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106-712: Austin Powers in Goldmember is a 2002 American spy comedy film directed by Jay Roach . It is the third and final installment in the Austin Powers film series and stars Mike Myers in four different roles: Austin Powers , Dr. Evil , Goldmember, and Fat Bastard . Myers and Michael McCullers co-wrote the screenplay, which also features Beyoncé Knowles in her theatrical film debut, as well as Seth Green , Michael York , Robert Wagner , Mindy Sterling , Verne Troyer , and Michael Caine . Goldmember opens with

212-496: A rikishi (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring ( dohyō ) or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by throwing, shoving or pushing him down). Sumo originated in Japan , the only country where it is practised professionally and where it is considered the national sport . It is considered a gendai budō , which refers to modern Japanese martial arts , but

318-528: A bout to be restarted, or leave the decision as given by the gyōji . Occasionally the shimpan will overrule the gyōji and give the bout to the other wrestler. On rare occasions the referee or judges may award the win to the wrestler who touched the ground first. This happens if both wrestlers touch the ground at nearly the same time and it is decided that the wrestler who touched the ground second had no chance of winning, his opponent's superior sumo having put him in an irrecoverable position. The losing wrestler

424-569: A bow for being victorious and he began dancing to show the war-lord his gratitude. Because sumo had become a nuisance due to wild fighting on the streets, particularly in Edo, sumo was temporarily banned in the city during the Edo period . In 1684, sumo was permitted to be held for charity events on the property of Shinto shrines, as was common in Kyoto and Osaka . The first sanctioned tournament took place in

530-440: A fight, which is similar to the ritual before entering a Shinto shrine. Additionally, before a match begins the two wrestlers perform and repeat a warm up routine called shikiri . The top division is given four minutes for shikiri , while the second division is given three, after which the timekeeping judge signals to the gyōji that time is up. Traditionally, sumo wrestlers are renowned for their great girth and body mass, which

636-459: A form of military combat training among samurai . By the Muromachi period , sumo had fully left the seclusion of the court and became a popular event for the masses, and among the daimyō it became common to sponsor wrestlers. Sumotori who successfully fought for a daimyō' s favor were given generous support and samurai status. Oda Nobunaga , a particularly avid fan of the sport, held

742-601: A form of wooden sandal called geta . Wrestlers in the makushita and sandanme divisions can wear a form of traditional short overcoat over their yukata and are allowed to wear straw sandals, called zōri . The higher-ranked sekitori can wear silk robes of their own choice, and the quality of the garb is significantly improved. They also are expected to wear a more elaborate form of topknot called an ōichō (big ginkgo leaf) on formal occasions. Similar distinctions are made in stable life. The junior wrestlers must get up earliest, around 5 am, for training, whereas

848-424: A giant Coca-Cola bottle. Promotion and relegation for the next tournament are determined by a wrestler's score over the 15 days. In the top division, the term kachikoshi means a score of 8–7 or better, as opposed to makekoshi , which indicates a score of 7–8 or worse. A wrestler who achieves kachikoshi almost always is promoted further up the ladder, the level of promotion being higher for better scores. See

954-463: A highly regimented way of life. The Sumo Association prescribes the behavior of its wrestlers in some detail. For example, the association prohibits wrestlers from driving cars, although this is partly out of necessity as many wrestlers are too big to fit behind a steering wheel. Breaking the rules can result in fines and/or suspension for both the offending wrestler and his stablemaster. On entering sumo, they are expected to grow their hair long to form

1060-536: A kick to the back as well. Until the Japanese Middle Ages, this unregulated form of wrestling was often fought to the death of one of the fighters. In the Kofun period (300–538), Haniwa of sumo wrestlers were made. The first historically attested sumo fights were held in 642 at the court of Empress Kōgyoku to entertain a Korean legation. In the centuries that followed, the popularity of sumo within

1166-426: A lower-ranked wrestler, it is common and expected for audience members to throw their seat cushions into the ring (and onto the wrestlers), though this practice is technically prohibited. In contrast to the time in bout preparation, bouts are typically very short, usually less than a minute (most of the time only a few seconds). Extremely rarely, a bout can go on for several minutes. A professional sumo wrestler leads

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1272-405: A manner akin to a McMahon system tournament ; each wrestler in the top two divisions ( sekitori ) has one match per day, while the lower-ranked wrestlers compete in seven bouts, about one every two days. Each day is structured so that the highest-ranked contestants compete at the end of the day. Thus, wrestling starts in the morning with the jonokuchi wrestlers and ends at around six o'clock in

1378-452: A meteor into the earth. Moments after unveiling this plan, Austin Powers arrests Dr. Evil and Mini-Me. The Queen of England knights Austin for his service, but he is disappointed when his father, the famous spy Nigel Powers , does not attend the event. During an after party, Basil Exposition informs Austin that Nigel has been kidnapped. Their only clue is that the crew of Nigel's yacht have had their genitalia painted gold . Austin seeks

