The Mummy for me became a hit from the time it was showing in cinemas, which is also where I first saw it. I've seen it since, couple of times on television. Truth is, in the last few months or so, I saw the latest movie to be released, which is the third of the series that the Mummy has become. ... Read review
Boris Karloff's legendary performance has become a landmark in the annals of screen ... more
history. As The Mummy, Im-Ho-Tep, he is accidentally revived after 3, 700 years by a team of British archaeologists. It is revealed in a flashback that he was a high priest, embalmed alive for trying to revive the vestal virgin whom he loved, after she had been sacrificed. Alive again, he sets out to find his lost love. Today, over 50 years after THE MUMMY was first released, this brooding dream-like film remains a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time.
Combining the thrills of a rousing adventure with the suspense of Universal's original ... more
1932 horror classic, THE MUMMY, starring Brendan Fraser, is a true non-stop action epic, filled with dazzling visual effects and top-notch talent. It tells the story of a group of people searching for a long-lost treasure deep in the Egyptian desert, who manage to unearth a 3,000 year old legacy of terror.
Boris Karloff's legendary performance has become a landmark in the annals of screen ... more
history. As The Mummy, Im-Ho-Tep, he is accidentally revived after 3, 700 years by a team of British archaeologists. It is revealed in a flashback that he was a high priest, embalmed alive for trying to revive the vestal virgin whom he loved, after she had been sacrificed. Alive again, he sets out to find his lost love. Today, over 50 years after THE MUMMY was first released, this brooding dream-like film remains a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time.
Deep in the Egyptian desert, a handful of people searching for a long-lost treasure have ... more
just unearthed a 3,000 year old legacy of terror.Combining thrill of a rousing adventure with the suspense of Universal's legendary 1932 horror classic, The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser, is a true nonstop action epic, filled with dazzling visual effects, top-notch talent and superb storytelling.
When a chain of events find the corpse of Imhotep resurrected in the British Museum, the ... more
mummy Imhotep walks the earth once more, determined to fulfil his quest for immortality. But an even more powerful force born of the darkest rituals of ancient Egypt has also been set loose in the world. When these two forces clash, the fate of the world will hang in the balance sending the O'Connels on a desperate race to save the world from unspeakable evil.
From the makers of The Mummy comes one of the biggest action adventure blockbusters of ... more
all-time with jaw dropping special effects and non stop entertainment.When a chain of events finds the corpse of Imhotep (Vosloo) resurrected in the British Museum, the mummy Imhotep walks the Earth once more, determined to fulfil his quest for immortality. But an even more powerful force born of the darkest rituals of ancient Egypt has also been set loose in the world. When these two forces clash, the fate of the world will hang in the balance sending the O'Connells (Fraser and Weisz) on a desperate race to save the world from unspeakable evil.
The third installment of The Mummy series will centre on the adventures of popular ... more
characters Rick and Evy O'Donnell and their now grown son Alex. In addition, the film will introduce an all new Mummy! The game will feature hand-to-hand and weapons based combat, magic, puzzle solving and hieroglyphic decoding. The action will take place in the exotic locations of China, India, Egypt and London.
Action/Adventure - Director: The Wachowski Brothers - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Monica Bellucci, Jada Pinkett
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Action/Adventure - Director: Peter Jackson - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Advantages: Fun, exciting, funny, romantic, generally a good film Disadvantages: See review
The Mummy for me became a hit from the time it was showing in cinemas, which is also where I first saw it. I've seen it since, couple of times on television. Truth is, in the last few months or so, I saw the latest movie to be released, which is the third of the series that the Mummy has become. I started recently to write a review on that movie, then realised I should probably review the first two, first. I can never remember enough of films I saw ... ...came on television, I took the chance to review it.
Story
Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) is a clumsy librarian. When her brother, Jonathon opens up an ancient Egyptian tomb from the library and discovers an unusual, star shaped item inside it, the two of them decide to investigate. They are introduced to Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser), currently in prison and due to be executed, who can possibly help ... more
The Mummy for me became a hit from the time it was showing in cinemas, which is also where I first saw it. I've seen it since, couple of times on television. Truth is, in the last few months or so, I saw the latest movie to be released, which is the third of the series that the Mummy has become. I started recently to write a review on that movie, then realised I should probably review the first two, first. I can never remember enough of films I saw years back to review them from memory. So when The Mummy came on television, I took the chance to review it.
Story
Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) is a clumsy librarian. When her brother, Jonathon opens up an ancient Egyptian tomb from the library and discovers an unusual, star shaped item inside it, the two of them decide to investigate. They are introduced to Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser), currently in prison and due to be executed, who can possibly help them in their explorations. The deal is that he helps them, and in exchange, he escapes his sentence. But when they find themselves in competition with other Americans, and in danger from dark-clothed men with swords, then awakening a something-thousand-year-old-Mummy-that-comes-with-a-world-threatening-curse, he soon realises he's got more than he bargained for.
