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Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
(New Line Platinum Series)
review by Zach B.
Rated PG-13
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Studio: New Line
Starring Mike Meyers, Heather Graham, Robert Wagner,
Michael York, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Rob Lowe and
Elizabeth Hurley
Written by Mike Meyers and Michael McCullers
Based on the characters created by Mike Meyers
Directed By Jay Roach
Retail Price: 24.99
Features: Commentary with Jay Roach, Mike Meyers and
Michael McCullers, Behind the Scenes Documentary, Jump Right
To Dr. Evil Song, Comedy Central's Canned Ham: "The Dr. Evil
Story", Music Videos: Madonna's "Beautiful Strangers", Lenny
Kravitz's "American Woman" and Mel B (Scary Spice)'s "Word
Up", Deleted Scenes, Cameo Menu, Theatrical Trailers,
DVD-ROM: Demo of "Austin Powers Operation Trivia" Game,
Website, Web Browser and Screensavers, Desktop Episodes,
Cast, Crew and Trivia Info
Specs: 2.35:1 Anamirphic Widescreen, English 5.1 Dolby
Digital EX, English Captions, Chapter Search (30 Chapters)
Who honestly knew when the original Austin Powers was
released back in May 1997, it would spawn a huge cultural
phenomenon? "Yeah baby, yeah!", "Shall we shag now or shall
we shag later?", "Why must I be surrounded by frickin'
idiots?" and the various other catchphrases. While the film
didn't really score huge box office numbers (it made a total
domestic gross of 54 million), I was actually one of the
first on line to see the original. I saw the trailer and
thought it looked hilarious, and I was a pretty big Mike
Meyers fan from SNL and his other movies. After seeing
"Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery", I was a bit
disappointed, but I did enjoy it. The film, that Fall, was
released on video and became an instant cult hit.
The sequel was released in June 1999, and in its first
weekend it made the original gross of the first one, 54
million. It was really impressive, and went on to gross over
200 million domestically, and was the big hit of the summer
right next to "Star Wars - Episode 1". I also went right out
to see the sequel (New Line had one of those "We're showing
the movie a day before at night since we've hyped it so
much"), which I loved. The critics gave it mixed, but a
movie like this you can't take seriously.
"Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" opens with him
and his sidekick from the last film, Vanessa, as they
expierence their honeymoon. However, Vanessa is actually a
Fembot (NOOO!), and she explodes and Austin is back to the
single life. However, the dreaded Dr. Evil returns and plots
to steal Austin's "mojo" (something that makes Austin who he
is), so it's up to Austin to travel back into the 1960s to
get it back, while teaming up with Felicity Shagwell too to
stop Dr. Evil once more as well as everyone's favorite
midget clone, Mini-Me.
The film, of course, is a riot. I honestly think it's
really superb in execution and a ton better than the
original. The cast really shines here. Meyers is most
notable as being Austin and Dr. Evil once more, as well as
the greasy, disgusting and hilarioys Fat Bastard. Heather
Graham is perfect as Felicity Shagwell, and Rob Lowe gives a
dead on performance, sounding EXACTLY like Robert Wagner as
the younger No. 2.
This sequel can definently be watched more than once with
much enjoyment, and once again, New Line delivers with
anoter excellent Platinum Series title.
Near reference quality. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen, the sixties are alive again! Colors are really
bold, vibrant and beautiful, and give an excellent
dimensional quality. Detail is wonderful, and it looks
pretty pristine. No complaints here.
Though the box does not state it, "Austin Powers: The Spy
Who Shagged Me" is indeed an Dolby Digital EX track (I
believe this was the first disc to have it). You also have
to select it yourself, and I don't think it brings too much
to the film, but it's there, and it works.
The 5.1 is nice and sounds good, though it's not as good
as I thought it could have been. Dialogue is crystal clear
with much clarity, but my main complaint is that the rear
channels weren't put to the best of use. A more creative mix
could have been implanted, but it's simple and I didn't find
the directional fields to go bouncing all over as one could
have expected during the finale. No complaints though, it's
fine, I just wished it could have been a tad bit better.
English subtitles are included as well.
This isn't a Platinum Series for nothing! It kicks right
out with a Commentary with Jay Roach, Mike Meyers and
Michael McCullers. The trio talk about the process of
making the film and some sources as well as inspirations,
and I think it's a pretty good track. I enjoyed the one with
Roach and Meyers on the original Austin Powers, and
McCullers is not a bad addition.
Another disc highlight are the 21 Deleted Scenes
which total a good 19 minutes. Most of these scenes are
obviously short, and you can watch them all in a row or
seperatley. Some are just plain pointless, but others are
just fun. These are definently worth a watch, some more than
once.
You can also watch the three Music Videos which
have been overplayed on VH-1 and MTV around the release of
the film. The smash hit Beautiful Stranger by
Madonna, Lenny Kravitz with American
Woman and finally, I think the least successful music
video, Mel B (AKA Scary Spice) with Word Up.
So if you enjoyed these videos, they're here.
Four Theatrical Trailers are included. Two
variatons on the Teaser, which is a Star Wars parody
of sorts, with the full length Theatrical Trailer,
and finally one for the original Austin Powers. All
of these are in anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 Dolby
Digital.
There's a hidden Dr. Evil page on the disc, where you'll
find a slew of Easter Eggs. The Comedy Central Canned
Ham: The Dr. Evil Story is a mockumentary on our
favorite villiain, and is a fun viewing. You can also jump
right to the Dr. Evil Songs in the film.
There's also a Behind The Scenes Documentary and
like the first Austin disc, a Cameo Menu plus
Actor Filmographies.
There are also some excellent DVD-ROM features: A
demo of the Austin Powers Operation Trivia game which
you can play, the entire film's Website, some
Webskins and Screen Savers as well as some Desktop
Episodes to watch and Cast and Crew Info which is
updated often thanks to phone lines.
New Line Cinema continues to put so much care in their
DVD releases, and with this movie, it clearly shows. "Austin
Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" is definently a hilarious
film, and this DVD exceeds with great video, good sound and
really nice features. All for a really decent retail, this
is one for your collection. Go out and get it!
 (5/5, NOT included in
final score)
 (4.5/5)
(4/5)
(4/5)
(4/5,
NOT an average)
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