The Scorpion King Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)May 1st, 2002
THE SCORPION KING (2002) / ** 1/2
Directed by Chuck Russell. Screenplay by David Hayter, Will Osbourne and Stephen Sommers, based on a story by Jonathan Hales and Sommers. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Steven Brand, Kelly Hu. Running time: 92 minutes. Rated AA for violent scenes by the MFCB. Reviewed on May 1st, 2002.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: At the dawn of human history, Mathayus (Johnson) is the last of the Arkadians, a tribe of expert assassins. Mathayus is hired to defeat Memnon (Brand), a powerful and ruthless king whose army is aided by the presence of the prescient Sorceress (Hu), who can foresee the outcome of battles. With the help of a ragtag band of allies, Mathayus sets out to infiltrate Mathayus' stronghold, and end his tyrannical rule forever.
Review: Should "The Scorpion King" be lauded for hitting its unambitious target squarely on the button, or criticised because it does not aim for loftier heights? I'm not sure. This is an entertaining popcorn flick, but that's all. It lacks the smart story and the cool villain of its "Mummy" predecessors. The plot is weak and too familiar, and Memnon is wet and ineffectual, especially compared to "The Mummy"'s fearsome Imhotep. Still, "The Scorpion King" retains its forebears' fun sense of characterisation and boasts enough high-adrenalin scenes to make most action fans happy. As Mathayus, Johnson demonstrates the same charisma which has made his World Wrestling Federation persona, the Rock, so popular in recent years. His acting is not flawless, but it is clear that Johnson has the potential to become a bona fide action star. Hu stands out in a film filled to the brim with comely ladies. But, unlike the "Mummy" movies, "The Scorpion King" shies away from magic, leaving Hu's Sorceress with not much to do beyond standing around looking vaguely mysterious. Brand, unfortunately, fails to make Memnon a commanding enough presence to challenge Johnson, and this badly undermines the movie's tension. As a prelude to the big summer films to come, "The Scorpion King" is pretty good. Hopefully, though, there are better movies to come as the temperature rises.
Copyright © 2002 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
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