1484-486: A negative effect on their health, with sumo wrestlers having a much lower life expectancy than the average Japanese man. From 2008 to 2016, a number of high-profile controversies and scandals rocked the sumo world, with an associated effect on its reputation and ticket sales. These have also affected the sport's ability to attract recruits. Despite this setback, sumo's popularity and general attendance has rebounded due to having multiple yokozuna (or grand champions) for

1590-527: A new character named Number 3 (a.k.a. the Mole), who is portrayed by former child star Fred Savage . Clint Howard plays a radar operator in all three films. Michael Caine guest stars as Austin's father, Nigel; this role was inspired by the character of Harry Palmer from The Ipcress File , a 1965 film starring Caine. Sean Connery was originally considered for the role of Nigel Powers and Honor Blackman for that of Mrs. Powers. Four actors who appeared in

1696-405: A number, and the beautiful foreign agent who comes to love the hero. Lang's Dr. Mabuse films from the period also contain elements of spy thrillers, though the central character is a criminal mastermind only interested in espionage for profit. Additionally, several of Lang's American films, such as Hangmen Also Die , deal with spies during World War II. Alfred Hitchcock did much to popularize

1802-449: A period of 12 months to add an extra 15 cm (6 in) of silicone to his scalp, which created a large, protruding bulge on his head. In response to this, the JSA stated that they would no longer accept aspiring wrestlers who surgically enhanced their height, citing health concerns. In 2019, The Japan Times reported that the height requirement was 167 cm (5 ft 6 in), and

1908-492: A reed", defeating Takeminakata and claiming Izumo. The Nihon Shoki , published in 720, dates the first sumo match between mortals to the year 23 BC, when a man named Nomi no Sukune fought against Taima no Kuehaya at the request of Emperor Suinin and eventually killed him, making him the mythological ancestor of sumo. According to the Nihon Shoki , Nomi broke a rib of Taima with one kick, and killed him with

2014-420: A remake of his 1934 film of the same name . He followed this up in 1959 with North by Northwest (1959), widely considered one of the most influential works within the spy genre. The peak of popularity of spy films is often considered to be the 1960s when Cold War fears meshed with a desire by audiences to see exciting and suspenseful films. The espionage film developed in two directions at this time. On

2120-444: A role in the film. However, Seth Green , who played Scott Evil, stated that there was no script at the moment and that Austin Powers 4 would be made if a script is written and approved. In June 2008, when asked about another Austin Powers film in an interview, Myers stated, "I have an idea, and again it's one of those things that will emerge or it won't." In July 2008, Myers stated that he had begun writing Austin Powers 4 , and that

2226-480: A row take the tournament. More complex systems for championship playoffs involving four or more wrestlers also exist, but these are usually only seen in determining the winner of one of the lower divisions. The matchups for each day of the tournament are determined by the sumo elders who are members of the judging division of the Japan Sumo Association . They meet every morning at 11 am and announce

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2332-618: A self-parody of the Austin Powers film series called Austinpussy , where Austin Powers is featured in a bio-pic parody of the James Bond film Octopussy . The self-parody is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Tom Cruise as Austin Powers, Gwyneth Paltrow as Dixie Normous, Kevin Spacey as Dr. Evil, Danny DeVito as Mini-Me, and John Travolta as Goldmember. The film was distributed by New Line Cinema and released in

2438-483: A supporter or family member who encouraged them into the sport. This is particularly true of foreign-born wrestlers. A wrestler may change his wrestling name during his career, with some changing theirs several times. Professional sumo wrestling has a strict hierarchy based on sporting merit. The wrestlers are ranked according to a system that dates back to the Edo period. They are promoted or demoted according to their performance in six official tournaments held throughout

2544-401: A three-film collection with its predecessors. On Rotten Tomatoes , the film has an approval rating of 53% based on 186 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "While the narrative structure is messy and doesn't make much sense, the third installment of the Austin Powers franchise contains enough inspired bits to entertain." On Metacritic , the film has

2650-466: A topknot, or chonmage , similar to the samurai hairstyles of the Edo period. Furthermore, they are expected to wear the chonmage and traditional Japanese dress when in public, allowing them to be identified immediately as wrestlers. The type and quality of the dress depends on the wrestler's rank. Rikishi in jonidan and below are allowed to wear only a thin cotton robe called a yukata , even in winter. Furthermore, when outside, they must wear

2756-547: A total of $ 213.3 million in the United States and $ 296.7 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo . Austin Powers in Goldmember was released on VHS and DVD on December 3, 2002 by New Line Home Entertainment . The DVD was released under the Infinifilm label, and was re-packed in 2011 as part of the Austin Powers 3 Film Collection . The film debuted on Blu-ray for the first time on December 2, 2008 in

2862-522: A tournament of 1,500 wrestlers in February 1578. Because several bouts were to be held simultaneously within Oda Nobunaga's castle, circular arenas were delimited to hasten the proceedings and to maintain the safety of the spectators. This event marks the invention of the dohyō , which would be developed into its current form up until the 18th century. The winner of Nobunaga's tournament was given

