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"Arsen Lupin" and "Immortel" were among the films that i went to see during the French Film festival in Belgrade. While i immortel left a good impression on me Arsen Lupin got me and a couple of my friends laughing. Here's why: First of all, "The Adventures of Arsen Lupin" are a series of books which tell a story of a Gentleman Thief in the 19th century. The books are enjoyable if you are a fan of romantic-adventure novels.

The film tries to squeeze a few of these books into a whole. This was in my opinion a mistake from the start. The film starts unwinding at about the 1 hour mark and keeps unwinding for another hour, meaning that its ending for a whole hour. The scenes quickly jump from one thing to another not explaining the who or why, characters come and go, places, things, details... After an hour or so you can't even remember what happened 2 minutes ago and frankly you stop caring since the plot makes 360 degree turns every frame. Instead you catch yourself enjoying the unbelievable plot twists and the speed at which they unfold in a bad way, I had the whole cinema laughing throughout the second part of the film. All the characters are switched around, so in the end his father is trying to kill him (WHY?!), oh yeah and he is searching for this treasure which is shown by placing certain crosses together.

Also he seems to be in love with a witch/devil character who tries to use him but doesn't, then does and so on... Another comic character was the witch's henchman who had a metal plate covering half of his face, his role is also unclear. The costumes and scenery are very well done but they don't do much to fix the script, editing and awful directing. The first half of the film starts out slow and slightly boring but the second half is fast, confusing and outright funny. I loved laughing my head off at the unbelievable plot twists in the second half of the film. Otherwise its not worth seeing this film.

... or whatever the French equivalent would be ("mec, que est-ce qu'ils ont pense quand ils ont cree cette film?"). I was actually in Paris when this premiered. It's like six stories in one, and every time you think it ends, it just keeps on going on. We even get Knights Templar thrown in at what we think is the end, but then we move on to historic events.

The idea is great -- the gentleman thief. It's just over-over-over explained. Cinematography is quite good -- nice look and feel for old Paris. However, editing leaves something to be desired. And yes, Kristen Scott Thomas speaks very good French (well, actually, I'm not one to really judge -- sounded good to me). A nice effort that could have been a truly entertaining film if not written by a team of seven writers not in communication with each other (or so it seemed).

And one last thing -- the thief thing is a little ridiculous. The guy goes into a room, women are wearing enormous ostentatious necklaces and earrings, and they never notice him basically ripping these off of them. I think there was some sort of sensory deprivation problem back then (perhaps "touch" hadn't yet been discovered), so that might have made it easier for our pal Arsene. Otherwise, I have no explanation.

So, if you want to see a recent French film with good production value and practice your French, enjoy. If you want to see a good French film, there are many many other films more worth your time.

I guess it's not that easy to make a 1-2 hours script on such a character, but I'm afraid that the choices made by the production were wrong from the start.

This movie tries to depict how Arsène Lupin became who he is. It tries to give some of the keys which lead him to his extravagant life. But even in this attempt, everything is wrong. Arsène does not kill ? OK. But this is given to the viewer as a fact from the beginning. And the whole film tends to push him into criminal revenge for all the bad people he has to suffer from. I mean by this that his character is already forged, so the movie does not hint you how, and, on the contrary, everything that happens to him leads to no consequence about it. Then, what's the point ?

The way I picture Arsène Lupin is as a very smart gentleman. Even if he is nothing but a bad boy originally. This is why the choice of Romain Duris surprises me a lot. He seems like a good actor, but he looks much more as a bad boy than as a smart English gentleman. He's got a forced smile on a tough face, when Lupin always has this mocking smile. I agree though that this point could be discussed for hours as the original book character was a bit of both.

Finally, Lupin's character, even if he's an opportunist guy is very clever and usually thinks ahead a lot. He is not the kind of guy to run straight ahead inside a trap. I would have liked to see more "Ocean's Eleven" in it. In this movie, he is more reacting to the events than making them happen the way he planned it.

All in all, it's a nice movie with good acting and nice sets (I've been very surprised with the "Place de l'opera" with a 19xx look), but it is not very fair to the quality of the book character.

