The Mummy Returns [Blu-ray] Reviews

• The Mummy - Absolutely incredible entertainment!

  
  By A16X61RLY1YJL7 on 2003-06-20
  I'm not exactly sure one can put enough emphasis on how great and entertaining a movie "The Mummy" is. Reflecting upon the many great action/adventure movies of the nineties brings me to the conclusion that this silver screen phenomenon must be listed among the top five to ten films of the nineties. Of course this is evidenced by its overwhelming box office receipts and DVD sales. The odd thing for me was that due to a heavy work schedule and limited time, I never even saw a trailer for this great movie and thus didn't afford myself the opportunity to see it in the theaters! This oversight was of course corrected with its sequel, "The Mummy Returns."

  The stars - Given Brendan Frasier's past films I never would've ever expected him to make such an outstanding action/adventure star as he is with his performance in this film. It almost seems as if the role of swashbuckling adventurer Rick O'Connell was created for him and him alone. Then there's the ever beautiful and gorgeous Rachel Weisz starring as "Evy" or Evelyn whose performance in this film is dead on perfect as the librarian/adventurer. Arnold Vosloo performs perfectly in the role of the Mummy.

  One might think that a film of this nature might fall short on plot while being heavy on the action; this is simply not the case with "The Mummy." The film moves along fluidly with a great amount of attention centered on the plot and supported perfectly by the comedic moments and the seamless CGI provided by ILM, the masters of the CGI domain.

  I don't normally comment on the director but in this case I feel almost compelled to state that director and author of the screenplay, Stephen Sommers "must" be commended for bringing this outstanding story to fruition for it is simply a brilliant piece of work. In "The Mummy" he has most certainly created the latest and greatest big budget, heavy action film series that can easily be compared to the Indiana Jones films, using those as a benchmark.

  The premise:

  The film opens with a superb opening sequence some three thousand years ago as we're taken to ancient Egypt in the year 1290 B.C. and shown the circumstances of how the High Priest Imhotep ended up being the Mummy through his and Anck Su Namun's treachery against Pharaoh Seti. After his treachery, he attempts to resurrect Anck Su Namun in Hamunaptra, the city of the dead, but the Pharaoh's guards catch him and he is mummified.

  Scrolling forward to the year 1926 and we meet our erstwhile heroes who through their chance meeting are on an adventure to find Hamunaptra. While the majority of the group is searching for hidden treasure, Evy is looking for more... Unfortunately for them and fortunately for us, she finds more and what follows is as stated above, one of the best action/adventure movies of the nineties and probably the best of this type since the last Indiana Jones film.

  I highly recommend this film for all its merits; it is a great film that is fun and extraordinarily enjoyable. {ssintrepid}

  Special Features:

  Building A Better Mummy - This is an outstanding special highlighting what everybody involved in making the film wanted to do as far as not making a film fraught with many a cliché, harkening one back to the older films.

  Feature Commentary
  Visual and special effects formation
  Egyptology 101
  Deleted scenes
  Theatrical trailers
  Universal showcase
  
  

• Dont take this seriously, the makers didn't

  
  By A9JSV6M5Q80Y5 on 2001-04-03
  This is not a "film" this is a movie. It is designed to entertain us for a little while and that is exactly what it does. Sure the acting and writing didn't get any recognition at the award shows, but so what! This movie is about adventure, humor and special affects, which is has plenty of. So people please dont take this so seriously, the actors and directors didnt why should you?
  
  

• PURE ENTERTAINMENT...

  
  By A1L43KWWR05PCS on 2004-08-14
  
  This is a razzle, dazzle, knock you out of your seat with special effects, kind of movie. It is non-stop entertainment, and a worthy sequel to its predecessor, "The Mummy". Even though the plot is thin, and character development is almost non-existent, I still thoroughly enjoyed the movie.
  
  Archaeologists Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evie (Rachel Weisz) have tied the knot since the original movie and have an eight year old son, Alex, adorably played by Freddie Boath. While on an archaeological dig in Egypt, they recover a special, golden bracelet which conveys special powers to the person who wears it. Alex, not knowing this, puts on the bracelet which had, at one time, belonged to the Scorpio King, played by wrestler, The Rock.
  
  Evie's brother (John Hannah deliciously reprises his original role) is mistaken for Rick, as mysterious emissaries try to kill him in an attempt to recover the bracelet on behalf of the evil Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo reprising his original role). As Evie and Rick continue to do battle against these evil, murderous emissaries, the mysterious and devastatingly attractive, Medjai warrior, Ardeth Bay (Oded Fehr also reprising his original role), joins them in their battle against evil.
  
  In this sequel, past and present collide, and reincarnation adds its own interesting, little twist to the plot. For my money, Oded Fehr walks away with the movie, as Ardeth Bay is such a compelling character: sexy, swashbuckling, and mystical, all rolled into one. He is definitely my favorite character. I hope that we will see even more of him in the next sequel. (Who are we kidding? Of course, there will be another sequel!)
  
  The only negative thing that I have to say about the movie has to do with the animation of the Scorpion King at the end. It is too cartoonish. I found it jarring and distracting, as it did not seem to fit with the other graphics used throughout the movie which were great. It made me give the movie four stars, rather than the five I would probably have given, had this concept not been so annoying. It was unnecessary to have this cheesy looking animation, as it detracted from the movie and downgraded its overall quality.
  
