Lets have a look at the most GROOVY edition that has ever been released! I’m talking about the Austin Powers Shagadelic box set from Japan. Have to admit that I liked the look of the box when I first saw it and thought I would purchase it once I got the money.
The box is long OOP but if you are lucky you can find it second hand in mint condition. One thing I can say, although my better half is a bigger Austin fan than I am, I never regretted buying this. It looks really good displayed and the packaging of the DVD is superb.
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The
box is made of cardboard, not the thickest kind but good enough.It
has a good compartment inside where it houses both DVD and toy.
On
both sides of the box all the movie titles are named so you can’t
miss what’s included in this box. On the back they are technical
details for each movie starting with Austin Powers and ending with
Goldmember. However
I can’t read or speak Japanese so the best way to check the specification
is to put the DVD into the player. I’m very satisfied that the two
first movies got DTS sound but very sad that the third movie didn’t
include it. Maybe I demand too much but I think they could included
a DTS track on all movies or none. Seems kind of silly releasing
just one without it. I don’t own any other edition of Goldmember
so I can’t compare it to another region.
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TThe box houses a toy character from the movie. I got Austin dressed in platforms shoes, blue outfit and a his precious necklace. Very shagadelic if I may say. If you got kids in the house may I remind you that these toys are not for children under the age of three. Other characters that you might end up getting are Dr. Evil and Mini Me in their prison outfits. Goldmember in his golden dress looking ready to party and of course you get the lovely Fat Bastard in his wresting outfit. There is also another Austin toy but it looks quite ugly compared to the other ones. |
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These toys are from Mezco Toys and I guess you can also buy them seperately but of course they are more good looking together with the box. So, lets have a closer look at the DVDs. They are packed in a nice looking digipack. I’m very impressed that they chose that kind of packaging since I think the regular R2 Box edition is quite boring. That edition is just the regular keep cases in a box, nothing special. But then again we all know that the Japanese know how to make a good looking DVD edition. |
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The dvd packaking is blue like the box and also have the same look. The dvd also come with a booklet all written in Japanese but with some very colourful photos from the movies. Each disc have a color theme, pink, blue or yellow.I personally like the yellow one since Goldmember is my favorite movie of the three of them. On the back of the DVD it is written the same information that is also written on the box. |
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Overall this is groovy looking edition. The cardboard that the box is made of is thick and a good quality.However I would be careful when handling it because everyone knows that cardboard is not the most solid material. If you like Austin Powers you should definitely buy this box and if you are not a fan, then you will be.The box is great even if you bought it for the packaging, displaying purpose, or if you are a fan of the movies. All these reasons are good enough. |
SPI's Verdict
Build
Quality: 5
The box is a sturdy box and doesn't seem to damage easily. I lost in one
time in the floor and it didn`t seem to get any scratches. I always try
to handle boxes made out of cardboard very gently since they are easy
to scratche and such, but until now I`ve been lucky with this one.
Content
and Extras: 4
The toy is such a great addition to the box.I would buy this boxset even if it didn`t include the toy since the digipack is great on its own. The special features on the discs is interesting and of course some of them hilarius. I can watch them over and over again and enjoy them everytime.
I think that this edition is the best Austin collection out there, and again, not only for the toy but for the DVD packaking.
Overall
Rating: 7
Have
to say that for me, this has been the most difficult edition to review.
Not because it is simple or anything like that, but it was hard to find
exact words that describe it. The box is so special in its own way and
you may notice that I mention the same things all over again in this review.
That is because I can`t find any words to "go around it". As you may have
notice Im very satifisfied with the digipack and of course can`t stop
talking about it. If you are wondering about something about this edition,
just contact me and I will do my best to assist you.
Copyright © 2005 Skullface (skullface.com)
All rights reserved.