not sure why Lupin has so much popularity. The artwork and animation is terrible by anime standards plus the characters are shallow and boring. Even those problems would be forgivable if the writing was worth a damn. Essentially, Lupin is one big tired cliche laced with stale innuendo. I guess hollywood really is out of ideas if they are going to make a movie out of this.

    --
    When all else fails, run.
    1. Re:Lupin III is not a good example of Anime. by amuro98 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Lupin's popularity in Japan was mainly due to the whole spy/gadget craze back in the 60s - when Lupin debuted.

      Most Americans were introduced to Lupin via the movie "Cagliostro Castle" which still stands today as one of the classics of anime, as well as just being an overall great action film.

      With the Lupin cartoon on TV in America, now Americans can see what the original was like. Cagliostro Castle toned the characters down a bit (especially Fujiko.)

      Still, if you're a fan of the older James Bond films, along with the Flint spy films and The Pink Panther films, then there's a pretty good chance you'll find Lupin III enjoyable.

  54. Re:SELECT lame_tagline FROM subjects by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow another normal person. I thought I was the only person who realized anime was the dumbist thing going.

    I will now sumarize every anime film every made in one runon paragraph.

    Young man/boy has relative killed by evil dude, has some token ghost/profet visit and tell him he has to stop great evil. On way to finding evil dude his younger nerdy companion yells a lot stupid things, there is some token love interest by a young girl who the sad writers try to "sex-up" even though there is no need to do so, in the end the young man/boy discovers he has a great hidden power and unleashes it on the evil dude just before you "thought" he was going to die.

    In short anime is utter crap written by small people who think they should live out their power/sex fantasies in cartoons.

    Get a life people, anime is garbage.

  55. You're right by Tiroth · · Score: 1

    Those Hollywood idiots always seem to cast either someone famous or someone not-famous in their movies. The gall...

  56. See this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=55843&threshol d=-1&commentsort=3&tid=168&mode=thread&pid=5432975 #5434238

  57. Re:SELECT lame_tagline FROM subjects by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    what are you talking about? are you rambling incoherently or are you actually trying to make sentences?

  58. Don't forget by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anime --> Faggots

    1. Re:Don't forget by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You misspelled pedophiles.

  59. Lupin v. Dragons Lair by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They took the Castle of Calistro movie on laser disc and put it in a Dragons Lair console. That must have been in the 80's. Now when I see Caliastro (which is great btway) I keep having this urge to tap furiosly on a video game controller.
    Tried watching the series on cartoon network- couldnt- too painfull to watch

  60. Gerald R. Molen by ChiperSoft · · Score: 1
    "The story goes on to say that it's been optioned by the producer of Minority Report, Schindler's List and Jurassic Park."
    That must be Gerald R. Molen. That's cool, just as long as it isn't directed by the director of Minority Report, Schindler's List and Jurassic Park. *Shudder*
  61. IMHO by Hecubas · · Score: 1

    From what I've seen on Cartoon Network, Lupin III is pretty much crap. It's got that old school anime look to it and the dubbing is goofy. Anytime I see the bulging eyes or the spindly legs I cringe. I mean the animation is from the 70's and the dubbing is strangely modern, it sucks ass.

    Sorry to be such a troll, but I can think of a few more Japanese gems that would make better movies.

    --
    hecubas

    --
    Hecubas
  62. Re:SELECT lame_tagline FROM subjects by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Read the post you fucktard.

    "I will now sumarize every anime film every made in one runon paragraph."

  63. Cowboy Bebop by Vladimir9 · · Score: 1

    I never could get into Lupin. I always felt that I was outside of its target audience. Cowboy Bebop is a better series anyway. See you space cowboy...

    1. Re:Cowboy Bebop by Fafhrd · · Score: 1

      I never could get into Lupin. I always felt that I was outside of its target audience. Cowboy Bebop is a better series anyway. See you space cowboy...

      I love both series... in fact, my first reaction to Cowboy Bebop was "Cool! Lupin in space!" as the main characters and dynamics among them are very similar:
      Lupin - Spike - protagonist
      Jigen - Jet Black - protagonist's friend and helper
      Fujiko - Faye Valentine - beautiful woman that is around the protagonists, but has her own agenda.

      Lupin was made in the late '60s/early '70s, and anime has evolved a lot since them. But we must acknowledge its influence in what came later... Especially on our space cowboys, where it's quite visible.

  64. Well, look at that! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Almost an entire 200 comment story on anime and not one asshole getting moderated +5 funny for making a lame-ass stale non-joke about "tentacles" or "hentai"

    Amazing...

  65. Nope........ by Ride-My-Rocket · · Score: 1

    I always enjoy watching it as a goofy play on Willis' typical buddy-action flicks. I thought it was cool, despite the fact that it got universally panned.........

  66. Extremely Offtopic by Thomas+M+Hughes · · Score: 1
    Tightest...Budget...Ever.

    "Hey man, you wanna go see this movie in 3 years when it's done?"

    "I don't think so. I gotta save up for that glasses 'script I'll be renewing around then. Those lenses ain't cheap."

    I wish I had your disipline.
    Discipline is a good thing when you're just starting in a PhD program. Which means in 3 years, I'll still be in the University, and still won't have any significant amount of income. Figuring out how to cover food and housing over the next few years is factoring into how much I'm willing to spend now.

    That is of course, unless I somehow end up out of the program before then, and presumably I'm not homeless at that point. Then I might consider the movie thing again.
  67. Just be glad .. by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

    That there wasn't any of that tenticle stuff!

