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Korben Dallas looks at ASTERIX AND OBELIX VERSUS CEASAR!!!
Here's Korben Dallas with his look at the Asterix and Obelix flick review. I have very high hopes for this film, as my father has been showing me the comics since I was a very short creature, and I always loved the characters and designs (though I never did understand what they were saying due to my ignorant American upbringing) But the cast has me awaiting a really fun comic comic book flick... Sounds pretty good...
ASTERIX AND OBELIX VERSUS CEASAR came out in France last wednesday on
the largest number of screens ever (in France, of course): 780. Huge
opening, lots of publicity, long lines... Looks like a hit.
Anyway, I went to see it last night, thinking I wouldn't like it. Kind
of like: "Yeah, right, big dumb blockbuster, etc, etc..." But I couldn't
resist because it's showing in the biggest theater in my town (which is
Aix-en-Provence for those who were interested).
So I buy my ticket, sit down, hope to see the PHANTOM MENACE teaser on
the silver screen... Disapointment: there was just a 5 minute CG short
film. Fun, but nothing to rave about. Then, we got one trailer: EVER
AFTER (yuck!). And then a lot of commercials...
So finally the lights dim and I think "OK, let's see what the hype is
all about..." And on the screen appears the 20th Century Fox logo,
followed by "Lucasfilm Ltd" OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!! HERE WE GO
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hadn't watched the teaser since December so I could "forget it" a
little bit and then be blasted in the movie theater like it was the
first time... and that's what happened ! It was like I had never seen it
before: pure joy ! I was squirming in my seat !!!
At the end I was applauding and yelling and everything, like everyone
else in the theater !!! Awesome.
But why am I telling you this ? Because after seing the teaser, ASTERIX
just seemed kind of dull. You know, you see the Romans riding around in
their costumes and... it just doesn't seem right. It feels artificial.
But I slowly, slowly got into the film and I ended up liking it.
It's really nothing else but a big pop-corn movie but it's well done:
not a perfect script, but it still captures the feeling of the comic
book ; Depardieu is great as Obelix ; Christian Clavier surprised me: he
IS Asterix, aside from a few moments where you kind of think "The real
Asterix wouldn't say that" (too bad) ; Roberto Benigni is very good as
Detritus ; Gottfried John pulls off a cool Julius Ceasar (even though
Vittorio Gassman would have been better)...
Claude Zidi did a not bad directing job ; good production values (great
sets and costumes: you really feel the money on the screen) ; the only
problem is with the special effects: most are good, but sometimes they
can look REALLY bad (the flying Romans look SO bogus)... Aside from
that, it's actually good: the film has a very enjoyable "sweetness" to
it which doesn't feel sappy (do you see what I mean ?). It's one of the
rare times where a movie really made me feel like a small kid again.
Thank you Claude Berri, Claude Zidi, Gege Depardieu and everyone... way
to go !
I don't know if it will ever get to the States but if it does, I
recommend you go see it (even if you only recognise 2% of the actors in
it).
Keep up the good work !
Korben Dallas.
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I really didn't know Asterix was just that big in France! He's like the equivalent of Mickey Mouse, Bart Simpson or Super Mario over there. I did happen to see a lengthy 'Paris Match' article and download a trailer for the movie, all in French obviously, and its overall look was... faithful to the comic book, but well, in a 'Flintstones movie' kind of way. But it seems far more promising than that (thank god!) Like the animated Asterix movies, it's definitely bound for a UK release, so for anyone who likes the little Gallic hero, it'll get to US shores eventually, dubbed or subtitled, no doubt about it.
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Actually Harry,Asterix has been translated in several languages including English.I hope you'll find a copy of it somewhere.
But my favorite French comic book is Spirou,especially the latter titles by Tome and Janry,I can't wait for them to do a feature film of it.And the animated series suck big time,I know. -
I know it's been done, many times before, but anyone know if we'll ever get a new big budget Tintin adventure?
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I'm only interested about one thing and one thing only in this film. How much screen time does Leatitia Casta get and does she take her clothes off? Ladies, call me a pig, but if you know who she is, you wouldn't blame me for asking.
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I'm hoping Roberto scores a couple major oscars because that'll mean that producers will snap up everything he's ever been in, including Asterix, in a knee-jerk attempt to score quickly on his name.
I really must see this. Anybody going to france that wants to bring a NTSC camcorder?
Vinnie -
Is there a website with pictures of this anywhere? Anyone who enjoys a truly COMIC comic should check out one of the Asterix graphic novels. "Asterix & Cleopatra" is a good one to start with.
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Hey guys there were some pictures on Cinescape last week.they looked good seemed a lot like the comic.I have always loved the comics in fact I have about 20 of them.What is surprising though is that Hollywood allowed the French to make this film before them.Then again I probably shouldn't be surprised as Hollywood is in remake mode now anyway.
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I saw the trailer about two weeks ago in a local cinema. It looks like it's made up pretty good, but the main characters look a bit weird (even with my brain in comic-mode"). I think the music will be good. So as long as they don't come up with the french "The Visitors" humor...
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