2968-520: A weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale. Myers was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for the third time, but lost against Daveigh Chase for her role as Samara Morgan in The Ring , making it the first time Myers lost

3074-498: A winner is still not found after another four minutes, the fight restarts from the tachi-ai after another mizu-iri . If this still does not result in a decision, the outcome is considered a hikiwake ( draw ). This is an extremely rare result, with the last such draw being called in September 1974. A special attraction of sumo is the variety of observed ceremonies and rituals, some of which have been cultivated in connection with

3180-422: A wrestler's future rank. Rank is determined only by performance in grand sumo tournaments. The six divisions in sumo, in descending order of prestige, are: Wrestlers enter sumo in the lowest jonokuchi division and, ability permitting, work their way up to the top division. A broad demarcation in the sumo world can be seen between the wrestlers in the top two divisions known as sekitori ( 関取 ) and those in

3286-500: A wrestler's prior performance. For example, in the lower divisions, wrestlers with the same record in a tournament are generally matched up with each other and the last matchups often involve undefeated wrestlers competing against each other, even if they are from opposite ends of the division. In the top division, in the last few days, wrestlers with exceptional records often have matches against much more highly ranked opponents, including san'yaku wrestlers, especially if they are still in

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3392-547: Is Charlotte Gray , based on the novel by Sebastian Faulks . Also during the period, there were many detective films ( The Thin Man Goes Home and Charlie Chan in the Secret Service for example) in which the mystery involved who stole the secret blue-prints, or who kidnapped the famous scientist. In the mid-1950s, Alfred Hitchcock returned to the spy genre with The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 film) ,

3498-520: Is a fully conceived idea for a fourth and I can just say that it's from Dr. Evil's point of view. So if you balanced how much of it was Austin with Dr. Evil, it's more about Austin's secret son than Austin". Also, in the audio commentary from the DVD release of Goldmember , Myers revealed that in the fourth film, Fat Bastard would return and regain the weight that he lost in Goldmember . In May 2007, at

3604-599: Is now a sumo wrestler . Fat Bastard reveals that businessman Mr. Roboto is working on a device for Dr. Evil and Goldmember. Austin and Foxxy meet with Roboto, who pleads ignorance. The duo infiltrate Roboto's factory where the command unit for the tractor beam is being loaded in Goldmember's car, and Roboto gives Goldmember a key needed to activate the beam. Foxxy confronts Goldmember while Austin attempts to free Nigel. However, Goldmember escapes and flees to Dr. Evil's submarine. Scott Evil kills Roboto by feeding him to sharks. Dr. Evil replaces Mini-Me with Scott as his favored son and

3710-410: Is often a winning factor in sumo. No weight divisions are used in professional sumo; a wrestler can sometimes face an opponent twice his own weight. However, with superior technique, smaller wrestlers can control and defeat much larger opponents. The average weight of top division wrestlers has continued to increase, from 125 kilograms (276 lb) in 1969 to over 150 kilograms (330 lb) by 1991, and

3816-416: Is referred to as being shini-tai ("dead body") in this case. The maximum length of a match varies depending on the division. In the top division, the limit is four minutes, although matches usually only last a few seconds. If the match has not yet ended after the allotted time has elapsed, a mizu-iri ( water break ) is taken, after which the wrestlers continue the fight from their previous positions. If

3922-423: Is reunited with his former lover, undercover FBI agent Foxxy Cleopatra . Austin locates his father but is unable to rescue him. Goldmember takes Nigel through Dr. Evil's time machine to 2002. Dr. Evil and Mini-Me instigate a prison riot and escape. Number 3, a British Intelligence mole , informs Austin that Dr. Evil has moved to a new lair near Tokyo. Austin and Foxxy travel to Tokyo and confront Fat Bastard, who

4028-702: Is the most famous of film spies, but there were also more serious, probing works like le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold that also emerged from the Cold War . As the Cold War ended, the newest villain became terrorism and more often involved the Middle East . The spy film genre began in the silent era , with the paranoia of invasion literature and the onset of the Great War . These fears produced

4134-459: The James Bond novels by Ian Fleming were adapted into an increasingly fantastical series of tongue-in-cheek adventure films by producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli , with Sean Connery as the star. They featured secretive and flamboyant supervillains, an archetype that would later become a staple of the explosion of spy movies in the mid-to-late 1960s. The phenomenal success of

4240-539: The Shrek the Third premiere, Myers announced that a fourth Austin Powers film was planned, reiterating that it would focus more on Dr. Evil rather than Austin. He also said that he would start work on it after he started work on The Love Guru , which became a box office bomb . In February 2008, it was announced that Jay Roach would return as director. In April 2008, it was reported that Gisele Bündchen had been offered

