Asterix and Obelix Meet Cleopatra (2002)

Astérix and Obélix go to Egypt to help architect Numérobis who is building a palace for Cleopatra.

Director:

Alain Chabat

Writers:

René Goscinny (comic book "Astérix et Cléopatre"), Albert Uderzo (comic book "Astérix et Cléopatre")

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Christian Clavier, Jamel Debbouze

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Obélix
Christian Clavier	...	Astérix
Jamel Debbouze	...	Numérobis
Monica Bellucci	...	Cléopâtre
Alain Chabat	...	Jules César
Claude Rich	...	Panoramix
Gérard Darmon	...	Amonbofis
Edouard Baer	...	Otis
Dieudonné	...	Caius Céplus
Mouss Diouf	...	Baba, la vigie des pirates
Marina Foïs	...	Sucettalanis
Bernard Farcy	...	Barbe-Rouge le pirate
Jean Benguigui	...	Malococsis
Michel Crémadès	...	Triple Patte
Jean-Paul Rouve	...	Caius Antivirus

Storyline

The Egyptian Queen Cleopatra bets against the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, that her people are still great, even if the times of the Pharaohs has long passed. She vows (against all logic) to build a new palace for Caesar within three months. Since all her architects are either busy otherwise or too conservative in style, this ambivalent honor falls to Edifis. He is to build the palace and be covered in gold or, if not, his fate is to be eaten by crocodiles. Edifis calls upon an old friend to help him out: The fabulous Druid Getafix from Gaul, who brews a fantastic potion that gives supernatural strength. In order to help and protect the old Druid, Asterix and Obelix accompany him on his journey to Egypt. When Julius Caesar gets wind of the project succeeding, he has the building site attacked by his troops in order to win the bet and not lose face. But just like the local pirates, he hasn't counted on Asterix and Obelix.

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Plot Keywords:

asterix | architect | anachronism | based on comic book | comicbook movie | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language, sensuality and mild violence

Details

Country:

France Germany

Language:

French Arabic Cantonese Latin German

Release Date:

30 January 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra

Filming Locations:

Atlas Corporation Studios, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 327,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,081,354 (France), 25 January 2002

Gross USA:

$3,115,188

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$111,127,553

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+,Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC),Chez Wam

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min 85 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Wordplay is common in this movie. At Numérobis' "I am, my dear friend, very happy to see you" Panoramix replies "C'est un Alexandrin" (It's an Alexandrian) meaning both Numérobis' hometown (Alexandria, Egypt) and the French twelve syllable poetic verse (alexandrine).

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Goofs

When Caius Céplus is on the hill with Antivirus, threatening Asterix and Obelix, his horse changes from brown to white and back between shots.

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Quotes

Numérobis: Il est bizarre ce sol, il est pas palpable...

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the credits, Amonbofis, still crushed in the wall, is asking for help.

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Alternate Versions

The entirety of the movie's Hungarian dub was written in playful, rhyming prose, with a host of newly added puns.

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Connections

References Malcolm X (1972)

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Soundtracks

Walk Like an Egyptian
Written by Liam Sternberg
Performed by Deep Forest featuring Beverly Jo Scott

User Reviews

Way better than the first movie

I was lucky to see this sequel before the original because i'm not sure i would have gone out of my way to see it if the contrary had been true. I found "Mission Cléopâtre" better than it's predecessor for different reasons, but the major one is this : it was almost word for word an adaptation of one book not an amalgam like the first movie. The physical resemblance of some characters to their animated self were very funny especially the bad guy (who's name is escaping me, but he's the other architect). I don't know how this movie played in English; my first language is french so i didn't have that problem... I imagine some of the jokes weren't that easy to translate. I've learned something with years it's better to watch a movie with the subtitles than with the dubbing maybe you wont understand what is said, but you wont lose the rhythm and i think that's important too. I would recommend this movie to anyone who really loves "Astérix et Obélix".