Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002) User Reviews

This Asterix is even better than the first one

[Lady_Targaryen · 8/10 · 18 March 2006]

After I read that ''At the time of its release in 2002, its budget of $47 million, or 327,000,000 FRF, was said to make it the costliest French film ever. However, Astérix et Obélix contre César (1999) had a budget of $48 million, or 274,620,000 FRF, which supposedly made it the most expensive French film ever'' I discovered the reason why I found this movie to be one of the most beautiful and colorful of all I have ever seen. I loved the scenarios,the clothes(specially the ones from Cleopatra) and the atmosphere of the movie! It's so happy and cheerful! I found the jokes smart and hilarious and I have to consider this movie to be in my favorite comedies of all times!

The cast is also excellent, with Monica Bellucci(who is very beautiful as Cleopatra)Gérard Depardieu,(great Obelix!!Christian Clavier, Jamel Debbouze(That I saw for the first time in ''Amélie Poulain'') among others!:)

I recommend this movie even for people who doesn't know Asterix and Obelix comics. You are going to have a great amount of fun!:)

aka "Asterix e Obelix: Missão cleópatra" - Brazil

The French are getting the hang of it!!

[jvanhalderen · 8/10 · 27 September 2002]

Wow! the French are really getting the hang of it. If we look at their first Asterix movie we see a good story with nice actors (especially thanks to Gerard Depardeu)but very lame special effect. In a fantasy story like Asterix Special Effects are really important. Well.. they did it right this time! It looks terrific. I personaly think Mission Cleopatra is the best Asterix story ever written. In the movie there's not one moment you're bored. Go and watch this! One thing! they didnt go exactly by the script which I think is a little bit pittyful. For example, In the comic Obelix breaks the nose of the Sphinx, immediatly all the little storekeepers start breaking of the nose of their miniature Sphinx. (really funny to see)..Well they didnt put it in the movie, instead they burried the nose under the Sphinx. Asterix: "They will never look for it here" (guess again). Was funny but not as good as the original. Another thing i disliked about the movie was their choice for music. It maked the film to childies. But never the less... It's a must C!

Grz Da Jean Holland

Exclusively French, but Monica is awesome

[soringax · 7/10 · 21 February 2002]

You cannot be seeing the same movie if you didn't grow up in France (or spent at least 10 years there, like me). I don't know if it will ever make it outside French cultural borders (I include Belgium and Luxembourg here). You cannot translate its kind of fun - every name is joke (how many people outside Paris would understand the pun in "Couloirdebus", the name of one of the Roman legionnaires ?). However Monica Bel(l?)ucci is so beautiful, I almost forgot to breathe when I saw her.

A successful, funny adaptation from a great comic book

[Asterix-3 · 28 January 2002]

All those who had seen it will easily agree with me : the first opus was terrible. Christian Clavier was unbearable, the story was ridiculous, the look was disappointing ; despite many talented actors and technicians, Goscinny was betrayed. Astérix et Obélix contre César was a cruel and total setback. Alain Chabat and his team had a lot of work to do in order not to fall into the same traps. Adapting Astérix to the cinema could have even considered an impossible challenge after that first disaster.

However, they made it. Astérix et Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre is a great adaptation of the famous comics. Alain Chabat, who also wrote the screenplay, could modernize the story and the characters and obtain the best from the composer, the cinematographer, the production designer, the actors... With the biggest French budget (50 million Euros), he's made a movie that is suitable for all the family, with an outstanding look and a funniest Jamel. Fast-paced, with plentiful play on words, some situations are really hilarious.

If you like Astérix, and if you like humor, you will like this movie.

a half adaption of the comic book

[saemikneu · 7/10 · 19 June 2005]

In the original French version, the jokes of Numérobis (great, funny voice - Jamel Debbrouze) are very funny.

But in translated versions (I saw the German & English version) it's not half good than the original.

But: goof Special Effects, almost the full comic (with differences, like the Figure of Lügnix (German name) is placed in an other comic book.

Sure, the Asterix comic book are cult, but when you watch the animated comic movies from 1968 to 1998 you will see much better jokes, better story and the old "charme" and "flair" of the cult stories.

For French speaking people I suggest to watch it in it's original version, with or without subtitles, where available in different languages.