4346-417: The makuuchi article for more details on promotion and relegation. A top-division wrestler who is not an ōzeki or yokozuna and who finishes the tournament with kachikoshi is also eligible to be considered for one of the three prizes awarded for "technique", "fighting spirit", and defeating the most yokozuna and ōzeki the "outstanding performance" prize. For more information see sanshō . For

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4452-403: The mawashi (belt) and then forcing him out, a style called yotsu-zumō ( 四つ相撲 ) , or pushing the opponent out of the ring without a firm grip, a style called oshi-zumō ( 押し相撲 ) . The dohyō , which is constructed and maintained by the yobidashi , consists of a raised pedestal on which a circle 4.55 m (14.9 ft) in diameter is delimited by a series of rice-straw bales. In

4558-642: The Bond series leads to a deluge of imitators, such as the eurospy genre and several from America. Notable examples include the two Derek Flint films starring James Coburn , The Quiller Memorandum (1966) with George Segal , and the Matt Helm series with Dean Martin . Television also got into the act with series like The Man from U.N.C.L.E and I Spy in the U.S., and Danger Man and The Avengers in Britain. Spies have remained popular on TV to

4664-599: The HBO TV series Real Sex featuring a Dutchman who operated a "sex barn" north of Rotterdam . The man's distinct forms of expression caught Myers' attention while he was writing. Austin Powers in Goldmember took in £ 6,364,796 in the United Kingdom on its opening weekend. In the United States, it broke the opening weekend record for a spoof movie, surpassing the previous Austin Powers films. It grossed $ 73.1 million during its opening weekend, surpassing Planet of

4770-532: The Hollywood Sign , Dr. Evil unveils to Number 2 , Mini-Me , Frau Farbissina , and Scott Evil , his plan for world domination: traveling back in time to 1975 and partnering with the Dutch , gold -obsessed Johann van der Smut, who, after losing his genitalia in a smelting accident, is known by the alias " Goldmember ". Goldmember developed a power unit for a tractor beam and intends to use it to pull

4876-525: The Japan Sumo Association is called ōzumō ( 大相撲 ) , or 'grand sumo'. Prehistoric wall paintings indicate that sumo originated from an agricultural ritual dance performed in prayer for a good harvest. The first mention of sumo can be found in a Kojiki manuscript dating back to 712, which describes how possession of the Japanese islands was decided in a wrestling match between the kami known as Takemikazuchi and Takeminakata . Takemikazuchi

4982-682: The Kokugikan in Tokyo (January, May, and September), and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July), and Fukuoka (November). Until the end of 1984, the Kokugikan was located in Kuramae , Tokyo, but moved in 1985 to the newly built venue at Ryōgoku . Each tournament begins on a Sunday and runs for 15 days, ending also on a Sunday, roughly in the middle of the month. The tournaments are organized in

5088-618: The Mr. Moto series, based on the books of John P. Marquand . In the 1940s and early 1950s, several films were made about the exploits of Allied agents in occupied Europe, which could be considered a subgenre. 13 Rue Madeleine and O.S.S. were fictional stories about American agents in German-occupied France. There were several films based on the stories of real-life British S.O.E. agents, including Odette and Carve Her Name With Pride . A more recent fictional example

5194-493: The Tomioka Hachiman Shrine at this time. An official sumo organization was developed, consisting of professional wrestlers at the disposal of the Edo administration. Many elements date from this period, such as the dohyō-iri , the heya system, the gyōji and the mawashi . The 18th century brought forth several notable wrestlers such as Raiden Tameemon , Onogawa Kisaburō and Tanikaze Kajinosuke ,

5300-540: The Tonight Show that he would "love" to make another Austin Powers film, again citing parenting as the main reason as to why the film has not yet been made. Spy film Spy films show the espionage activities of government agents and their risk of being discovered by their enemies. From the Nazi espionage thrillers of the 1940s to the James Bond films of the 1960s and to the high-tech blockbusters of today,

5406-493: The kanji " 角力 ", as in the Nihon Shoki . Here, the first character means 'corner', but serves as a phonetic element as one reading of it is sumi , while the second character means 'force'. Sumō is also a general term for wrestling in Japanese. For example, udezumō ( 腕相撲 , 'arm sumō') means ' arm wrestling ', and yubizumō ( 指相撲 , 'finger sumō') means ' finger wrestling '. The professional sumo observed by

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5512-443: The sekitori may start around 7 am. When the sekitori are training, the junior wrestlers may have chores to do, such as assisting in cooking lunch, cleaning, and preparing baths, holding a sekitori ' s towel, or wiping the sweat from him. The ranking hierarchy is preserved for the order of precedence in bathing after training, and in eating lunch. Wrestlers are not normally allowed to eat breakfast and are expected to have

5618-573: The Apes for the biggest July opening of all time. The latter record would be held for two years until Spider-Man 2 took it in 2004. The film also surpassed Rush Hour 2 as the biggest opening for a comedy film. This was the fourth-highest opening weekend of all time, behind Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Spider-Man . The film grossed

