One is an international man of mystery, the other has a license to kill.
One carries a gun, the other uses a Swedish-made penis-enlarging pump.
Hollywood’s two most famous spies, Austin Powers and James Bond, are at it again.
The first to sneak into theaters this year is Powers in “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” the third installment of the spoof series. Bond won’t hit the screen in time for the summer blockbuster season, but he’ll celebrate his 40th anniversary in style with the Nov. 22 release of “Die Another Day.”
Mike Myers and Pierce Brosnan both return to the their familiar roles and, as usual, they’re both joined by a new leading lady. Beyoncé Knowles, of Destiny’s Child fame, makes her big-screen debut as Foxxy Cleopatra in “Goldmember,” while Halle Berry becomes the newest Bond girl, Jinx, in the Bond film.
“Die Another Day” is the 20th installment of the 007 tale created by Ian Fleming in his 1953 novel “Casino Royale.” In all, Fleming wrote 12 novels and two collections of short stories involving the Bond character, with the last appearing in 1966.
Even though Powers is more spoof than spectacular, fans of both spy-flick stars have been chomping at the bit to see the new releases.
“I don’t think he is any better than Bond, he just has his own unique style of doing things,” said Eric Levine, director of entertainment and publicity for “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”
It’s Austin’s unique style - complete with sexual innuendoes, crooked teeth and blue velour suits - that has helped keep the character a box-office hit.
But Powers didn’t take the box office by storm - 1997’s “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” only grossed $53.8 million. It wasn’t until it hit video stores that people couldn’t get enough of Powers and his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil.
The sequel, “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” struck gold, grossing $205 million in the United States The nearly 300-percent increase solidified Powers as a super spy.
But, as Levine points out, not everyone sees the randy character as a laughing matter.
“I don’t think as many Bond fans get into it,” he said. “And some of the Bond fans are so hard-core about him, some of them might not find it amusing.”
Perhaps those short-sighted Bond fans forget that Powers’ struggle to the top is similar to their hero’s tribulation. Bond wasn’t expected to become the cultural phenomenon he is today, said Katherine McCormick, publicity manager for “Die Another Day.”
Released in 1962, “Dr. No” wasn’t expected to start an astonishing run of 20 Bond flicks.
“His popularity is higher than ever,” McCormick said. “The last movie (‘The World Is Not Enough’) made over $350 million worldwide.”
Some Bond fans even hail Powers as a tribute to the spy films of the 1960s.
“The thing that makes it work is that Mike Myers, who was probably a little too young to remember the spy craze, has somehow really captured the precise image of those movies,” said Lee Pfeiffer, co-author of “The Essential Bond.”
Pfeiffer, who also owns spy memorabilia company Spy Guise Inc., is an avid fan of everything dealing with the spy genre. He plans on making a trip with friends this weekend to see “Goldmember.”
“Powers’ films have the potential to build up a loyal fan base,” he said. “I can see the cult popularity extending over a period of time.”
But Pfeiffer is also looking forward to Bond’s return to the silver screen, and any sequels released thereafter.
“There are only three things that are certain in this life, and they are death, taxes and another James Bond film,” he said.
