crazysamaritan
Since: Apr, 2010
01/19/2014 00:00:00
When comparing films, don't forget Lawrence of Arabia, whom it seems Don Lune might've been the French version of.
Link to TRS threads in project mode here.
MiinU
Since: Jun, 2011
01/19/2014 00:00:00
@crazysamaritan - Ah, you're right. I hadn't thought of Dalune that way. But I can go along with that, given his background in the French Foreign Legion, and having fought alongside the Gelts.
I wouldn't mind failure so much, if I didn't fail so much.Leave a Comment:
Average is Still Pretty Good
Secret of Twilight Gemini is one of the lesser known, not as popular, Lupin III Made-for-TV movies. It isn't that there's anything particularly wrong with it, it just isn't as outstanding as some of the films that came before it. However, that isn't necessarily a bad thing either.
Taken on its own, it can be loosely thought of as Lupin's take on The Maltese Falcon, with a bit of Casablanca and Indiana Jones. thrown in, and it pulls it off surprisingly well. If you like a good caper, that is.
In classic Lupin fashion, all relevant story bits are alluded to and set up well in advance. Certain ones may even require a second viewing to notice. But if you're good at catching them, you'll definitely get that "Aha!" sensation and you may even find yourself trying to piece the puzzle together along with Lupin.
That said, it's standard fare: once again, Lupin and his gang are out for treasure, with Inspector Zenigata hot on their trail and just as determined to slap the cuffs on 'em. Except now, they're off to Morocco to unravel the mystery of the eponymous diamond.
The art and animation are solid, occasionally becoming choppy in certain scenes, but not enough to detract from the experience. And Fujiko's character design undergoes yet another revision. On that note, it's one of her best looking designs but, this time 'round, she's a seductress rather than the Classy Cat-Burglar that fans have gotten used to. Which brings me to my next point:
This particular film is heavy on nudity and fanservice, as noted on the work page itself. There's several topless scenes, instances of near full frontal nudity, and two off-camera sex scenes. If that sort of thing bothers you, you'll be happy to know there's a censored version that removes these elements, allowing you to enjoy the film without guilt.
The voice acting is also well done, regardless whether you're watching it subbed, or dubbed, and the soundtrack does a good job of setting the mood of the film. In short: it's good, but not great. But don't let that deter you. Check it out.