Adventure, romance and humour are combined beautifully to create the sort of film that has something for most people. I really enjoyed this mix, and also when you can't choose what sort of film you are in the mood for, this is a good one to watch. Mixing genres risk having the opposite effect. You can end up thinking "this really is too violent, sexual or offensive for young people and too immature or fantasised for older audiences" with some films. To an extent, this does apply, but the boundaries are not pushed so far as to exclude younger people (see classification), yet I enjoy it (I am in my twenties) and my parents and older friends love it too.
The pace of the story is quick, but given that it is a kind of "what if"/fantasy film, you can hardly complain that it is not realistic. Things change and develop fast, and it certainly cannot be called a tedious or boring film. The story does become a little far-fetched, but mostly in an amusing way.
Just a brief whinge...
Sadly the film did come out at a time when I myself had gone from thinking of America as a great place full of wonderful, beautiful people and heroes, to something disappointing, and maybe more sinister. I had just started to question the way films about potential world disasters always ended with the rest of the world looking up at the USA with awe and admiration. I had started to learn the truth about famine and the international markets, and how I had started (shamefully) to see people from so-called "third world" or "developing" countries as lesser human beings, without even realising I was doing it.
This in mind, there were things I certainly did not like about the film, like how the Americans would wisely stand back for value of their intelligence, and let the foolish locals bumble along to their deaths. There is a lot of this in the film, and although I am able and willing now to see past it, I think it should certainly be noted. Luckily this film does not really make America look heroic, and if anything they are more a cause of problems, which they are obliged to fix, rather than completely innocent rescuers.
Characters/Acting
Hero of the film, played by Brendan Fraser, is Rick O'Connell. Although it does take him some time to actually become "heroic," once he does, he becomes a well-loved character. Brendan Fraser is known well for his comedy films, and tends to rely as much on his cheeky facial expressions as he does on his acting. I would not regard him as a great actor, personally, but I normally enjoy films he is in, and this is not the exception.
Before this film, I was not particularly familiar with Rachel Weisz, although she does have one of those faces you tend to recognise and think “where did I see her from?” After this film, I knew straight away where I’d seen her, because she made a good and lasting impression. Her character develops very well through the film, and while you are surprised by how she goes from being a clumsy librarian to a daring adventurer, you can say that she does it in a realistic way.
Another famous actor, John Hannah plays Jonathan Carnahan, the brother of Evy. I don't really know many of the films he has been in, although I have seen trailers etc., but from this film I might have assumed he normally plays the naive, naughty but nice guy, because he plays it so well. I am wrong, all the better for him. He adds to a lot of the humour in this film, especially in camel related ways!
Oded Fehr plays Ardeth Bay, a character who appears serious but has a unique and very amusing manner about him, which I really enjoyed. Although his parts in the film seem brief and minimal, I think he made a real difference to the overall story, and was particularly memorable.
Arnold Vosloo plays High Priest Imhotep, a.k.a. the Mummy, the ultimate bad guy/creature/cursed-being. I freely admit to being completely unfamiliar with him from any other films, and knowing absolutely nothing about him, except that for some reason he makes me think of Right Said Fred (yes, I am old enough to remember, and no, he doesn't look that much like one of them even if he is bald with low eyebrows) and wonder if this Mummy should be singing "I'm too sexy for my tomb" - hence that title I'm sure you all frowned at! I don't think it was particularly great acting, but it was convincing enough.
Villains tend to come with a companion, in this case, the former companion, it seems, of our hero O'Connell. The Mummy notes that Beni Gabor, a coward and supporter only of the winning team, may come in useful (he plans to win, anyway), when he decides not to kill/eat him. Beni only hopes to stay alive, safe from the Mummy's wrath and basking in his undeserved glory for as long as possible, so submits. Kevin J O'Connor takes on this role in the most amusing way, yet with an excellent portrayal of exactly how slimy Beni is, plus an accent, which I am not sure is natural but sounds convincing.
Flm qualities
There are some thoroughly exciting scenes to look out for in this film, which for me have become really quite memorable. The best of these is during Rick O'Connell's desperate attempts to reach Evy, by his friend, Captain Winston's aeroplane. Imhotep's response is to create a sandstorm with the shape of his own face, almost trying to swallow the plane whole. It is humungous, and impressively done. It actually looks quite realistic, if you could imagine this really happening, and also the face is easy to see. Not something you'll forget easily.
The scenes where the Mummy sucks people dry (which, you might have expected, he does from time to time), are dreadfully unrealistic, but it is probably better this way as it makes it less frightening for younger audiences if it looks just a little silly. I would still say this film might not be for the more sensitive viewers.
