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Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar

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Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar
Theatrical poster
Directed byClaude Zidi
Written byRené Goscinny
Gérard Lauzier
Produced byClaude Berri
StarringChristian Clavier
Gérard Depardieu
Roberto Benigni
Laetitia Casta
CinematographyTony Pierce-Roberts
Edited byHervé de Luze
Nicole Saunier
Music byJean-Jacques Goldman
Roland Romanelli
Distributed byPathé
Release dates
  • February 3, 1999 (1999-02-03) (France)
  • April 14, 2000 (2000-04-14) (United Kingdom)
CountriesFrance
Italy
Germany
LanguageFrench
Budget$ 41,87 million
Box office$ 211 195 909

Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar (French: Astérix & Obélix contre César, Asterix & Obelix vs. Caesar in some regions) is a 1999 feature film directed by Claude Zidi, the first of what went on to become a series of live-action films based on Goscinny and Uderzo's Astérix comics. The film combines elements of the plots of several Astérix stories, most from Asterix the Gaul (Getafix's abduction), Asterix and the Soothsayer, Asterix and the Goths (the Druid conference), Asterix the Legionary (Obelix becoming smitten with Panacea) and Asterix the Gladiator (the characters fighting in the circus) but jokes and references from many other albums abound, including a humorous exchange between Caesar and Brutus taken from Asterix and Cleopatra, and the villain Lucius Detritus is based on Tullius Detritus, the main antagonist of Asterix and the Roman Agent (known as Tortuous Convolvulus in the English translation of the comic).

At the time of its release, the film was the most expensive production in French cinema of all time, making it the most expensive production in France for the twentieth century. It was surpassed by the sequel, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, in 2002.

Plot

Julius Caesar is celebrating his victory over all of Gaul, but Lucius Detritus has kept from him the setback that one small village is holding out against the invaders. Detritus travels to the garrison near the village where Crismus Bonus, the garrison's commanding Centurion, explains that the Gauls have a magic potion brewed for them by their Druid which makes them invincible. Detritus decides he must capture the potion for himself, and hearing that the clever Asterix and permanently invincible Obelix are the backbone of the Gaulish forces, attempts to eliminate them, though his first attempt fails.

A false soothsayer arrives at the village and predicts the arrival of Romans and treasure; despite Asterix's protestations, the village is taken in and when a Roman tax collector arrives, they drive off his forces and take the gold. The "soothsayer" later drugs and hypnotises Asterix to create a diversion while he makes off with the tax money, but news of the theft reaches Caesar, who comes to the garrison himself, demanding the legion attack. He witnesses the defeat of his army and is taunted by Asterix and Obelix; he demands Detritus subdue the village or be fed to the lions.

Detritus disguises himself and some men as Druids and kidnaps Panoramix (Getafix) as he is attending a Druid conference. Asterix disguises Obelix as a legionnaire, and they enter the garrison to rescue the Druid, but are separated. Asterix joins Getafix in the dungeon, and the pair resist Detritus' demands to make the magic potion until he tortures Idefix (Dogmatix). Detritus uses the potion to throw Caesar into a cell (locked in an iron mask), and takes command with an oblivious Obelix as his bodyguard. Eventually Obelix helps Asterix, Getafix and Dogmatix escape, and they also bring the prisoner in the mask.

Caesar makes a deal with the Gauls to help him defeat Detritus, who mounts an all-out attack on the villagers using his own magic potion. To defeat him, Panoramix brews a special version of the potion using a rare ingredient which creates dozens of duplicates of Asterix and Obelix. Caesar is returned to power, and he grants the village its freedom.

Differences from the books

  • It is revealed early in the film that the magic potion used by the Gauls only lasts for ten minutes. No such time limit is ever implied in the original albums, where appearances seem to suggest that the potion's effects can last for several hours, such as disguised legionary Caligua Minus holding a rock up for several hours in Asterix the Gaul or crooked advisor Codfix retaining superhuman strength until well into the daytime after drinking a ladelful of potion at night in Asterix and the Great Divide.
  • In the books Geriatrix is 100% devoted to his wife's who doesn't appear to care much for his actions. In the movie she strongly cares for him and worries every times he wants to join in for a fight, while he ignores her wishes to stay in the house and acts cranky to her.
  • In the book Asterix and the Roman Agent a character named Detritus (in original french version) was an agent of Cesar who was a master of manipulating people. In the movie Detritus is a Roman Centurion who's personality appear to be more base on Crismus Bonus from Asterix the Gaul or Felonius Caucus from the book Asterix and the Big Fight
  • Getafix's grandfather who appears in the movie is a completely new character, not mentioned in any of the books.
  • In the books Obelix affection Panacea was mostly over the top comedic and he never appears to say a singe word when she was around. In the movie however the romance is play for dramatic effect and is taken much more seriously.
  • Prolix two heanchman are new characters, not seen in the books.
  • Dogmatix appears to be Asterix's dog in the movie, not Obelix's.

Cast

File:Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar.jpg
Chinese DVD cover

Soundtrack

Soundtrack by Jean-Jacques Goldman and Roland Romanelli

  • "Elle ne me voit pas" - 4:26
  • "Lei non vede me" - 4:26
  • "Asterix et Obelix contre César" - 2:20
  • "L'Embuscade" - 2:07
  • "L'Amour" - 3:52
  • "Le Cirque Encore" - 5:15
  • "La Serpe D'or" - 4:07
  • "Falbala" - 1:48
  • "Le Devin" - 2:43
  • "L'Amour Toujours" - 3:45
  • "Les Hallucinations D'Astérix" - 2:56
  • "La Potion Magique" - 3:14
  • "Bélenos" - 7:18
  • "Obélix" - 3:44

Accolades

References

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