Well worth a peek (The Mummy (DVD))

Member Name: vincent.buchan

Product:	The Mummy (DVD)
Date:	03/11/01 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: full of action, tremendous acting

Disadvantages: not many

When I heard the preview of the mummy was comming out at my cinema, I thought it sounded crap. Another film about the ancient curses and I decided to avoid it but my friends who went said it looked brilliant. So I went to see the full thing.

This is one of the films that have to be seen on the big screens with the super surround sounds to be enjoyed at it's full potential, because of the special effects.

The Mummy begins in 1290 B.C when the Pharaoh’s wife gets caught while meeting her secret lover, Imhotep (I think that's the spelling). The story is pretty basic. Kill him and banish him to the worst possible curse, he has to live in the land of the dead for ever. If the curse is broken, he will awaken, and kill the people who awoken him and try to rule the world.

In the year 1926 in Cairo, Egypt, the a special box is found and contained the map of the city of dead. Now Evie (Rachel Weisz), her brother Jonathan and O’Connell (Brendan Fraser - George of the Jungle, another great film) set off to find the buried treasures of Hamunaptra. That’s if another set of archaeologists and tomb raiders don’t get there first.

After an exciting race, the two groups both start searching for the hidden treasures that are supposed to be hidden in the underground catacombs but there is a little problem. The direct descendents of the Pharaoh, who protect the sacred land, try to stop them from finding the mummy and unleashing the curse.

The first part of the curse is started after Evie, O’Connell, and Jonathan open the tomb, which holds Imhotep. The second part of the curse is started after the other group of archaeologists open a box containing 5 sacred jars that contain the organs of Imhotep. The curse is complete after Evie opens and reads a spell from the black book or book of the dead. Now that the curse is broken and the mummy is free to roam the streets once again and he has taken the organs
of his human sacrifices, he will no longer be dead, but rejuvenated and alive.

After he is fully rejuvenated, he can now bring back his one true love. But, he needs a human sacrifice to do so. Now the archaeologists are on the run to find the other book. The golden book, to read the spell that will kill him before Evie is sacrificed and Imhotep’s girlfriend is brought back to life. On the way they run into other summoned demons who try to stop them and flesh eating beetles. At last the golden book is retrived, but not before Evie is captured and prepared to be sacrificed. I won’t give away the ending (I've already given away too much), you’ll have to watch the movie yourself to see what happens. All I will say is that there is some great action in the end.

The Mummy is a great, fast paced, action packed film, but it can be confusing to follow at times (watch it a third time and it will be mastered). The special effects are great and interesting to watch. From the mummy turning into sandstorm whenever he sees a cat or enters or exits from a scene. The open mouth scenes when the mummy unleashes bugs from his mouth, to the thousands of flesh eating beetles. The parts when the mummy is slowly rejuvenating after he takes the organs and flesh from his 4 sacrifices. The acting was superb and believable. I recommend The Mummy to anyone who likes movies dealing with ancient curses and mummies.

A great video for the collection.

Summary: