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As a long-time fan of classic
serials, the one thing I enjoy most about the genre
is that no matter how preposterous the premise,
wooden the acting or flimsy the plot, there was
always enough non-stop action to keep you hooked.
Such is the case with Universal's new big budget
action/adventure, The Mummy Returns. Like it's 1999
predecessor, The Mummy, director Stephen Sommers and
the digital effects wizards at Industrial Light and
Magic take the audience on a visual rollercoaster
ride; a "cliffhanger on steroids" if you
will. The film's pacing is fast and furious, hardly
leaving time to catch your breath between an
onslaught of epic battles, chases and swordplay.
The year is 1933 and ten years
have passed since roguish adventurer Rick(Fraser)
first teamed up with a stammering librarian
Evie(Weisz), her brother Johnathan(Hannah), and
desert warrior Ardeth(Fehr). While seeking the lost
treasure of Hamunaptra, City of the Dead, an ancient
curse is evoked when Evie unknowingly resurrects the
3000 year old mummy Imhotep(Vasloo), high priest of
the Pharaoh Sete. The malevolent creature gradually
regenerates himself by "assimilating the organs
and fluids" of those who desecrated his tomb.
Rick and hi pals eventually foil Imhotep's plans to
revive his long dead girl friend Anuksunamun and
extend his evil powers throughout the entire world.
In a climactic finish, the Mummy and the ancient
city are destroyed, with the hearty band managing to
escape with a quantity of purloined treasure.
Rick and Evie, now married and
living a wealthy lifestlye in London, are continuing
to explore ancient Egyptian ruins in searh of
artifacts. With their precocious eight year old son
Alex(Boath) in tow, the three stumble upon a golden
bracelet shaped like a scorpion. It seems an ancient
warrior(The Rock) made a pact with the god Annubus
to become the Scorpion King and lead a mighty army
of demon warriors in exchange for his mortal soul.
The fickle Annubus renigs on the deal and both the
army and the Scorpion King are destroyed. Yes, it is
a bit confusing.
Another faction, led by the
reincarnation of Anuksunamun, has returned to the
ancient ruins of Hamunaptra in search of Imhotep.
Their plan is to revive the creature once again,
find the temple of the Scorpion King, destoy him,
take control of his army and conquer the world.
Anuksunamun's gang discovers that Rick and Evie have
the bracelet needed to revive the Scorpion King so
it's off to London to retrieve the artifact.
Now things begin to get
interesting. Evie has been having dreams of a past
life where she dwelt in ancient Egypt. It just so
happens she is herself a reincarnation of the
Pharaoh Sete's daughter. There was bad blood between
she and Anuksunamun back then so it's a sure thing
the two of them will have another run in.
Fortunately, Evie has evolved from a meek, mild
mannered bookworm into an accomplished pugilist,
expert swordsmith and crack rifle shot. Did I
mention she's a hottie?
With the family back home in
London, son Alex's curiosity prompts him to open the
sacred casket housing the bracelet and try it on for
size. He discovers the object has the power to
project the location of the Scorpion King's tomb to
the wearer. No sooner does he conceal the bracelet,
which he is unable to remove, than the house is
overrun by Anuksunamun's henchmen. Rick, Evie, Alex,
brother Johnathan(who has, of course, squandered his
share of the fortune and is a frequent house
guest)and the valiant Ardeth, who appears out of
nowhere, escape the house in a purloined double
decker bus and are pursued by a band of reanimated
mummy guards. Son Alex is kidnapped and the race is
on to the Scorpion King's tomb.
The film's stunning visual effects
and loud, raucous soundtrack resemble an over the
top simulator ride. From the sprawling, man versus
demon battle scenes to a Jules Verne inspired
balloon-scooner being pursued by a towering wall of
water through a narrow gorge, ther ILM team flexes
their creative muscle. The Mummy himself looks much
better this time out, with many subtle changes in
body language and facial expression realistically
captured. The Rock does a surprisingly good job as
the Scorpion King due in no small part to the fact
he has little spoken dialogue, none in English. His
digital appearance as the monstrous creature in the
film's climax is pure homage to groundbreaking
animators Willis OBrien and Ray Harryhausen.
The movie is chock full of
referrences, both subtle and obvious, to a number of
classic fantasy films such as King Kong, Mysterious
Island and Jason and the Argonauts. A nod is also
given to more recent efforts such as ET and the
Indiana Jones series. With all the slam, bang action
in the film I was pleasantly surprised to see
director Sommers abstain from excessive gore. Of
course, there is the requisite gash or minor bruise,
but the audience is left to use their collective
imagination rather than being forced to wade through
rivers of crimson-tinted Karo syrup. Yet another
touch which adds a vintage matinee feel to the film.
Although the plot is a bit
rambling and disjointed and the characters somewhat
underdeveloped, I found the movie to be a barrel of
fun. Fraser is likable as good natured mimbo Rick
and Wensz is both sultry and athletic as Evie. Her
climactic cat fight with Anuksunamun is not to be
missed. Odet Fehr as Ardeth has much more dialogue
than in the original and is both staunch sidekick to
Rick and valiant leader of his own men battling the
Scorpion King's army. Arnold Vosloo is menacing as
Imhotep yet becomes a tragic figure when deserted by
Anuksunamun. Even Freddie Boath as eight year old
Alex, although annoying at first, seemed to grow on
you. I have seen the movie twice and both times the
audiences were attentive and enthusiastic. If you
love action/adventure films, get wrapped up in The
Mummy Returns.
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