The soundtrack has a young and lively feel, an indication that the film was aimed at young audiences. It is not, however, tacky or overly-flamboyant and so can be appreciated by all.
Although the film is set earlier in the twentieth century the music is in that late 90s film style and so the film does have quite an up-to-date feel. It does not confuse too much, but after a while I did forget about the settings.
Classification
This film has been classified as a 12 for the cut version (this is the film I have seen and am reviewing, although there is apparently an uncut version, which is rated at 15. I cannot comment on the 15 version, but I will say that a 12 is appropriate for the version I saw at the cinema/on telly. I don’t recall much swearing, so if there was any, it was not that noticeable. The Mummy is somewhat violent, including men pointing guns at each other and attacks from the Mummy and some possessed people. I would not say this film in any way glorifies violence, as the emphasis is much more on the adventure and trying to save people. As above, it may be a little scary for some younger viewers. To be honest, there are flesh eating bugs that crawl under your skin and eat you alive, and these made me cringe a fair bit when the film first came out, so these may creep people out a bit, but that’s about all.
Conclusion
It has become a real hit, and a film most people will recognise if you ask them about it. Although not brilliant, this film certainly warrants a "very good" stamp. It is a real shame that the political message behind such films now makes me see them in such a different way, but I do think people today are a lot more aware and open-minded than even the decade ago when this came out, so I've learnt to just enjoy what I can from these sorts of films, and I hope others can too. That being the case, I think this film has something for everyone and is well worth a watch or two. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing it again several times even and as it has such a wide appeal, I’d recommend you see it, rent it or buy it, depending on your own budget.
Advantages: excellent acting, lots of action, amazing storyline, life-like special effects, comic moments! Disadvantages: none that I can think of!
The sands will rise. The heavens will part. The power will be unleashed.
- Introduction -
The Mummy was released back in 1999 now, which to me, feels like a long time ago. I remember it being released, and wanting to watch it as soon as I could. I also felt the same for its sequel, The Mummy Returns, in 2001. However, I only just watched both of these films this week for the first time, 9 years down the line from their original release date. I ... ...to go and see The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor with my girlfriend and her parents. What can I say...? I was impressed, very impressed!
- Plot -
The start of the movie begins in Egypt, as you most probably guessed, in 1290 BC - the time of Pharaoh Seti I. Imhotep, a high priest played by Arnold Vosloo, is having an affair with the Pharaohs mistress, Anck-Su-Namun who is played by Patricia Velasquez. This all ends in tears, well actually, a ...
spidercallum 23.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Mummy (DVD)
Advantages: Too many to write into this little space! See op. Disadvantages: Not a damn thing.
...DVD op I have chosen The Mummy. This was the first DVD that I bought. I decided to get it because I had heard good feedback on it from friends that had seen it, and I wanted to see it for myself.
Boy, am I glad I did! After watching it I had the urge to be an archaeologist, and search Egypt for buried treasure, and to seek out the history of Ancient Egypt. I studied for hours in the library trying to find out as much as I could about Ancient Egypt ... ...started after I had watched The Mummy. It is amazing how films can influence what we do in our lives. I now don't know whether to study Computer Aided Design or Archaeology at university. There's nothing better than digging around in the dirt and getting paid for it!
ON WITH THE OPINION!
====================
**THE MUMMY DVD** ====================
I bought this DVD off of Amazon (amazon.co.uk) recently after I bought my DVD player. It cost me ...
garyohallo1 02.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Mummy (DVD)
...Stephen Sommers wrote and directed the smash hit "The Mummy", starring Brendon Frazer, Rachel Weisz and Arnold Vosloo as the Mummy. I was a big fan of the first Mummy film, and thought the 2nd one simply lost the plot. The first film had everything one would want from a film of this type, humour, action, special effects, romance and a little terror. The film was a huge box office hit grossing well over $415 million, and lead to a sequel and a third ... ...can you ask for.
The Plot:
The film starts of with a flashback into the Ancient Egyptian world. The year is 1290 BC; the high priest of Egypt Imhotep is having a secret affair with the Pharaohs mistress Anck-su-namun. The Pharaohs finds out about the affair and is murdered by Anck-su-namun, and consequently kills herself, while Imhotep escapes.
Imhotep breaks into his lovers crypt and steals her body, taking it to Hamunaptra, (the city of the ...
jaygami1986 09.05.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Mummy (DVD)
Advantages: Excellent special effects Disadvantages: Wooden acting
Throughout the years no other form of movie has captivated the audience quite in the same way as Horror Movies – whether it is the fear of the unknown, perhaps not knowing if the movie could in fact become reality – or whether it is a fascination with the old B movie, where the set is cardboard, and the acting is even more cardboard! From early on, when I used to hide behind the sofa watching Dr Who, and used to hide in a different room ... ...was somehow sadistic. I am the guy that now laugh’s at horror movies – for example I found the final scene in Hannibal very funny – most people were grossed out.
