The Mummy
+ The Mummy Returns (2-Disc Deluxe
Edition DVDs + Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray) + The
Scorpion King (Blu-Ray)
The Mummy + The Mummy Returns (DVDs + Blu-Rays)
Picture:
B-/B+/B-/B+ Sound: B-/B+/B-/B+ Extras: A- Films: B/B-
The Scorpion King (Blu-Ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C- Film: C
If anyone
in 1999 was expecting a faithful recreation of the 1932 Boris Karloff film,
they were cracking open the wrong tomb.
The 1999 Brendan Fraser ‘remake’ or rehashing of the classic film, goes
in a completely different, but not necessarily ‘bad’ direction. The Stephen Sommers’ retelling of a classic
tale uses similar happenings, character names, and other inspirational morsels
from the 1932 standard, but other than that not much is the same. The 1999 Mummy
is more in the vein of an action/adventure, treasure tale like that of the Indiana Jones films or the more recent National Treasure films (all of which
are reviewed elsewhere on this site).
This reviewer personally loved both The
Mummy and The Mummy Returns, but
does not hold the same esteem for the less than stellar Mummy Returns spin-off, The
Scorpion King.
The newer
films in no way can be compared to the original Karloff film, because they are
at such opposite ends of the spectrum.
Essentially, besides the fact that the films share a name, nothing else
is truly the same. The intensity of the
original horror film is switched out for fast paced action with tons of special
effects and just a dash of comedy.
Brendan
Fraser, Rachel Weisz (Constantine),
John Hannah, and Arnold Vosloo (24)
are the headliners in the first two Mummy
films and work extremely well together in bringing elements of action,
adventure, and comedy to the picture. The Mummy is just a fun action tale
that surely wasn’t going to win any Oscars, but did capture the audiences’
attention quite well. It brought a
degree of heroics and classic adventure back to the cinema that had not been
seen in a decade, since the last Indiana
Jones film. The Mummy does not have the same exact appeal as Indiana Jones, nor does it have the
staying power, but it did and does give the audience a taste of that ‘swing
into action,’ ‘kick down the door’ escapade that they desired. It is a good flick that is 2 hours of pure,
entertaining fun.
The Mummy Returns adds actor Freddie Boath to the
cast as Rick (Fraser) and Evelyn’s (Weisz) mischievous son, Alex; the story of
the second Mummy film really being
more of the action of the first, just not done quite as well. The
Mummy Returns has better special effects than the first film, with the
exception of ‘The Scorpion King’ whose CGI presence is just awful and is more
reminiscent of bad Claymation like that of Clash
of the Titans (yea I said it). The
story is nothing new and really is like The Mummy: Part 2; but is not a
horrible thing, just based on the fact that the first film was so fun. The whole cast reunites, with a few
additional players this time around. The
only downside to The Mummy Returns is
that (as with most sequels) they tried to make the film much bigger, but it did
not necessarily get any better; rather it just stayed at the same level. The addition of the couple’s son was ‘blah’
as were some other elements, but in the end it still squeezed by as a good
action flick once again.
Now there
is no need to divert your eyes, but it may be a good idea. The
Scorpion King was just a bad idea, flat out. The film is full of well choreographed action
and battle sequences, as well as having fairly well done CGI incorporated
throughout; the problem however remains in EVERYTHING ELSE. The acting is feeble, Dwayne Johnson (when he
still went by ‘The Rock’) having not quite yet round his groove with any sort
of acting, is more or less cast to be the muscle behind a weak film. ‘The Rock’s’ role is reminiscent of some
early Schwarzenegger roles, but lacks the charisma as well as good supporting
cast. All in all, The Scorpion King plays out and is exposed for exactly what it is,
a pathetic attempt to milk the success of The
Mummy films for all that they are worth.
Even certain A-list stars like the misused Michael Clarke Duncan could
not revive this corpse of a film.
Due to
the films having been previously reviewed on this site, the plot summaries as
well some further (and very different) opinions/analysis can be found at the
links below when covered in the now-defunct HD-DVD format:
The Mummy
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4838/The+Mummy+(1999/HD-DVD)
The Mummy Returns
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4859/The+Mummy+Returns+(HD-DVD)
The Scorpion King
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4768/The+Scorpion+King+(HD-DVD/DVD
The
technical features on these mummified remains are all around solid. The picture on The Mummy, The Mummy Returns
and The Scorpion King Blu-Ray releases
is presented as a 1080p High Definition Widescreen. The picture quality on all three releases is
quite excellent having very well balanced colors, nice contrast, no light/dark
issues, and an overall crisp image. The
picture on the DVD releases of the two Mummy
films, which are stated as being ‘digitally restored,’ seem to be an upgrade
from any of the previous (and plentiful) Mummy
DVD releases, but does not compare to the Blu-Rays. The DVDs matched up to the Blu-Rays have
obvious comparative short comings in areas of crispness and color and whereas
by no means bad, Blu-Ray is the way to go.
