Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

Lupin the 3rd: Tokyo Crisis Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see Lupin the Third action-adventure.

Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis is the tenth television special featuring the iconic sleuth and his group of companions. The full-length feature-film is based on the original manga by Monkey Punch. The film premiered in July of 1998 on the Japanese television network NTV. The tenth installment has some remarkable action-packed sequences, comedic hijinks, and memorable character moments that are essential for fans of the franchise. A must-see installment.

Lupin (Kan'ichi Kurita)sets his eyes on acquiring a special photographic plate which acts as a treasure map to uncovering a rare gem from the Edo era. The only problem in Lupin's way? An eccentric multi-millionaire business-man/art dealer, Michael Suzaku (Koichi Yamadera). Suzaku is also after the big prize: the long-lost treasure. Matters are more complicated for Lupin than usual as his allies aren't in tip-top shape this go around. Goemon (Makio Inoue) has lost his treasured sword and Jigen (Kiyoshi Kobayashi) has an unbearable toothache that keeps getting in the way. Fujiko (Eiko Masuyama) is also along for the zany ride. Can Lupin find the treasure before Suzaku?

Inspector Zenigata (Goro Naya) also plays a big role in Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis. Unlike some of the other Lupin films, Zenigata has an even more in-depth side-story (as he continues to try and stop Lupin). The beloved inspector has some help this time – in the form of the young journalist, Maria (Megumi Hayashibara). Maria tags along Zenigata and helps out at every turn in the story. Fans of Zenigata will be pleased with the amount of screen time given to the detective in this action-packed installment. Will Zenigata brings down Lupin the Third (at last)? Adventure awaits in Tokyo Crisis!

The animation in Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis is remarkable and far more immersive than what some audiences might expect to find. For a made-for-television special, it is clear that the animators pushed themselves to surpass audience expectations. The animators seem determined to excel, living up to the legendary Hayao Miyazaki – who directed the famous Lupin the Third: Castle of Cagliostro entry. The art work is stunning – and the art direction by Takashi Miyano (Requiem from the Darkness, Lupin the Third: Missed by a Dollar) feels inspired.

You don't want to miss this thrill ride!

The Tokyo Crisis film features some of the most spectacular action sequences in the entire Lupin film franchise. There is an off-the- charts car-chase sequence in which Lupin pushes the envelope for how the road is navigated – giving The Fast and Furious franchise a run for its money. The art is so fluid, creative, and compelling that audiences will be glued to their seats. Outstanding.

The cinematography by Hajime Hasegawa (Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive, The Boy Who Saw the Wind) is another compelling showcase for the animators talents. The visuals are extraordinary and background art is top-notch. A sequence of action-packed adventure at a Tokyo water-park will have audiences taken on a wild thrill ride. The sleek visual aesthetics of the cinematography make the scene all the more fun.

The original music score by Yuji Ohno (Lupin the Third: TV Series, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro) lives up to expectations. Ohno proves time and time again that he is the perfect composer for the Lupin franchise. The music is jazzy, energetic, and sublime. One almost can't help but hum the lovable theme music. Every action scene is heightened by the top-notch score music.

One of the best elements of Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis is the first-rate screenplay by Shinzo Fujita (Berserk, Lupin the Third: The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure). The story is so well thought-out and every character is given ample opportunity to shine. One aspect that I particularly appreciated with Tokyo Crisis is the love given to Zenigata. While Lupin gets plenty of time in the spotlight for the action scenes, the heart of the story in this installment resides with the lovable detective. The film is all the more compelling and memorable within the Lupin franchise as a direct result.

Toshiya Shinohara (Lupin the Third: Island of Assassins, InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time) directs with the kind of showmanship that is necessary for an action-packed adventure. Did anyone give Shinohara the notice that Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis is a television special? It never feels like one. Tokyo Crisis is every-bit as entertaining as one of the theatrical run films and fans of the series won't want to miss a single second of the fun. Tokyo Crisis is a blast that is essential viewing for Lupin fans.

Lupin the 3rd: Tokyo Crisis Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Discotek Media, Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. A breathtaking transfer, Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis looks marvelous in high- definition. The print is exceptional and throughout the run-time there are only minor specks of dirt. A mostly clean print, the crisp animation looks stellar – leaps and bounds better than any standard-definition offering could have provided. The line art appears detailed and robust. The color reproduction looks phenomenal from start to finish. The encoding is top-notch, too: Discotek has made sure to offer the film with a healthy video encode that has a nice bit-rate which preserves the action-scenes and dramatic moments without any unnecessary compression woes. A first-rate presentation.

Lupin the 3rd: Tokyo Crisis Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes multiple lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo, and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The audio clarity on the release is fantastic and manages to help the film excel. Dialogue remains clear and easy to understand throughout the entire presentation. The sound effects were well integrated in to the mix and the music score by Yuji Ohno is given plenty of opportunities to shine. The audio is consistently crisp and benefits a great deal from the high-resolution audio encoding. The English subtitles (included for the Japanese language presentation) are also impressive: free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

Please Note: An optional signs & songs subtitle track also provided.

Lupin the 3rd: Tokyo Crisis Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes with an impressive o-card slipcover. The inside art-work also adds a nice touch to the release.

Vintage English Credits (SD, 11:19)

Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis Liner Notes is a click-through article written by the Discotek team – exploring the world of Tokyo Crisis.

Lupin the 3rd: Tokyo Crisis Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis is an action-packed adventure which offers fans plenty of non-stop thrills and excitement. The animation is stellar and adds a great deal to the mix. Featuring a strong script and expert direction, Tokyo Crisis never loses steam and is a great addition to the Lupin film series. The Blu-ray release by Discotek features a strong video-audio presentation. Fans will be thrilled. Highly recommended.