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  68. Spelleing and Additional Info. by zzztkf · · Score: 0

    Jigan -> Jigen. His actual name is Daisuke Jigen.

    Goemon is a descendant of famous and historical thief Goemon Ishikawa who lived about 400 years ago. Detailed
    information have been already missed, but some legends remain and very popular
    character for Japanese.

    Zenigata is a descendant of Heiji Zenigata which is cration of Detective Story written by Kodoh Nomura. Both Heiji Zenigata and Inspector Zenigata are
    very well-known.

  69. niche info by lingqi · · Score: 2, Informative

    posting late, but:

    If anybody watched the movie about treasure of Caliostro; in the end, you can see the interpol (Internatioal Police, supposedly) cars, but they have "åY¼çZè¦åY" or somesuch written on the side - which is actually "Saitama Police" - Saitama being a Japanese prefecture north of Tokyo.

    Now, this was supposedly in the small but influential *country* of Caliostro, which is supposedly in Europe or something, so I couldn't help but chuckle.

    ahem, now a piece of *useful* information has been squeezed out of your brain, I feel a bit better.

    --

    My life in the land of the rising sun.

  70. Re:SELECT lame_tagline FROM subjects by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Run-on is hyphenated, dipshit.

    You missed about 700 titles, e.g. Evangelion, Bubblegum Crisis, Cardcaptor Sakura, Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, Magic Knight Rayearth, Princess Nine, Ah Megami-sama, Tenchi, St. Tail, Blue Submarine #6...

    Get a life people, anime is garbage.

    Which sold $700 million worth of DVDs last year.

    Dumbass.

  71. there is ALREADY a live-action lupin movie. by bani · · Score: 1

    it was made in 1974!

    Lupin III "Nenriki Chin Sakusen" (in english - "Strange Psyco-kinetic Strategy")

  72. Correction: Evil A-team with rickets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The characters in that show have their legs twisted in strange ways that would be conidered medical problems if they were in real people.

  73. CowBe live-action cast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Spike Spiegel: Jet Li. Or Jason Scott Lee.
    Jet Black: either Ving Rhames or Michael Clark Duncan. If this is a big budget movie, maybe even Samuel Jackson.
    Faye Valentine: Fairuza Balk. She is a dead ringer for the animated Faye.
    Ein: completely CGI. Maybe more mecha than the original, with some cyborg features.
    Edward: You'd have to do a search for just the right little girl. I suggest looking in Australia, India or Hawaii.

  74. Saitama by zzztkf · · Score: 0

    It's simply misunderstood. interpol has no substantial troops. Zenigata is dispatched by Japanese Police to investigate Lupin under the cover of interpol. His ID cards are issued by Tokyo Met. Police "è¦è¦-å". So it does make sense than it looks.

    "åY¼çZçoeOEè¦" should be written in police car.

    But problem is we can't know how he is solving jurisdiction problem.

  75. Only? by sanae · · Score: 1

    >Castle of Cagliostro, directed by Miyazaki is a great movie.

    How about the others?

  76. Re:Homo Tuesday by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You really are confused. They're pedophiles, not faggots.

  77. You're right. by Scipher · · Score: 1

    You would be referring to "Kimba the White Lion". A very old anime character. Disney has been accused of ripping it off, which it denies, but anyone with half a neuron can see they did. There are massive parallels in both films. Hell, even the name "Simba" is a ripoff.

    More info on it here.

  78. Corrections to your slightly off-topic reply. by Alkaiser · · Score: 1

    "maybe the people at Sammy, the creators of GGXX"

    ARC System created the Guilty Gear series, not Sammy. Sammy is only the publisher. Guilty Gear XX is also the third (full) game in the series, following Guilty Gear, and Guilty Gear X.

    "he looks a lot like jigan, but more cool"

    He's got no hat, no gun, he's a vampire, and he has a girl that appears every once in a while. Het's just got similar hair and a beard. If you're looking for anime characters to compare him to, Slayer is much more similar to Shocking Alberto (In terms of attacks and attitude, though he looks a bit like Cho-Katsu Komei, as well.) from Giant Robo.

    Second, if you're a fan of the Rurouni Kenshin saga, almost nobody refers to it as Samurai X. In fact, if you went ot Anime Expo and said that, you'd likely get slapped by someone...probably some overweight guy in a Sailor Moon outfit.

    Samurai X is the name they gave to the 2 prequels they did to the series in the US. The licensed series is still referred to as Ruroni Kenshin, I guess the difference in whoever licensed the movie and the TV series.

    --
    Netjak.com independent reviews of domestic & import video ga
  79. Of *course* it was bad, but dumb is *ok* by billstewart · · Score: 1
    Of *course* Hudson Hawk was bad, a seriously dumb movie. That's ok, sometimes it's fun to watch trashy escape fiction where you can laugh at how dumb or over-stereotyped everybody in the movie is.

    It's not "Plan 9" level of badness, it's more like a "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" level of bogus dumbness (though I though Bill&Ted was better as an entertaining dumb movie.)

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  80. Re:pronunciations by billstewart · · Score: 1

    If you're using American notation for pronunciation, and the episodes of Lupin III that have been on Cartoon Network Adult Swim this week, it's not the French pronunciation - it's more like "loo PONN" or "loo PAHN", with an AHH sound for the second syllable vowel.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  81. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 0

    Despite the best efforts of a quantum bigfoot drive (yes I know everyone
    told me they suck, now I know they were right) 2.1.109ac1 is now available
    -- Alan Cox announcing Linux 2.1.109ac1

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...