For all that money invested in the film, it could have really included a lot more intriguing plot than a Satan-faced diva in perpetual search of her final goal which is... what actually? And all those endings, just when you're about to get up from the seat and leave the cinema with your face in agony thinking it's all over, no, your blissful sense of relief won't appear... not yet... the film over-culminates and looks like a huge wedding chocolate cake with fruits and jelly and cream and nuts, and caviar and oysters on top of it. In other words, too much, and completely without any purpose. If you want to watch beautiful pictures for more than two hours (btw, it feels like it lasts more than three), see the film at home, with some music on.

This movie is absolute trash. The director clearly did not know what a movie was. The main actor, Romain Duris is great in other movies, I have seen him act in "La nuit se traîne" and also "Les trois mousquetaires". However, in Arsene Lupin he was terrible. Clearly the director did not know how to direct such talent. The story line itself is also ridiculous. It goes back and forth and is tangled up in a mess of a bunch of different stories that the director tried to put together. You would think that 20,4 million USD$ would be enough to make an at least decent movie, but clearly Jean-Paul Salomé needs a little more help.

Romain Duris, the little schoolboy from l'Auberge Espagnole, in the skin of the "Gentleman Cambrioleur" is a little more than I could take. I could not recognize the man from "L'Aiguille Creuse", "Le Mystérieux Voyageur", "Le Collier De La Reine" and "La Comtesse De Cagliostro" which are the stories mixed in together in the movie. Some characters are reinvented or mixed in with different concepts which are too much to swallow. Why not sticking to the story if you're not going to make t better?

There is however good playing, Kristin Scott Thomas is awesome as the countess. And even though Arsene lacks the class and style one is entitled to expect, Romain Duris have some very good moments.

This movie is an embarrassment to French cinema. It seems to have stolen the worst ideas of Hollywood movies in trying to make a French blockbuster. Gratuitous special effects and bombastic music fail to distract the viewer from the flashy, shallow, and convoluted storyline. The movie starts slow, almost too slow, and then by the end whips into a frenzy where the filmmakers have tried to stuff everything and the kitchen sink both to forestall any misgivings by the viewer and to allow for the possibilities of endless sequels.

The role of Arsène was very poorly cast. The only saving graces to this movie are Kristen Scott Thomas and the beautiful landscapes of Normandy. Yet somehow this movie managed to make even Étretat, the focus of Monet's famous paintings, look fake.

I really had to laugh out loud at some of the complaints about this movie. It is really a mystery to me how someone paying attention to the movie could be confused by it? And while I admit indeed that there was more story and story twists in this movie, then in maybe 5 "great Hollywood productions" such as Spiderman put together...well, that's a part of the books, too! When reading a Lupin book it is never advisable to get used to things staying as they are! Arsene Lupin himself is one of the most dynamic characters that ever existed! I watched this movie at the Fantasy Film festival, and I enjoyed it immensely. So they took some story bits from different books, who cares? The story is nevertheless continuous and quite understandable, if one is ready to apply a bit more brainmatter to it than to ..say.."The Hulk"! The costuming and setting was splendid, and the whole tone was very fitting for the time in which it is supposed to play. Of cause no movie will ever truly incorporate all that is Arsene Lupin, it is simply impossible. Not just because of the different medium, but also because of the growing difference in thinking that characterizes the current time and the time in which it was written. The idea of a brilliant and gallant master thief itself will stay the same, but the habits, interaction with society's members and all that are so definite and important for Arsene Lupin, that leaving them in might confuse the mass audience, and leaving them out would destroy the Character. If anyone wants a Lupin for current times they may look for Lupin Sansei (supposed to be his grandson^^), and Simon Templar might be a sort of poor substitute, too. However, the original Arsene Lupin is a legend of his own time, and that description should make matters clear for anyone. oh, and the 9/10 is because indeed some of the effects were executed a bit poorly, especially the odd "zoom" at the aiguille creuse.

Firstly, I've not read the novel, nor seen previous adaptations of this famous French yarn. Therefore, I had no preconceived ideas or notions, nor could I compare it. I saw it on the excellent satellite TV French film channel, Cinemoi.

French films are often low budget, intimate and charming relationship dramas. This, however, is as big budgeted, grand and sweeping as any Hollywood fare, with a superbly rousing score from British composer Debbie Wiseman. The opening scenes are dashing and daring and sets one up for an exciting film. If you thought that only the Brits can pull off a decent period drama, then this, with its superb cinematography will have you swooning.

