Pinkie Pie
06-08-06, 23:08
For those not in the know about Asterix, read up (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix), but to those that this concerns, keep reading. (Gaga in perticular.)
Recently the box set of the first six Asterix movies was released, something ive been awaiting for ALONG time, (I've had the set pre-ordered since last year,) and it arrived a few days ago.
Well.. how is it?
As a general rule, there are 4 awesome Asterix films, (Asterix and the Twelve Tasks, Asterix in Britain, Asterix and Ceaser, and Asterix Verus Ceaser (Live Action), 2 decent films, (Asterix Conquers America (the only one done in English first, and with Red Dwarfer Craig Charles as Asterix!) and Asterix and the Big Fight), and 2, rather bad ones, (Asterix the Gaul and Asterix and Cleopatra).
Theres a second Live Action, which I don't yet own, and this set is missing both Asterix Conquers America and the two live action films. This doesn't matter too much as all 3 was released on DVD anyway.
Now, onto to set.
To cut along story short - Most of the films are exactly as I remember, which is good. I said. Most.
Not all.
I'll start off with nitpicking - Asterix and Ceaser is far too bright, taking out the tension in certain "scary" parts of the film. This isn't a total loss, but the night scenes no longer look like night. They just look miscoloured.
Secondly - Asterix and the Twelve Tasks is the opposite, everything is alot darker than its supposed to be - making one scene mid-way through far too hard to see.
Otherwise, most of the films are fine. Again, note the most. There ARE problems with this set. Major problems.
First of all - Asterix and Cleopatra.
While not exactly Disney quality when it was first released, whether its because I have a damaged disc, or the creators of the set severely messed up (the latter most likely, because there is no visable damage to the disk) - but the animation is WORSE than before.
Almost every other frame has been "deleted" - making an already choppily animated film even choppier. This is most noticable when the camera pans over the painted backdrops.
It's a shame, it doesn't look right.
How-ever, that mistake could've been lived with, had they not severely screwed up with the last film on the set -
Asterix and the Big Fight.
The problem?
They replaced the voice acting. Instead of the original actors used in the British and other speaking world dub, they went and used the American dub.
Unfortunately, its not just the accents that go down the drain. It's possible this dub was done after Asterix Conquers America was released, since the actor for Asterix seems to be directly trying to mimick Craig Charles, and even the announcer and Getafix actor.
As you may well know, when an unknown someone tries to mimick another actor for something - things go down the pan.
The storyline has been dumbed-down entirely, with an Announcer tying up already clear story elements, with characters HAVING to explain just what the heck a Gaul or Roman is (not kidding), and worst of all - with name replacements for everything but Asterix and Obelix.
Getafix become Vitalix, Magic Potion becomes Vitamin Poition (because everyone knows, Magic is the work of the devil), and bizarely, Getafix becomes a Wizard rather than a druid. (EH?)
Due to the severely dumbed down nature of the dub, the film is now unwatchable. This may sound like over-reacting, but, it IS. The actors cannot act for toffee, and do not fit the majority of characters at all. Hopefully the seperate release of the film will use the original dub, as this marrs the box set entirely.
Unfortunately, that does mean half the stuff in the box set is rubbish. Twelve Tasks, Asterix & Ceaser and Britain are awesome films - but weigh against the three bad ones (and one, purely due to the pig-headed ness of the DVD Publishers.)... its hard to totally recommend. It might be better just to buy the 3 seperate, altough whether its cheaper, I really cant figure out.
If anyone has any info on the seperate release of Big Fight, PLEASE tell me - I really want to know. (Basically - tell me if it has a narrator or not.)
Recently the box set of the first six Asterix movies was released, something ive been awaiting for ALONG time, (I've had the set pre-ordered since last year,) and it arrived a few days ago.
Well.. how is it?
As a general rule, there are 4 awesome Asterix films, (Asterix and the Twelve Tasks, Asterix in Britain, Asterix and Ceaser, and Asterix Verus Ceaser (Live Action), 2 decent films, (Asterix Conquers America (the only one done in English first, and with Red Dwarfer Craig Charles as Asterix!) and Asterix and the Big Fight), and 2, rather bad ones, (Asterix the Gaul and Asterix and Cleopatra).
Theres a second Live Action, which I don't yet own, and this set is missing both Asterix Conquers America and the two live action films. This doesn't matter too much as all 3 was released on DVD anyway.
Now, onto to set.
To cut along story short - Most of the films are exactly as I remember, which is good. I said. Most.
Not all.
I'll start off with nitpicking - Asterix and Ceaser is far too bright, taking out the tension in certain "scary" parts of the film. This isn't a total loss, but the night scenes no longer look like night. They just look miscoloured.
Secondly - Asterix and the Twelve Tasks is the opposite, everything is alot darker than its supposed to be - making one scene mid-way through far too hard to see.
Otherwise, most of the films are fine. Again, note the most. There ARE problems with this set. Major problems.
First of all - Asterix and Cleopatra.
While not exactly Disney quality when it was first released, whether its because I have a damaged disc, or the creators of the set severely messed up (the latter most likely, because there is no visable damage to the disk) - but the animation is WORSE than before.
Almost every other frame has been "deleted" - making an already choppily animated film even choppier. This is most noticable when the camera pans over the painted backdrops.
It's a shame, it doesn't look right.
How-ever, that mistake could've been lived with, had they not severely screwed up with the last film on the set -
Asterix and the Big Fight.
The problem?
They replaced the voice acting. Instead of the original actors used in the British and other speaking world dub, they went and used the American dub.
Unfortunately, its not just the accents that go down the drain. It's possible this dub was done after Asterix Conquers America was released, since the actor for Asterix seems to be directly trying to mimick Craig Charles, and even the announcer and Getafix actor.
As you may well know, when an unknown someone tries to mimick another actor for something - things go down the pan.
The storyline has been dumbed-down entirely, with an Announcer tying up already clear story elements, with characters HAVING to explain just what the heck a Gaul or Roman is (not kidding), and worst of all - with name replacements for everything but Asterix and Obelix.
Getafix become Vitalix, Magic Potion becomes Vitamin Poition (because everyone knows, Magic is the work of the devil), and bizarely, Getafix becomes a Wizard rather than a druid. (EH?)
Due to the severely dumbed down nature of the dub, the film is now unwatchable. This may sound like over-reacting, but, it IS. The actors cannot act for toffee, and do not fit the majority of characters at all. Hopefully the seperate release of the film will use the original dub, as this marrs the box set entirely.
Unfortunately, that does mean half the stuff in the box set is rubbish. Twelve Tasks, Asterix & Ceaser and Britain are awesome films - but weigh against the three bad ones (and one, purely due to the pig-headed ness of the DVD Publishers.)... its hard to totally recommend. It might be better just to buy the 3 seperate, altough whether its cheaper, I really cant figure out.
If anyone has any info on the seperate release of Big Fight, PLEASE tell me - I really want to know. (Basically - tell me if it has a narrator or not.)