5724-559: The British 1914 The German Spy Peril , centered on a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament , and 1913's O.H.M.S. , standing for "Our Helpless Millions Saved" as well as On His Majesty's Service (and introducing for the first time a strong female character who helps the hero). In 1928, Fritz Lang made the film Spies which contained many tropes that became popular in later spy dramas, including secret headquarters, an agent known by

5830-848: The Sick Bay. Michael McDonald (the Virtucon guard who got run over by a steamroller in International Man of Mystery and a NATO soldier in The Spy Who Shagged Me ) appears as the royal guard. Johann van der Smut, better known as Goldmember, is a fictional villain played by Myers ( John Travolta plays the character in a cameo at the end of the film). The name was inspired by the James Bond villain Auric Goldfinger . Goldmember's Dutch origins and character traits were, according to Myers, inspired by an episode of

5936-413: The United States on July 22, 2002. Goldmember finished its box office run with an international haul of $ 296.6 million and received positive critical reception. It was the seventh-highest-grossing film of the year domestically in the United States. A fourth film in the series has been considered since Goldmember ' s release, but has yet to enter production as of 2024. In 2002, from his lair behind

6042-536: The Way (I Like It) ", all by KC and the Sunshine Band . In October 2005, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly , Mike Myers discussed the possibility of studio sources moving forward with a fourth film. "There is hope!". "We're all circling and talking to each other. I miss doing the characters." In May 2007, in an interview with IGN , "So no more Austin Powers ?" was asked, and Myers replied, "No, no, there

6148-402: The award. However, he did win the award for Best Comedic Performance , making it the first time he won the award, having previously lost twice for the first two films. The song "Hey Goldmember" interpolates and is a parody of four 1970s disco songs formed into a medley ; " Sing a Song " by Earth, Wind & Fire , " Get Down Tonight ", " (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty ", and " That's

6254-408: The bout, the referee must immediately designate his decision by pointing his gunbai or war-fan towards the winning side. The winning technique ( kimarite ) used by the winner would then be announced to the audience. The wrestlers then return to their starting positions and bow to each other before retiring. The referee's decision is not final and may be disputed by the five judges seated around

6360-425: The central association. The popularity of sumo was restored when Emperor Meiji organized a tournament in 1884; his example would make sumo a national symbol and contribute to nationalist sentiment following military successes against Korea and China. The Japan Sumo Association reunited on 28 December 1925 and increased the number of annual tournaments from two to four, and then to six in 1958. The length of tournaments

6466-573: The court increased its ceremonial and religious significance. Regular events at the Emperor's court, the sumai no sechie , and the establishment of the first set of rules for sumo fall into the cultural heyday of the Heian period . With the collapse of the Emperor's central authority, sumo lost its importance in the court; during the Kamakura period , sumo was repurposed from a ceremonial struggle to

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6572-495: The culmination of the tournament echoes the words of the playwright Zeami to represent the excitement of the decisive bouts and the celebration of the victor. The Emperor's Cup is presented to the wrestler who wins the top-division makuuchi championship. Numerous other (mostly sponsored) prizes are also awarded to him. These prizes are often rather elaborate, ornate gifts, such as giant cups, decorative plates, and statuettes. Others are quite commercial, such as one trophy shaped like

6678-470: The earlier films play different characters in Goldmember . Rob Lowe , who played the friend of a dead guard in International Man of Mystery , reprises his role as a younger Number 2 from The Spy Who Shagged Me , while Neil Mullarkey (quartermaster clerk in International Man of Mystery ) and Eric Winzenried (army private soldier in The Spy Who Shagged Me ) appear as the Physician and Henchman Sailor in

6784-419: The evening with bouts involving the yokozuna . The wrestler who wins the most matches over the 15 days wins the tournament championship ( yūshō ) for his division. If two wrestlers are tied for the top, they wrestle each other and the winner takes the title. Three-way ties for a championship are rare, at least in the top division. In these cases, the three wrestle each other in pairs with the first to win two in

6890-442: The explosion came from an assassination attempt and he thought that only Austin survived. Dr. Evil (revealed to be named Dougie), Austin, Nigel, and Mini-Me embrace; enraging Scott, who leaves to pursue his own vengeance while Goldmember commandeers the tractor beam's controls, revealing his golden genitalia to be a spare key. Goldmember activates the tractor beam, but Austin and Dr. Evil work together to reverse its polarity, destroying

6996-540: The film title remained unchanged on the provision that the film would include trailers in its cinema releases for the then-upcoming James Bond film, Die Another Day , and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers . Austin Powers (Myers), having conquered the 1990s and the 1960s, travels back to the 1970s and teams up with his nemesis Dr. Evil (also played by Myers) to thwart a new villain, Goldmember (Myers once again). Myers also plays Fat Bastard for