The Mummy has been part of folklore for millennium, and formed the basis of many b-movies in the early 20th century. Perhaps inspired by early explorers that gained vast wealth exploring Egypt and then somehow died mysteriously due a curse (Hmm, could this be a cover for ...
Simoncook1 14.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Mummy (DVD)
Advantages: Light-hearted, fun to watch film, Oded Fehr Disadvantages: O'Connell's character was underdeveloped
...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 in Derby 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.
... ...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 ...
BizzyBek 13.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Mummy (DVD)
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Advantages: Karloff, Johann, Freund, the make up and chilling atmosphere Disadvantages: The new Mummy movies have kind of made people forgot
******************************************************************
TITLE : Mummy, The (1932 version)
RATING: ****½
CAST: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Arthur Byron, Edward Van Sloan, Bramwell Fletcher, Noble Johnson, Kathryn Byron, Leonard Mudie, James Crane, Henry Victor, Arthur Tovey.
DIRECTOR: Karl Freund
SCREENWRITER: John L. Balderston; Nina Wilcox Putnam & Richard Schayer (story)
STUDIO: It's A Universal Picture!
RUNNING TIME: 73 min
RATED: Not Rated (US & UK); no objectionable material.
DVD AVAILABILITY: 5 GBP from Amazon; ASIN# B00006RHV8
LEGACY COLLECTION DVD: 12 GBP from Amazon; ASIN# B0002NRRQU
************************************************************* *****
INTRODUCTION: THE CURSE!
******************************************************************
Egypt ...
eve6kicksass 18.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Mummy (DVD)
Advantages: You get to see a movie icon. Disadvantages: Not another old film review.
Being an Oldgoth, I have a taste for old classic black and white horror movies, and The Mummy is one of them.
The MummyDVD is part of the Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection, other in the collection include Dracula and Frankenstein, so keep an eye out for reviews on these later (sorry for the plug).
This version is the 1932 classic with Boris Karloff, billed as the Uncanny in the main staring role, as Im-Ho-Hep a high Egyptian priest, and the Egyptian historian Ardath Bey. The plot is that Im-Ho-Hep is revived after 3, 700 years by British archaeologists in 1921 after finding Im-Ho-Hep bandage mummy.
The film then jumps forward to 1931 when as Ardath Bay, he sets out to find this lost love. This lost love is played by Zita Johann who plays the duel role of Helen Grosvenor a woman from a very old Egyptian family ...
oldgoth 15.03.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Mummy (DVD)
Advantages: Action, Comedy and Romance in one film Disadvantages: Can't think of any
Since there is two disks to this DVD there is quite a number of extras.
Disc One
Directors' Commentary
DVD-ROM Special Features Unlock the secrets to The Scorpion King
Exclusive access to the movie production
Mummy Returns Game Demo
Screen Saver - three to choose from.
Disc Two
20 minutes Spotlight on Location Featurette - shows the different locations and the cast talk about the director, Steven Sommers.
An Exclusive conversation with The Rock, The Scorpion King
Egyptology 201 - provides information on Mummification, King Tut, Animals of Egypt, Myths and Magic and whether the Scorpion King is myth or reality.
The Mummy Returns Chamber of Doom - this is a virtual tour of the Chambers of Doom at Universal Studios, if the real thing is anything like this then I won't bother. There were a number of mummies popping out you but ...
In the 1920s, a group of archaeologists led by adventurer Rick O'Connell discovers the mummified body of Imhotep, an Egyptian priest who was cursed for falling in love with the Pharoah's mistress. When they accidentally resurrect him, the battle for survival begins, as the mummy begins to use his powers to reclaim his long-lost love.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Interactive Menus, Making Of, Deleted Scenes, Theatrical Trailer, Visual And Special Effects Formation Featurette, Feature Commentary, Mummy Game, Facts About Ancient Egypt, Production Notes, Cast And Film Makers Notes, Menu Music
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English German
Professional reviews
Review
"...[Weisz is] seductive....Fraser gooses the movie with his deft comic timing..." -- Rating: B (Entertainment Weekly, pp.76-7, 01/10/1999)
DVD Description
In the 1920s, a group of archaeologists led by adventurer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) discovers the mummified body of Imhotep, an Egyptian priest who was cursed for falling in love with the Pharoah's mistress. When they accidentally resurrect him, the battle for survival begins, as the mummy begins to use his powers to reclaim his long-lost love. Director Stephen Sommers updates this classic Universal monster for the 1990s, using a dazzling array of computer-generated special effects. Fun performances from Fraser and Rachel Weisz add to the tongue-in-cheek Saturday matinee appeal.
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