Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery: Special Edition

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Oct 2007, 18:12

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/ ... stery.html

I see the main reason for this re-release is the change of distributor from Pathe to Optimum. Cool cover art but come on is that all they could add? -

"# New 'Austin Powers: A Shaggadelic Decade' Featurette (17 mins)
# New and Exclusive Interactive Quiz"

I hope it's still the Extended European cut and not the censored USA PG-13 cut:

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=76
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118655/alternateversions

I remember those extra scenes, they're decent. The R1 is also presented in the incorrect aspect ratio.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 25 Oct 2007, 19:53

Not worth buying again for a puny featurette.

dvdvision · Post by **dvdvision** » 25 Oct 2007, 20:21

This stuff have gotten old what with Bond regenerated, we're in a different world. Post 9/11 to be exact.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 25 Oct 2007, 21:24

I disagree.

It's still a funny film.

And what 9/11 has to do with it I've no idea...?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Oct 2007, 22:46

I also disagree. The first two are funny and the third fairly funny.

I don't really see what Casino Royale has got to do with it when even the older Bonds were more serious than this (for the most part). They're Bond parodies with a dose of other British humour Myers remembers from his childhood.

The uncut Austin Powers 1 is definitely better. I've not seen the sanitised USA cut but reading IMDB I specifically remember many of the cuts scenes and wouldn't want to lose them. It seems particularly strange they'd cut Christian Slater's scenes in America.

Markgway wrote:And what 9/11 has to do with it I've no idea...?

I was wondering the same?

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 26 Oct 2007, 00:46

I thought ours was just an extended version, with deleted scenes inserted back into the film?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Oct 2007, 00:58

Partly Correct. It compromises of decent deleted scenes and changes/different scenes considered too much for a PG-13.

Austin Powers 1 is a 15 in the UK, obviously no such middle rating exists in America so they opted to cut it down to a PG-13. Well technically it does exist but considering NC-17 never gets used R has to substitute for a 15 and 18 type rating.

Read the IMDB link

The R1 is also open matt 1.90:1 which while offering more screen information isn't the correct aspect ratio.

According to IMDB Austin Powers 2 USA cut loses one scene found on the R2 DVD: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145660/alternateversions
I'm pretty sure it's on my R1 DVD though. I cannot rememberer when it happens to check.

Austin Powers 2 is 12 UK and PG-13 USA, the same goes for Austin Powers 3. No mention of any changes for that one.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 26 Oct 2007, 01:14

I thought the original was hilarious; the first sequel, though it had its moments, was more uneven; and the third was largely disappointing.

My guess would be that the UK cut was the intended release cut, or directors cut, and the US cut was a shortened/slightly toned down edit required by the studio.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Oct 2007, 01:21

Markgway wrote:I thought the original was hilarious; the first sequel, though it had its moments, was more uneven; and the third was largely disappointing.

I thought the first decent, the first sequel even better and the third part as you say disappointing.

They'd obviously run out of ideas with that one. I seem to remember more fart type jokes too. It does have moments of decent comedy but overall not as good. During my clear out of DVDs I've opted to keep the first two but not the third one.

Beyoncé doesn't come close to Pam Grier either.

Markgway wrote:My guess would be that the UK cut was the intended release cut, or directors cut, and the US cut was a shortened/slightly toned down edit required by the studio.

I would say so. If it was just deleted scenes as well as other scenes considered too much for a PG-13 they'd have thrown in all the deleted scenes.

They haven't as the UK DVD still contains deleted scenes. The R1 contains these plus I think the cut UK scenes. Add to that it's a European not UK cut which adds more weight to this theory.

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 26 Oct 2007, 03:36

wonder if the transfer will be better, this one was a very early DVD release so I'm sure it could be improved. I haven't taken a look at it for a while so I'm not sure how good the video/audio is.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Oct 2007, 03:52

Good point. I've not checked my copy either. I can tell you Optimum have remastered a few titles they took over from other companies, they're relatively new on the market place.

