There are few things to be said here. This international co-production was meant to rival a Sherlock Holmes franchise - "Sherlock Holmes" (2009) and "Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows" (2011) with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. The French Film "Arsene Lupin" (2004) had, however, faster post-production period and appeared first on the big screen. So much so, the arsenal that both protagonist use is almost the same and their literary fathers (Conan Doyle and Maurice LeBlanc) share equal popularity among their fans from the beginning of 20th century, before the Great War (World War I). Albeit, Arsen Lupin always ridiculed his adversary Sherlock Holmes and that resulted in court decision which made Maurice LeBlanc change the name to Herlock Sholmes or Holmlock Shears, an anagram and apparent one.
The problematic stuff overall is whether you have read novels from Maurice LeBlanc or none. If you come from non-French speaking country as I do you have a problem. I watched this titular movie on DVD with French language and English subtitles. Presumingly, no English dubbed copy is available or simply I can't find it. Whatever, the Movie is quite watchable with good action pace and 3D effects. Not like the old versions which are theatrical pieces and quite moody. As to the original Maurice LeBlanc's novels you can catch as catch can. Wikipedia provides scanty resource on Arsen Lupin and his literary author - some biography data with summary plot of few novels. You can't even get idea who the principal characters are.
Let's go to my country and review the translated books that I have used for main source. Most translations are from first half of last century, little bit outdated but re-edited and published with new covers. They look beautiful and handy but I doubt whether anyone reads them at all. Maurice LeBlanc is totally forgotten among the criminal establishment of 21st century. Young readers have seldom heard of Arsen Lupin and his author, or say "yes" because they watched the Movie in 2004. So what to comment, in the treasury throve of book collection one can find a gem of ideas where single sentence matters a lot. For instance, a replica on Bulgaria - "Those people are spies, coming from petty German Kingdom on the Balkans". End of quote.
Finishing lines. Take an "Arsene Lupin Omnibus" published by Wordsworth Editions recently, provided with introduction and notes. Read it carefully and make your judgment on the issue. That's my recipe. Until then, beguile. So, so ...
The problematic stuff overall is whether you have read novels from Maurice LeBlanc or none. If you come from non-French speaking country as I do you have a problem. I watched this titular movie on DVD with French language and English subtitles. Presumingly, no English dubbed copy is available or simply I can't find it. Whatever, the Movie is quite watchable with good action pace and 3D effects. Not like the old versions which are theatrical pieces and quite moody. As to the original Maurice LeBlanc's novels you can catch as catch can. Wikipedia provides scanty resource on Arsen Lupin and his literary author - some biography data with summary plot of few novels. You can't even get idea who the principal characters are.
Let's go to my country and review the translated books that I have used for main source. Most translations are from first half of last century, little bit outdated but re-edited and published with new covers. They look beautiful and handy but I doubt whether anyone reads them at all. Maurice LeBlanc is totally forgotten among the criminal establishment of 21st century. Young readers have seldom heard of Arsen Lupin and his author, or say "yes" because they watched the Movie in 2004. So what to comment, in the treasury throve of book collection one can find a gem of ideas where single sentence matters a lot. For instance, a replica on Bulgaria - "Those people are spies, coming from petty German Kingdom on the Balkans". End of quote.
Finishing lines. Take an "Arsene Lupin Omnibus" published by Wordsworth Editions recently, provided with introduction and notes. Read it carefully and make your judgment on the issue. That's my recipe. Until then, beguile. So, so ...