It'll never be as good as the comics, but it was still fun to watch

[Hokusai · 7/10 · 7 February 2003]

The above line sums it up pretty good. The best assets of the comics are it's visual gags and word-jokes (the latter of which are almost impossible to translate, which is why the comics are at their best in their original language).

Both are quite hard to capture in film, which is why those will never be as good as the comics. Movies are simply a different medium than comics. With that in mind, this movie does surprisingly well in capturing the fun of the comic.

The word gags are bearable, and sometimes even funny (Debouze does an Amelie reference!). I have to mention that I watched the french version. If you don't watch the french version or your lack of understanding of the french language limits you to the subtitles, the word jokes will probably suck.

The slapstick is okay as well; it's a very simple form of humor, and not really funny when you're older than twelve, but it captures the spirit of the comicbooks. The other visual jokes are the movie's saving grace for the older audience, as their often quite funny.

The acting is totally over the top, but again, that's not annoying at all as it captures the spirit of the comicbooks. Only Depardieu and Clavier don't really overact, which might be the reason some people think they didn't enjoy their roles (I didn't notice a thing). On the other hand Jamel Debouze and especially Claude Rich turn overacting into an artform. It's actually fun to watch. Again, I fear it wouldn't be nearly as funny when the voices are dubbed.

Overall not a bad movie at all, much better than the previous one. It's not a classic and it doesn't dethrone The Twelve Tasks of Asterix as my favourite Asterix movie, but it's still worth seeing. The french version, that is. 7/10

Way better than the first movie

[Iphigenie72 · 9/10 · 5 April 2005]

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".

Entertaining but no more

[lady_kina · 7/10 · 10 June 2002]

This movie is quite better than the first one "Astérix et Obelix contre César", but it is far away from perfection. The adaptation of the comic book is good, some of the pictures and the dialogs of the movie are the same as in the book. But there's few things that made the movie not as interresting as the animated movie released in 1968. For example the fighting between Numerobis and Amonbofis. This wasn't necessary or even credible, either for the little love story of Astérix. There were also some stuff missing, like the songs that are in the animated movie, and some other things... I am deceived by the movie because they cutted in the stuff I was expecting tho see and they showed things that I did not wanted or needed to see. I know that it would have been very difficult to make the movie exactly the same than the comic book or the animated movie, but that's what I expected. In conclusion, even if the movie is good, I still prefer the animated movie, wich is in my opinion, far better.

A brilliant comedy

[cinewatt · 10/10 · 2 September 2002]

This is definitely a "must see" film. The excellent Director Alain Chabat (also acting as Ceasar) has managed to capture the very essence of the "Adventures of Astérix" (the French comic books it's based upon) and to create a fantastically modern and intelligent comedy, which is also an homage to the world of animated films. This movie is so funny, so full of jokes (both visual and spoken) that it might take you two or three screenings before you notice them all, between your bursts of laughter. The only drawback is that a non-French audience (or at least a non-French speaking audience) might not get all the "private jokes". There are so many dialogues impossible to translate, so many situations directly related either to the comic books or to the French way of life, that the fun might be lessened. However, it's still totally worth seeing for the beautiful picture, the amazing stunts, the music, the totally crazy atmosphere and the excellent acting. All actors are great, but the film would not be the same without Jamel Debouze, Gérard Darmon and Edouard Baer. And please don't EVER compare this magnificent film to the terrible previous one based on the same comic books : "Astérix et Obélix Contre César" and directed by Claude Zidi.

Unexpected humoristix

[Joep Bonthond · 7/10 · 18 March 2002]

The French people are not known to be great movie producers.

Though their Amelie scores high points at the Oscars. Asterix et Obelix is a very different film of what I am used to from the French. It is a great movie especially for kids. The only thing that boddert me was that it was spoken in French and subtiteld. Normally with the english spoken movies (here in the Netherlands) I don't have to read the subtitles. But with the French language you just have to read to understand. The story it self is just great with Obelix who doesn't recall him self of beïng fat, but there also nice details mainly in names like brucewillix and malcomix. You all know the story from the comic books and this movie shows all most slide by slide the book. Every thing is in it, from the Sfinx nose braking till pirate red beards lose of three more ships. I would say a great movie for the weekend with the children.

lost in translation

[kataeklund · 5/10 · 5 November 2012]

the movie is hilarious, good special effects, a great script, good actors. the only problem is the translation. it is too litteral and the movie makes a lot of references to famous FRENCH songs especially Claude- francois, authors and paintings which meant that a non french person would not understand. quite sad as this is probably one of the few good french movies. this movie is great fun too watch in french (assuming you understand the language) and this is probably the best Asterix movie and it actually follows the comic book. unlike the one in Britain and the Olympics which were shockingly bad as they were both all about a love story(which wasn't in the comics at all)

If you didn't like the first, you MUST see this one! It's a must!