  Still, see this movie. It is escapism at its best, as well as pure entertainment.
  
  
  

• The Power of the Litter Box

  
  By A1TMAVN4CEM8U8 on 2007-12-18
  The Mummy DVD
  
  The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weise is a rousing remake of the 1932 horror film classic which had some people who are innocently exploring the Sahara Desert, unwittingly releasing a priest who had defiled Pharaoh's woman. This priest is buried alive without his "vital organs" ( I didn't know you could still be alive without your "vital organs"). Roaches or some type of bugs are, also, buried with him. Remember the bugs. This priest is inadvertently awaken and goes around trying to collect the vital organs of his human contacts. One by one the priest acquires these "vital organs".
  
  This movie has the flavor of the Indiana Jones movies, music, characters, etc. It could easily have been called "Indiana Jones and the Lost Sarcophagus, but that would have landed the makers in court for a copyright infringement.
  
  Highly recommended for the Indiana Jones aficionada.
  
  Gunner December, 2007
  
  
  

• Don't expect Indiana Jones and it will be good

  
  By A2NACIQH1P8J01 on 2005-08-26
  I watched this movie for the first time after a friend told me it was just like Indiana Jones. With that in mind I watched and hated this movie. It took me several more attempts through the years to get that mentality out of my mind and watch this for what it is.
  
  This is more akin to Pirates of the Caribbean than it is to any Indian Jones movie. Where Indiana Jones is 90% archaeology and history and 10% Sci-Fi / Occult this is probably the exact reverse. The dialogue, though not great, is decent and funny at times. The protagonists are a motley bunch that stumble into success and find trouble easily. All in all it is a good film to watch.
  
  The basic story is that a historian/ librarian with her pocket picking brother and a wayward adventurer manage to unleash a curse that was put away 5000 years ago. Now it is a race against time and supernatural demons to save the Earth.
  
  
  
• Do not buy this DVD!
  By on 2001-07-27
  When are the people at Universal going to stop trying to unload double (and sometimes triple!) releases of thier DVD titles? Only when consumers stop buying these double releases! Please Universal, stop treating us like stupid, mindless buyers and give us your final Ultimate Editions first. Stop throwing out tiny little morsels of things we might be able to see if we dish out another 25 bucks six months later for the same DVD we already own! Treat the people who pay your bills with a little more respect.
  
  
• Fun and Frivolity!
  By ANHGGQT4HTEK0 on 2000-10-01
  The Mummy is a remake of the 1932 movie starring Boris Karloff as the title character. Except, this one has really cool special effects to the hilt. In 1932, Boris Karloff walked around REALLY slow, grunted like he was constipated, then he strangled people, again, REALLY slowly, to kill them.

  This time around, our mummy can open his mouth very wide, and spew locusts all over Egypt, along with several other annoying plagues. Can you imagine some Egyptian woman, starts yelling at her husband, "BILL! For the last time, put in for that transfer....Yesterday the rivers were blood, today it's raining fire. I can't handle all the plagues around here!"

  If you enjoy the Indian Jones trilogy, you'll enjoy The Mummy. Actually, skip the Temple of Doom, that one was a real stinker, but The Mummy falls nicely into the wacky, action flick genre with some archeological fringe for a little depth. I wonder if movies like this one annoy real, honest-to-God archaeologists. I mean, it makes it look like archaeology is a matter of finding a really cool looking map, get yourself to the X, then, with your trusty native sidekick, dig until you find something, like the leafy outfits Adam and Eve wore when they figured out they were naked. I mean, how COOL! If it was that easy, everyone would do it! Hold your horses, the summary is coming up next. The year is 1290 B.C. The High Priest Imhotep and the Pharaoh's main squeeze, Anck-Su-Namun are a little bit too smitten with each other. The Pharaoh finds them, they make like a sushi chef and chop chop, see ya later Pharaoh. But the guards rush in, and Anck-Su-Namun does herself in while Imhotep fleas, vowing to bring her back to life.

  As Imhotep is performing his "Bring Girlfriend Back to Life" chant, he and his loyal followers are all mummified and buried. BUT, Imhotep is buried alive along with a lot of really nasty scarabs who lick their chops at the thought of eating a big tasty evil guy. Next comes the "oh, of COURSE" ditty. They put a curse on this guy. And not just any curse, mind you. They put a curse on him which is reserved for the most evil, sinful, wicked baddest dude. It would be a pretty lame movie if he got the curse reserved for the 17th worst guy.

  Along with the curse, is the "Don't Wake This Guy Up" clause. Ya know, waking up a mummy can't ever be a good thing. Think about it. You've got your ten plagues, and aside from that, you've got a guy who hasn't seen a bar of soap in 3000 years.

  So, what happens? We fast forward to the year 1923. We have the dashing French Foreign Legionnaire Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser), and Evelyn, the little rich girl with the ability to read ancient Egyptian and decipher hieroglyphics. Other members of the wagontrain include: Evelyn's brother who's a lush, a wiry fellow named Beni and some uncouth, rowdy Americans.

  This band sets off across the desert to find Hamunaptra, where it is believed that the wealth of Egypt was buried at one time. So whose bright idea was it to also make Hamunaptra the City of the DEAD? Hellooooooo? Think about it first people, I mean, really.

