Saturday Matinee #18

Audiobook Reviews from Audiobook-Heaven
Presents Saturday Matinee

-----Movie Review #1-----

Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Robert Wagner, Seth Green
Narrator: uncredited
Running time: 91 minutes
Released in: 1997
Genre: comedy
Filed in: Movie reviews

In 1967, notorious super-villain Dr. Evil attempted to take over the world yet again. He was narrowly defeated by British secret agent, and international man of mystery, Austin Powers. Dr. Evil was cryogenically frozen and banished into outer space. On Earth, Austin Powers volunteered to have himself frozen as well, only to be revived if, and when, Dr. Evil once again threatened the world.
Thirty years later, Dr. Evil does indeed make it back to Earth and wastes no time initiating a plan to detonate a nuclear warhead deep inside the planet’s core, causing worldwide destruction. As promised, Austin Powers is revived, only to find himself in a far different world than the one he knew. Nevertheless, duty calls, and Austin Powers answers. Can he get to Dr. Evil in time to save the planet?
This movie is hilarious. Then again, anything Mike Myers does is pretty darned funny. Much of his humor is juvenile, true, but it’s still darn funny. In one scene, one of Dr. Evil’s henchmen gets his head eaten off by ill-tempered sea bass, to which Austin remarks, “Too bad he had to go and lose his head.” Juvenile, but funny. Myers plays both Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, as most of us know, and to tell you the truth, I like Dr. Evil better.

-----Movie Review #2-----

Title: Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Starring: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Seth Green, Robert Wagner
Narrator: uncredited
Running time: 95 minutes
Released in: 1999
Genre: comedy
Filed in: Movie reviews

After being exiled into outer space, Dr. Evil has once again returned to Earth. Naturally, he has plans not only to take over the world, but also to destroy his nemesis, Austin Powers.
This time, the evil doctor travels into the past, to a time when Austin was still cryogenically frozen. His plan is simple, steal Austin Powers’ mojo while he is frozen and helpless. Losing his mojo in the past will render Austin Powers powerless in the future. In the meantime, he is also planning to fire a gigantic, moon-based laser beam at the white house, unless they pay a hefty ransom.
Yep, the sequel is funny too. I love the parody of those old James Bond movies. Moon-based lasers aimed at the Earth indeed. Dr. Evil’s second-in-command is played by Robert Wagner, who was very good in the role. In the past, the younger Number 2 was played by Rob Lowe, who does kind of look like a younger version of Robert Wagner. Lowe did a pretty good Robert Wagner impersonation too.

Movie Review #3

Title: Austin Powers 3: Goldmember
Starring: Mike Myers, Beyonce Knowles, Seth Green, Robert Wagner, Michael Caine
Narrator: uncredited
Running time: 94 minutes
Released in: 2002
Genre: comedy
Filed in: Movie reviews

Dr. Evil is up to his old tricks again. This time he has enlisted the aid of a somewhat mad scientist from 1975, known as Goldmember. Using Goldmember’s invention, a tractor-beam, Dr. Evil plans to bring a meteor crashing down on the planet, unless he receives a large ransom, that is.
Austin Powers has a little help as well. His father, who also happens to be a secret agent, and that weird little Mini-me who has decided to change sides.
Okay, the plot is pretty thin, but let’s face it, these movies are not about the plot. They’re about Mike Myers acting crazy and making us laugh. I loved Michael Caine as Austin’s father, he can be pretty funny too.
Goldmember opens on a movie set where they are making an Austin Powers film. The scene includes appearances by Tom Cruise as Austin Powers, Gwyneth Paltrow as the heroine, Kevin Spacey as Dr. Evil, Danny Devito as Mini-me, and Steven Spielberg as the director.

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Movie reviews by Steven Brandt.
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