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Iznogoud- Caliph Instead of the Caliph

Original title: Iznogoud
  • 20052005
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
3.8/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Iznogoud (2005)
  • Comedy
  • Family
  • Fantasy
A corrupt Vazeer (Minister) tries to get rid of the Caliph and gets away with every conspiracy until..A corrupt Vazeer (Minister) tries to get rid of the Caliph and gets away with every conspiracy until..A corrupt Vazeer (Minister) tries to get rid of the Caliph and gets away with every conspiracy until..
IMDb RATING
3.8/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Patrick Braoudé
  • Writers
    • René Goscinny(comic books)
    • Jean Tabary(comic books)
    • Patrick Braoudé(scenario and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Michaël Youn
    • Arno Chevrier
    • Jacques Villeret
Top credits
  • Director
    • Patrick Braoudé
  • Writers
    • René Goscinny(comic books)
    • Jean Tabary(comic books)
    • Patrick Braoudé(scenario and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Michaël Youn
    • Arno Chevrier
    • Jacques Villeret
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    Iznogoud (2005)
    Iznogoud (2005)
    Franck Dubosc, Rufus, and Magloire Delcros-Varaud in Iznogoud (2005)
    Olivier Baroux and Kad Merad in Iznogoud (2005)
    Jacques Villeret and Michaël Youn in Iznogoud (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michaël Youn
    Michaël Youn
    • Iznogoudas Iznogoud
    Arno Chevrier
    • Dilat Larahtas Dilat Laraht
    Jacques Villeret
    Jacques Villeret
    • Haroun El Poussahas Haroun El Poussah
    Fred Jaspart
    • Le prince sortilègeas Le prince sortilège
    Bernard Farcy
    Bernard Farcy
    • Pullmankaras Pullmankar
    Maurice Lamy
    Maurice Lamy
    • Conseiller Pullmankaras Conseiller Pullmankar
    Cécile Davidovici
    • Esclave doucheas Esclave douche
    Mathias Jung
    • Le général Bohlas Le général Bohl
    Eric Hémon
    • Le général Eparkrethas Le général Eparkreth
    Franck Dubosc
    Franck Dubosc
    • Le chambellan du califeas Le chambellan du calife
    Rufus
    Rufus
    • Le conseiller du califeas Le conseiller du calife
    Sofia Essaïdi
    Sofia Essaïdi
    • Belbethas Belbeth
    Magloire Delcros-Varaud
    • L'eunuque en chefas L'eunuque en chef
    • (as Magloire)
    Mohamed Yazidi
    • Le maître du protocoleas Le maître du protocole
    Jamal Lababsi
      Doud
      • Le garde du califeas Le garde du calife
      • (as Patrick Leluherne)
      Mahjoub Raji
      Hasna Tamtaoui
      • Epouse du calife 1as Epouse du calife 1
      • Director
        • Patrick Braoudé
      • Writers
        • René Goscinny(comic books)
        • Jean Tabary(comic books)
        • Patrick Braoudé(scenario and dialogue)
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
      • All cast & crew

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Connections
        Version of Iznogoud (1995)
      • Soundtracks
        Quand je serai calife
        Performed by Michaël Youn

        Written by Patrick Braoudé (as P Braoudé) and Jacques Davidovici (as J Davidovici)

        © 2004 Vertigo Productions / L'Arbre et la Colombe / Sing Sing

      User reviews8

      Review
      Top review
      4/10
      Plenty of potential, but wasted and squandered never the less
      Being a fan of "Asterix", "Lucky Luke" and not least "Iznogoud" (here in Germany spelled "Isnogud"), its quiet surprising that I came around so late to watch this film. Or perhaps not such a big surprise at all, considering that I've been more or less disappointed by most real-life-adaptations of said comics. Hence, I didn't watch with too high an expectation and left not quite as disappointed as I had expected – but disappointed nevertheless.

      I'd agree with most points of criticism that the other reviewers here have pointed out, but would defend Jacques Villeret, who looks like he was born to play the part of the peaceful, tranquil yet rather simple Caliph (and that may sound a little off-place, considering that this was his final role). Michael Youn as titular character, well, not as bad as made out to be, but then again not exactly living up to the comic-Iznogoud either. Too young, in my opinion, and far removed from the figure, that's slimy, scheming, choleric, treacherous and of course likable as an anti-hero can get. I don't blame it too much on the cast though and rather on the lazy script-writing (it would appear that Patrick Braoude has only glanced over the source-material and/or didn't understand it) and Braoude being the wrong man for the job of directing this in the first place.

      Not being all too familiar with his prior work, it would appear that Braoude is more at home at children's movies and RomComs, which shines through in "Iznogoud" but really has no place in an adaptation. Call me naïve, but when adapting from a different media, especially one that is so popular and beloved as the "Iznogoud"-comics, I would presume that you primarily want to reach the fans of the source-material. Here we get the impression that the producers reasoned, "oh well, the fans will go and watch it one way or the other, just on account of the title. Let's make it hip and flashy, and see how the kiddies will buy it". Whether the kiddies bought it or not, I cannot tell but I sure know that the fans came, saw and were generally not too amused.

      Evidence for this chumming up (no better way to describe it) are the often raunchy one-liners, which may have come from a certain orifice of Braoude, but certainly not the comic. They replaced the often witty, double-meaning dialogues of the source, and are nowhere to be found here. Another piece of evidence (just to point out one), is the "Pretty Woman" dance-sequence, which reeks of pandering to youngsters and is plainly embarrassing for all involved. A rule of thumb: keep song-and-dance-routines out of material where they don't belong and instead keep them, where they belong: in musicals. NOT "Iznogoud"-adaptations! Speaking about pandering: though the film didn't even make it into German cinema (strange but telling, considering how popular the comics are), they did release it on DVD, and of course synchronized it with local voice-overs. From all the competent speakers and comedians, they opted for people like Rick Kavanian and Rüdiger Hoffmann. I doubt that many people from the generation of "Iznogoud"-fans will have gained as much as a smirk from their form of comedy usually referred to as "grimacing" and "vulgar slapstick". Sure, kids enjoy that for reasons of their own, but hearing their voices over the character, probably drove home the final nail of the coffin.

      I'd give it 4/10 for good costumes, nice design, the settings and the attempt of the actors to make the best of what they were given to work with; but I certainly won't give it a second view.
      helpful•2
      2
      • t_atzmueller
      • Sep 26, 2016

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • January 14, 2005 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • France
      • Language
        • French
      • Also known as
        • The Iznogoud
      • Filming locations
        • Morocco
      • Production companies
        • Vertigo
        • TF1 International
        • L'Arbre et la Colombe
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      • Gross worldwide
        • $18,725,588
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 35 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby
      • Aspect ratio
        • 2.35 : 1

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