[negative-7 · 10/10 · 13 April 2002]

I have to confess that I slept in the cinema while watching the first Asterix movie... but this one is simply FANTASTIC! It is really funny and it leaves the first one miles away. It has enumerous gags and funny situations that made me laugh since the first minutes of the movie and I only stopped laughing when I reached the car to return home. I repeat: this movie is spectacular... Obelix is really funny and Cleopatra is a real babe!!

Amusing

[sergelamarche · 7/10 · 20 July 2018]

The Asterix in flesh are filled with surprisingly sexy girls. This well known story was rendered well enough and had some funny additions and spoofs.

Heavy !

[Gregphilip · 3/10 · 2 February 2002]

The film stars Jamel Debbouze who cannot utter one correct word in the whole movie. It's supposed to be funny... I'm telling you, after an hour and a half of `Asterixm' and `Nobelixm', you won't want to get out of the theater, you'll want to set it on fire.

Asterix and Obelix are no longer the lead characters, therefore, Clavier and Depardieu seem to be bored to tears throughout the movie. As for the other actors, well, they're all Canal + material (French private network that produced the movie). Most of them are not even actors. There are a few exceptions like Isabelle Nanty and Claude Rich who turns out to be a better Panoramix than Claude Pieplu In the first movie.

I don't know how the jokes are translated for foreign versions, but since most of them are references to French songs, people, etc., or lousy puns, it'll be a tough job. However, don't worry, even with a bad translation, you're not losing anything.

To give you an idea, Jamel tells some dumb joke at the end to an obviously uninterested girl, and spends like 5 minutes after that explaining why the joke is funny. Ah Ah ! What could hardly be a halfway decent gag, is moreover stretched like an old piece of gum.

There are good points, though, but all related with the incredible amount of money they were given : the images of the desert, the beautiful colors, the breathtaking special effects... Give my butcher the same budget and he'll do just as well.

This movie will probably end up the same way `Asterix and Obelix take on Ceasar' did. In France, the DVD is sold at discount prices because everyone thinks it's not `trendy' enough anymore although, it was also, at the time of its initial release, a `must see' and it's less than 3 years older than this one .

I heard an interview of Jamel saying that he was capable of playing Shakespeare if he wanted to. That's the kind of funny line you wish you'd heard in the movie.

they're crazy those Romans!

[dbdumonteil · 23 November 2002]

In 1995, the movie "le hussard sur le toit" was released and it had a record; it was the most expensive movie ever made. This record was beaten seven years later with this film. But once again, this enormous budget was worth to be spending. Alain Chabat controls perfectly the huge incomes to his disposition (for example, sceneries are carefully restored and the crowd movements are wide) and he succeeds in recreating the fanciful atmosphere of the Astérix'albums. His making is very inventive, full of clever visuals and ringing brainwaves. Moreover, he doesn't only emphasize on the special effects of the movie and this was one of the faults of the first Astérix' film made by Claude Zidi in 1999. On the other hand, what a casting! It's very similar to the Sacha Guitry's film "si Versailles m'étais conté" and you can have fun by guessing which actor epitomize which character of the album "Astérix et Cléopâtre". As far as Christian Clavier and Gérard Depardieu are concerned, they're better managed than in the Zidi's film: they don't ham it up and are more credible in their respective roles even if Depardieu isn't fat enough. The other actors are excellent, (especially Gérard Darmon) rightly chosen even the minor actors in whom Chabat grants a big importance. Nevertheless, this one doesn't fit in the Caesar's role: he is a bit listless and not authoritarian enough. At last, let's notice that the characters' names are successful and funny puns (Menubestofplus, Numérobis, Itinéris), but they're only easily understood for French people. At the end, a successful adaptation of the Astérix's comic strip on the screen and a pleasant entertainment.

As in the comics and in the cartoons!

