The Mummy Returns (DVD)

The most powerful force on earth is about to be unleashed by the two people who should know better.


- Introduction -

For those that haven't seen the original film, please go back to my profile and read that first! The Mummy released back in 1999 was a great film. I know most people, and me occasionally being one of them think a lot of sequels to movies are rubbish, especially compared to their originals. But ...
...after the original in 2001, is different. I watched this the night after The Mummy in time to see the new release The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor on the big screen!


- Plot -

Like the first Mummy, there's a scene at the beginning of the film that's set 5000 years prior to the story you're actually going to be watching - this just informs you a little about a villain you'll see later on in the movie called ... more

The most powerful force on earth is about to be unleashed by the two people who should know better.

- Introduction -

For those that haven't seen the original film, please go back to my profile and read that first! The Mummy released back in 1999 was a great film. I know most people, and me occasionally being one of them think a lot of sequels to movies are rubbish, especially compared to their originals. But this is where The Mummy Returns, released only 2 years after the original in 2001, is different. I watched this the night after The Mummy in time to see the new release The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor on the big screen!

- Plot -

Like the first Mummy, there's a scene at the beginning of the film that's set 5000 years prior to the story you're actually going to be watching - this just informs you a little about a villain you'll see later on in the movie called The Scorpion King (in which there was a spin off movie called The Scorpion King a year later in 2002). This opening scene is set in 3067 BC in the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes where a warrior only known to us as The Scorpion King leads his incredibly strong army to conquer the city - as most of these Ancient Egyptian leaders do! Luckily, for us and our fellow members of the Thebe Army, the majority of The Scorpion Kings army is killed, so he and his remaining soldiers retreat back into the desert of Ahm Shere. His only remaining soldiers die one by one from the obvious scorching heat and the lack of food and water, the not long after The Scorpion King was the only man left standing. He was slowing dying, so he decides to pray to the god of death, Anubis, and asks for his life to be exchanged for the power to defeat the soldiers of Thebes. He picked up a black scorpion that just happened to be running by his feet and ate it for a great oasis to form around him. He returns to Thebes with the Army of Anubis which looked like to me to be a never ending crowd of wounded soldiers.

Five hundred years later in 1933 (9 years later to their previous adventure 'The Mummy') and the stars of the movie Evy and Rick O'Connell are doing what they do best. This time they found an ancient chest in which contained the Bracelet of Anubis, which was in the shape of a Black Scorpion, immediately I knew what and who this linked too. Back at their incredibly large home in London, their son (a new character to the series), Alex, finds the bracelet and decides to put it on, not knowing some of the consequences of these ancient Egyptian items as he was not around 9 years earlier to experience his parents original adventure. When he puts the bracelet on, he is shown a virtual map which directs him to the oasis of Ahm Shere. By putting the bracelet on, Alex has set a timer - he has 7 days to get to Ahm Shere and enter a pyramid, if not The Scorpion King and his army will be awakened.

From here, the story starts to develop really fast. The next thing we know, Alex is kidnapped by an unholy Egyptian who has once again resurrected Imhotep's Mummy, who of course was seen in the original movie. The reason behind this is so that they can use Imhoteps unbelievable powers to kill The Scorpion King, capture his army and take over the world. The O'Connell's set out to save their son; their small army consists of Alex's parents Rick and Evy, Evy's helpless but hilarious brother Jonathan, and some extra help from the Medjai warrior that appeared in the previous film, Ardeth Bay.

As you can imagine, the events that follow this may give the story away a bit, but they need to stop The Scorpion King from being awakened and once again put Imhotep and his lover Anck-Su-Namun.

- Cast-

The cast are pretty much the same as the original movie back in 1999. These include the likes of Brenden Fraser, who again played one of the main role of Richard "Rick" O'Connell after director Stephen Sommers liked his performance in the film George of the Jungle prior to The Mummy in 1999. I feel in this he again performed incredibly well, and if anyone else were to be chosen the film probably would have gotten 3 out of 5 stars rather than 5 out of 5 which is what I've given this masterpiece of a movie.