  As one would guess, woopsie doodle, somebody opens Imhotep's sarcophagus. Then, well, darn the luck, somebody is accidentally reading that little part in the Black Book of the Dead that brings Mr. Musty back to life.

  The thing that's great about this movie, is that all the gore is off-screen. Meaning, you might hear the scream or see the shadow, but not witness the actual removal of someone's eyeballs or what have you. Another great thing, they are way too busy for a gratuitous sex scene. I appreciate an action flick that doesn't have the male and female leads stop and say, "I realize there's a big stinky mummy chasing after us, but let's smooch."

  You can watch the movie to catch the rest of the story. The informational stuff is fun. Getting pieces of information to keep you in the story until the climax. The Mummy did that really well, I felt, because historical exposition can be really boring if what you really want to see is a dead guy scaring everyone.

  This movie is a lot of fun, the action is quick and the special effects are really cool. There are one-liners galore, they poke fun at Americans, and they make fun of the very genre the movie is. You'll be entertained.
  
  

• Better, Much Better than the original.
  By A1INB7BJKUEYBC on 2001-09-30
  This is not Citizen Kane Folks, It the Mummy for Pete�s sake. If you have ever seen the original, you will know exactly what you are getting yourself into with the sequel. A sequel in my opinion that is much better than the first film because it at least keeps you on the edged of your seat from the beginning to the end. The acting is very top notch, and the Special Effects are just breathtaking to watch. Brendan Fraser is Great, and so is Arnold Vosloo and John Hannah but the Real achievement in this film Is Rachel Weisz who literally steals the movie from every body with her performance. The fight scene with her and Patricia Velasquez is a sight to behold. If you want to ponder the fate of movie making, and it�s short comings, don�t see this movie. If you want to have a good time with characters you care for and villains you want to see defeated, See this movie, it�s worth a place in your DVD Collection. It�s that good.
  
  
• Great fun and adventure
  By AAIL33CYCT47J on 2000-01-13
  If you like Indiana Jones you'll LOVE this! I can understand some people calling it cheesy, but I think that it is important to remember that it is the cheesiness that makes this movie so fun. Do we really need another action movie where the hero deadpans his way through it? This is much more fun and enjoyable. The acting is perfect for each part - particularly John Hannah as a wimpy thief reluctantly tagging along to save the world. This movie has everything; it's funny, it's entertaining, and can be watched over and over again without losing any of its charm (trust me - I know).
  
  
• Fun Filled Film, even for the expert!
  By AXSH6O4OP5L4M on 2000-03-25
  I didn't care for the film when I first saw it in the theater, but I have to admit I was with friends who were vocally underwhelmed by it and in a multiplex cinema where sound from another film was very intrusive. Since seeing it on full screen, I have purchased the DVD and have to admit the picture definitely grows on a person. The "ouch" of the obvious historical goofs (If the pyramids--which are on the Giza plateau near Cairo--can be seen from Thebes about 500 miles south, it must have been one hell of a clear day! ) gives way to the supreme satisfaction of searching them all out! There is an entire web site just dedicated to the Mummy's historical inaccuracies, so one has to know some very bright people were as entertained as I by this movie. In fact if I were doing the sequel, I'd probably include a few, letting it be well known, just to keep the history buffs entertained. My chief disappointment in the film is that the reason for Imhotep's passion for Ankhesenamon is not really very clear. I realize she looks better than most of us with her clothing painted on her body, but I rather doubt that beauty alone would be sufficient to account for the priest's near obsession with the lady. I couldn't help wondering what she has that the rest of us don't, when Imhotep's only concern was to spend eternity with her. I suspect if she's just beautiful, the guy could be designing his own peculiar brand of hell! Actually, with what I know of history and with the information I received from the film, I came up with my own very satisfactory solution. Perhaps Mr. Sommers will enlarge on the history of the couple in the next film. Mr. Frasier's hero was very energetic and engaging. One could hardly avoid comparing his efforts to keep his own lady alive to Imhotep's plight. In many ways the two characters are much alike, which makes their ultimate contest that much more poignant. Ms Weis was delightfully dizzy, reminding me that to be very bright is not necessarily to be very "together." Mr Vosloo's Imhotep is quite good. Over and over I am amazed by the gentleman's capacity to almost physically remake himself. His ability to imply history for his characters is notable, as is his ability to convey meaning through body language and facial expression. Probably one of the best characters however, is Benny, O'Connell's erswhile "friend." His capacity for self-preservation and self-advancement is delightful. Perhaps he represents just a little bit of all of us when he runs for cover in the face of adversity. .
  
  
• A MUMMYTASTIC MOVIE!
  By A1GFAI1QOBK3AP on 2000-05-03
  What a surprise this was, I thought it was going to be some slick eye candy movie with little else, but thankfully I was wrong, what a thoroughly enjoyable film. The characters were funny and varied with lovable quirks, the Action and special effects were top notch, (I LOVED THOSE CAT SCENES! ), and Imhotep is such a suave Mummy, you cant help but admire him, his honeylove, sorry cant remember her name, is of course impossibly beautiful, with her fashion sense Im surprised anyone could remember her name! Our bumbling Good looking Heropeoples were a riot, kept me cackling throughout the movie.

  Now Ive read a few of the reviews, and was surprised at the comments about people finding so many historical flaws in this movie, I cant quite understand why they would bother, I mean this film is fictional! , no actual walking talking living dead creature exists, (well maybe a few models! ) no skies raining balls of fire (unless you count a meteor shower or New Years eve! ) no swarming insect hordes that eat you alive (Okay so theres mosquitos and sandflies etc...) and no fanatical secret organisations plotting our doom (Political, Religious, Children toy manufactures not withstanding!) Okay so maybe it is real, WHO CARES! this movie rocks, it kept me entertained and I didnt mind the ticket or video price when I had to get a copy.

  If your expecting a historical doco-drama then dont even pick it up, but if you want to try an action comedy adventure then this is for you (if it helps that O'connell is Lara Croft in drag then dream away! ) ENJOY!
  
  

• The Motherload of Fun!
  By A11A8GWG0IXBZH on 2000-05-03
  When it comes to movie genres, horror is in my top five,probably after science fiction. However, the remake of the Mummy isnot a horror in the traditional sense. Most people associate modern horror with gore-laden special effects, forgetting that true fear comes from the unknown and urgency developed from carefully built up suspense. The 1999 remake of the Mummy isn't a horror film, unlike perhaps the Sixth Sense-which I wouldn't show my nieces or nephews, but the Mummy is just good clean fun. We are treated to a great ensemble of actors, breath taking sets and funky special effects, thanks to Industrial Light and Magic. The film also doesn't take itself at all seriously, making you laugh just as surely as you will thrill to the action sequences.

  The film opens with a stunning view of Thebes-city of the Seti the First where we see the sphinx under construction (okay, so they missed by a few hundred miles on that one!). Anck-su-namun, the Pharaoh's untouchable mistress is continuing her affair with Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo)-a priest of probably Anubis. Getting caught in the act by Seti, they kill him just as the Medjai (who were actually the Egyptian police force) break down the doors. Anck-su-namun then kills herself as Imhotep escapes after promising to resurrect her. He and his priests steal Anck-su-namun's body and take it to Hamunaptra where he attempts to do that, but all is lost when the Medjai storm the sarneche where her body was being prepared. Imhotep is mummified alive for his crimes-cursed to spend an eternity undead locked within a sarcophagus, being eaten by nasty little scarab beetles.

  Brendan Fraser stars as Rick O'Connell, a down on his luck Legionaire who led his garrison to the legendary city of Hamunaptra-the city of the dead in 1923 (Note: the city didn't really exist and is based possibly on the Necropolis of Egypt). They find the city, oh yes, but they also find hundreds a Tuareg warriors bent on killing everyone to prevent them from find the evil that dwells beneath the sand. O'Connell escapes after being chased too close to the statue of Anubis where Imhotep is buried and a small sand storm that whips up around the statue that frightens off his attackers, allowing O'Connell to escape with his life. The next time we see him it's three years later and he's about to be hanged for having a very good time.

  It is in Cairo where we meet Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz), a beautiful and befuddled librarian desperate to prove herself an archaeologist to the sexist old-boy network in England. Rachel delivers a beautiful performance of the slightly nerdy expert of Egyptology. We also meet her lush brother, Jonathan Carnahan (John Hannah), who has stolen a puzzle box key from O'Connell that has a map to the fabled city of Hamunaptra. The two rush to find Rick after Evelyn's boss `accidentally' burns the map in a candle flame. They find him at the Cairo Prison where Evelyn must bargain with sleazy warden for O'Connell's life by promising him 25% of the riches they find in the fabled city.

  From there the adventure of a life time comes to life as O'Connell reluctantly agrees to lead Evelyn and her brother, and the sleazy warden, across the desert sands to the ancient city. They also have a run in with the `bloody Americans', who are out to plunder Hamunaptra's riches, and the two groups must work together in order to survive-first by an attack by the Medjai, then after finding the Book of the Dead, Evelyn incants a spell that kind of...sort of...brings Imhotep back to life, whose sarcophagus they found earlier that day. The Americans steal Anck-su-namun's canopic jars-the vessels that stored her organs after they were removed. As the mummy comes back to life, it becomes a race to escape back to Cairo, followed by Imhotep who begins to kill the American thieves one at a time for their crime, using their life essence to rejuvenate himself in the process. Imhotep also develops a crush on Evelyn, who he plans to sacrifice so that Anck-su-namun many live again.

  The Mummy, start to finish, is a wild romp that doesn't take itself too seriously. Thanks mostly to the interplay between the main characters who play off each other magically. It doesn't set out solely to scare, but does offer up some genuinely creepy moments. With exemplary production values-be they sets, effects or costumes, The Mummy delivers heaps of action, laughs and adventure of a type akin to Raiders of the Lost Ark, a fine pedigree to follow. But the Mummy also harkens back to a time when movies were made with a certain eye to quality-there is nothing in the film that made me lose my suspension of disbelief, because it is a solidly written yarn. It has unforgettable moments, be it O'Connell's back stabbing friend Beni as he runs through a collection of holy symbols and prayers in attempt to stave off the advancing mummy. Or Rick and Evelyn's budding romance and the interplay that captures these pleasantly goofy characters wonderfully.

