Asterix NZ - Asterix Movies "Asterix Conquers America"

Asterix Conquers America

Background

First Released: 1994
Original Title: Astérix et les indiens
Directed by: Gerhard Hahn Film
Written by: Thomas Platt and Rhett Rooster
Produced by: Extrafilm
Music by: Harold Faltermeyer
Running Time: 80min
Based on the Books: Asterix and the Great Crossing

With Gaumont not happy about the last film Asterix and the Big Fight, Extrafilm did Asterix Conquers America alone. Although the film was made in Germany, it has the distinction of being the first Asterix film to be animated in English first and then dubbed in other languages later.


Many more Images from Asterix Conuqers Amercia can be found here.

Plot

During a brawl in their Gallic village, the magic potion that gives the heroes ASTERIX and OBELIX their superhuman power tips over. Before the druid Getafix can make another brew, the Romans capture him and catapult him into space from their galley at the edge of the word. They believe the earth is flat.

Asterix and Obelix set out after Getafix. They end up in America, where Indians, who already hold Getafix prisoner, capture Asterix. The medicine man has designs on their magic potion and Getafix has to use every trick in the book to protect its secret formula.

The three Gauls finally escape from the Indians and on their return home find their village burned to the ground and its inhabitants abducted. Our heroes free their friends, tear the Roman camp apart and send Caesar on his merry way.

Cast

John Rye: Narrator
Craig Charles: Asterix
Howard Lew Lewis: Obelix
Henry McGee: Caesar
Geoffrey Bayldon: Getafix
Christopher Biggins: Lucullus

Review

Kids will love this. However, older Asterix fans shouldn't expect to much from this movie.

Asterix Conquers America is based on Asterix and the Great Crossing although it deviates wildly from the plot of the book. Getafix is captured, and as far as the Romans are concerned, capapulted off the edge of the planet. He has in actual fact been catapulted into America where Asterix and Obelix go shortly afterwards. Back home the village is without their best men and Druid and with only a little magic potion. This increases the tension quite a bit. Instead of a fat, ugly Indian Chieftans daughter in Asterix and the Great Crossing (which encouarages Asterix and Obelix to go get back home quite fast!) we have a pretty one (which encourages them to stay!).

I can't help but feel that this Asteix movies is trying to be something that it is not. From the Computer created imagery to the songs that try to make us care for the characters.

The animation is probably the best of all the Asterix fans, the voice overs are probably the worse. The english accents just don't do it for me and Obelix just doesn't sound like Obelix should.

Its not that bad an Asterix film, you can sit through it without squirming. The humour again has been dumbed down but there a few funny bits.

If you have seen the movie and would like to add your thoughts, drop me a line.

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