[amanfigo · 6/10 · 24 January 2003]

Brilliant second adaptation of the characters of Goscinny and Uderzo, Asterix and Obelix is. Based on some of the best comics in the characters Asterix and Cleopatra, This film is better and original that the own comic and that the movie of cartoons.

They repeat as Asterix and Obelix the French actors Christian Clavier and the genuine Gerard Depardieu again and being as the comic stars of this movie again I also join with the Egyptian architect Numerobis (Jammel Debbouze) one of the best characters in the movie. Mónica Bellucci also this brilliant one in their paper like Cleopatra (ending up us to remind Liv Taylor) although they suffer a wrong change the characters of Caesar (Alain Chabat) and Panoramix (Claude Rich) that are not so faithful apparently to the characters of the comic (to see Asterix et Obelix contre Cesar), neither the sound band is not as good as in the first part.

Great atmosphere of the movie and also great unfolding of special effects and digital effects that make us see the movie as if we were seeing the own cartoons of Goscinny and Uderzo. In summary an amusing movie for the whole public. Of 10 stars I give 6 to this brilliant film.

Fun and attractive adventure of the immortal Gauls with plenty of computer generator effects

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 24 February 2021]

Gaul is entirely occupied bt the Roman. Well not, entirely . One small village of indomitable Gauls holds out against against the invaders .In the village lives our friends , Asterix : Christian Clavier and his inseparable churn Obelix : Gerard Depardieu and Panoramix: Claude Rich , the venerable local druid who brews magic potions, his speciality is the potion which gives the drinker supernatural strength , whitout forgetting the chief Abraracourcix and the singer Bardo Cacofonix . They are asked for help from Egyptian stammering architect Numerobix : Janel Debouzze . Then , all of them are persuaded to execute an assignment , that's why the intimate villagers go to Egypt to carry out a mission : to help Numerobix to meet the deadline set by Cleo : Monica Bellucci, who's anxious to have Caesar's : Alain Chabat palace completed in time to win a bet .

This amusing pic captures outrageous adventures , tongue-in-cheek , anachronistic modern-culture moments , feats , movie references and hilarious gags here and there . Lavish and robust live-action chapter of the famous cartoon, in which there's enough feelgood laughs , plus some satisfying and funny scrapping to keep viewers chortling . Of course , there shows up regular pirate galleon with its likable pirates , this time the Gauls sinking over and over their unfortunate ships . It packs simpathetic appearances from Monica Belucci as gorgeous Cleopatra , Alain Chabat -who also directed- as Julius Caesar , Gerard Darmon as villian assistant , Eduardo Baer and Janel Debouzze as botcher architect whose awkwardness belies a short talent , he will repeat his role in Asterix at the Olympic Games , among others .

The motion picture was professionally directed by Alain Chabat . It made exceptional business at the French box office and in the export got success enough , too . This Asterix mission Cleopatra is followed by Asterix versus Julius Caesar by Claude Zidi and Asterix at the Olympic Games by Frédéric Forrestier . Furthermore , other animated movies as Asterix and the big fight , Asterix and the Vikings, Asterix conquers America , Asterix in Britain , among others .

One of the best comedies of the new millenium.

[swinneke · 10/10 · 8 August 2003]

Making a movie about a Comic is hard to do. Making a good movie about a Comic is extremely hard to do. Making a good movie about Asterix & Obelix has been done.

This movie shows that the french do know how to make an : a) funny , b) hilarious , c) beautiful , d) superb movie. The acting is no less than superb , the sunny feel to the whole movie is perfect .. A MUST see ! This just has to be the funniest thing to come out since we started the new millenium.. 10/10

Obelix and the Pirates Leaded by Red Bear "Steals" this Funny Movie

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 7 September 2003]

Cleopatra (the delicious Monica Bellucci) is challenged by Cesar (Alain Chabat): in order to prove that the Egyptians are better than the Romans, she promises to build a fancy castle for Cesar in a period of three months, without any delay. She calls the one-arm architect Numerobis (Jamel Debbuzi) and gives him two options: to be covered by gold if he accomplishes his mission, or become crocodile food if he fails. Numerobis will ask for help to Panoramix (Claude Rich), Asterix (Christian Clavier) and Obelix (Geraard Depardieu) (with Ideiafix). This movie is very funny, specially the parts where Obelix and the Pirates leaded by Red Beard participate. However, the screenwriter and the director should have noted that French is not an universal language as English is. Therefore, the jokes with words (like in Austin Powers movies, for example) does not work well for people strange to French language. French people and persons fluent in French language will certainly like these jokes, but they do not make any sense for me, that do not speak French. My vote is seven.

