Rupan Sansei: Nenriki chin sakusen (1974)

Rupan Sansei: Nenriki chin sakusen: Directed by Takashi Tsuboshima. With Yûki Meguro, Eiko Ezaki, Maria Anzai, Shirô Itô. Though his father’s partner Jigen wants him to take charge of the Lupin Empire and the obsessed detective Zenigata wants him behind bars, Lupin III is only concerned about being with the beautiful (and treacherous) lady thief Fujiko.

“Iu0026#39;m not big on Lupin III. A combination of a plot hooks that donu0026#39;t really appeal to me and low-budget, old school character design has never made it worth the effort or money for me. But my friends like Lupin III and dragged me with them to see this at an anime convention.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I laughed a great deal, and not because of its hyper-retro 70s camp but because of its genuinely amusing, tongue-in-cheek silliness.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Strange Psychokinetic Strategyu0026quot; is like a fabulous cross-over of Lupin III and the Pink Panther films: physical gags and slap-stick, a frustrated police chief, crazy assassins, adventure, skillful, sexy ladies outwitting everyone else, and the most debonair Lupin ever.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis isnu0026#39;t really universally appealing — those without a taste for silliness and a tolerance for campiness and cheese, intentional or otherwise, will probably roll their eyes at most of this movie. But if you have ever laughed at something involving Peter Sellers or Mel Brooks, you should give this movie a try.”