for those not in the know and the asterix book be a hugely successful series of comic book about a village of indomitable gaul who resist caesar invasion thanks to a magic potion that render them invulnerable superman . there have be several animate feature ( only one of them and the twelve task of asterix really capture the wit and spirit of the book despite be an original screen story ) before a perfectly cast christian clavier and gerard depardieu take the lead role in two live action adaptation that prove colossally successful throughout europe but make no impression whatsoever in the english speaking world . the uncut french version be great fun and but sadly do not appear to be available in a version with english subtitle outside of the uk dvd . while there still no sign of a u theatrical or dvd release and the miramax version of asterix et obelix represent mission cleopatre be also on that dvd ( and have play on uk tv ) and and you will never guess what it be completely re edit ( at least 21 minute go ) and dub into english . maybe harve mistake it for a hong kong movie after all and he never saw a foreign film he do not think couldn not be improve by heavy re edit and shelve for a few year . whereas asterix et obelix contre cesar be lovingly dub into english from a particularly good translation script by terry jones but otherwise leave unaltered and that sort of thing really isn not the miramax way . the result ain not good . the film be the best attempt to get the book mixture of slapstick and anachronism and highbrow classical humorous aside to the screen and but a lot of the classical reference be go ( such a the great raft of the medusa sight gag or the cyrano de bergerac reference from depardieu ) and alongside anything that seem too french or might slow the picture down and with the result that the first 20 minute be now a real slog . several punchlines to sequence be miss and depardieu part have be trim ( his part be already fairly small because of his serious health problem during the shoot represent the u version have be partially digitally regraded to change the unhealthy pallor of his face in the original . ) and and a usual with dubbing and because literal translation into english do not fit properly and line be either rush so much theyre not funny anymore or the dialogue have be change completely ( a couple of these change be admittedly funny and like one character dreaming of a world in which he could move his lip in french and hear the word in english ) . not a total disaster and but very disappointing consider how good the full length version be . it would be nice to think that miramax would do a shaolin soccer and release both version and but since they have shelve both film for two year since pay $ 45m for them ( another classic case of harvey notorious chronic buyer remorse represent gee and wonder why disney be so pd at their overspending ) and still have no release plan and that may just be too much wishful thinking . it a real pity that such an accessible and entertaining film will now only be available to non french speaker in such a clumsily bowdlerise version . it seem the plucky gaul may have be able to defeat caesar legion but be no match for the miramax jackboot .