The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (1976)

I have been a die-hard Asterix fan since childhood. However, Asterix's animated outings have been largely disappointing, and the live movies abysmal. This movie is the exception. Made by Goscinny and Uderzo's (Asterix's creators) ill-fated animation Studio (Studios Idefix) in 1976, the cartoon is a modern take on the Herculean tasks. Asterix and Obelix are required to successfully perform 12 tasks, upon which Caesar will surrender to them. Failure in one task means surrender, certain imprisonment, and probably death to the Gaulish villagers.This Asterix movie outshines all others in several aspects. Firstly, the animation (although dated) is lush and very true to the comic books; in fact it feels like Uderzo drew some scenes himself (I wouldn't be surprised if he did). Secondly, the screenplay by Goscinny drives the clever humour in the movie (and in the comic books, which have suffered greatly since his death in 1977). Thirdly, this movie caters to all ages. I've seen this film countless times as a child and as an adult, and it never grows old. The movie is brilliant in the way it presents tasks aimed at the universal child in people of all ages (ie. The race with Asbestos) and tasks aimed at adults (ie. The Isle of Pleasure and the Place that sends you Mad) without alienating children too young to understand the themes presented.I highly recommend this film. One of my favourite movies (not just animated). Very re-watchable. Highly enjoyable. Great humour. Great animation.

This is the year 50 before JC. All the Gaul is occupied by the Romans. All the Gaul? No! A little village populated by some irreducibles Gallics resists again and always to the invader. This situation gets on Jules César's nerves who's starting to compare these Gallics as gods. To have proof of this, he sets them 12 works. Astérix and Obélix are chosen to take up the challenge... This animation film isn't an adaptation from one of Astérix' albums, it's an original screenplay that inspired from the Greek mythology with Hercule's works. The movie is a pleasant surprise because the animation is more careless than in Astérix' previous adaptations for the cinema, although it's a bit basic. Concerning these "works", of course they're fanciful and eccentric but they're irresistibe, varied, full of modern anachronisms (like the chips in the sixth work when Obélix must eat a pantagruelian meal). Besides, the anachronism is a common thing in Astérix' adventures.The best moments of the movie are the pantagruelian meal, the sequences of the hypnosis and the crazy flat. At the end, in spite of tiresome sequences, peculiar to Astérix's adaptations, I think about the (useless) battle against the Romans at the beginning, the movie is a happy entertainment and the best animation film with Astérix.

This is one of the best Asterix-movies, but it isn`t as good as "Ceasar`s surprise"(my favorite). The Gauls and Ceasar have made a bet. The Gauls must prove that they are gods by doing 12 extremely difficult tasks, and they will become Ceasar`s slaves if they fail. This is clearly worth a look, and surprisingly you won`t find this story in any of the comics. 8/10

I'm mostly a rather introvert person. When a comedy makes me smile it has succeeded, when it makes me chuckle it is a rousing success. The climax of this film made me fall from my cinema seat laughing.This film is not based on any of the Asterix comic books as most of the Asterix films. Asterix faces 12 tasks, one more daunting than the other (I can't remember why, it was over 20 years ago), building up to the last one, the most difficult of the lot. Do not, under any circumstances, including hurricanes and invading Mongolic hordes, leave the cinema before that scene!