I get why reviews were split in Japan: Koike spent 11 years selling a gritty Lupin, teased a remake of Island of Assassins, only to finish on a phantasmogoric prequel to Mystery of Mamo. Now I do think in some areas, there's valid criticisms to be made with it as a movie. At about 75 mins if you cut the 7 min recap, this thing is paced like one long 3rd act that's mostly tying plot threads and lore. Also on a spectacle level, prior Koike OVAs have it beat. If you do roll with when Lupin gets a bit more philosophical though, it all leads to a conversation with the main villain that made me go "ah yeah, Koike GETS this character." I started my lupin journey in 2021 after seeing The First. That moment in the cave hacked my brain in a way that could only be filled with more. After starting with the most newbie friendly entry in cinemas, it only seems appropriate to now watch the most Meta entry in years. 😅 It was a ballsy move for a finale that's understandably difficult to like. But I'm satisfied with it.

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