The Mummy Returns (2001)

Proving that bigger is rarely better, The Mummy Returns serves up so much action and so many computer-generated effects that it quickly grows exhausting. In his zeal to establish a lucrative franchise, writer-director Stephen Sommers dispenses with such trivial matters as character development and plot logic, and charges headlong into an almost random buffet of minimum story and maximum mayhem, beginning with a prologue establishing the ominous fate of the Scorpion King (played by World Wrestling Federation star the Rock, in a cameo teaser for his later starring role in--you guessed it--The Scorpion King). Dormant for 5,000 years, under control of the Egyptian god Anubis, the Scorpion King will rise again in 1933, which is where we find The Mummy's returning heroes Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, now married and scouring Egyptian ruins with their 8-year-old son, Alex (Freddie Boath).

John Hannah (as Weisz's brother) and Oded Fehr (as mystical warrior Ardeth Bay) also return from The Mummy, and trouble begins when Alex dons the Scorpion King's ancient bracelet, coveted by the evil mummy Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), who's been revived by... oh, but does any of this matter? With a plot so disposable that it's impossible to care about anything that happens, The Mummy Returns is best enjoyed as an intermittently amusing and physically impressive monument of Hollywood machinery, with gorgeous sets that scream for a better showcase, and digital trickery that tops its predecessor in ambition, if not in payoff. By the time our heroes encounter a hoard of ravenous pygmy mummies, you'll probably enjoy this movie in spite of itself. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

No harm ever came from opening a chest.

Remember the book???
Anyway, poor humor aside,
The Mummy 2 ups the action, the drama, and the adventure by ten.
A blast of a movie with more awesome FX.
Rent it, grab a bowl of popcorn, check your brain at the door and enjoy the unrealistic chaos.
For once Hollywood does the sequel right.
Same as the first Mummy.
RECOMMENDED!!!!!!
June 24, 2008

Bonus Features Review

This movie stinks. Action movies with kids in the story are lame, this one is no exception. I like the Mummy Movies because I like Egypt and the history, but the winks at the camera and the kid are so dated -- it really makes a bomb out of this. Attempts to incorporate every action movie staple really wear thin -- like the pigmy mummies clearly using the Lord of the Rings troll figure -- whatever his name is -- didn't see it -- never will.

But there is some true humor here listening to the director commentary and how clueless he is to just how horid this film is. He even ridicules Roger Ebert who had legitimate complaints that these knuckleheads dismiss out of hand -- like they never considered, or finally realized, the movie wasn't good.

Some positives: Rachael Weisz is great -- and so is all of the cast -- wasted by bad period directing. ILM effects are great and fun to watch. Some of the extra features are difficult to view, with no "play all" option. May 22, 2008

The Mummy Returns

This is the first time I have bought from Amazon. It was a good experience. I received the merchandise in good time and in good condition.
Thanks! May 9, 2008

New 2-disc Deluxe Edition due out on July 8th, 2008

The upcoming release of The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor has prompted Universal to release new DVD editions of The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. The new Deluxe Edition of The Mummy Returns includes most of the special features from the 2001 Collector's Edition, plus some new features. It will only be available in widescreen format.

The Mummy left most professional reviewers cool to lukewarm at best, and this, the first sequel, left them cold. But audiences still enjoyed it. Like the first in the series, it's a big-budget, big-special-effects horror/adventure extravaganza with George of the Jungle playing an Indiana Jones-type character. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz reprise their roles, he the adventurer and she the Egyptologist, married to each other with a young son in 1933. The same evil mummy-being-thing that bothered them so much in the first film is back, and this time there's an even more terrible force bent on destroying everything. The plot isn't very strong, but there is an army of pygmy mummies. Silly fun, sometimes more silly than fun.

These are the new special features:

-- "An Army To Rule The World Part 2" featurette
-- a digital copy of the movie
-- "Unraveling The Legacy Of The Mummy" featurette (also in the new The Mummy Deluxe Edition)
-- a sneak peak at The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (also in the new The Mummy Deluxe Edition)

Carried over from the 2001 Collector's Edition:

-- audio commentary with director/writer Stephen Sommers and executive producer/editor Bob Ducsay
-- "Visual And Special Effects Formation," on how the special effects were done
-- "Spotlight on Location," a behind-the-scenes featurette
-- a conversation with The Rock, you know, the wrestler/actor, who speaks, about The Scorpion King movie
-- Live's "Forever May Not Be Long Enough" music video
-- "Egyptology 201," text on Egyptian history

The only feature from the Collector's Edition not announced for the new Deluxe Edition that anyone is likely to miss is a few minutes of outtakes/bloopers. (I wouldn't be surprised to see them show up as an "easter egg" (hidden feature).)

The Amazon page to pre-order the Deluxe Edition is here. The page for The Mummy Deluxe Edition is here. April 28, 2008

fair to middlin'

I actually liked the first Mummy film....I thought that even tho, yes it was cheesy, it had good special effects, and a decent plot. But the sequel left something to be desired.

For some reason I thought the special effects were....worse in this movie. Not sure if the same studio created the effects for both films, but this one looked worse (to me). The Scorpion King (with the Rock's face) looks completely unbelievable.

Also, the relationship the two "parents" had with the son was laughable (not in a good way). They didn't even act like they loved him, and he was pretty much in danger the whole last half of the movie. Just shoddy acting.

If you want to watch a good mummy movie, do yourself a favor and rent the first one. February 19, 2008

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