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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 series Asterix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Based on the book Asterix and Cleopatra, which had previously 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.
Plot[]
Infuriated by belittlements, Queen Cleopatra makes a deal with Julius Caesar: if the Egyptians build a palace at Alexandria, in three months, which is larger than Caesar's palace in Rome 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.
Numerobis arrives in Gaul and persuades Getafix to embark with him to Alexandria. Once they arrive, they use the druid's magic potion to speed up the construction (with Cleopatra's permission), and Pyradonis realizes he must stop Numerobis from finishing the palace within the deadline by sabotage (such as getting Asterix, Obelix and Getafix lost in a pyramid, or framing them for Cleopatra's failed assassination). After failing multiple times, Pyradonis finally decides to inform Caesar about the potion's use and the potential victory of Cleopatra. Caesar knows the Gauls (having failed to capture their village multiple times) and decides to besiege the construction site until Asterix, Obelix and Getafix surrender. Numerobis, Papyris and the three Gallics defend the site and decide to inform Cleopatra of Caesar's actions. Meanwhile, Pyradonis and Numerobis, both after drinking the potion, fight in the site until Numerobis finally wins the duel. Cleopatra arrives on the battlefield and reprimands Caesar's lack of sportsmanship. The Romans are forced to stop the siege and assist in the continuation of the construction, which is finished on time. The palace is inaugurated and Caesar counterwillingly names Egypt the greatest Empire there ever was. Numerobis wins a large amount of gold, Getafix receives manuscripts from the Library of Alexandria, and all the protagonists partake in a banquet (including some of the movie's Roman antagonists).
Cast[]
| Character | Actor name |
|---|---|
| Asterix | Christian Clavier |
| Obelix | Gérard Depardieu |
| Numerobis / Edifis | Jamel Debbouze |
| Otis | Édouard Baer |
| Cleopatra | Monica Bellucci |
| Nexusis | Edouard Montoute |
| Julius Caesar | Alain Chabat |
| Getafix | Claude Rich |
| Amonbofis / Criminalis | Gérard Darmon |
| Itinéris (Vodafonis) | 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 |
Additional Voices[]
- Jean Benguigi (Crustaceous)
- Michel Elias
- Sophie Noël (Bloody Beard's Daughter)
Voice cast[]
| Character | English cast |
|---|---|
| Asterix | David Coburn |
| Banquet Doorman | |
| Obelix | Dominic Fumusa |
| Edifis | Yul Vazquez |
| Otis | David Cowgill |
| Cleopatra | Diane Neal |
| Julius Caesar | T. Scott Cunningham |
| Getafix | Philip Proctor |
| Amonbofis | Tom Weiner |
| Cellularservis | Mary Elizabeth McGlynn |
| Kittypus | Edie Mirman |
| Handmaiden | Bridget Hoffman |
| Gluteus Maximus | Lex Lang |
| Caius Lucius | Tom Kenny |
| Gimmeakis | Peggy O'Neal |
| Tiler | Sean McPhillips |
| Narrator | Erik Bergmann |
Additional Voices[]
- Matt Adler
- Stephen Apostolina (Hutchus, "Superpower" Soldier #2, Flying thru Intersection Soldier)
- Kirk Baily
- Steve Blum (Starskyus, "Superpower" Soldier #1)
- Steve Bulen (Documentary Narrator, Catapult Commander, Slave Driver with Horn)
- Steve Cassling
- David Cowgill (Nazi Commandant, Old Hayseed)
- Dan Edelstein (Roman on Horseback)
- Elisa Gabrielli
- Jason Harris Katz (Young Hayseed, Cat)
- Tom Kenny ("My Bad" Soldier)
- Steve Kramer
- Lex Lang (Jailer, Gaul Forest Centurion)
- Matthew Labyorteaux
- Jonathan Nichols
- Paul Pape
- Philip Proctor (Peg Leg)
- Stuart Robinson (Roman Drill Instructor, Crow's Nest Lookout, Sculptor)
- Lia Sargent (Bloody Beard's Daughter)
- Michael Sorich (Cleopatra's Portraitist, Bribed Boatman)
- Barry Stigler (Crustaceous)
Soundtrack[]
- "Mission Cleopatra" – Snoop Dogg and Jamel Debbouze
- "Asterix and Cleopatra" – Philippe Chany
- "I Got You (I Feel Good)" – James Brown
- "Yakety Sax" – Boots Randolph
- "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" – John Williams
- "Ti amo" – Umberto Tozzi and Monica Bellucci
- "Chi mai"- Ennio Morricone
- "Walk Like an Egyptian" – Deep Forest feat. Beverly Jo Scott
Release[]
The film had the widest opening in France at the time, opening on 950 screens.[5]
References[]
- ↑ Miramax stamps 'Asterix' passport (31 May 2001).
- ↑ Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2001).
- ↑ JP. Astérix et Obélix: Mission Cléopatre () (in fr).
- ↑ Asterix et Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002) (2002-06-07).
- ↑ James, Alison (24 December 2001). "Homegrown pix gain in Europe". Variety. p. 7.
External links[]
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra at IMDb- {{{title}}} at Rotten Tomatoes
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra at Box Office Mojo
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