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MOVIE REVIEW - The Mummy Returns (SPOILERS)
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Ratcat
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MOVIE REVIEW - The Mummy Returns (SPOILERS)

I know we have a thread on this, but I thought a proper review thread might be useful.

----- BEWARE, SPOILERS BELOW ------

First off, let me say that I thoroughly enjoyed the original Mummy and thought that the special effects in that were outstanding. Whilst I enjoyed the storyline and acting of this movie, I was deeply disappointed by some of the effects, but more of those later.

The story starts off with a performance by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson that can not be faulted, simply because he doesn't actually do that much more than hit people and roar rather a lot. The battle sequence is both fast and savage and really does kick things off rather well. The narrative lets us skim across the history of the Scorpion King and his links with Anubis and his army.

Move forward 5000 years and the now married Rick and Evelyn O'Connells are on a dig with their son Alex. Cue some hilarity and the discovery of the Bracelet of Anubis and we're then whisked back to "Jolly on London" in 1933.

The London sequences are some of the VERY WORST. This is a time where Tower Bridge has moved 2 miles up the Thames to sit next to The Houses of Parliament, in the place were this Londoner thought Lambeth Bridge was. Silly me. Why they thought they had to bastardise the geography of London to bring these two icons together is beyond me.

Anyway, following on from this, Alex is kidnapped and the group are back in Egypt. With the Mummy re-incarnated and his mistress also reborn, in an unexplained plot twist I never understood. Also, why is Jonathan carrying around that golf sports trophy???

From then on the film flows rather strangely, with some weird and wonderful plot twists that are so obviously leading to something big.

It does seem to me that this movie was written around the final sequences as wheels within wheels are discovered and the secret of Evie and Ricks involvement with Im-ho-tep are revealed.

However, the final sequence is the biggest let down of all. This involves the half-man/half/Scorpion monster that is the worst piece of CGI I have seen for a long time. The creature has all the life and feel of a piece of paper and looked more like it come out of a computer game like Quake than anything else. Very poor show indeed.

On the whole, I did enjoy the movie but it was not as enjoyable as the original and I thin a lot of its success will be from riding on the reputation of its predecessor, rather than on it's own merits. For me the special effects of the final battle, and the inaccuracies of the London scenes, where major minus factors for me. I would have given this movie a 8, but with the above problems I'm afraid it's a 4/10.

[ May 20, 2001: Message edited by: RC ]

May 20th, 2001 03:11 PM

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sand person no. 10
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I enjoyed both of the mummy films, if you ever buy the dvd's listen to the commentaries, there as enjoyable as the films. however i don't think the 2 films complimet each other very well in terms of sequels. The 9 year jump does not help, secondly how did impotep become encassed in that muck and why did his girlfriend become ressurected. I also thought that having evie and rick as some ancient warrior and princess did little to enhance the story. i think they went a little to far there. I would have had the rock fight them as a human form, not as some messed up cgi character that looked as though he hadn't been rendered properly. Lets face facts, a massive scorpion against someone who has just legged it through a hot jungle to save his son. No competition.

Still a good film which i enjoy watching over and over. 7/10

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Dec 14th, 2001 12:30 AM

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ToMacco
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I agree with you Ratcat.

The movie was filled with cliches and predictable material. The only part I found entertaining was the way it poked fun it itself; "Oh, it's the old end of the world thing, huh?"

It was a terrible sequel, because it didn't expand on any ideas. It regurgitated them. It was the same basic story. The same old speacial effects. Instead of his face in the sand, it was in the water.

During the whole film, I found myself looking at my watch.

However, people who absalutly loved the first film, will like this one too. Me, however, find these "sequels" an insult, and only prove that people will pay to see anything.

(** out of four)

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Dec 14th, 2001 05:36 AM

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Machine
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second one was really bad

Dec 14th, 2001 08:44 AM

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mah
J-type 327 Nubian

Gender: Male
Location: Flor�, Norway

both movies are mildly enjoyable, nothing more. mummy returns was about as good as the first, ok to spend 2 hours on in the theater, but I'm not going to buy it.

4/10

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Dec 14th, 2001 06:08 PM

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Tex
Yumsz

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Location: Tampa, FL, USA

I liked 2 alot, it was enjoyable, a good popcorn movie!
The special effects at the end with the Rock were horrible!!!

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Dec 14th, 2001 10:15 PM

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Dr. Leg Kick
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this is an old thread. lol

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Oct 28th, 2003 04:51 AM

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Dejio
Senior Member

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Location: QLD, Australia

Just to add a few more movie 'mistakes'
There was a scene of Brendan holding a torch looking for his wife at the tunnel. When he faced his back, he was shocked to see the face of his son in front of him. What's with that shot?! His son was way shorter than him. How in the world could they stand face to face? Obviously, an unbelievable scene just to shock people.

Brendan's pilot friend was also a very cheesy character. And why the hell do they need to mention that 'shot in the ass' line over and over? Very distasteful.

And I agree with the plot loopholes (not to mention cliche); Imhotep's re-incarnated lover, golden spear, Brandon being a Meiji, His wife being the daughter of the pharoah...

Why they opted to make Rock a CGI i can never understand. PS2 games had better rendering and animations.
And the list goes and on.

But the weird thing about it is that; it still turned out to be an enjoyable movie to watch.

Oct 31st, 2003 08:49 AM

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Strangelove
Misunderstood Genius

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One of the problems I have w/ your review, Ratcat, is the London part. You said that they were the very worst. And yet the only reason you give for them being bad is the geography of the city. Is there any other reason, or are you just making a random nationalist comment?

Overall, I liked the movie, definitely not as good as the first, but the CGI at the end was as primitive as Tron, and the stroyline was flawed, with obvious nods to the first movie. But the dialogue was as funny as the first one, and the characters as enticing as ever, so I give it 7/10

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