The sound on all three Blu-Rays is presented as an English DTS-HD Master
Audio (MA) 5.1 Surround for the first time on home video release (surpassing
the HD-DVD soundtracks) and is one of the best sounding mixes the films have
experienced; the previous DVD releases being very lackluster and even the Dolby
Digital Plus 5.1 on the HD release not living up to expectations. The sound ‘booms’ and the full sound stage is
used; even the more nauseatingly bad parts of The Scorpion King sound decent in the DTS track. Also it should be mentioned that this
reviewer feels the full score from the first Mummy film is amazing, standing the test of time and here on
Blu-Ray it sounds better than ever.
The
Extras are immense and impressive on both the DVD and Blu-Ray releases of The Mummy films; with over 5 never
before seen features on each. The
Blu-Rays have an additional Blu-Ray
Exclusive U-Control feature that allows the viewer the ‘go beyond’ and
control the movie viewing experience by simultaneously watching cast interviews
and behind the scenes footage, all while enjoying the film. Personally this viewer like doing one or the
other (with the exception of audio commentaries), but some viewers/fans may
like to ‘go beyond’ more than I do.
The
extras found on The Scorpion King
Blu-Ray are slim and only offer fans a single feature commentary with director
Chuck Russell. The Blu-Ray Exclusive U-Control feature is also available on this
release, but once again was just distracting and a bore.
The
plethora of features that are available on both the Blu-Ray and DVD releases of
The Mummy and The Mummy Returns are as follows:
The Mummy (DVD + Blu-Ray)
Disc 1:
Deleted
Scenes and three feature-length audio commentary tracks, one with Director
Stephen Sommers and Editor Bob Ducsay, one with actor Brendan Fraser and one with
actor Oded Fehr, Kevin J O’Connor, and Arnold Vosloo
Disc 2:
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon
Emperor Sneak
Peek
Digital
Copy of the Mummy **NOT available on Blu-Ray**
An Army
to Rule the World – Part 1
Unraveling,
The Legacy of the Mummy
Visual
and Special Effects Information
Building
a Better Mummy
Storyboard
to Final Film Comparison
Photograph
Montage
Egyptology
101
- A text heavy feature that explains different aspects
like Hieroglyphics and Artifacts.
Pharaoh
Lineage
- A text heavy feature that explains different aspects
like Hieroglyphics and Artifacts.
Theatrical
Trailer
-
A well done trailer that made this reviewer want to see the film all
over again.
The Mummy Returns (DVD + Blu-Ray)
Disc 1:
Outtakes
and a feature length audio commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and
Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsay
Disc 2:
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon
Emperor Sneak
Peek
Digital
Copy of the Mummy **NOT available on Blu-Ray**
An Army
to Rule the World – Part 2
Unraveling,
The Legacy of the Mummy
Visual
and Special Effects Information
An
Exclusive Conversation with ‘The Rock’
Spotlight
on Location: The Making of The Mummy Returns
Egyptology
201 featuring a text heavy feature that explains different aspects like
Hieroglyphics and Artifacts.
Original Theatrical
Trailer
Storyboard
to Final Film Comparison
The band Live
with their tie-in ‘Forever May Not Be Long
Enough’ Music Video
The
extras are all around impressive.
Besides that there is a multitude of features to chose from the extras
are truly entertaining and have a rewatchable quality that fans of the film
series will enjoy. The commentaries are
insightful and regardless of anyone’s feelings toward Stephen Sommers’ works,
you can’t say he did not put his heart and mind into these films. The behind the scenes featurettes are
interesting and give some solid information on where the visual/creative entities
behind the films want to take the venture.
Overall, both of these sets were very well done and fans will be more
than happy to view and sift through all the bonus material.
It is
more than certain that The Scorpion King
was a horrible mistake of a film that was more concerned with money than
preserving creativity. The Mummy films, however, are exciting,
adventurous, and can still entertain fans fully to this day. As long as you don’t get too wrapped up in The Mummy’s past, the newer Mummy films are to be reborn for.
- Michael P. Dougherty II