Evelyn "Evy" Carnahan-O'Connell is once again played by Rachel Weisz who was very unfortunately not in the latest film 'The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor'. I saw the latest edition to the series earlier this week at the movies and can tell you now that without her it was no where near as good, even though Brendan Fraser and John Hannah were still in the film. Ms Weisz plays her character amazingly well again in The Mummy Returns and I still congratulate Stephen Sommers and James Jacks for choosing her to play the role of Evy.

Jonathan Carnahan is played by the marvellous actor John Hannah, who just like in the original Mummy is hilarious. The film wouldn't really have any humour in it if it wasn't for this guy, and what he does here in The Mummy Returns is what he does best, especially when he's playing the role for a man that can't fight who always manages to get himself stuck in situations that usually include several mummies. Another great aspect about his character is that he is obsessed with treasure and just wants an incredibly large fortune. For example near the end of the movie he is hanging from a floating ship, hanging on for dear life knowing all well that the pyramid below him is going to blow and second - yet he still dangles a little lower to pick up piece of treasure that's worth millions! This is John Hannah at his best, it really is.

Imhotep and Anck-Su-Namun are still played by Arnold Vosloo and Patricia Velásquez, both who play their roles very well. Freddie Boath played Alex O'Connell, and for a young boy I must say that he read Ancient Egyptian incredibly well. The new villain, The Scorpion King, is played by world famous wrestler 'The Rock'. I can't really comment on his performance too much as to be honest I can't even remember a word he says. He doesn't appear all that much in the film, only the part where he is awaken, and not long after destroyed before taking over the world.

- Special Effects -

The special effects in this movie are just as good as those seen in the original. The Rock, for example, was half man half scorpion. That for a starter looked amazing. The film is very modern and up to date with its special effects even though it's going on 8 years old! However, some of the special effects in this movie do feel like they're making the actors come second after the large amounts of impressive computer generated images, which did make me feel as if I was paying a lot more attention to the effects rather than the excellent performances in this movie.

- Soundtrack -

The soundtrack of The Mummy Returns is again available on CD - you can pick this up for just short of £10 from Play.com. Jerry Goldsmith composed the soundtrack for the first Mummy film, and fans say that the music in The Mummy was some of his best work. The same story is happening here, just with another composer! The music this time was composed by Alan Silvestri after Goldsmith turned the offer down to write music for the new hit film. He has a different approach to Goldsmith, but with 70minutes worth of amazing tracks to keep up with the pace of the fast, action-packed movie Silvestri did incredibly well, and his fans say it's some of his best work along with music for Cast Away and The Mexican.

- DVD Features -

The DVD of The Mummy Returns is a two disc blinder. It's packed full of features, including a DVD-ROM. The below features are all pretty self-explanotory so I won't bore you by blabbing on!

Audio Commentary from director Stephen Sommers and the cast
'Interview with The Rock' Featurette
'Spotlight on Location' Featurette
'The Scorpion King' Featurette'
'Egyptology 2001' Featurette
'The Chamber of Doom' Featurette
DVD-Rom Features include: Scorpion King footage, visual and special effects formations of Imhotep, the Pygmy Mummies, Anubis Warriors and the Scorpion King
Theatrical Trailer
Playstation 2 Game Trailer
Music Video: 'Forever May Not Be Long Enough'
Production Notes
Outtakes
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

- Prices -

You can The Mummy Returns (2 Discs) from Play.com for £6.99 brand new with P&P. I personally bought it used (as new condition) for £4 of Play.com. You should buy this, even if you have seen it before... bargain!

- Conclusion -

In my honest opinion, I think the first film was better than this one. The special effects are amazing in both films, but in this one I feel they took over the actors performances a little. Another thing I found when watching the film was that this one didn't glue my eyes to the screen - the storyline in the first film was much more appealing (to me, anyway!). A great movie though, and to me it still deserves the full 5 stars! Unmissable!

Spidercallum 2008.

Summary: a great film that everyone has to see at some point in their lives! 

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