Mummy Mia! Here I Go Again... (The Mummy (DVD))

Member Name: BizzyB

Product:	The Mummy (DVD)
Date:	14/01/02 (124 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun & easy to watch, Interesting special effects which aren't over used, Oded Fehr

Disadvantages: The undeerdevelopment of Fraser's charcter O'Connell

You may notice a pattern when I do a film review which is rare admittedly. I am always hideously out of date. I'm not a fresh from the cinema, on the spot cinema fan. In fact I can't remember the last time I was in a cinema (actually this is a lie. I went into a UCI after trapping feral kittens outside; I wanted to use their toilets as my hands were covered in sardines and I was getting funny looks?and sniffs) Back to my point, I tend to wait till films come round on the tv, at a push Sky Box Office. But where The Mummy's concerned I've had a treat.

This week I won The Mummy boxset in a competition in Family Circle magazine so thanks to the people at FC, may their soufflés always rise and their knitting patterns be plentiful. I was rather chuffed with this prize as it was a film I was looking forward to seeing. 'Why' you ask? Because from those who part with their money to see a film I was told it would be my cup of tea - I believe its called in such circles a 'no-brainer'.

The Plot.
----------
Could it be more simple? Naughty Egyptian Priest Imothep is mummified with a curse hanging on him having fallen for the Pharaoh's mistress. 3000 years later a group of archeologists and treasure hunters (our heroes) find his tomb. Mummy disturbed, Mummy displeased, Mummy decides to resurrect his lost love and generally be evil. Our heroes set about stopping him.

Now, I'm rather amused to see this film under the horror genre. It's a cert 12 which I think is just right and is about as scary yoghurt. Don't let the horror genre tag put you off, file it in your mind as an adventure comedy at bet.

The Cast.
------------
Having given you my speed synopsis of the storyline let's put some names to faces.

Firstly 'The Mummy', Imothep is played by Arnold Vosloo who does a very good line in looking tall, bald and menacing when we see the flashback to his
downfall when he lays a finger on the Pharaoh's mistress, Anck Su Namun - though I suspect he was laying much more on than a finger given he was mummified alive and cursed with the worse curse known. On his return 3000 years later he is decidedly skinnier, a loss of weight even more dramatic though reminiscent of Geri Halliwell and superb computer imagery creates Imothep the decomposed. He does regenerate (but will Geri?) and Vosloo makes an impressive figure of a Egyptian Priest - rather reminiscent of Yul Bryner in that baldy attractive way.

Brendan Fraser, and what an odd collection of roles he has to his name, plays Rick O'Connell, a member of the Foreign Legion who is left to die in the desert sun after a battle with local tribesman in a set of ancient ruins where he picks up an interesting trinket. O'Connell is saved from a Cairo jail by librarian Evie Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah), who has stolen the trinket from Rick. On seeing the trinket and finding a map inside, budding archaeologist, but hopelessly clumsy, Evie believes these finds will lead them to Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead where scholars believe the Book of the Living is hidden. On finding out O'Connell has been to the site the trio set off on their hunt in a race against another set of American treasure hunters and Beni, a Foreign Legion deserter whom O'Connell remembers for the louse he is.

Once at Hamunaptra the film really does take off into the Indiana Jones style production many people would expect from the film. Sand, camp fires, flesh eating bugs and statues galore - it is a stunning set. Strangely enough Indiana Jones was on the television just a few days earlier to me seeing The Mummy and so both are fresh in my mind to make comparisons.

Whilst the setting and, to some extent the atmosphere, maybe similar in the two films that is where the comparison ends for my. Indiana Jones leant far heavier
on the brooding nature of the star, far more heavily action packed with leanings to a darker sense. The Mummy for my mind leans more towards a more gentle type of story telling from the 1950s and for some reason I often had flashes of 'The Witches' by Roald Dahl - it has that cross-generation black humour to it.

