Asterix und Kleopatra (1968)

Asterix und Kleopatra: Directed by René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo. With Roger Carel, Jacques Morel, Micheline Dax, Jacques Balutin. Provoked, Cleopatra bets Caesar, that she can build a big palace in 3 months. An architect is given 3 months or else.. Fortunately, Getafix/Panoramix, Asterix and Obelix come to Alexandria to help.

“When an argument between Caesar and Cleopatra over Egyptian ability turns into a bet, an architect is charged to build a palace for Caesar. The architect turns to Getafix, Asterix and Obelix to help him with the construction. However with a rival architect and the Roman empire seeking to stop Caesar losing the bet Asterix et al have more on their hands than they reckoned for.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story is yet again faithful to the book, even opening and closing on the original cartoon itself. It doesnu0026#39;t manage to bring all the jokes out of the book as it could have done but it is still pretty good. The animation is solid and stays close to the source in style.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe characters are quite good, however their voices sound the same at times and donu0026#39;t match their roles too well – Obelix sounds less dopey this time but Asterix still sounds too squeaky. The downside, watching it now, is that the racist stereotypes are really crude – the black characters are dark with huge rubber lips. But I suppose at the time nothing was thought of it and we should take it in the spirit it was intended.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe musical numbers are OK –there arenu0026#39;t too many so the film isnu0026#39;t slowed down. The bets one is a sort of warning against anorexia with the lines `If youu0026#39;re off your food, youu0026#39;re illu0026#39; and `when youu0026#39;re eating well youu0026#39;re wellu0026#39;!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall itu0026#39;s not brilliant, but itu0026#39;s a faithful adaptation of the book and manages to bring some of the wit and charm of the characters out.”