fun fact, the original movie script was initially way closer to the book than it already is, capping off at 120 pages, having been written by pierre tchernia, friend of goscyny and uderzo wanted to be as faithful as possible, however, due to a copyright issued deadline and a change of directors a mere year before the release date with basically no animation done at that point
I'm very annoyed with myself for neglecting to acknowledge that character, especially as he's much more important to the story than the Colosseum jailer and horse handler who I did remember to mention! 😅
Honestly, my biggest pet peeve with this movie's adaptation changes is that it forcibly, by design, removed one of my favorite moments in not just Asterix Legionnaire (a book filled with Golden moments already), but the series as a whole as well as a heavy contender for best Obelix Moment. The very beginning where, after building up a potential budding romance between Obelix and Panacea for a good 7 pages, we as well as Obelix are hit with the dramatic punchline that she's already engaged with someone else who's en route to be forcibly taken to the roman army as a legionnaire. Only, instead of Obelix trying to take advantage of this situation to get Panacea for himself, he swears to her that he'll pry Tragicomix straight from the roman army, even if he has to go to Africa to do it, much to the surprise of Asterix. The latter expressing how proud he is of the maturity of his friend... who then proceeds to burst into tears. It's a fantastic moment that's not only a great punchline to a good buildup over several pages, but it's also just a fantastic moment for Obelix that speaks volumes about his character. He may be simple minded but he also has his heart in the right place. He's not the type to selfishly try to take the wife of a Gaul who's been taken away to never return. He cares more about seeing his friends and those dear to him be happy. And he'd disregard his own feelings and travel to a whole other continent so that the woman he loves can be happy... with another man. It's an amazingly mature thing to see in a comic for children and is devoid of the garbage romantic melodrama that many other hack writers would try to infuse into the story (which is unfortunately what Asterix and the Actress and Asterix Versus Caesar did). And then the movie just takes all that away! Instead, we're immediatly introduced to Tragicomix as Panacea's lover in the village itself, making the punchline much weaker and throwing all of that Obelix characterization into the garbage. Especially as now, both Tragicomix and Panacea are taken away, dilluating Obelix's selflessness. By this very core change, it takes away a big thing that made the original comic so endearing. Heck, the addition of Panacea being captured alongside Tragicomix doesn't add that much to the story aside from making it overly dark for an Asterix movie. Especially her getting sexually assaulted by a centurion is very un-Asterix and doesn't really fit when juxtaposed with the still mostly light hearted and comedic tone of the movie. Sure, it does give us the admittedly very nice scenes of her standing up to Caesar and the surprisingly emotional bit in the prisons of Rome. But I still feel like it wasn't really necessary and doesn't make up for the ommission of Obelix's Characterization. Plus, having the one woman in the whole movie be captive when she wasn't originally just rubs me the wrong way, although I at least wouldn't call her a full on damsel in distress (especially as her husband was also captured alongside her).
Характер Обеликса был испорчен ещё в 21 томе «Подарок цезаря»где большой галл влюбился в Зазу,дочь наглецов которые табличку посчитали реальным подарком.Заза это девушка подросток,которую не когда не спрашивали её мнения,и поэтому переезд в деревню её изночально не радовал.И Обеликс ей был противен,она ходила с ним на свидание и проводила время с ним потому что ей родители обещали дорогие наряды и красивый украшения,то что ей нравится,но потом она решила подкатить к Астериксу потому что он произвёл на неё более глубокие впечатления и в отличии от Обеликса он был действительно интересным.И когда при Обеликсе она позвала гулять Астерикса и вто же время дала отказ ему самому,он разозлился на друга ни за что и отвернулся от него и даже когда они померились он все равно не переставал ухаживать за Зазой хотя она уже дала ему понять что он ей не нравится,и всё рано дал затрещину Астериксу из за непринятия того что Заза выбрала Астерикса а не его.(П.С. Я русская и потому пишу по русски,за ранее прошу прощения за непонятный вам язык!)
Surprised that you didn't mention the connection between Gordon Heath (Caesar's English dub voice in this and "Asterix in Britain") and Asterix's first English dub voice actor, Lee Payant. Both were lovers. Although, this would add some irony to Asterix and Caesar's dynamic as hero and villain.