Once at the action centre of the dig we are treat some interesting special effects as Imothep is resurrected. Indeed the special effects of this film are one of its strongest points and can imagine it came across as a visually good film on the big screen. Congratulations to director Stephen Sommers on that point.

It is rather pointless for me to follow through the storyline in great detail as I would be doing nothing for you but spoiling the plot for those who haven't seen it and it is the feel of the film that is more important to portray I think to help decide whether you want to see it or you disagree with me!

What I particularly liked about this film was they do not over bake the design. Our heroine Evie isn't put in ridiculous evening dresses or silly floatly skirts for the pure hell of it. On the contrary the styling of the costume is very muted which doesn't distract the viewer. Weisz makes an excellent heroine in this respect, she's understated, has a self-deprecating humour around her that is a welcome change from the either gun-ho or girly-girly lead we are often subjected to.

As her bumbling brother, who is desperate to find treasure, John Hannah is an able character actor though one wonders how much of his English 'bumbleness' was picked up from Hugh Grant on the Four Weddings set. He adds some light relief to the proceedings though this style of happy-go-lucky comedy isn't possibly Hannah's strongest forte.

Brendan Fraser is very much the all-American bullish character with a soft centre, which the film plays on well. His character never truly co
mes to life though, he in the foreign legion, he's in jail and then he firing guns like a wild man at mummies and you are left wondering where all this came from. He does have a very pliable quality though which is just what's required in a film that at times comes across like a Disney production on whiskey. He has a very expressive face, in many respects like Steve Martin's, which is totally in tune with the light hearted feeling of the film.

Moving on to aspects hormonally charged I shall retort to being a bit of a girly myself and will single out Oded Fehr who plays Ardeth Bay. Ardeth is a medji, the band of people who protected the Pharaoh in ancient times and in 'modern' days have watched the tomb to ensure Imothep is not resurrected. Ardeth is a very stylish character - flowing black hair, tribal tattoos, long black flowing coat as he sits astride his black stallion. Ardeth is worth getting sand in your underwear for. I apologise for resorting to such comments but it has to be said.

Possibly my main gripe with the film is Imothep - I felt for him. I mean he falls in love and ends up mummified so it is rather hard not to feel a tinge of sympathy for him. Okay so he wakes up after 3000 years and is rather evil, well I'm grumpy after one bad night so I reckon he had full right to be 'rather miffed' after all that time of being mummified alive, eaten by scarabs and a broken heart toboot. I did feel this aspect of the film wasn't well handled. Or maybe I've seen to many daytime talkshows and am trying to put a 'human handle' on it. Just watch it and see what you think.

It won't take a degree to watch this film but I found it light-hearted and entertaining. Yes fun, hurray for fun. It's fantastical and reminds of a kind of storytelling that represents that time in your childhood when you crossover from the children's market to the grown up films. It's certainly
a film I can see many families being able to watch together with everyone enjoying at least one aspect of it whether in be the black humour, the action, the effects or, ahem, the dishy bloke on a horse. Never underestimate the ability to be entertained by the simple. For that reason alone I would recommend this film to anyone who just wants to sit down and have entertainment brought to them on a platter whilst the old grey matter gets a cooling off period. No doubt it will soon be coming to our television screens and for those who missed it on the big screen or free video, it will make a welcome addition to the schedule.

As I said, I got this video as a prize boxset and The Mummy video is the 'ultimate video' with extra features including the cinema trailer of The Mummy Returns and a feature on the making of the films. The boxset is presented beautifully in a well decorated box with a sleeve and is selling for around £20. If you are a great fan of this film or its stars it would be a lovely addition to your collection or as a gift idea. Personally I will probably watch the film again as I've had to watch it this time on the portable as our tv committed electrocide in the festive period and the new one arrives tomorrow. It may be interesting to watch it again on widescreen as I'm sure this would make the visual effects even more impressive...and the bloke on the horse bigger...

Summary: