cinewatt

This is definitely a "must see" film. The excellent Director Alain Chabat (also acting as Ceasar) has managed to capture the very essence of the "Adventures of Astérix" (the French comic books it's based upon) and to create a fantastically modern and intelligent comedy, which is also an homage to the world of animated films. This movie is so funny, so full of jokes (both visual and spoken) that it might take you two or three screenings before you notice them all, between your bursts of laughter. The only drawback is that a non-French audience (or at least a non-French speaking audience) might not get all the "private jokes". There are so many dialogues impossible to translate, so many situations directly related either to the comic books or to the French way of life, that the fun might be lessened. However, it's still totally worth seeing for the beautiful picture, the amazing stunts, the music, the totally crazy atmosphere and the excellent acting. All actors are great, but the film would not be the same without Jamel Debouze, Gérard Darmon and Edouard Baer. And please don't EVER compare this magnificent film to the terrible previous one based on the same comic books : "Astérix et Obélix Contre César" and directed by Claude Zidi.

Sorry, Mr. De Palma, you didn't make it this time! If we leave aside the fact that the Paris you describe in your film comes directly from the imagination of foreigners, and is totally unrealistic, if we leave aside the fact that you have totally forgotten to update your film to the what could be expected in 2008 (like replacing French Francs -seen all over the place- by euros, the currency which is the one being used since January 1st, 2002), if we leave aside the fact that the characters mention, at one point, the pharmacy at the airport and the next scene shows Antonio Banderas exiting a pharmacy in the middle of the city (and no, our airports don't look like our city centres!), if we leave aside all this nonsense, all the unrealistic script errors, what is left? A boring film, with a twist at the end that is not even interesting, and doesn't excuse the previously mentioned boredom... This film is not even saved by the actors : Rebecca Romijn-Stamos seems to want to prove that she has a great body and can make use of it, and Antonio Banderas was probably asleep most of the time, just waiting to cash in the final cheque. What a waste of talent... not to mention money!

One could have thought that everything would be out on the public place with this movie. The craziness of promoting a movie, the way publicists and the media make up stories, and of course the very spoilt behavior of movie stars. However, while watching the film, you always have the feeling that the writer, the Director, and the actors never tried to go all the way, holding back some stuff, maybe so as not to make the industry they live upon look too bad...! The first half of the film is almost dull, in spite of excellent actors (I genuinely love them all, and Julia Roberts is my favorite). The second half, although more centered on the Romance between two of the characters than on the actual plot (the world of movie stars and their relationships with the media), is funnier. So altogether, it's worth seeing but mainly for the actors. And a special mention to Hank Azaria!