The first movie based on the famous television
series Lupin III, Mystery of Mamo is certainly a spectacle -- the film
barely pauses for breath as it jumps from a Transylvanian castle to Egyptian ruins
to Parisian cafes to lush tropical isles to South American hideaways. The plot
is similarly breakneck and over-the-top: Lupin meets his most formidable foe yet,
the arch-villain Mamo, who claims to be immortal and is currently cultivating
an island inhabited by clones of famous personages -- Caesar, Napoleon, etc. At
one point Lupin himself can't be sure whether he's the genuine item or merely
a clone. But as always, he and his trusty (well, sometimes) comrades Jigen, Fujiko,
and Goemon are the only people who can save the day, while Inspector Zenigata
continues his unending quest to be the best policeman never to catch the master
thief. Mamo has many impressive moments -- there's a justifiably famous
helicopter-car chase through a Paris sewer; healthy doses of nail-biting escapes
and ribald humor; elaborate dream sequences; and a heady (no pun intended) climax
involving a gigantic brain. An aura of eerie mystery hangs over the film, even
in its most rushed moments, and Lupin's off-kilter charm anchors the show whenever
things start getting out of hand. In its philosophical implications and epic scope,
it's the Lupin film to end all Lupin films. As an added bonus, the Streamline
dub is actually witty, smooth, and satisfying. But despite its quirky personality,
the movie doesn't make for the easiest viewing. Much of the time is spent wondering
what the heck is going on, and often the story threatens to crumble even as it
sprints to cover its holes and deficiencies. In addition, some of the science
fiction elements are hard to swallow, even for a fantasy series like Lupin III.
However, there is no denying the film's bravado and energy, and the '70s stylings
and soundtrack are as groovy as anything Austin Powers can dream up. In short,
Mystery of Mamo is worth a look as a distinctive, if slightly flawed, chapter
in the life of anime's most charismatic thief. The DVD transfer is clean and colorful,
although there are no extras, language tracks, or subtitle options.