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Asterix stands beaming from the pedestal,
is arm raised to present the winner's palm. His fellow villagers
stand around him chanting "Asterix! Hurrah for Asterix!"
with joy. To the side, a confused Obelix asks Getafix "You
mean... Asterix has won?". He coyly responds "In
a way Obelix, in a way".
It is a charming image from the last page of a charming book
by Goscinny and Uderzo. Asterix at the Olympic Games is still
as fresh and timely as it was when first published in 1968
(just in time for the Tokyo Olympics) as it is today (coming
up to the 2008 Bejing Olympics). Its commentary on doping
in Sports is even more relevant in this sporting era. But
what has best endured from the book is its humour - Gluteus
Maximus (one of my most favourite character names from the
series) getting more and more attatched to his broom, Geriatrix's
late night adventures and discrimination against cauldrons
are just some of my favourite memories from the book (the
first Asterix book incidentally that I ever owned).
And so it is with much excitement, and a little trepidation
that we look towards Asterix at the Olympic Games: The film,
the third in the live-action series. I don't think anything
can ever beat the work of art from Goscinny and Uderzo, but
we certainly meet the film with very high expectations. The
question is will the film, in its own way, be a winner? And
not just at the box-office (where it will undoubtedly prove
a huge smash), but artistically and from an Asterix fan's
perspective?
It was only this year (2007) that I finally got to see the
first two live-action films Take
on Caesar and Mission
Cleopatra when they were finally released on DVD here.
I thought Take on Caesar veered too far away from the mythos
Goscinny and Uderzo created (see my review). Mission Cleopatra
meanwhile is not just a fantastic film, but a fantastic ASTERIX
film. It is uproarously funny, and most importantly keeps
to the spirit of the book. This, along with the original book,
is the standard I will be holding the Olympic Games film to
when I get to see it. I do not know how long this will be
- but I certainly hope it will not be 8 years as in the case
of Take on Caesar! The Olympic Games movie is not yet released
anywhere, and all I have to go on is the marketing material,
images and videos (almost exclusively in French!). Is this
enough to form an opinion of the movie's merits? Perhaps not.
But at this stage of the games (December 2007), here are my
thoughts about what we know of the movie.
There are some good signs - Gérard Depardieu (who
has expressed his desire to retire from films) returns as
Obelix, who he has brilliantly played in the previous two
films. The addition of Alain Delon as Julius Caesar is quite
the coup. We aren't as aware of him in the English-speaking
world as Depardieu, but he's a living legend of the French
film industry and has very extensive and impressive filmography.
Belgian Comic Actor Benoît Poelvoorde is another good
addition to the cast as Brutus. The Teaser Trailer (see video
above) stars Poelvoorde, and encouragingly is very funny with
a gag that fits nicely with the Asterixian humour we know
and love. Poelvoorde has in fact stolen the show. In the teaser
when he says "Asterix? Who's that jerk? It's Brutus at
the Olympic Games" he might as well be right. This trailer,
most of the second trailer and a lot of the marketing material
all revolve around Brutus. Which brings me to my concerns...
I am hoping it's natural to have more
concerns about this film then I can find things that
get a tick- after all, I dearly want this film to
win. But I do have a lot of concerns.
I am concerned that Asterix and Obelix
will get sidelined, just like they do in this official
poster of the film. Poelvoorde looks to be a huge
talent, and will surely prove the highlight of the
film but I fear he will take too much attention away
from our heroes. None of the live-action films I felt
really captured the deep relationship between Asterix
and Obelix at the heart of the Asterix series. However,
everything so far suggests my fears may fall on my
head - Asterix and Obelix are pushed to the side of
the poster. Asterix and Obelix don't appear at all
in the teaser trailer. In the second trailer they
don't appear until the 46th second. And the plot synopsis
as we have it make their roles seem largely superfluous.
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Brutus is at the centre of the film - he wants
to marry the Princess Irina, and he wants to overthrow Caesar.
