Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
(Astérix & Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre)

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Alain Chabat
Produced by Claude Berri
Written by Alain Chabat
Based on Asterix and Cleopatra
by René Goscinny
Albert Uderzo
Starring Gérard Depardieu
Christian Clavier
Jamel Debbouze
Alain Chabat
Monica Bellucci
Claude Rich
Gérard Darmon
Music by Philippe Chany
Cinematography Laurent Dailland
Edited by Stéphane Pereira
Distributed by Miramax Films (USA)
Pathé (France/UK)
Release dates
 2002
Running time
 107 min.
Country France, Italy
Language French
Budget $50.3 million
Box office $110.9 million[1]

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (French: Astérix et Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre), also known as Asterix and Obelix Meet Cleopatra, is a 2002 French/Italian fantasy comedy film written and directed by Alain Chabat and adapted from the comic book Asterix René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Based on the book Asterix and Cleopatra, which had previous been adapted into a 1968 animated film, it also acts as a sequel to the 1999 movie Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar.

Christian Clavier and Gérard Depardieu reprise their roles as Asterix and Obelix, alongside newcomers Jamel Debbouze, Monica Bellucci, Claude Rich, Gérard Darmon, Édouard Baer, Dieudonné, and Chabat himself.

It was the most expensive French movie at that time, before being beaten by A Very Long Engagement two years later. A critical success, it was also a major box office success in France, becoming its most successful film in 36 years and second biggest commercial success of all time after 1966's La Grande Vadrouille.


Translations

Miramax Films re-edited the film, cutting approximately 21 minutes and dubbing the movie into English using an American cast. The English script added many new jokes for the American audience, including more references to modern popular culture (Edifis continually calls Getafix a "droid", for example. This pun was already hinted at in the French version; the actor playing Edifis used his distinctive North-African accent to create a subtle confusion between "droid" and "druid"), and some changes in characterisation, most notably Obelix who appears far more intelligent than usual. The dubbed dialogue uses some of the original English names, but the rest are either reused from the American English translation of the original album, or newly invented names. This is most notable among minor characters; the pirate crew, for example, are referred to by the names of famous rock and roll musicians (including John, Paul, George and Ringo) just before a cry of "let's rock and roll!"

The English language subtitles for other markets are a straight translation of the French dialogue, with only the names changed to match the original English translation of the album. The version released on DVD in the Australia by Madman Entertainment contains two discs, one the original French version (with multiple language subtitles) and the other the Miramax edit.

Plot

Infuriated by belittlements, Queen Cleopatra makes a deal with Julius Caesar: if the Egyptians build a palace larger than Caesar's palace in Rome in three months, he must acknowledge that Egypt was the greatest of nations. To perform this task, Cleopatra hires the architect Numerobis, on pain of death and much to the dismay of Pyradonis, Cleopatra's customary architect. He and his secretary Papyris discuss the druid Getafix (Panoramix in the original French), whose potion empowers its drinkers; and Numerobis goes in search of him.

In Gaul, two Roman legionnaires challenge protagonist Asterix, who drinks the potion and defeats one Roman; whereupon Obelix fells the other. They are joined by Numerobis, whom they guide to Getafix. Rather than sell some of the magic potion, Getafix accompanies Numerobis to Alexandria, and Asterix and Obelix accompany him (encountering the pirates along the way). In Alexandria, Numerobis introduces the Gauls to Papyris, and later to Queen Cleopatra herself. While they greet her, Asterix falls in love with Guimieukis, a maidservant. As they observe the workers, Pyradonis starts a riot; but the druid supplies the workers with potion, and they build rapidly. Pyradonis hires Torturis to trap the Gauls in the Great Pyramid; but Dogmatix leads them out. As they return to Alexandria, Caesar is informed of the Gauls' presence, and leads an attack to destroy the unfinished palace. As the Romans charge, Asterix and Obelix fend them off, before Panoramix sends Asterix to Alexandria with a letter to Cleopatra. En route, he drops his vial of potion, and the villainous rival architect Criminalis drinks it. Meanwhile, Panoramix gives Numerobis some potion, with which he defeats Criminalis. When Cleopatra receives the letter, she stops Caesar from destroying the palace. Numerobis and the Gauls complete the palace, and Caesar concedes his bet to Cleopatra. In the epilogue, all the characters (except Criminalis) celebrate in a bar.

Cast

Character Actor name
Asterix Christian Clavier
Obelix Gérard Depardieu
Numerobis / Edifis Jamel Debbouze
Otis Édouard Baer
Cleopatra Monica Bellucci
Julius Caesar Alain Chabat
Getafix Claude Rich
Amonbofis / Criminalis Gérard Darmon
Idea Isabelle Nanty
Cartapus Chantal Lauby
Sucettalanis Marina Foïs
Caius Céplus Dieudonné
Caius Antivirus Jean-Paul Rouve
Redbeard Bernard Farcy
Chamandra Noémie Lenoir
The taster Dominique Besnehard
Caesar's secretary Emma de Caunes
The tiler Zinedine Soualem
Narrator Pierre Tchernia

Voice cast

Character English cast
Asterix David Cobourn
Obelix Dominic Fumusa
Numerobis Jamel Debbouze
Cleopatra Diane Neal
Julius Caesar T. Scott Cunningham
Panoramix Phillip Proctor
Amonbofis Tom Weiner
Idea Isabelle Nanty
Narrator Erik Bergmann

Soundtrack

References

  1. ↑ "ASTÉRIX ET OBÉLIX: MISSION CLÉOPATRE (2002)". JP' Box-Office. Retrieved 2002-01-30.

External links

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