Review of Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar

Introduction

A live action version of one of Frances best comic exports!

Maybe someone should have mentioned that this might not have been a really smart move, but alas no, after the success of the many cartoon film versions off came the gloves for the live action.

That said, lets take a look at the disk that Pathe are offering us Britons.

Video

The disk is presented with an anamorphic and the video quality is average to good.

This is by no means a showpiece transfer but is quite adequate considering the standard of the disk and material.

Audio

I know Asterix has been translated into just about every known language, but as far as I can see its a poor excuse for Pathe not taking the effort to provide the original French soundtrack and subtitles.

The audio you do get is a English Dolby Pro-Logic affair with a reasonable sound stage throughout, (and awful lip sync) the film is mostly dialog driven and the audio reflects that.

The lack of a 5.1 audio track on a film this new is concerning (surely there was a 5.1 dub) but not a real problem.

Features

Nada, zip, unless you count the trailer.

Why Pathe could not have included at least the music video from its fairly well featured mainland Europe counterpart is beyond me.
This disk just oozes a desire for Pathe to get it out of the door and be done with it.

Conclusion

One of the primary problems I have with this is the way that it seems to loose most of it charm and character in the translation to live action (and then a looses just a little more charm in the translation to bad English!).

Now you might not get the impression from reading this review, but I really do like Asterix, I grew up with the comics.
That’s why this DVD and film was just so disappointing.

Pathe have produced an unremarkable disk in every respect and the film itself just disappoints. It was a waste of some good French acting talent and some great source material.

It pains me to say it but don’t bother with this disk, especially at its £19.99 asking price.