  The Mummy stands out as my favorite action film of 1999-beating out the Phantom Menace and the Matrix by a fair margin. The other bit of good news, besides this gem of a movie, is that they are making a sequel, and one can only hope that it is every bit as good as the first. This is an excellent film and can easily take a place next to some of the best action films of all time-like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Die Hard, The Terminator, Big Trouble in Little China, and Aliens. It delivers at every turn-excitement, adventure, a few scares, and romance. Great fun and I highly recommend the letter boxed version over the pan-and-scan so that viewers can see everything. END
  
  

• If you mis the widescreen version,you missed the whole movie
  By A13P64FTQPJICL on 1999-12-08
  What a great movie this is.I enjoyed every second(I'm sure you will).

  Pros:

  *The movie is a visual masterpiece.The visual and sound FX are breath-taking.

  *Heart-stopping action.

  *Althouhg it's a sci-fi movie,it actualy has a plot!

  *Brendan Fraser was terrific.I never though he could be so.

  *Rachel Weisz was terrific too.Real eye candy.

  *Very beautiful desert settings.

  *Fast and intense camera movements.

  *Excellent score.

  *A super cool villain.

  *Definitely the hottest and coolest extras you will ever find.In fact,the extras are enough reason to buy this DVD.

  Cons:

  *Although Stephen Sommers did a better job than any other director in trying to authenticate the Arabs,they weren't 100%.There were some Lebanese accents in Egypt,and a lot of the language isn't clear enough.

  *Some overacting in jokes,namely Rachel Weisz's brother(in the movie).

  *Arabs are either:degenerate scum(the prison warden),low wiesels(that mummy's sidekick),killers and a lot of other negativities.
  
  

• The Ultimate Edition is the way to go!
  By on 2001-04-26
  Boy, was I surprised when I saw this sitting on store shelves. The first Mummy DVD was chock full of extras, but this is awesome. I was wondering if it was worth putting down ... extra ...($$) for it, so trust me when I say that this disc is worth owning for every possible reason. New Audio Commentaries by Brendan Fraser,and Oded Fehr(the leader of the magi), Kevin J. O'Connor(Benny), and Arnold Vosloo( the man himself, The Mummy). The Making of The Mummy. Egyptology 101. Deleted Scenes, Visual and Special Effects, Photograph Montage, Pharoh Lineage, and you get the traler for, not only The Mummy, but The Mummy Returns as well.Plus, an insiders look at The Making of the Mummy Returns. If you have a DVD-Rom drive you can watch a live webcast premier of The Mummy Returns, Script to Screen translations, Screen Savers, and a demo for The Mummy PC Game. So, all and all it is worth every penny. the new commentaries are great and now I can't wait to see The Mummy Returns. Did I mention that the movie itself is great too. Lots of good action scenes, great acting, terrific story, sweet visual effects, and a long run-time(2 hours 5 minutes) make this all the more worth buying. If you own the original Mummy DVD, buy this disc, If you don't own that one, buy this disc. With all it's got going for it, this is the edition to own.
  
  
• The Greatest Mummy Film, a True Classic ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
  By AS412HP2ORYH7 on 1999-11-23
  Director/Screenwriter Stephen Sommers delivers this new take on the mummy legend. His mix of humor and horror is terrific! The casting was very, very worthy, and the plot was downright exciting! This film begins with a prolouge in ancient Egypt, where the priest Imhotep and the Pharoah's mistress Anck-Su-Namun murder pharoah Seti the 1st. He is condemed to be buried alive with flesh eating scarab beetles, and an eternity as one of the undead. Flash forwrd to 1926, were librarian Evelyn (Rachel Wiesz) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah) recruit legionarre Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) to lead them to the ancient city of Hamunaptra. In route they meet up with a group of American cowboys out to plunder the same site. The general bickering ends when they accidentally revive Imhotep's corpse, who needs the flesh of his desecrators in order to regenerate! More over, he unleashes the biblical ten plauges of Egypt. Before you can scream "Mummy!", Rick and everyone else are fighting for their lives and trying to save the world! Harrowing thrills and spectacular visual effects by Industrial Light and Magic, make "The Mummy", one of the most draw droppingly spectacular films of the year. Right up there with "The Matrix" and the highly over rated "Star Wars: Episode One: The Phantom Menace". See this film, you won't regrete it!
  
  
• A review of the DVD, NOT the film
  By AUVLENRAUFH25 on 2001-10-04
  I loved Mummy Returns, but PLEASE, DON'T buy this DVD. Wait for the "Ultimate Edition," there will surely be one!! They left out a ton of stuff on this DVD so they could save things for the Ultimate Edition and as usual milk us of our money. Just rent it for the time being and buy the Ultimate Edition when it comes out!!
  
  
• What a Thrill Ride!
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2005-03-01
  In ancient Egypt, one priest had the nerve to fall in love with Pharaoh's mistress. As a penalty, he was cursed to become one of the undead and suffer for all time. Unless someone released him from his prison.
  
  Flash forward to the 1920's. A group of treasure hunters and a group of archeologists set out to find the ancient city of Hamunaptra. When they accidentally awaken the ancient evil, they find themselves in a race against time to save their own skin and the world in general. Is there a way to stop someone you can't kill?
  
  This movie starts out rather slow. The first hour is set up getting the characters to the city. Once the Mummy awakens, however, it becomes a fast paced thrill ride you can't stop watching. The actors do a great job of keeping things believable, even if the plot has a few holes in it.
  
  The DVD truly has some great stuff on it. Not only do you get great picture and sound with wide screen and full surround, but you get some fun features, too. The director's audio commentary is fascinating, discussing the struggles that it took to get the movie to the screen. Along those lines, the documentary is fantastic as well. I always love seeing what goes into making movie magic. Also worth checking out is the section on ancient Egypt.
  