Optimum's "Don't Look Now" I believe was remastered from the older Warner release. That had new extras though. Their "Wickerman" however wasn't, also from Warner. Their "Ran" release was pretty much the same as the Warner release but they did tweak it to make it slightly better, removable subtitles too. Both Ran and Wickerman pretty much replicated the old releases.

I would guess if anything it only looks minutely better.

dvdvision · Post by **dvdvision** » 26 Oct 2007, 08:14

Thought I liked the first one (the longer european version), I think the two sequels lacked.

My point about post 9/11 is that Austin Powers refers to the old James Bond series, whereas the new one (with Daniel Craig) is more into the real world, and lacks many of the things Austin Powers made fun of. Therefore people who aren't familiar with the Connery Bond (I mean younger kids who don't care about old movies and just want the latest Spiderman and Transformers and Casino Royale "because it's cool the way the guy shoot the other guy in the bathroom with the blood dripping on screen"), may not really get the point. Also parodies usually signifies the death of a genre or series, but hopefully, the Bond franchise have just been regenerated (making the AP series appear from another age).

I hope it's sounds coherent

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Oct 2007, 14:30

Personally I hope that doesn't continue or not so much. Bond is fun because it's not in the real world. I'm not saying I want Casino Royale 2 (for want of a better name) to be Die Another Day but some gadgets would be cool, as would the return of Miss. Moneypenny.

For example Blofeld is a great over the top villain. I still think Casino Royale is the best Bond in a long time but the over the top nature of Bond also has it's appeal, IMO.

Besides Austin Powers is mimmicking the Bonds before Casino Royale is makes perfect sense. You cannot eradicate 40 years of Bond over one film, as many love to do since Bourne (3 in that case)

Therefore people who aren't familiar with the Connery Bond (I mean younger kids who don't care about old movies and just want the latest Spiderman and Transformers and Casino Royale "because it's cool the way the guy shoot the other guy in the bathroom with the blood dripping on screen"), may not really get the point.

Don't forget Dalton, easily as tough as Connery. It's a shame he didn't make more Bonds. Over time he could've been considered by all one of the greats. Even if his two films let him down a bit by slightly weak scripts.

Back on topic: I see what you mean by I doubt young kids will care, they're still funny. Even then I bet most kids have seen some of the Bonds, they're on TV all the time. The Roger Moore ones could be very silly, as did to a lesser extend the latter Connery ones.

Even if they don't get the connection Austin Powers can still be enjoyed by adults, like us.

Also parodies usually signifies the death of a genre or series, but hopefully, the Bond franchise have just been regenerated (making the AP series appear from another age).

Bond has survived 40 years as they manage to keep reinventing it. The Roger Moore era for better or worse did a good job of brining Moore into the 1980's and Pierce Brosnan into the 1990's. Let's not forget both these Bonds were very, very popular. Daniel Craig is now doing the same again, but moving with the times.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 Oct 2007, 15:10

I thought they were spy parodies in general not "just" Bond, its been ages since I saw them. 1st was very funny, 2nd was also very funny, 3rd had its moments IMO.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 26 Oct 2007, 17:45

Who cares. HD all the way, stuff a crap dvd.

I want New Line to pull some HD films out of their lazy arses and impress us with the HD glory we need

not shoveling shitty standard dvds onto us again!

I always hated the idea of the film, then I saw part 1 and its bloody funny, part 2 is also, part 3 as has been said goes a bit to far. But hell I am no comedy fan, but these are fun films.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 26 Oct 2007, 18:14

romerojpg wrote:Who cares. HD all the way, stuff a crap dvd.

I want New Line to pull some HD films out of their lazy arses and impress us with the HD glory we need

Talk about "i'm alright Jack"

not everyone wants,has or can afford HD yet Romero.dvds have got shitloads of life in them yet,HD is still a Niche format.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Oct 2007, 18:14

I wouldn't want a New Line HD of Part 1 as it will still be the PG-13 version. Part 2 I would pick up though.