Reviving a genre

Los Angeles Mike Myers says he likes the style of 1970s blaxploitation films, and he’s borrowing from the genre for the third “Austin Powers” movie.

“It’s such a yummy flavor the language, the music, the cinematography and the clothes are so cool,” Myers said.

Beyonce Knowles of Destiny’s Child co-stars as Foxxy Cleopatra with Myers in “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” which opens July 26.

Myers isn’t the only one looking back at blaxploitation films.

Opening Friday is “Undercover Brother,” an action-comedy that spoofs the genre. The era produced such films as “Shaft,” “Foxy Brown,” and “Super Fly.”

Clinton’s Asian swing

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Bill Clinton made a brief stop Sunday in Brunei, spending the day playing golf at the plush Empire Hotel and Country Club in the capital city of this tiny oil rich sultanate.

He was to attend a dinner hosted by Brunei’s ruler, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, before departing late Sunday for New Zealand.

Clinton arrived in Brunei from Thailand, where he met Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Saturday.

Friday in Singapore, Clinton warned that “terrorists find fertile ground” in poor nations in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, and that rich states should help lift these countries out of poverty.

Clinton said the best way to do that was to encourage developing nations to take part in international trade and globalization. He was paid $250,000 for the one-hour speech.

Soggy celebration

Edinburgh, Scotland Queen Elizabeth II hosted a rainy garden party for 8,000 guests Saturday, warming up for the two big bashes in the next week to celebrate 50 years of her reign.

The monarch and her husband, Prince Philip, mingled with the crowd on the grounds of the Palace of Holyrood House in the Scottish capital for about 45 minutes. They emerged just moments after rain, hail and wind sent guests scrambling for cover.

About 12,000 guests are expected on Saturday and June 3 for two outdoor concerts on the grounds of Buckingham Palace, as Britons take a four-day weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth’s accession to the throne.

General plays bad guy

Los Angeles Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and other celebrities have lent their voices to help children suffering from asthma catch their breath.

Schwarzkopf provided the voice-over for animated villain Gen. Robo-Roach in a free animated CD-ROM game designed to teach young victims of asthma how to better manage the disease.

Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Kelsey Grammer, Shaquille O’Neal, Gwyneth Paltrow and others also give voice to the characters in the game, “Quest for the Code.”

Created by The Starbright Foundation, www.starbright.org, the game is available free to children ages 7 to 15.