7102-403: The film, Goldmember , led to legal action being taken by MGM , the distributors of the James Bond film franchise , that briefly led to the film's title being removed from promotional material and trailers. Several potential replacement titles were prepared, including License to Shag , Live and Let Shag , You Only Shag Thrice and Never Say Member Again. The dispute was quickly resolved and

7208-484: The first historical yokozuna . When Matthew Perry was shown sumo wrestling during his 1853 expedition to Japan, he found it distasteful and arranged a military showcase to display the merits of Western organization. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 brought about the end of the feudal system, and with it the wealthy daimyō as sponsors. Due to a new fixation on Western culture , sumo had come to be seen as an embarrassing and backward relic, and internal disputes split

7314-493: The first time in a number of years and other high-profile wrestlers grabbing the public's attention. The spoken word sumō goes back to the verb sumau/sumafu , meaning 'compete' or 'fight'. The written word goes back to the expression sumai no sechi ( 相撲の節 ) , which was a wrestling competition at the imperial court during the Heian period . The characters from sumai , or sumō today, mean 'to strike each other'. There are instances of "sumo" alternatively being written with

7420-436: The following day's matchups around 12 pm. An exception are the final day 15 matchups, which are announced much later on day 14. Each wrestler only competes against a selection of opponents from the same division, though small overlaps can occur between two divisions. The first bouts of a tournament tend to be between wrestlers who are within a few ranks of each other. Afterwards, the selection of opponents takes into account

7526-422: The four lower divisions, known commonly by the more generic term rikishi ( 力士 ) . The ranks receive different levels of compensation, privileges, and status. The topmost makuuchi division receives the most attention from fans and has the most complex hierarchy. The majority of wrestlers are maegashira ( 前頭 ) and are ranked from the highest level 1 down to about 16 or 17. In each rank are two wrestlers;

7632-413: The higher rank is designated as "east" and the lower as "west", so the list goes #1 east, #1 west, #2 east, #2 west, etc. Above the maegashira are the three champion or titleholder ranks, called the san'yaku , which are only numbered if the number of wrestlers in each rank exceeds two. These are, in ascending order, komusubi ( 小結 ) , sekiwake ( 関脇 ) , and ōzeki ( 大関 ) . At the pinnacle of

7738-517: The highest ranks. In the 10 years since January 2009, five of the nine wrestlers promoted to ōzeki have been foreign-born, and a Japanese had not been named yokozuna from 1998 until the promotion of Kisenosato Yutaka in 2017. This and other issues eventually led the Sumo Association to limit the number of foreigners allowed to one in each stable. Women are not allowed to compete in professional sumo. They are also not allowed to enter

7844-546: The imprisoned Dr. Evil's help to find the culprit. Dr. Evil antagonizes Austin by reminding him that Nigel was also absent when Austin was given the title of "International Man of Mystery" during their British Intelligence academy graduation, an event that angered Dr. Evil as he had the top grades in the class. Dr. Evil eventually reveals that Goldmember is behind the abduction, so Austin time travels to 1975 and infiltrates Goldmember's roller disco club in New York City. He

7950-404: The last five days or so of the tournament (depending on the number of top-ranked wrestlers competing). Traditionally, on the final day, the last three bouts of the tournament are between the top six ranked wrestlers, with the top two competing in the final matchup, unless injuries during the tournament prevent this. Certain match-ups are prohibited in regular tournament play. Wrestlers who are from

8056-414: The list of upper divisions champions since 1909, refer to the list of top division champions and the list of second division champions . At the initial charge, both wrestlers must jump up from the crouch simultaneously after touching the surface of the ring with two fists at the start of the bout. The referee ( gyōji ) can restart the bout if this simultaneous touch does not occur. Upon completion of

8162-531: The meteor and saving the world. The entire story is later adapted into the film Austinpussy . Upon exiting the cinema, Austin and Foxxy encounter Fat Bastard, now thin but with sagging flesh thanks to the Subway diet . As Austin and Foxxy kiss, Scott Evil – now completely bald and behaving as his father, declares he will get his revenge against Austin. During the end credits , Mini-Me talks with Britney Spears , who wants to give him her phone number. The title of

8268-412: The middle of the circle there are two starting lines ( shikiri-sen ), behind which the wrestlers line up for the tachi-ai , the synchronized charge that initiates the match. The direction of the match is incumbent on the gyōji , a referee who is supported by five shimpan (judges). In some situations, a review of the gyōji ' s decision may be needed. The shimpan may convene a conference in

8374-433: The middle of the ring, called a mono-ii . This is done if the judges decide that the decision over who won the bout needs to be reviewed; for example, if both wrestlers appear to touch the ground or step out of the ring at the same time. In these cases, sometimes video is reviewed to see what happened. Once a decision is made, the chief judge will announce the decision to the spectators and the wrestlers alike. They may order

8480-416: The most popular films include: Movie series ( franchises ) One-shots, sequels and remakes Some of the most popular television series include: Classic era Modern era Sumo wrestling Sumo ( Japanese : 相撲 , Hepburn : sumō , Japanese pronunciation: [ˈsɯmoː] , lit.   ' striking one another ' ) is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where

