Lupin III Live-Action (2014)

[pikeman1]

avex entertainment began streaming a making-of video and a home video release trailer for the 2014 Lupin III live-action film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSayUiezauc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kwzAbWhx1g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3twjGSzsfE

The film will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan on February 18. It will come bundled with behind-the-scenes footage, as well as cast interviews.

The film stars Shun Oguri as Lupin, Meisa Kuroki as Fujiko, Tetsuji Tamayama as Jigen, Go Ayano as Goemon, and Tadanobu Asano as Zenigata. You can view close up shots of the actors in character here. The film was directed by Ryuhei Kitamura and was the first live-action adaptation of Lupin the Third in four decades. The film and opened in Japanese theaters on August 30, 2014. The film launched in the #2 spot taking in 444,036,302 yen (about US$3.688 million) on the opening weekend and by the 12th week in theaters the film had dropped to #12 taking in a total of 2,399,504,726 yen (about US$19,936,812).

[Cat III]

I am this forum's resident Lupin III nut (at least I'm pretty sure I am) but this doesn't look good to me. We'll see, though. Sometimes looks can be deceiving.

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by Cat III

I am this forum's resident Lupin III nut (at least I'm pretty sure I am) but this doesn't look good to me. We'll see, though. Sometimes looks can be deceiving.

And you are correct. It played on my airplane ride from Bali back to Hong Kong and I had to stop watching after 30 minutes because it was so awful. And how could they cast someone so uncharasmatic in the Lupin role.

[Cat III]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

And you are correct. It played on my airplane ride from Bali back to Hong Kong and I had to stop watching after 30 minutes because it was so awful. And how could they cast someone so uncharasmatic in the Lupin role.

Yeah, reviews have been harsh which is what has me apprehensive. Though a live action Lupin doesn't seem like a great idea in the first place.

[manicsounds]

I found the movie to be quite fun.
A little strange was that the actors were sometimes speaking English (when there were scenes between non-Japanese actors), and then dubbed over in Japanese. I don't know if the international version will be different, but it was strange looking at the mouth movements during the movie.

[Ninty64X]

Originally Posted by Cat III

Yeah, reviews have been harsh which is what has me apprehensive. Though a live action Lupin doesn't seem like a great idea in the first place.

Actually, there was a Lupin live action movie before called Strange Psychokinetic Strategy. I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard it's pretty enjoyable. Also thinking of how a live action movie would be it seems to me Blake Edwards in his prime would have been a great choice for a Lupin movie.

[Cat III]

Looking at the OP, I just noticed this was directed by Ryuhei Kitamura. I know his film Versus is highly popular, though my only exposure to his work was the poor Midnight Meat Train.

Originally Posted by manicsounds

I found the movie to be quite fun.
A little strange was that the actors were sometimes speaking English (when there were scenes between non-Japanese actors), and then dubbed over in Japanese. I don't know if the international version will be different, but it was strange looking at the mouth movements during the movie.

That's reassuring to hear. You're the first person I've come across that has had a positive reaction to the film, though admittedly I haven't read all that much about it. Considering your avatar it seems safe to assume you're a fan of the franchise.

As far as dubbing over the English with Japanese that sounds like laziness to me. They couldn't find actors who looked the part and spoke Japanese so they dubbed over them. What I don't get is if the characters are supposed to be non-Japanese then why not just use subtitles for their scenes? Are Japanese audiences in general resistant to subtitles or just the target audience for this movie?

Originally Posted by Ninty64X

Actually, there was a Lupin live action movie before called Strange Psychokinetic Strategy. I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard it's pretty enjoyable. Also thinking of how a live action movie would be it seems to me Blake Edwards in his prime would have been a great choice for a Lupin movie.

Oh yeah, I know all about Strange Psychokinetic Strategy. It's the only Lupin film available in the US that I don't own. At best it looked like a goofy example of 70s camp. The prospect of a live action Lupin being good still seems low. He's perfect as a cartoon.

These live action movies do serve as a counterexample to those who say that anime characters look white. If the Japanese are compelled to make their cartoon characters white then they strangely have no problem with casting 100% Japanese actors as those same characters, even one like Lupin who has French heritage.