Great fun!

[bluegum4 · 10/10 · 23 March 2003]

I loved this film, the audience I was part of loved this film, and the little 7 year old girl who was with me loved this film. We all laughed at the puns, the visual humour, and the good feeling you left the cinema with when it ended. I could easily see why it was such a huge box-office success in France. I am planning on buying the DVD, so I can see it again and laugh at all the bits I missed as I was laughing so hard the first time.

Ok, but...

[Thurin · 7/10 · 28 February 2002]

The (dying) sheep in the beginning of the film really p***ed me off. It wasn't funny, it wasn't nice - it was cruel. And I didn't expect to find that on this kind of films (comedy that is). I don't know why they've put that kind of scene - it was TOTALLY unnecessary and it ruined my expectations in the beginning. That's probably the only reason why I didn't like film so much. Overall the film was good. French have extremely good sense of humor, but here, humor was pretty americanized, and it didn't shine.

The first Asterix movie was better (as a whole).

Rating: 1-10: 6.5-7

Boy, does this movie suck!

[DanDV · 4/10 · 1 January 2003]

Unless you understand French, this movie is so lame that either you won't have the patience to wait till the end, or you'll pull your hair off thinking "How could I stand all this crap?!". And even if you do understand French, the movie is very disappointing as a whole. There are movies that I'd never see again, but this is one I regret I wasted time seeing!

Most intelligent movie ever!!! (French Speaker)

[Mustangjp · 10/10 · 11 February 2005]

This film is the smartest comedy I have ever seen, a lot of jokes are either a parody of another film, (from star wars to dragon ball to power rangers to kung fu etc..) or somehow related to history of whatever, (Otis creates the elevator), a lot of jokes are also related to the modern world and made fun of because it was B.C. (Like the wheels of the horse wagon spinning) Other jokes are just plain total non-sense but also hilarious (like the famous scene, with the dog running after the roman guy with the little music) In fact in this movies they mix pretty much every kind of humor. I watched this film 6 times already and every single time I watch it I find other subtle jokes. (like the scene where waldo is part of the Egyptian crowd). It is the funniest movie I have every seem, finally a laugh-out-loud comedy, that doesn't include toilet or sex humor. Numerobis is also what makes the movie, everything that comes out of that guys mouth is hilarious. This movie is nearly perfect except a few clichéd thing, like the fact that Asterix gets his power back because he is kissed, that is plain stupid. But overall an excellent movie!! 9.5 out 10

Not for children

[efialtisk · 7/10 · 5 March 2023]

Most of Asterix and obelix movies (animated and real life) are suitable for all audiences. They are family friendly and have minimal if any inappropriate scenes. This movie is an exception,because there are many scenes in which women are dressed inappropriately (to show and portray the way women were dressed at the time in which the movie takes place). Nevertheless,this movie has many of those scene and therefore,I wouldn't say is appropriate for all audiences. It has a nice story line and is essentially the same exact movie as the animated one with cleopatra.so if you want to see this movie and you want a family friendly version , watch the animated film.

Uttter inability to make a film

[madturkey · 2/10 · 1 June 2006]

The director is probably a fan of the original BD, but knowledge of the comics can not serve for capability to direct. The film is not a film, it is a collection of jokes that does not stick together in the slightest. I do not say I got all the jokes right but I claim to have understood a vast majority as I have been to France and I had feedback from real Frenchmen watching the film with me. It can be argued over whether the jokes are funny or not, I liked, say, a quarter of them but when 40 minutes are behind you and you still wait for the film to start and are bored to death, it is not right. What is more, the director of photography made the film all confusing and some of the scenes get really boring as you are caught in the flying views showing nothing. It looks like everything in the film should support jokes but those are mainly just about popular culture, about nothing that can be laughed at 4 years after making the film. It is just Hollywood, nothing more, maybe just less. One good thing is the effects, they make, along with some word puns, for the really funny moments of the film. And last to the music - it is boring, saying nothing, there is no gripping theme. Overall, the film is a complete miss, everything otherwise possible to praise is downgraded by the director who could not put together a film. He only composed the parts in a wrong way.