Brutus and Caesar don't, as we know, appear in the original
book. I think it is however an intelligent decision to include
them - the dynamic between them is interesting especially
with Brutus wanting to kill him(!) and their inclusion at
the Games presents Asterix and Obelix with a palpable enemy.
What concerns me the most is the added love story between
Alafolix and Irina. The decision to travel to the Games is
no longer for the honour of Gaul, but to help Alafolix win
his love. This means that what appears to be the climax of
the film - a chariot race against Brutus where Irina is the
prize, it is presumably Alafolix who races not a magic potionless
Asterix which surely would have been more dramatic (our hero
for once very vulnerable).
Take a look at the cast list above. Its HUGE
(and not even complete). This looks to be a very crowded film
with a heap of characters to keep track of. I just hope there
aren't too many. I'm not sure where I stand on the sporting
celebrity cameos - David Beckham's in this, as too is Zinédine
Zidane and Michael Schumacher or Schumix even a month filming
the 7-minute chariot race sequence. Cameos are usually only
good for one laugh, let's hope they are tastefully treated.
The Asterix films certainly have not been known
for their cast continuity. We now have three different Caesar's
and Getafix's among many other cast changes. There are in
fact only three returning cast members from the previous films
- Depardieu (Obelix), Sim (Geriatrix) and Debbouze (Edifis).
We have a new Asterix - Clovis Cornillac - who certainly looks
the part, but it shall be seen how he acquit himself. I think
it's a real shame the cast hasn't been kept consistent through
the films, but I guess the comic characters they represent
are ultimately more important than the actors portraying them.
One last quick concern - I can spot a lightsaber
in this Russian
Youtube trailer. I don't think this type of pop-culture
joke is very clever. Let's hope they don't heavily rely on
this type of humour for laughs.
From what we've seen so far, the film looks
pretty spectacular visually (just take a look at the first
5 minutes of the film online - see video section). They've
certainly splurged a lot of money on the film. But lots of
money doesn't necessarily equal a good film.
So how do I feel about it? I'm looking forward
to seeing it (whenever this may be) and I suppose I'm cautiously
optimistic. I've outlined my concerns above, but I'm yet to
know how valid they are. There's still a very good chance
that Olympic Games will win gold after all.
What are your thoughts about the movie?
Are you looking forward to it or dreading it or somewhere
in between? Send comments to wenleyix3@yahoo.co.nz
Regular Asterix NZ contributor Maciek sends in his
thoughts about the upcoming movie: "I saw the first
five minutes and I got skeptical. At one hand this movie looks
beautiful visually but I’m very sceptical about all the
new ideas. Then again, I was very skeptical about the changes
in "Asterix and the vikings" and that turned out
very good….
I really would rather see a nice, loose comedy movie focusing
on the Gaul's coming to Greece to see the Games and acting
like tourists, enjoying toying with the Romans etc rather
then some "spectacular/epic" love-plot... In my
opinion today’s cinema tries to make things way to "epic"
rather then keeping it simple.
I like the idea of having Caesar and Brutus at the games
but I despise the idea of making Brutus the main villain (and
giving him a magician and scientist, and making him take part
in the games). I like the Centurion from the original book
[Heck! Hes my favorite of all Centurions who appeared in Asterix
so far] It would be fun if they would simply keep Ceasar,
Brutus (and maybe Cleopatra, or somebody like that) sitting
in the audience giving comments on the games…
Unfortunately by the standards of "today’s cinema"
the original plot of the "Olympic Games" seems more
like a humorous-sub plot to the main deal, and they add the
love plot to make things more “dramatic”. Ow, well.
For now, I will just wait and see how it turns out.
I also notice that Cacofonix will play a bigger role in
this plot. Actually, as far I recall history, their was a
"poetic part" of the Olympic Games (it was the second
day I believe). Maybe a singing contest on the Olimpics games?
;)
I also hope some more nations (Britains, Goths, Egyptians)
*Will* take part of the games so there will be some more cultural-jokes."
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