Lupin III: Babylon no Ougon Densetsu

Another Lupin movie for the ages, and if Mamo (first Lupin movie) was weird, Legend of the Gold Babylon really steps it up a notch. Mamo had some dialogue and a story (somewhat), where Babylon is more non-stop Loony Toons-like chase scenes and slap stick Western humor. It is ironic how a movie with such a big Western influence never made it to the West.

Directed by Shigetsugu Yoshida (nothing of note) and key animation by Satoru Utsunomiya (Akira), there is a reason why this is a decent anime to look at but nothing more. The action is fun at first, but each scene just consistently ... drags on with Lupin and the gang dodging hundreds of bullets one after the other. For example, the beginning starts with Zenigata chasing Lupin on a bike on the weird face billboard for 15 plus minutes in a Scooby-Doo door to hallway fashion.

Our “story” is seemingly forced for Lupin to find the lost gold of Babylon based on an ancient stone tablet found under Madison Square Garden in New York City. Mob bosses and the like join in on the search, and the constant need to try and kill Lupin along the way. As crazy as it sounds, it really is that crazy; nothing more and nothing less with this movie.

Everything is over the top in this Lupin movie and not for the better. All that’s been witnessed and written before plus just a few more examples: Goemon can slice lightning now, Lupin has all sorts of gadgets always on him and can pull them from out of nowhere (dynamite, parachutes, etc; has not been done to this extent), and even a random international police beauty pageant that manages to be as racist and stereotypical as possible to every major country at the time.

Unless there is the itch to watch more Lupin and the gang, just skip over this one.

Jesus, I had this as background noise and it was still unrelentingly boring. The plot isn't really Baaaaad so much as it's a whole lot of nothing and padding what would have been maybe two forgettable episodes of a TV show.

What's more insulting is that Mamoru Oshii was going to direct the movie that ultimately became this, but they passed on his idea involving angel fossils and Lupin transcending this physical plane because it sounded different. There were certain scenes in this that were obviously inspired by that previous storyline, and they were dim shadows of what could have been. That other movie sounded dope ... as fuck. We were robbed.

Fujiko's character design is a war crime.

[THIS WAS WRITTEN RIGHT AFTER WATCHING IT AND ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACC. KEEPING THIS HERE FOR AN ARCHIVE]
Legend of the gold of Babylon is done and man what a weird one (again). This is my first real exposure to part 3 in any meaningful way and man. I’m really not that big on the character designs; like in theory I should love how loose and expressive they are but in practice it all feels TOO loose and too expressive. Everyone’s movements and expressions are way too mushy and all over the place for my liking. It’s just a personal preference thing really, part 3 ... designs at the least just ain’t my thing. The ANIMATION on the other hand was so good and when it got especially great it got overshadowed by the crazy art style which I found kind of ironic. Lots of fluidity and smooth animation moments in here which actually worked in the part 3 styles favor, making it all look even more unique than it already did.
Plot and story I was really miffed on. The pacing especially sucked. Fucking movie dedicated 15 WHOLE FUCKING MINUTES AT THE VERY START TO LUPIN AND ZENIGATA FUCKING AROUND ON BIKES ON SOME GIGANTIC FLOATING FACE IN THE SKY. I DONT KNOW. IT GOT SO OLD K WAS SITTING HERE LIKE how long has it been since this bit started Jesus Christ. Aside from that the plot itself was honestly just some standard lupin fare extended to a full movie but unlike something like voyage to danger where it was in a fun way this one just felt a bit more dragged out and lame. At least w voyage to danger it was about stealing a fuckimg nuclear submarine, this one was just about some gold statue or something. One thing I thought was cool tho was that most of the runtime was in New York City🤩🤩🤩cool!! Too bad that lead to racist stereotypes everywhere!!!!!! Yeah there was some weird ass racist shit in the movie which didn’t surprise me since the vibe of part 3 gives off that kind of stereotyping exaggeration feel like all women in the movie look like a sex doll basically as an example.
This one was definitely strange and not one I was like totally in love with. I have no idea why they dubbed this and why so recently (2018), like out of all the old Undubbed lupin movies u chose THIS ONE??? Tf!!!!!!
Anyway I give this one a 6/10. Not deplorable but not that great either

[this was written right after watching it. shit was straight ass actually F tier]