Astérix et Obélix contre César (1999)

Director:

Claude Zidi

Writers:

René Goscinny (comic book)
Terry Jones (English translation)

Release Date:

3 February 1999 (Belgium)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

The Gauls are revolting!

Plot:

The well-known little village from the Asterix and Obelix-comic books is in trouble: It is the last place not controlled by Rome...

Plot Keywords:

Asterix | Potion | Druid | Julius Caesar | Dog

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Christian Clavier	...	Astérix
Gérard Depardieu	...	Obélix
Roberto Benigni	...	Lucius Detritus (Tullius Destructivus / Catastrofus)
Michel Galabru	...	Abraracourcix (Majestix)
Claude Piéplu	...	Panoramix (Miraculix) / Getafix
Daniel Prévost	...	Prolix (Lügnix / Xynix)
Pierre Palmade	...	Assurancetourix (Troubadix)
Laetitia Casta	...	Falbala
Arielle Dombasle	...	Mme Agecanonix (Frau Methusalix)
Sim	...	Agecanonix (Methusalix)
Marianne Sägebrecht	...	Bonnemine (Gutemine)
Gottfried John	...	Jules César (Julius Caesar)
Jean-Pierre Castaldi	...	Caius Bonus
Jean-Roger Milo	...	Cetautomatix (Automatix)
Jean-Jacques Devaux	...	Ordralfabetix (Verleihnix)

Also Known As:

Astérix et Obélix (France) (working title)
Asterix & Obelix Take on Caesar (Australia)
Asterix & Obelix gegen Caesar (Germany)
Asterix & Obelix vs. Caesar (Philippines: English title)
Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar (UK)
Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar
Asterix e Obelix contro Cesare (Italy)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

France | Germany | Italy

Language:

French | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG | Malaysia:U | Denmark:7 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Brittany, France

Company:

AMLF

Trivia:

For the pit-scene a fake alligator was used, as well as real ones. To calm the alligators down they were put in cold water. For a certain scene, Gerard Depardieu's stuntman was supposed to jump on a model-alligator and surf across the pond. Unfortunately, the stuntman made a mistake and jumped on a real alligator. He just managed to get away fast enough without being hurt by the animal.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#22.6)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

She Didn't See Me

Fantastic in French; don't bother with the translation

This film is a genuinely brilliant live-action translation of an (arguably) unfilmable classic comic book series... Claude Zidi's writing and direction are top notch, and the main characters as played by Clavier and Depardieu work extremely well.

The English translation, on the other hand, is awful. When I saw the film in England having already watched it in France, I was, frankly, embarrassed! Terry Jones relies too much on direct translations and gags that don't fit... perhaps they should have used Bell and Hockeridge, the hugely talented translators of the actual books. Oh well.

I definitely recommend the film, though, albeit only in the original French. Don't worry if you don't speak a word of the language; you'll soon pick up what's going on, without the experience being spoiled by the abysmal English dubbing.