8586-481: The one hand, the realistic spy novels of Len Deighton and John le Carré were adapted into relatively serious Cold War thrillers that dealt with some of the realities of the espionage world. Some of these films included The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), The Deadly Affair (1966), Torn Curtain (1966), and the Harry Palmer series, based on the novels of Len Deighton . In another direction,

8692-404: The opponent. The Japan Sumo Association currently distinguishes 82 kimarite (winning techniques), some of which come from judo . Illegal moves are called kinjite , which include strangulation, hair-pulling, bending fingers, gripping the crotch area, kicking, poking eyes, punching and simultaneously striking both the opponent's ears. The most common basic forms are grabbing the opponent by

8798-448: The plot is "really about Dr. Evil and his son." In March 2010, Jay Roach indicated to MTV that Myers is working on ideas for a fourth film. In August 2011, Myers revealed he would return, and had begun writing a script for a fourth installment. In September 2013, when asked about the future of Austin Powers , Myers answered "I'm still figuring that out." In September 2015, Verne Troyer expressed his desire to return as Mini-Me if he

8904-560: The present day with series such as Callan , Alias and Spooks . Spy films also enjoyed something of a revival in the late 1990s, although these were often action films with espionage elements or comedies like Austin Powers . Some critics identify a trend away from fantasy in favor of realism, as observed in Syriana , the Bourne film series and the James Bond films starring Daniel Craig since Casino Royale (2006). Some of

9010-440: The production of a fourth film and prevented him from reprising his role as Mini-Me. In May 2018, Myers reiterated his interest in making a fourth Austin Powers , stating that it would be fun, also hinting that some tribute to Troyer might be included. In November 2018, Myers stated that the project's future is "looking good" with the script already written and that Austin Powers and Dr. Evil will return soon, citing his parenthood as

9116-428: The rank of yokozuna at the same time. In antiquity, sumo was solely a Japanese sport. Since the 1900s, however, the number of foreign-born sumo wrestlers has gradually increased. In the beginning of this period, these few foreign wrestlers were listed as Japanese, but particularly since the 1960s, a number of high-profile foreign-born wrestlers became well-known, and in more recent years have even come to dominate in

9222-446: The ranking system is the rank of yokozuna ( 横綱 ) . Yokozuna , or grand champions, are generally expected to compete for and to win the top division tournament title on a regular basis, hence the promotion criteria for yokozuna are very strict. In general, an ōzeki must win the championship for two consecutive tournaments or an "equivalent performance" to be considered for promotion to yokozuna . More than one wrestler can hold

9328-399: The reason for how long the production has lasted and that Roach will most likely reprise his directorial duties. In January 2020, Roach again indicated that he was interested in doing a fourth film. In February 2022, Myers told The Today Show he "would love to do" a fourth Austin Powers movie but could "neither confirm nor deny" whether it would be made. In October 2022, Myers stated on

9434-446: The rejected clone defects, joining Austin and Foxxy. The three infiltrate the submarine, where Austin is captured. Before Dr. Evil can activate the tractor beam, Foxxy steals the key and frees Austin. Austin prepares to shoot Dr. Evil, when Nigel appears and reveals that Austin and Dr. Evil are actually brothers. Confused, Dr. Evil explains that his parents died in a car accident and he was raised by evil Belgians , but Nigel reveals that

9540-402: The ring. If this happens, they meet in the center of the ring to hold a mono-ii (a talk about things). After reaching a consensus, they can uphold or reverse the referee's decision or order a rematch, known as a torinaoshi . A winning wrestler in the top division may receive additional prize money in envelopes from the referee if the matchup has been sponsored. If a yokozuna is defeated by

9646-408: The running for the top division championship. Similarly, more highly ranked wrestlers with very poor records may find themselves fighting wrestlers much further down the division. For the yokozuna and ōzeki , the first week and a half of the tournament tends to be taken up with bouts against the top maegashira , komusubi , and sekiwake , with the bouts within these ranks being concentrated into

9752-411: The same training stable cannot compete against each other, nor can wrestlers who are brothers, even if they join different stables. The one exception to this rule is that training stable partners and brothers can face each other in a championship-deciding playoff match. The last day of the tournament is called senshūraku , which literally means "the pleasure of a thousand autumns". This colorful name for

9858-526: The second time, this time parodying the kind of "wire fight" seen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon . The film also stars Beyoncé Knowles as Foxxy Cleopatra (parodying blaxploitation heroines, primarily Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones , as well as Christie Love when she says, "You're under arrest, sugah!"), Michael York , reprising the role of Basil Exposition, and Verne Troyer in his second appearance as Mini-Me . The film also introduced

