Stealing is a Good Thing

The ever resourceful world thief known as Lupin the Third still enjoys immense popularity to this day.

Starting out as a Japanese Magna comic book written by Monkey Punch, a pen name, it covers the adventures of a mischievous thief player who kicks up the entire routine as a gag. All this while throwing himself into more trouble than it is worth. Yet he finds in his thieving career a spark of life.

Perhaps stealing can be an art.

He likes to steal many jewel valuables. He lusts after women. He finds everything a game to him. Yet there is still some kind of honor amongst himself and his gang of misfits. It is like watching a perfectionist at work.

Then why include this in the Time and Space Continuum column?

There are many TV episodes of Lupin the Third and following films resorting to science fiction themes. This might include DNA altering or weather controlling machines. There is one film called the Castle of Cagliostro where Lupin dons a belt with several high tech gadgets that helps him escape narrow traps.

He often uses a kind of hook that shoots out from his wrist mechanism where he can stop himself from falling.

He likes to get richer.

However, due to a sense of justice lingering in the back of his mind, Lupin exposes other criminals for their cruel goals of world domination or whatever evil deeds they might be harboring. Turns out Lupin isn’t such a bad guy.

Which is why he continues to be a popular icon.

Even American director Steven Spielberg said of Castle of Cagliostro, “It’s one of the best adventure movies ever made.” For someone like Spielberg to make this comment, it’s really something. Not only that, the film grabbed fifth place on Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs' list of best anime.

Not bad for a modest thief.

There’s plenty of elements like comedy, thriller, romance all rolled up into one mixed bag. The ending result? It’s always so damn fun to watch.

The entertainment stays lightweight. The stories are sometimes simple at best. And it is a formula episodic series with returning themes. But watching the series or films is like seeing old friends again. You want to feel like you’re part of their heist.

No matter the odds, or the situation, Lupin the Third finds a way out using charms and wits. And his cleverness is always underestimated by his enemies. Never underestimate a fool.

His group of friends are equally compelling. His partner in crime, Jigen, is a master marksmen with an old revolver that looked like it had been used during World War II. His accuracy is something no less than amazing. The next in line is Goeman who remains a quiet samurai helping his fellow thieves to escape. He is very excellent with using the sword against worthy opponents. But he doesn’t like to cut away at inanimate objects.

The last, but not least, is the female fatale thief Fujiko Mine who likes to take advantage of using Lupin for furthering her own gains. She is not exactly the nicest girl in the world. Yet her womanly intelligence has gained notoriety in the field of thievery. Her own reputation precedes her. It is because of her that Lupin finds himself in dire plots.

I remember when I was a kid during the height of video game playing in the 1980s there was an arcade game called Cliff Hangers. This was a laser disc game using actual footage from Lupin the Third to tell a gaming story. I always sucked at playing the game. But the animation was pretty cool.

I have not been much of a big fan of Japanese anime for many reasons. Much of it is really an acquired taste. Many times I don’t care for the style. But there are always exceptions to the rule.

Lupin the III is one true exception.

The art is fine. But it is the stories and humor that makes the charms for this particular cartoon series. Monkey Punch has created another legacy. A wild trip to the other side of Japanese Anime.

So go ahead and a have a good laugh while following the footsteps of Lupin the Third. Taking the time to have a little fun can go a long way. And you might have a little trouble catching up with him!

Too Many Criticisms

There’s been a lot of negatives and complaints about the recent fantasy film “The Seeker: The Dark is Rising.” Which has been released to the shelves as a DVD this week. So much negative lashings has been made about the film’s apparent thin plot and certain familiarities to other kid-turned-magician films.

Where are the good points in the film?

You don’t hear any.

Why? The film isn’t that bad after an initial viewing and brought a light hearted entertainment that floods with cherished up-and-coming age moments and teenage heartbreaks. A fantasy film with hormones.

But the film has been a victim of attacks from some of the worst website reviewers such as Rotten Tomatoes. This site is so atrocious that it deserves no serious consideration. Y'know, blah, blah, blah.

Sure, the film captures déjà vu when compared to other films like Harry Potter franchise, the Chronicles of Narnia and also the Dark Materials saga. All of which concerns a young person turning into a teenager in an adolescent transformation that brings magical powers to them.

"The Seeker" centers on a young boy having moved into the England countryside, filled with old styled homes and churches, where he discovers himself through an age of transition.

Like so many boys his own age, he finds changes hard to accept. He finds himself lost in his surroundings. His dealings with girls even more trying affair. Yet, being the seventh son of the seventh son, he is consigned to becoming part of an elite group called the Old Ones. A group of elders who defend against the so-called rising dark. The young boy becomes the seeker who must find the signs before the enemy grows too powerful to stop.

Good vs. evil. A simple story. For children and older adults to enjoy. There’s nothing wrong with it. Some of the plot threads may confuse a little bit. The film adaption isn’t perfect. But it does have some good moments.

Yet The Seeker became the punching bag of back-biting criticism that is starting to irritate me greatly. Critics sound like a bunch of baby-ass kids whining about the same thing. It upsets me.

I’m not saying The Seeker is a brilliant film. It isn’t. But it’s not as bad as many put it. Where are the good points?

There are some.

Christopher Eccleston channels plenty of brooding atmosphere with his evil portrayal of a dark force that is threatening the very existence of the world. His sterling eyes remain piercing as ever, his fierce features like carved stone. His presence is calculating. Like a snake finding its way through the garden of Eden. There’s a nice moment when Eccleson undergoes as disguise as a doctor. A possible reference to his earlier stint as the ninth actor to play Doctor Who.

