Loving Lupin

Some of Academy-Award winning director Hayao Miyazaki's early work comes to Colorado for the first time tonight when Anime Bento presents 1979's Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro at four metro-area theaters. Miyazaki rose to mainstream awareness with Spirited Away, the 2001 film that netted him an Oscar. Before that, he directed several classic anime films, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke, another film that helped introduce him to a wider American audience.

Lupin the III is an entry in the wildly popular manga (Japanese comics) and anime franchise that follows the adventures of the titular character, Lupin the III, an international master thief. The movie plays like a cross between Ocean's Eleven and an over-the-top James Bond flick, full of action, intrigue and suspense. It follows Lupin and his gang of thieves as they rob a casino only to discover that their loot is actually counterfeit — albeit near-perfect counterfeits. When they decide to seek the source of the bills for an even bigger score, they become embroiled in a plot by a sinister count to steal a family fortune by marrying a young, beautiful countess. Along the way, they encounter old foes and ninjas and engage in a truly insane car chase. Screenings will be held at the Denver Pavilions, 500 16th Street; the Westminster Promenade, 10655 Westminster Boulevard in Broomfield; Colorado Mills Stadium 16, 14500 West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood; and Highlands Ranch 24, 103 Centennial Boulevard in Highlands Ranch. Check www.fathomevents.com for more info and an updated list of theaters. Tickets for the showings are $10 and can be purchased at the website or theater box offices. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at all theaters.
Wed., Sept. 26, 2007