  This movie is slightly horror, but mainly action/adventure. It's a Saturday matinee, popcorn flick with great special effects. Pop it in and enjoy.
  
  
• Wish the Mummy hadn't Returned!
  By AK8V3EOW4JIOQ on 2001-10-11
  I'm pretty tolerant of sequels but this was one of the worst I've ever seen. If you are expecting it to have the humor, solid storyline and the same characters, you'll be as disappointed as I was; even the special effect weren't as good as The Mummy.

  This could have been a really good movie if someone had put some effort into developing a story for it. The timeframe is in the mid-1930's but somehow we get to see a turbo charged dirigible! And since when would an ancient Egyptian site be guarded by mummy-zombie-pygmies?!?

  The most humorous part of the DVD was the outtakes; don't expect to see things like Rick O'Connell screaming at mummified guards or Evie getting drunk and passing out in Rick's lap. Even Johnathan wasn't very funny in this movie and I usually enjoy John Hannah in anything he's in.

  For anyone who saw The Mummy and was looking forward to the sequel, you'll still have to see it no matter what I write about it...I'm the same way. Just try not to be too disappointed.
  
  

• Absolutely Phenomenal On HD DVD
  By A1U360OMVQRPUB on 2007-06-28
  Everyone knows the plot of the movie and that it was based on the 1940s film, "The Mummy's Hand," so what I'm going to talk about is the HD DVD transfer.
  
  I got my HD DVD player last year and have been thoroughly stoked about it, given the right movie. "The Mummy" is definitely one of those right movies. From the opening credits to the first views of the Egyptian city, the clarity of the high-def presentation rivals that of your local theater. Once a wall-sized monitor becomes available, film buffs are truly going to be able to have the theater experience right in their own homes.
  
  The action sequences are great. The colors are fantastic. And the special effects are tremendous. The dust cloud confrontation at the end just blew me away all over again.
  
  I owned the movie on DVD and had watched it on television a few times (it's one of those on a list of guilty pleasures) but I hadn't seen anything like this presentation outside of the theater.
  
  Now I gotta get "The Mummy Returns" and "The Scorpion King." And I can't wait for "The Mummy 3" coming in 2008!
  
  
• Plain, good old-fashioned fun!
  By A2198FZZMTJ38H on 2001-03-13
  "The Mummy" is one of those unique movies that really delivers in all fields. It's a rip-roaring adventure in the vein of the Indianna Jones films, while incorporating chills and humor into its story as well. It has all the basics of the 1932 original version of the movie, but this version is much peppier, much more entertaining, and takes on both a serious and a comedic approach. This, combined with the use of cutting-edge special effects and a knockout cast of actors, make the movie a prime example of typical summer fun that turns into a lot more than just that.

  Borrowing the plot of the old movie, the high priest Imhotep is condemned to forever be cursed for having a torrid love affair with the Pharaoh's mistress, Anck-Su-Namun. He is given a ritual burial, which involves being buried alive in a coffin full of flesh-eating scarabs. This gives the movie a chance to show itself off as fashionable horror, not going into the extremely graphic details while giving us slight chills in the spine. This will carry on throughout the rest of the film, which is one of its better aspects.

  Moving ahead in the film to the 1930's, Rick O'Connell, a roughneck who also has his charms, crosses paths with librarian Evelyn Carnahan and her gold-digging brother Jonathon, who has a map that leads to the ancient city of Hamunaptra. O'Connell agrees to take them there, and soon, it becomes a race of who will get there first to retrieve the treasure rumored to be hidden there. Upon investigating the interiors of the city, they come across a book, and soon they unleash Imhotep and all of his curses on the world. This is the point at which the movie becomes a race against time to stop the mummy before he completes the steps to becoming whole again.

  The movie has a lot going for it, and the fact that it realizes its status as an action adventure/romance is what keeps it going. The movie never really stops moving; there are certain scenes that move a bit slower to allow for character development and such, but this movie is mostly fast-paced action and thrills, delivering a tense and throttling experience which will make you cheer and smile. When the plagues begin descending upon the land, our heroes must move even faster to stop the curse, and as they do, so does the movie.

  The movie is undeniably fun. There is a lot of comic relief thrown into the mix of the plot, and is a combination of one-liners from characters as well as goofy body language and actions which will have you rolling with laughter. The character of Beni is the centerpiece for the comic relief; he is the turncoat who deserts the Americans to aide Imhotep in his search for the items he needs to regenerate. He is cumbersome and gangly, and the quiver in his voice is a riot. one scene in particular involves Beni pulling out a collection of sacred symbols and chanting foreign verses to try and ward of the mummy. Comic genius!

  There are a lot of special effects employed for this film, and they do well in telling the story where regular camera shots could not. The most stunning of these effects is the ongoing regeneration of the mummy, who goes from moldy, rotting corpse to partial skin and muscles, slowing becoming whole. The many layers of his body are seen in meticulous detail, each movement matched to the specific body part. These effects are seamless, and work very well in this film. Most of the other effects involve the plagues brought down by Imhotep, which include immense sandstorms and flocks of scarabs. The scarabs are the most believable effect here, and through animation, the filmmakers are able to create thousands of them, creating the illusion that danger comes in numbers.