Romain Duris is suitably dark'n'dashing as the hero in question and Kristen Scott-Thomas, whom I've not always liked, plays Joséphine, the comtesse de Cagliostro that he is seduced by. Lupin's antics, with daring stunts and disguises then start to roll into each other and the story became less clear for me, though it always retains its rollicking fun and adventure.

Whether or not, this version is faithful to the original, or is any better or worse than the previous film versions (one of which, from 1932 starred John Barrymore) I cannot say. For me though, I was pleasantly and solidly entertained and whilst it lost ground in the middle for me, I enjoyed it.

Spectacular production of a novel written by Maurice Leblanc about the character, Arsene lupin, known perhaps to many Europeans and video game addicts, but not much to the rest of the film-going community. Great for Saturday afternoon film going and very much unlike any French produced film I've seen before. Young actor, Romain Duris, does a decent job of portraying Arsene Lupin in his youth and early beginnings as a gentleman thief. It's very difficult to take your eyes off him. He plays the part more as a modern day version of the old-fashioned character - grungy and hairy and all that. Up and coming young actress, Eva Green, plays his childhood sweetheart with just the proper amount of restrain. Overall a finely tuned performance. Kristin Scott Thomas plays the Countess of Cagliostro and outrightly steals the movie. She is no match for the gentleman cambrioleur. Anyone familiar with her other films will not recognize her as the exotic, over-sexed and murderous femme-fatale. It's a multi-dimensional and very soulful performance. The rest of the cast provide superlative work. I'm sure there will be lots of comparisons to Indiana Jones. However, the difference here is the well written and intelligent screenplay. The French has finally come up with their version of an action adventure that everyone can enjoy, but doesn't insult your intelligence.. I didn't think they were capable. A most enjoyable film to watch.

First of all, the 2 hours movie is enjoyable,, at least until the last hour.. Things start good ,, the build up,, the story line,, the characters.. all good. Then they stat the main adventure of the "treasure" thing! . Anyhow it keeps getting better.. then... then... all of the sudden, things change... and that's the second half.

In the second half you don't know what the hell is happening! he loves this, then sleeps with that and loves her, she betray him, then not, then yes, then back to the first, then his father, then the treasure, then the woman, then the father, the witch, the crosses.. OMG .. it just kept going on and on!!! Every time you think this is the final scene they start a new thing, so there is a moment where you just don't give a damn about the story you just watch a twist after twist. No honestly, you will think the movie ended several time then!! Voilaaa.. it's on again!!

That was crazy, enjoyable, fun yea.. but too much that I feel I got old now!!

I just finished watching this movie and I'm pretty surprised with all the low ratings. Sure it was a little confusing, but this was probably due to the fact that I could only watch this movie in french with french subtitles knowing very little french and, despite this, the only part of the movie I didn't really understand was the ending.

I don't really have any complaints about the acting or anything. Some people were complaining that it was unrealistic the way he stole womens jewellery right off their neck without them noticing and sure it's "fake" and all, but it's a movie.

I'm not really that much of a Lupin connoisseur so I can't really comment on how loyal it was to the books and such. I enjoyed the movie although it was a little bizarre and at times perhaps a little cheesy, but I still think this is worth watching.

I really didn't like this film, the actors aren't so bad, but the story is so twisted and boring and the director has managed to complicate it so much so uselessly that I really wanted to get out of the cinema (although I had been invited by a friend of mine).

The only actual good bit of the film was the exterior sets of Paris, well done on screen (I live in Paris).

The music is barely there and when it is, you want to block you're ears.

So really, if you ever want to see this film because you want to improve your french or something, go and see a Clouzot or a Truffaut, otherwise you'll be just wasting your time.

I'm giving this film 3/10 because I'm on holiday and in a good mood.

Hey kids, Did I miss something? How come we're not mentioning, e.g., Arsene Lupin Returns – 1938 – Melvyn Douglas and William Warren? And other Arsene flix that are extremely entertaining and the ORIGINAL Arsenes? At least you did mention(?) the writer of the original Maurice Leblanc. I glanced at some of the reviews and noticed the criticism that this flick was too much. An attempt at including too much 'stuff.' These characters should not be subjected to cloned Batman or Star Wars characters. They stand on their own. Give us the original film noir characters. And what about the Lone Wolf series? The English translation. A lot of good stuff here. This could be a good franchise. Holmes and Bond are still going strong. Let's put some French in there also.

