nicolas-martinez-25118

As a French viewer from the generation lucky enough to get to watch 'Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra' in a cinema as a kid in 2002, and a forever fan of the Asterix comics I will be bias about how I view Alain Chabat's work. But no matter! This animated series is a touching tribute to Uderzo and Goscinny's beloved series and while 'Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra' was a very funny, situational comedy using a lot of absurd humour and modern references where Asterix and Obelix often seen standing in the back, are merely a pretext, here, we find the two characters' friendship at the forefront of the plot. The humour, pop-culture/political references are still there, mind you, but they are much more in accordance to the spirit of the comics, a real tribute to them with a real Alain Chabat-touch. The amount of work put into such a series may be a lot, it simply shows; yet I would love to see one more!

This documentary is probably the single most genuine, touching and funny one I have been given to watch. A unusually authentic glimpse into the life of someone who's equally unusual task is to try to keep the world's largest military alliance running while being confronted with the most terrible war on European soil since WW2 while being no less a human than about anybody else. The very simple, truly humane words, looks and gestures exchanged mere seconds before even the most formal NATO summit or conference between key deciders and leaders say sometimes much more than what is being said in formal settings, and this documentary is a testimony of just that. It is then difficult to not see how true friendship and genuine concern is the most powerful weapon even in this position. A definitive must watch!