  There is also some moments that border on the extreme, but not entirely, and the movie is admirable in the way that it does not cross that line. The regeneration sequences show Imhotep's form as being dried out instead of wet and gooey, which makes us go "Ew" without making us vomit. As Imhotep takes his victims one by one, the filmmakers show this by using lots of sound effects and creating the illusion instead of showing us the actual event. All we see are the leftovers, which, like Imhotep, are dry and decrepit.

  The cast employed for the movie is remarkable, and gives us one of the best performances for a film of this genre ever. Brendan Fraser plays Rick O'Connell, and he is the ideal embodiment of an action hero. He's not so much a young Indianna Jones as he is his own action figure, and his character becomes something for other action heroes to be modeled after. Rachel Weisz is sweet and humorous as the lovely Evelyn, and she also makes a remarkable damsel in distress as well. She has guts, which is wonderfully portrayed in her acting ability and charisma. Arnold Vosloo plays the evil Imhotep, the perfect person for the role. He makes us believe in the fact that the mummy is not really evil; he is only doing what he was destined to do by reviving his long-lost love. Two of the supporting roles, John Hannah as Jonathon, Evelyn's brother, and Kevin J. O'Conner as Beni, do a masterful job of adding comedy and liveliness to the story,

  As a serious horror film, "The Mummy" would not be as good. It would seem more confused and muddled. It's light-heartedness and comedy make it something better, giving us a healthy, even balance of laughs, thrills and chills. It's a movie for young and old alike, and becomes an interesting spin on the original. It gives the old story a fresh look while keeping the old scare tactics used before. It's just plain fun!
  
  

• I'm so glad I waited
  By AKZVPD1GTXFDV on 2001-05-08
  For the Ultimate DVD of "THE MUMMY". This offering is much expanded from the previous DVD release. It offers the film in regular and widescreen versions, and in addition to the commentary from writer/director Steven Sommers and editor Bob Duscay that was included in the previous release, it also contains two additional commentaries, one from star Brendan Fraser, and one that includes Oded Fehr, Arnold Vosloo, And Kevin J. O'Connor. To hear that many separate versions of what went on during filming is marvelous! We also get deleted scenes, documentaries, previews of the sequel, trailers, and a gorgeous photo montage on two DVDs that encompass just about everything you could possibly want to know about mummies and movies. And at the heart of it all? A terrific film that never fails to make me jump, laugh, gasp, and feel good. Of course, Brendan Fraser is fabulous, but the performances of the supporting cast are also amazing, particularly John Hannah in the uncharacteristic role of a comic Englishman. Worth having in your collection.
  
  
• The Mummy Returns
  By A1LX5QUD1BB9I0 on 2001-10-05
  I have to agree with most customer reviews, this is a popcorn movie and a damn good one. It's clear the producers put a lot of time and expense into making this the biggest "Mummy" movie to date and it was fun to see all the original actors assemble again for the sequel. I have to agree that the ending sequence with the "Rock" was cheesy at best and could have been eliminated. The dvd is superb and gives your channels a great workout, especially in the in the rear and subwoofer channels. The image is sharp and clear, near reference quality but the extras for the most part are pure marketing on the part of Universal. The first film had better extras although you'll find many of the same in this one as well, eg: director commentary and cgi demonstrations. Rent it or buy it. You'll love it so long as you (a) haven't bought into the movie critics negative reviews beforehand and (2) you're watching it simply for the fun of it. Isn't that what most films are all about...pure escapist entertainment? In these pressing times, we need more like them! Enjoy!
  
  
• This is Why Sequels Shouldn't Be Made
  By on 2002-02-12
  While 1999's remake of "The Mummy" was an enjoyable enough film, with interesting characters, something happened along the way to the word processor while drafting the script for the sequel. The charm that the characters had in the first film (the smart but snappy librarian, the witty, urbane, but ne'er-do-well brother, and the American adventurer) just disappeared and the characters bear little resemblance to their namesakes in the first film. Even worse, there are too many special effects in this film. Some day, Hollywood will learn that special effects do not make a film. Endless computer-generated armies, computer generated mummies that move en masse across the scene, and so on. This film is so formulaic with its supporting characters (and of course, don't forget the special effects with the most high-powered dirigible the world has ever seen. Who knew a dirigibile could fly at warp speed????) It's all a tiresome bore. And the biggest logic flaw in the film---no cats! If they learned in the first film that mummies are afraid of cats, why wouldn't they stop at a pet store and pick up as many kitty-cats as they could while heading to the accursed cave? and if that's not all, the background music is too loud throughout the film. If this film doesn't leave you with a throbbing headache, then you better check yourself carefully. You may have become a mummy. Or, you'll just realize you wasted 2 hours and ten minutes on a film that seems to have been written in the same amount of time.
  
  
• Bigger, Better
  By AWFDFLR1DA23A on 2001-07-04
  Bigger, Better, Louder, More Exciting, Better Effects are all words that could describe the Mummy Returns. The plot of the storyy continues where our heros are married and have an 8 tear old child. while on an excepdition they come across a braclet which unleashes all mayheam, involving themselves their son and and loads of computer generated mummies. John Hannah is also back playing the wimmpy brother who somehow always manages to create but escape danger. The effects in this film are bigger and more frequent in this film which will make it more appealing. If you were a fan of the first then i would recommend that you buy this one
  
  
• Should be 0 stars
  By A1WT047CVF256C on 2001-12-05
  One of the worst movies I've ever seen. Random and pointless, yadda yadda. I have to wonder how anyone could like it. I sort of liked the first movie, so I figured this would be more of the same. Unfortunately I was oh-so wrong. If you're not absolutely sure you want to buy this movie, whatever you do, watch it before buying! That way you'll avoid feeling supremely ripped off when you realize the DVD you just bought is best used as an expensive coaster.
  
