Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Member since:11.07.2000
Reviews:625
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After trawling through to see what dvd's I have offered opinion I came across this one and I honestly don't know why I haven't written about it before now.
Austin Powers was a modest hit on release that went on to become a huge hit on video. A sequel was put into production and released in the summer of 1999 to huge box office success. Some don't like the film but personally I find it very funny for all the right reasons. The first film had some good humour but by far the funniest thing was Dr Evil and his inept style of world domination. In the sequel he's featured far more heavily and provides most of the best jokes.
The plot has Dr Evil creating a time machine that enables him to go back in time and steal Austin Powers mojo, the libido, the essence, the life-force, what the French a certain I don't know what. With this gone Austin will be powerless to stop Evil's plans for world domination. Aiding Dr Evil this time is a 2-foot clone of himself called Mini Me who is like a vicious dog, Dr Evil still has problems with his son after taking him onto Jerry Springer and we also learn why Scott is there. Not only that but there
is another henchmen in the shape of a disgruntled Scotsman named Fat Bastard. Austin meanwhile swings his way back into the sixties and gains the help of a sexy CIA spy named Felicity Shagwell.
All in all it's very silly but very enjoyable. Dr Evil doesn't need to take over the world, he owns Starbucks that makes trillions of dollars. But of course Dr Evil's motto is "why make trillions when we could make -- (whoosh) -- billions?
Anyway enough about the film, how about the groovy presentation and swinging extras you get on the dvd man!
The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The source of the transfer comes from New Line Cinema, the kings of dvd output. It's hard to fault anything in their transfers through recent years. This one doesn't disappoint. No signs of print blemish, it's clean, the colours sparkle. It's great.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is also quite good. Most comedy films don't use the rear speakers a great deal but this one does because it has a lot of action. The bass is great in Dr Evil's volcanic lair and the music throughout is well mixed.
A word must be said about the menus. They are superbly animated with Austin swinging his thing and pointing out every possible selection. At moments he even speaks to you and on the region 1 if you wait for a while a phallic shaped rocket that takes you to a Dr Evil style menu replaces him.
First up on the extras is a 30-minute 'making of' documentary. This features interviews on the film with the main cast and crew as well as some behind the scenes footage. It's not bad but not great. However it's worth seeing for Mini Me's make-up session to create the transformation.
The deleted scenes section totals 20 minutes worth of footage. Each scene is presented in anamorphic widescreen and there is some great stuff here. Highlights include the present day number 2 rising up from underneath the covers with his 60's counterpart, there's also some great stuff with Dr Evil as he encounters problems with his frickin' rotating chair.
But that's not all, there are 3 music videos from the soundtrack.
MADONNA-BEAUTIFUL STRANGER I'm sure you've seen this video, it features Austin being allured by Madge in a club before telling her she’s going the right way for a smacked bottom! She replies, "I hope so!"
LENNY KRAVITZ-AMERICAN WOMAN The usual kravitz affair with guitar, rocking soul and Heather Graham. Not a bad video but not really related to the film.
MEL B-WORD UP It features Mini Me but that's the only good thing about it. I don't really need to say any more.
The trailers section features the great teaser spots that spoofed Star Wars, the Phantom Menace was released around the same time so you get a play on Darth Vader with Dr Evil having problems with his kitty and his chair once more. "Dr Evil does not like to be pee peed on!"
Finally you have an audio commentary with Director Jay Roach, Mike Myers and Co-Writer Michael McCullers. This track isn't as good as the first film's track but there are some amusing highlights as in-jokes are pointed out and what ideas were left on the page.
Briefly you also get filmographies for cast and crew.
All the above applies to the Region 2 release but of course multi-region raise it's head again and makes the Region 1 version better.
Another extra is 'The Dr Evil Story'. This is a spoof feature from Comedy Central that features Dr Evil talking about his life with interviews from his family and associates. it's funny stuff, a bit promotional and probably not included on the R2 due to rights issues.
Pop the dvd disc into a dvd-rom drive and you also get an Austin powers screensaver and web browser, the film's website and some game samplers. Sadly no screenplay.
So there you have it. I find myself dipping into this film on many occasions for a laugh as there's a lot to enjoy. The extras are great and if you can get the Region 1 for nicer packaging and more extras.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
What a great opinion. The film was definately very funny, but once I had seen the first one at the cinema, watching it on video just seemed to ruin it's uniqueness. Now I 'm tempted to go out and buy this DVD to add to my collection! barrysruk
jess0910 28.09.2001 19:11
Great review! I already have the video but might get the DVD anyway because it sounds great. I love the bit where he does 'Just the Two of Us' and raps about how Scott has 'no love' for him! Jess x
mbmb11 28.09.2001 18:25
i personally didnt find this film that good - it had some funny moments.
Your op is very good tho.
mbmb11 x
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back baby!MIKE MYERS returns in this blockbuster sequel as the British secret agent that thwarts international madmen and shags beautiful women like mad, man! But ...
Advantages: Supremely funny throughout. Myers is great as three of the top characters. Good sound track. Probably improves upon the original which is noval for a sequel. Disadvantages: maybe just a tad too similiar to the original
![Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me [DVD] [1999]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78545674.jpg "Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me [DVD] [1999]")
Sep 28th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
