Let's make one thing clear. This movie isn't as bad as I expected. But then, I expected it to be about the worst piece of trash this side of alpha centauri. You see, the critics around here universally trashed it. Worse so then anything I have ever seen (including Godzilla and the Man in the Iron Mask), so I was very, very wary upon entering the theatre. But hey, this is Asterix, one of the greatest comic books ever, It can't be that hard? Well it was. It sucks. Big time. It's filled with unnecessary and even annoying special effects (beams out of the eyes when hypnotizing - puh-leeze) to show off the budget. It's got the biggest plotholes I have ever seen in a movie (how does this stupid slave who just pretends so be a psychic know how to hypnotize), unfinished or gratuitous subplots (Laetitia Casta as Falballa is obviously just in it to show of her boobs, because there is no connection whatsoever to anything in the movie) and to top it off some laughable masks and make-up to make Asterix & co look like the comic counterpart.
There are some saving graces though, in three shapes. First, obviously, Benigni. Depardieu is also pretty decent (if nowhere near really good) as Obelix and German actor Gottfried John is Caesar, both in looks and the way he acts.
Still avoid if you can. It's one of the worst and most unfunny movies this year.
There are some saving graces though, in three shapes. First, obviously, Benigni. Depardieu is also pretty decent (if nowhere near really good) as Obelix and German actor Gottfried John is Caesar, both in looks and the way he acts.
Still avoid if you can. It's one of the worst and most unfunny movies this year.