  
• Abbott and Costello meet the Mummy, Fraser and Indiana Jones
  By A2B7BUH8834Y6M on 2000-07-06
  Good acting and terrific special effects make this film worth watching. There is a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor and lots of action.

  If you know anything about Egyptian history (I learned a lot in my art history classes), you may have to roll your eyes through some of the plot, but you will still find this entertaining.

  Startling in several scenes and just a good action film. New special effects and techniques were created for this film that never existed before... it's worth watching just for that alone. This is really a 3.5 star movie, but I rounded it up. This is highly entertaining, but way too intense for little kids. I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure if I could watch it over and over again due to the fact you really do have to put your brain and common sense on hold in a number of scenes. The DVD delivers great sound and never-before-seen footage, so this will be a great addtion to the DVD library of a sci-fi nut.
  
  

• If you love action and a bit of suspense, The Mummy's a must
  By A9ZADG7LFN7PU on 1999-12-18
  No doubt about it, this is a sharp flick. All the ingredients come together to make this a very entertaining film. Naturally there's plenty of action which takes place against some great sets and is enhanced by impressive special effects. But there's also a good deal of suspense (as you would expect in a Mummy movie), and plenty of humourous one-liners as well.

  It's sort of like a '90s version of Indiana Jones and will probably be considered just as much a classic in years to come.
  
  

• Don't buy the full screen version
  By A1PBMNL6HQ1WQD on 1999-12-06
  Be carefully which version buy. Unlike other studios that offers both full and widescreen on the same DVD, Universal is dumb and greedy enough to release two versions. Check the right version before you buy. The full frame version must from the VHS tape master which is less detail and grainy compares to the widescreen version not to mention mutilated the film.

  The sound is the same for both films, which are good but not great. Wish they had DTS version instead of the full frame.

  Four stars for the widescreen version on audio and video.

  Three stars for the content as a decent B movie.
  
  

• It's not your father's Mummy!
  By ARFBRSE35ZJ6A on 2001-08-11
  This is an excellent DVD edition! The 2-disc set is loaded with bonus material! The movie is in widescreen format on disc 1 and full-frame format on disc 2, so you have a choice in viewing it. And there�s not just one, but three commentaries on the movie-- one by director Sommers and editor Ducsay, one by star Brendan Fraser, and one by co-stars Arnold (Imhotep)Vosloo, Oded (Ardeth Bay) Fehr, and Kevin J. (Beni) O�Connor. The behind-the-scenes stuff is fascinating, including the feature on building a better mummy, production notes, deleted scenes, photo gallery, and some very interesting and educational background information on ancient Egypt--its gods, kings, customs, mummies, artifacts, and even a map of the region. And there�s the customary movie trailers, cast & crew bios, chapter index, and a main menu which is written in hieroglyphics until you select an item, then it�s transformed into English--cute! The image quality is great and the surround sound quality is awesome!

  There are also some DVD-ROM features that look interesting, but I don�t have a DVD-ROM drive on my PC, so I can�t check them out. There�s a trailer for the video game, though, and it looks like a fun game, with action and movement like Laura Croft in Tomb Raider.

  The movie itself is an action-packed adventure yarn in the Indiana Jones tradition. Brendan Fraser gives a stalwart performance as the two-fisted, two-pistol-packin� hero, always ready for a fight or a quip, who joins would-be Egyptologist Rachel Weisz ('Evie�) and her inept brother on an expedition to find the city of the dead, Hamunaptra, and the vast treasure of the Pharaohs. Patricia Velazquez as Anck Su Namun, the Pharaoh�s mistress, is one of the treasures, a knock-out in her body makeup costume!

  What they find, of course, is the tomb of Imhotep, the mummy, whom they carelessly resurrect, with all his supernatural powers and his evil intentions. It�s here that the special effects take over, and they�re pretty outstanding as Imhotep literally puts himself together by using body parts of his victims! It�s quite a departure from the early Universal mummy movies and the later Hammer franchise, and it gives the mummy a more horrific element! He doesn�t just kill you, he cannibalizes you! But despite the gruesomeness of this premise, the movie has very little gore in it, hence its PG-13 rating. The special mummy effects are really impressive, but it�s the darn cockroaches (Scarabs) that are really scary!

  All in all, this DVD set does live up to its claim of being the ultimate edition. I recommend it to all collectors and mummy fans!
  
  

• Get Real....
  By A3DBZY5E7FA3VR on 2001-09-17
  ... not all movies are academy award winners. That doesn't mean that they aren't fun and enjoyable. Sit back with a big bucket of buttered popcorn. turn off the brain for a few hours and have a good time with characters you love already.
  
  

• The Mummy [Blu-ray]
• The Scorpion King [Blu-ray]
• Van Helsing (Widescreen Edition)
• Lara Croft - Tomb Raider [Blu-ray]
• Men in Black [Blu-ray]