The gentleman burglar Arsene Lupin is a fictional tale created by Maurice Leblanc of series of novels over this self-called hero, in turn of twenty century at France, those novel at its time had an awesome best-selling, being carried to big screen in 2004 keeping the gist of the belle epoque whereby Arsene Lupin belongs, supported by a strongest casting and mystery.

Arsene is raised by his fatherThéophraste Lupin his mother Henriette at Castle's affluent aunt married with powerful Le Duc de Dreux-Soubise and his young cousin Clarisse until the French's army discovered that Lupin actually is a jewel's thief, he got runaway, but his family is banned from the castle, in the middle of the way he found his father dead, now a grow up guy continues follow father's steps, he got a rare skill of sticky finger to withdraw the jewel from the ladies without noticed, he visited his dying mother at hospital and meeting Clarisse, a charming girl the old recollections are rose again from past life.

Then enter a mysterious woman Josephine (Kristin Scott Thomas) Comtesse of Cagliostro, that remains younger due a secret portion of reinvigoration, meanwhile a plot is settled aiming for to became France once more in a Monarchical regime by disgruntled aristocrats, they need found out three crucifixes that gathered all them could indicate the exactly spot where the King's gold were hidden before revolution, at gold's hands they should start a war against the newest republic and stablish a new kingdom.

Among all happenings Lupin looking for his father's assassin, somewhat he is between the enchants of Josephine and against the aristocrats, however many twists coming over, Arsene Lupin is an auspicious tale of mystery, mixing sorcery, vengeance and putsch among rarest sexy scenes, the outcome wasn't enough satisfactory, leaving in the air a possible sequel, that didn't happen until now, enjoyable and utterly underrated!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2010 / Source: DVD / How many: 2 / Rating: 7.25.

Sort of a biopic-mystery based on France's most iconic literary criminal, the 2004 'Lupin' charts the gentleman thief's life from childhood to a youth of crime, where he (Romain Durais) becomes entangled in the machinations of a mysterious Countess (Kristin Scott Thomas), and a hunt for a rare treasure that spans years, in which time, he becomes romantically involved with an old childhood flame (Eva Green).

Jean Paul Salome's adaptation can certainly be admired for its ambition, being an amply budgeted French action-adventure film, but ultimately suffers from an indecisive script that wants to be the Jack-Of-All-Trades/definitive Lupin film. It goes from simple popcorn treasure hunt fun, to a family drama to a romance to some kind of alternate history biopic, with the last 20 minutes feeling especially really rushed, and showing a lack of faith for the possibility of a sequel and future tales in the titular thief's life. It's as if they spent all this money and were so afraid the film would fail that they just squeezed everything that they could in from the various novels by Maurice LeBlanc to cover every facet of Lupin's adventures.

Despite this though, and barring the final 20 minutes, the film still manages to be an enjoyable romp that is technical proficient. We even have some well shot action and good effects, such as a rather impressive bombing in a Parisian restaurant. On the acting front, Durais makes for a capable and energetic Lupin, and distinguished English actress Scott Thomas has a ball as the scene stealing villain/lover of Lupin. And hey, we even have a younger Eva Green here, so that's a nice bonus. And the icing on the cake is the majestic score by Debbie Wiseman. Dear Lord, this may be one of my favourite scores from 2004: it's stylish, sexy, mysterious and often very exciting, very befitting a film about a master criminal.

In the end, this 'Lupin' may not quite get away with it, but enough strong elements overcome a cumbersome screenplay to make this a heist worth at least one try for those who want to see a more fun side of European cinema.

We laughed in the wrong places, I briefly fell asleep in the middle of the film, and then we left before the end. What can I say? A boring, insane mess. I did not care about any of the characters, probably since the back story was so limited and rushed. I did not care what happened in the inane plot, or who was good or bad. I also didn't think the visuals were all that stunning. The film did look expensive, but big deal. The same thing happened in every scene (that I was awake to watch): Arsene came bursting into a room/train/masked ball/etc. Revolvers blazed. Kirstin Scott Thomas ran around, and/or stabbed someone in the neck. Arsene's girlfriend screamed "Ar-SENE!" A group of identical-looking old guys with mustaches ran around. Someone stole a golden cross. Repeat 1,000 times. Zzzzzzzzzz!