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| Director: Stephen Sommers |
| Cast: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, The Rock |
| Running Time: 130 minutes |
The Plot:
Many years ago, The Scorpion King sold his sole to Anubis. As a result, he was erased from history, becoming nothing more than a myth – or is he? In the desert of Ahm Shere sleeps the Scorpion King, and he or whoever may kill him, will gain control of his undefeatable Army of Anubis. However, that isn't the only mystery stirring as priest Imhotep is once again resurrected by Meela, a woman who contains the knowledge of centuries. Together, Meela and Imhotep plan to rid themselves of the Scorpion King and then use his army to take over every last inch of the known world. Meanwhile, the O'Connell's are busy raising their eight-year-old son, Alex. However, Evelyn begins to have dreams dealing with Egypt, ones that lead her straight to the Bracelet of Anubis, the one that must be worn in order to control the army. Almost instantly Meela's men come for it, but so does Ardeth Bay. Quickly Ardeth explains both the bracelet and the myth, sending the three O'Connell's on a race against the clock. Will Rick O'Connell be able to successfully defeat the Scorpion King and send him army back to the underworld? Or will Imhotep and his partner defeat the menacing legend and take control over the world? Or is the Scorpion King unbeatable, allowing him to retake control of his army and use their power to obtain complete global control? All three are plausible - yet only one is able to happen. |
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The Movie:
While the original film created a benchmark for all historical action adventures, The Mummy Returns was possibly the best sequel that could have been derived.
Taking audiences on a new adventure without losing a single lead character and gaining one in the Scorpion King was simply amazing. Yet, the true point of notability was the fact that the story was strong and actually progressed on that of the first film.
As the film opens we are greeted with the same story-setting historical stretch that appeared in the first outing. But then we are brought back to the present day of 1933 where we get to see the O'Connell's just as we would expect to see them; as a family. They have gone off and gotten married and had a son, who is now eight. Additionally, it seems that the clan is still serving as archeologist, but they aren't living in the fame and hype that many films would have taken them on. (Imagine Miss. Congeniality 2 if you so dare.) The follow up was plausible, entertaining and carried the same style and tone of the original, three things that are critical yet often missing from action adventure sequels.
And what was truly gratifying was that, as the story progressed, we got to see the more mature and ample characters take to the dilemmas and situations a little differently than they would have earlier. Rick is more of a home body, caring for his son and wife more than the riches and fame of success. Evelyn is more of a mother, fearing for her son's safety but ultimately playing the 'cool mom' card for most of the film. And then there is Alex, the offspring of the most unlikely couple to ever pair up in an action adventure film. What I found most impressive was how much the story revolved around the clan as a family, something that might have been done as a box-office strategy, but regardless, was done to absolute perfection. |
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The Extras:
Outtakes (6:05): Though somewhat funny, the outtakes that are featured in this section seem to be more silly than funny. Not to mention that most of them feel planned instead of true on-set mess-ups.
Feature Commentary with Stephen Sommers and Bob Ducsay: While not a huge fan of commentaries, this one was actually quite interesting. Hearing director Sommers and editor/producer Ducsay discuss the reasons for certain scenes and camera angles and CGI moments was fun and educational – a true enjoyment for big fans of the film.
An Army to Rule the World, Part 2 (5:59): This, the second in a series of two shorts dealing with the developing of the mummies, deals mainly with the pigmy mummies and the extent of development that they required.
An Exclusive Conversation with The Rock (3:42): Interviewed for what looks like an entertainment television show, this conversation deals more with the Mummy spin-off, The Scorpion King. Additionally, most of the interview deals with the WWF, in which The Rock belonged to. Though I understand why it was a big transformation at the time, the interview really didn't need to be added to this film's bonus features. If anything, it should have been on the bonus reel for The Scorpion King.
Picture in Picture: This U-Control feature allows audiences to access exclusive interviews and behind the scenes footage as they watch the picture. Though it was a little distracting, it is a great way to see the film if you have already watched it before. |
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The Verdict:
While The Mummy Returns had a lot of hype and pressure to live up to, I must admit that it held its own in the form of sequels. It had action, comedy and historical antics that helped to continue the story of the O'Connell's and Imhotep. Then there is the role of The Scorpion King, which added a new realm of fun for the feature, and really gave the film its much needed edge. And luckily, the Blu-Ray edition of the movie really captures the color and special effects, making you feel as if you are watching it in the theater. Unfortunately, the special features on this disc are a little low level and don't necessarily warrant the upgrade. However, if you want the best quality move and a film that really takes advantage of the better quality, and you could care less about special features – then this disc is definitely for you. If not, I would stick to your DVD version. |
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