Asterix – Sieg über Cäsar (1985)

Asterix – Sieg über Cäsar: Directed by Gaëtan Brizzi, Paul Brizzi. With Roger Carel, Pierre Tornade, Pierre Mondy, Serge Sauvion. Obelix falls for a new arrival in his home village in Gaul, but is heartbroken when her true love arrives to visit her. However, the lovers are kidnapped by Romans; Asterix and Obelix set out to rescue them on a dangerous journey that will involve gladiators, slavers and beauracracy – and a personal encounter with the Emperor himself, Julius Caesar…

“As bob the moo notes, u0026quot;Asterix et la surprise de Cesaru0026quot; (or u0026quot;Asterix Vs. Caesaru0026quot; in English) is based on two of the Asterix books. The problem with this movie is that the books in question – u0026quot;Asterix the Gladiatoru0026quot; and u0026quot;Asterix the Legionnaryu0026quot; – are two of the best of the lot, and either one would have made a good tale on its own, but in adapting them as one movie screenwriter Pierre Tchernia didnu0026#39;t do either one any favours, in addition to throwing in some odd new material (check out the attendant at the sauna Obelix visits at one point – the indication that the former is… um… checking out the latter is a bit out of place among the sternly heterosexual series).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe animation is okay, but nothing to write home about; and hearing the inhabitants of the small village of indomitable Gauls speak with American accents is distracting (though not as distracting as u0026quot;Asterix Conquers America,u0026quot; the worst of the animated movies, which had our hero speaking in the Liverpudlian tones of Craig Charles in the English release). And note the presence of Plastic Bertrand singing over the opening and end credits (insert famous Belgian joke here).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe earlier films in the series, especially u0026quot;Asterix and Cleopatrau0026quot; and u0026quot;The Twelve Tasks of Asterix,u0026quot; are better; and itu0026#39;s a tough call on whether this or the live-action u0026quot;Asterix and Obelix Take On Caesaru0026quot; is preferable – in terms of bringing the characters to the screen and in terms of entertainment and competence this one is, but then again this one doesnu0026#39;t have Laetitia Casta…”