Laserdisc Title: "THE AVENGERS"
Edition: Widescreen Edition (Single Disc)
Directed By: Jeremiah Chechik
Starring: Uma Thurman, Sean Connery, Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent
Special Features: ------
Production / Year: 1988 Warner Bros.
Running Time: 89 Minutes / Color
Audio Format: Dolby Surround AC-3 Digital, Stereo
Video Format: LTBX (1.85:1), NTSC, CLV (Extended Play)
Miscellaneous Features: Rated PG-13, Closed Captioned
Distributed By: Image Entertainment / Warner Home Video
Catalog / Spine Number: 15873

IMPORTANT: This is a 12-inch Diameter Laserdisc, which is NOT the same as DVD and cannot be played on a DVD player!

Cosmetic Condition:
Disc (s): Excellent - Hardly noticeable to very light to very minor hairline surface swirls or light fingerprint marks
Jacket: Excellent - Original outer plastic shrink wrap still partially intact

Synopsis:

British Ministry agent John Steed (Ralph Fiennes), under direction from "Mother", investigates a diabolical plot by arch-villain Sir August de Wynter (Sean Connery) to rule the world with his weather control machine. Steed investigates the beautiful Doctor Mrs. Emma Peel (Uma Thurman), the only suspect, but simultaneously falls for her and joins forces with her to combat Sir August.

The Avengers seemed to have all the required ingredients for a surefire summer blockbuster. You had plenty of star power in the form of Sean Connery, Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes. There was a 60 million dollar budget to spend and the movie was based on a 60's cult british secret agent series of the same name that had a dedicated and pretty sizable cult following. You also had Uma Thurman strutting around in an extremely tight leather body suit. Everything seemed initially in place to deliver an updated 90's theatrical version that could have been a cool/fun alternative to the James Bond films.

There's also a completely unexplained subplot involving a clone of Uma Thurman running around that culminates with the real and fake Uma's batteling it out in a poorly choreographed fight in a very slow moving hot air balloon. Actually, that's this movie's biggest problem. Almost everything that happens seems unfinished and unexplained. There are some huge gaps in logic that will surely have any unsuspecting viewer screaming for someone to cut it off.

I read a while back that the original rough-cut of the movie that was test-screened with disasterous results was a little under 2 1/2 hours. Warner Bros. then demanded that the filmmakers cut the film down considerably, which they grudgingly obliged. The producers stated that the revised cut they turned in came in at 101 minutes with credits and they were actually happy with that cut. But Warner Bros. then proceeded to cut an additional 12 minutes from the film and the result was 89 minutes of terrible action scenes and no plot and logic. Do I think that the original cut would be better? It might certainly make considerably more sense.

THIS IS NOT A DVD!!! THIS IS A 12" LASERDISC AND WILL NOT PLAY IN A DVD PLAYER

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