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The Mummy Returns (Widescreen Collector's Edition)Rating:
Release Date: 02 September, 2003 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $7.99 You SAVE: $6.99! Cast: Complete Cast (8 total) |
The Mummy Returns (Widescreen Collector's Edition) Reviews
A dissapointment
The first Mummy was an enjoyable, if tedious, romp about the struggles of an adventurer and his companions to stop the apocalyptic agenda of an ancient Egyptian priest. Far from perfect, The Mummy nevertheless boasted an infectious blend of high adventure, low-scare horror, and special effects that transformed it into a surprise hit. Now comes the sequel; The Mummy Returns along with most of the original cast. The rather jumbled plot is as follows: A cult of power-mad Egyptologists have concocted a plan by which they can obtain world domination. First, they must resurrect Im-Ho-Tep, the mummy from the first film. Since they are being led by the ancient priest's re-incarnated girlfriend, Anck-Su-Namun (Patricia Velazquez), this proves to be surprisingly easy. Then, with his powers restored, Im-Ho-Tep heads off to do battle with the mythical Scorpion King, whose tomb lies in a pyramid at the center of a hidden oasis. In order to find that oasis, Im-Ho-Tep needs an artifact which happens to be in the possession of Alex O'Connell. And, when the boy is kidnapped, that brings his parents, his uncle Jonathan, and their old friend, Ardeth Bay, into the conflict. This results in a lot of chasing around the globe and a climax that features a special effects-laden battle between two armies. Unfortunately, it becomes obvious real fast that the only reason The Mummy Returns exists is because of Universal Studio's greed, and not due to a creative process. Of course this is the thought process that kills most sequels. The story is told so sloppy and is so unnecessary, the characters are eventually abandoned and it becomes really hard to care about anyone or anything. The plot pot is boiling so furiously with silly deaths-and-rebirths and various attempts at sub-plots, it turns to overkill.
Fraser has never seemed more smarmy; he doesn't retain a smidgen of his usual bumptious charm. Weisz, who must shift from being a strong woman at one instant to a helpless damsel the next (and endure some really embarrassing fight sequences with Velasquez in flashbacks to her former life in ancient Thebes -- she's been reincarnated -- don't ask), is surprisingly nondescript in all these guises. Even the CGI is a let down: The computer generated Scorpion King is simply awful (the warriors of Anubis are so startingly fake you can feel Ray Harryhausen crying out for vengeance). While roller-coaster rides can be fun, even they need proper timing: they require occasional pauses from the plunges, and certainly shouldn't drag on forever. Oh well, I hope Jurassic Park and Planet of the Apes score better than The Mummy Returns.
Everything for the Mummy Fan
I greatly enjoyed "The Mummy" when it was resurrected several few years ago. I can recall many late hours spent watching Zacherlee and Shock Theater, entranced by the antics of a whole slew of monsters, with The Mummy being one of the most memorable. In those days movies still had to have plots and spooky atmospherics to do what we do with special effects and a truckload of gore today.
What made the new "Mummy" fun was not just the updated effects. It also had just the right tongue-in-cheek attitude. Let's face it, mummy movies are high camp. Abbott and Costello figured it out first, but it took decades before Universal Pictures discovered the same secret. Now, as in the original film series, we are offered a sequel, once again called "The Mummy Returns."
Set 10 years later than the time of the first movie, Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) have married and have an 8-year-old son, Alex (Freddy Boath). They have returned to Egypt seeking the Bracelet of Anubis, an ancient artifact associated with the legendary Scorpion King of Egypt's fabled past. In doing so they trigger an adventure that will have them chasing all over the Egyptian map. For, not far from the O'Connell dig, a group of nefarious cultists are once again resurrecting the mummy of the evil Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), the real star of the first movie.
Imhotep's has plans for the Scorpion King (The Rock) and his minions which require the bracelet. He would also like to even the score with the O'Connells, who foiled his first return. When Alex inadvertently puts on the Bracelet of Anubis, and is kidnapped, he triggers a chase scene that stretches from England to Abyssinia. Imhotep and his beloved Ankh-so-namun (Patricia Velasquez) use every dirty trick in the book in their plan to conquer the world. Before Alex (and life as we know it) is rescued, our doughty heroes will be treated to every kind of adventure and mishap, including reincarnation, dirigible rides, pigmy zombies, and the Scorpion King himself.
The actors are perfectly in character, capturing the thrill and fun without any sense of overacting. The effects are gorgeous. The DVD does a wonderful job of capturing the film, modifying it to fit the television screen without excess or glaring distortion. As on would expect, there is a host of bonus features, including interviews, outtakes and countless explanations of the effects. Several games and the required screen savers and wallpaper are all provided. Great fun for all.
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