I want my Mummy (The Mummy Returns (DVD))

Member Name: Pinotage

Product:	The Mummy Returns (DVD)
Date:	26/05/01 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast moving humorous romp, amazing special effects

Disadvantages: Messy plot, Mummy relegated to supporting part

The Mummy returns - in a bit part. This sequel is really about 'The Scorpion King' (Dwayne Johnson) who, in the scene setting preamble, leads a rebel army against the Pharaoh and wins only by selling his soul to Anubis.

Ten years have passed since the first film and Brendan (Rick O'Connell) and Evie (Rachel Weisz) are now accompanied on their tomb robbing trips with their eight-year old son Alex (Freddie Boath). They find the Scorpion King's bracelet and return to London where Alex accidentally fastens the bracelet on his arm. The bracelet is sought by an assorted gang of ne'er do wells intent on using it to revive the Scorpion to rule the world. Meanwhile Imhotep's Mummy (Arnold Voos), now in The British Museum, is being revived. Brendan, Evie and Alex chase through a darkened London fighting human and ghostly ghouls. And as the bracelet cannot be removed from Alex the baddies kidnap him and whisk back to Egypt. Brendan and Evie, with unwilling brother Jonathan (John Hannah) follow, leading to a climatic three-way fight between Brendan, The Mummy and Scorpion King.

The movie speeds at a tremendous pace, its plot twists and turns, defying logic, common sense and one's ability to follow it. There are endless eye-numbing computer generated effects to divert from holes in the plot, and nods back to the first movie and others.

Evie has visions, seeing Egyptian ruins as they were in their heyday. It turns out that she is the reincarnation of Nefertiri, daughter of the Pharaoh murdered by Imhotep and his lover, Anck-su-namun. This gives an excuse for an all too short flashback to ancient times where Nefertiri is fight training with Anck-su-namun (Patricia Velazquez) in front of the Pharaoh. The sight of these two scantily clad women working up a sweat going hammer and tongs at each other with swords provided a highlight for the many dads in the audience. And of course perhaps we should mention our appreciation of R
achel Weisz's curvy figure, her enthusiasm for wearing low blouses and tight trousers, and the camera's habit of lingering over her heaving cleavage, and strategic rear placing when Rachel bends over.

If you saw the first movie, you'll have seen much of it before. The Mummy's face in a sandstorm? Here its appears in a wall of water. Brave pilot that ferried them through the sandstorm in a biplane? This time it?s a hip black guy in a preposterous balloon. Black scarabs by the zillion pouring out the ground? Check. Ditto under the skin of an extra? Check. Remember the old James Bond film where a double decker bus went under a low bridge that ripped off the roof and the baddy that didn't duck? Same happens here. Remember millions of bugs swarming towards the Starship Troopers? Ditto here, with Anubis ghoulish reincarnated army.

One great scene is almost thrown away at the beginning. Imhotep's supporters down in the basement of the British Museum are performing a ceremony to revive him. Upstairs, as they chant spells, other mummies start coming to life, breaking out of their glass cases.

This film is billed as The Mummy Returns'. My beef is there wasn't enough of The Mummy. The next film in the series will be called 'The Scorpion King' which explains why that character had more prominence. But his reincarnation was more stupid than frightening, with the head and chest of Dwayne Johnson grafted on top of a huge scorpion which can't do much with its enormous claws except provide reminders of Starship Trooper bugs. For me, the best part of the movies, and the best use of computer generated effects were the recreations of ancient Egypt. If the next movie was entirely set in ancient Egypt, perhaps covering the period up to the death of Imhotep then I'll be first in line. But they can keep the half man - half scorpion!

(Question - why has DooYoo filed this film in the Horror category? Its a
12 certificate romp!

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