9964-412: The sport and unchanged for centuries. These include the ring-entering ceremonies ( dohyō-iri ) at the beginning of each tournament day, in which the wrestlers appear in the ring in elaborate kesho-mawashi , but also such details as the tossing of salt into the ring by the wrestlers, which serves as a symbolic cleansing of the ring, and rinsing the mouth with chikara-mizu ( 力水 , power water) before

10070-547: The sport has a history spanning many centuries. Many ancient traditions have been preserved in sumo, and even today the sport includes many ritual elements, such as the use of salt purification, from Shinto . Life as a wrestler is highly regimented, with rules regulated by the Japan Sumo Association . Most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal sumo training stables, known in Japanese as heya , where all aspects of their daily lives—from meals to their manner of dress—are dictated by strict kyara tradition. The lifestyle has

10176-498: The spy film has always been popular with audiences worldwide. Offering a combination of exciting escapism , technological thrills, and exotic locales, many spy films combine the action and science fiction genres, presenting clearly delineated heroes for audiences to root for and villains they want to see defeated. They may also involve elements of political thrillers . However, there are many that are comedic (mostly action comedy films if they fall under that genre). James Bond

10282-584: The spy film in the 1930s with his influential thrillers The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), The 39 Steps (1935), Sabotage (1937) and The Lady Vanishes (1938). These often involved innocent civilians being caught up in international conspiracies or webs of saboteurs on the home front, as in Saboteur (1942). Some, however, dealt with professional spies, as in Hitchcock's Secret Agent (1936), based on W. Somerset Maugham 's Ashenden stories, or

10388-515: The twentieth anniversary approached for Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery , Myers claimed he would love to do another Austin Powers film, but audiences would "just have to see". Two days later, Roach stated that a fourth film would only occur if Myers creates a good story for it. In May 2017, Troyer stated that Mini-Me will reveal that he can speak in the fourth movie. However, Troyer's death on 21 April 2018 delayed

10494-576: The weight requirement was 67 kg (148 lb), although they also claimed that a "blind eye" is turned for those "just shy" of the minimums. In 2023 the Sumo Association loosened the height and weight requirements, announcing that prospective recruits not meeting the minimums could still enter sumo by passing a physical fitness exam . All sumo wrestlers take wrestling names called shikona ( 四股名 ) , which may or may not be related to their real names. Often, wrestlers have little choice in their names, which are given to them by their stablemasters, or by

10600-578: The wrestlers under him. In 2007, 43 training stables hosted 660 wrestlers. To turn professional, wrestlers must have completed at least nine years of compulsory education and meet minimum height and weight requirements. In 1994, the Japanese Sumo Association required that all sumo wrestlers be a minimum 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) in height. This prompted 16-year-old Takeji Harada of Japan (who had failed six previous eligibility tests) to have four separate cosmetic surgeries over

10706-572: The wrestling ring ( dohyō ), a tradition stemming from Shinto and Buddhist beliefs that women are "impure" because of menstrual blood . A form of female sumo ( 女相撲 , onnazumo ) existed in some parts of Japan before professional sumo was established. The 2018 film The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine depicts female sumo wrestlers at the time of civil unrest following the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake . Since 1958, six Grand Sumo tournaments or honbasho have been held each year: three at

10812-495: The year, which are called honbasho . A carefully prepared banzuke listing the full hierarchy is published two weeks prior to each sumo tournament. In addition to the professional tournaments, exhibition competitions are held at regular intervals every year in Japan, and roughly once every two years, the top-ranked wrestlers visit a foreign country for such exhibitions. None of these displays are taken into account in determining

10918-443: Was a god of thunder, swordsmanship, and conquest, created from the blood that was shed when Izanagi slew the fire-demon Kagu-tsuchi . Takeminakata was a god of water, wind, agriculture and hunting, and a distant descendant of the storm-god Susanoo . When Takemikazuchi sought to conquer the land of Izumo , Takeminakata challenged him in hand-to-hand combat. In their melee, Takemikazuchi grappled Takeminakata's arm and crushed it "like

11024-399: Was a record 166 kilograms (366 lb) as of January 2019. Professional sumo is organized by the Japan Sumo Association . The members of the association, called oyakata , are all former wrestlers, and are the only people entitled to train new wrestlers. All professional wrestlers must be a member of a training stable (or heya ) run by one of the oyakata , who is the stablemaster for

11130-435: Was asked to do so. In May 2016, Roach was asked about the fourth Austin Powers film during an interview with Larry King , and he stated the ideas for the fourth film that he and Myers have are good and interesting. In August 2016, in a telephone interview, Myers stated "Everything is being negotiated and worked out and all that stuff" in regards to the fourth installment of the Austin Powers film series. In April 2017, as

11236-461: Was extended from ten to fifteen days in 1949. The elementary principle of sumo is that a match is decided by a fighter first either being forced out of the circular dohyō (ring) (not necessarily having to touch the ground outside the ring with any part of the body), or touching the ground inside the ring with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet. The wrestlers try to achieve this by pushing, tossing, striking and often by outwitting

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