Also Ian McShane is great in the film playing one of the Old Ones… you might recognize him as Lovejoy from the beloved mystery series from the 1990s about antiques and murder. There’s a certain Britishness that he brings into the film. He plays a mentor who becomes a kind of adopted father when the boy Will Stanton no longer finds a connection with his real father.

The film focuses on a few good elements. The adolescent boy becoming older in a transitional stage is worked out well in the film. Some scenes with actors Alexander Ludwig and Ian McShane maintain a believable relationship that is like a troubled son and a neglecting father.

A sense of being alienated can be seen throughout the film which becomes prevalent. The younger boy finds himself pushed away by his family, his real father, and must keep his vigil in a setting that is unknown to him: he is a stranger to the English countryside that pours heavily with atmosphere. The film’s scenes reel back with a foreboding darkness as the coming storm approaches.

There are many forces of nature at work here. Fire, water, the storm, all of it coming together into a grinding halt of good and evil. On the dark side are the crows and the blackest shadows. Like cosmic forces thrown into a swirl. And the young boy is trapped under it all with a terrific sense of responsibility. It is here that he becomes truly an older adolescent on the verge of becoming a man when he discovers the key, and truth, behind all the six signs needing to be rediscovered.

The original author of the books Susan Cooper didn’t care much for the film adaption. Not many critics gave it thrilling reviews either. But younger children and families may enjoy the flawed, yet somewhat charming, attempt at bringing another sorcery fantasy to the big screen. With all the shortcomings.

There’s a great need for explanations. There are chunks of the film that paints a background history for the eternal war that’s been going on for thousands of years. The film must incorporate many ideas that would have difficulty fitting into a normal two hour film.

But if one sees the film as a simple story of a boy becoming an older, more responsible adult, then it’s not a bad flick. It doesn’t have the great narrative powers of a novel. But "The Seeker" does bring the notion of the age of innocence into center stage. With some moderate success.

Justice League Reborn

The familiar faces of the Justice League is getting another makeover for this week’s direct-to-video release.

This time the style, direction is in the fine 1940s art deco style where superheroes have a less modern feel to them. Almost more clear-cut in their design. In a lot of ways, it’s like watching an old cartoon coming to life.

Justice League: New Frontiers is just that. Bringing a sense of style to characters such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. It's a throwback to the golden era of comic books set during the post-traumatic years of the atomic bomb. The animation is much darker with many shadowy conflicts in the backgrounds, lifting away of brightness in favor of more mundane atmosphere.

The story surrounds a celestial being called the Center who is disrupting the psychological thoughts of susceptible audiences. This enormous power, like an old testament God, wields greatness in its ominous presence. But it is disappointed in the direction of the human race as it grows far more violent in its tendencies.

Its mercy is short.

Cleanse the world of the human race and perhaps start all over again.

Some of the images of the film is very startling. The lucid and effective visuals are realistic. The animation remains impressive as the characters come across as lively, larger-than-life personalities. Yet not even Superman could defeat this creature on his own. There calls for a league of superheroes to form a mighty fortress circle of strength.

Several origins were seen here as the Justice League takes shape. Most important is the origin of the Green Lantern voiced by Angel’s David Borendez in which the story revolves around. Hal Jordon is a hotshot air force pilot who is turned into the next Green Lantern due to his good-hearted decency towards humanity. He has a sense of right and wrong which bestows him the power ring that gives him the strength of a superhero.

The green and black costume has great form in the animated film with its vibrant colors.

There are several themes of distrust in the film that reminds of the cold war feelings in the 1950s. The idiot politician Joseph McCarthy and his scare tactics brought about lack of confidence even between the greatest of friends during the 1950s.

Such adult issues as racism is viewed here. In the 1950s there was segreation. There was the threat of communism. The hate for communism or "reds" is served here. Used as a reminder of shame in this documented period in the United States. That the government can easily turn on anyone… even the superheroes.

But there are other characters in the film worth mention.

For Batman fans, they may find the character is not used much. Batman is a supporting character here. But what little is seen in Batman is made up by the intensity of the dark and brooding character. He melts into the living shadows of the Gotham city, hiding him in the deepest alleys.

The animation style makes him look like the Batman of late 1930s with the gloves he wore and the more exaggerated points of the cowl. It makes for a more scary, formidable Batman who relies on fear to stop his enemies.

When the viewers see Batman for the first time in the film, the character is already in hand-to-hand combat. The animation is very beautiful here as he is shown through many fantastic movements. He shifts like the wind, his flowing cape ripples like night.

What is mostly missed is the recognizable voice of Kevin Conroy of the previous Batman animated series. However, Jeremy Sisto does a fine job of matching the gravel-crushed voice that so fits the character.

Superman reminds those viewers of the old Max Fleischer cartoons. He is the balance between different sides. He brings diplomacy to the people already in desperate times. He represents hope. And is a light of all goodness. His true feelings of bringing justice can be seen through his measured words. He like a mythical legend reborn.

All the characters are given the 1940s treatment. The Silver Age is here. Wonder Woman. The Flash. Who is given several good scenes that shows his good humor. Just someone who is looking out for others. The drawings are always well crafted. The details continue to be meticulous throughout the film.

Produced by Bruce Timm who brought us Batman animated series, the film is based on the graphic novel by Darwyn Cooke. Who also has a hand in the visual direction in Justice League: New Frontiers. The chiseled looks and blocky style are very much intended. He wrote the script along with cartoon veteran Stan Berkowitz. There’s a certain loveliness to the way the characters are portrayed.

You don’t have to be a comic book fan to enjoy this. Not at all.

The animation is breathtaking in its simplicity. Anyone could appreciate that. The films talks about issues that have been talked about during the 1950s: such things as racism, leadership.

The superheroes were mere representations of the good possible in humanity.

All that is good to make a better world.