The Mummy Returns (HD DVD)

May 2024 ยท 7 minute read
There's a stigma associated with sequels that often makes it impossible for them to succeed, at least in the eyes of viewers and critics. With a film like The Godfather, I can understand the high standards, but The Mummy? I mean, it was a fun romp that never even tried to be anything more than a really fun, nostalgic time at the movies. Somehow, people still had gripes with the sequel even though writer/director Stephen Sommers went all out on giving them as much bang for their buck as possible.
Taking place long enough after the first film for the stars to have fathered a precocious blond son, the sequel is nothing less than an FX-laden assault on the senses that should evoke some of the old Sinbad movies as well as the Indiana Jones adventures along the way. Beginning with the much-publicized sequence featuring wrestling superstar The Rock as the Scorpion King, it barrels forward like a freight train on its simple quest to entertain. It's a noble task, and one that makes it easier to forgive the film's lesser moments.


The early sequences are epic and grand, and while there are some moments where the FX seem a little hokey it's all in good fun. In addition, I think a lot of the FX were intended to feel a little old fashioned or slightly unreal. On the special features, they mention trying to reach a Ray Harryhausen type of feel from their work, and it makes sense when you think about it. The dog headed soldiers growl at the camera and almost scream "I'm CGI, but ain't I cool?" and the kid in me who was weaned on Argonauts and minotaurs and skeletal soldiers digs it immensely.

Since the Scorpion King's our main baddie (though he seems a lot like a hero in the intro), the early exposition's necessary even though Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) is the chief villain for the bulk of the story. When we are reintroduced to our heroes, it's done in a winking homage to the original film (complete with Oded Fehr's character pulling a "Lando" ala Return of the Jedi) and unless you really hate the actors or the original film, it's fun to see them again.

The mythology is certainly not the reason to get into the franchise, as it's all hokum and more like a plot device to lead to the action sequences. As in the first, things are far too convenient for the protagonists, which makes it easier to move things along. These are not Indy films, and while Sommers and gang did some homework, the focus here is spectacle.


Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are an entertaining and attractive couple, and while their characters are given wholly unconvincing new backstory (perhaps my least favorite aspect of the sequel) it's still fun to see them and their friends (John Hannah's character's a paper thin one only kept fun by the performance). Usually the kiss of death, the inclusion of a child actor in a pivotal role doesn't come back to bite the collective in the ass with newcomer Freddie Boath doing a decent job of not being irritating.

So, as the story propels forward we meet our villains (including the returning hotness of Patricia Velaquez) and the game is afoot. I think the story's no better or worse than the first film and I feel that the spectacle is better, with some truly standout scenes taking the center stage. Also, while I feel the Scorpion King appearance at the end could have been handled better (for a pretty scary guy, he doesn't do much damage does he?), especially if you see some of the awesome concepts for the character they include on the DVD, the final scenes are edited together so breathlessly it's hard not to be entertained.

As a result, I see no reasons for condemning this film, especially knowing that it turned out to be one of the summer's most fun offerings.

Score: 7 out of 10

(Movie review by Nick Nunziata)

The Video

It may seem at first that this blockbuster sequel is an ideal candidate for the HD treatment because of the ambitious visual effects design. But actually, the opposite is true. Because those elements were rendered with sub-standard technology to begin with, the sharp and detailed images in the foreground only serve to highlight the artifice, so much so that it actually distracts from the film. Instead of looking spectacular or threatening, the giant wall of water featuring the face of the mummy just looks cheap. The not-so-special effects, created for a more forgiving format, were never meant to stand up under the scrutiny of high-def, and sadly they don't.

Add to that a grainy picture that looks as if some of the sand from the desert has been whipped up onto the screen, some scratches here and there, blurry lines in the fast-moving action scenes and a misty image lacking strong contrast and you get a rather disappointing release. The film looks best in the more enclosed, intimate scenes rather than the wide-open spaces of the desert, where distant golden temples and hordes of attacking CGI creatures fade into indistinct, unnatural shapes.


In the smaller-scale scenes though, particularly those set in the lush green canyons of the oasis and inside various golden temples, the potential for what this film could have been is sometimes evident. In these instances, the colors pop and the images are crisp. That is, until a poorly rendered giant CGI scorpion with the face of the Rock shows up and induces more laughter than awe.

Score: 5 out of 10

The Audio

Fortunately, the sound does not suffer from the same limitations that mar the picture. The action sequences in particular make good use of the capabilities of the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 format, with effects like rushing water, falling sand, swooshing torches and crashing rocks coming from all directions. It really helps put the audience right there in the middle of the action. And the 5.1 option is available in Spanish and French as well as English.

The dialogue and soundtrack by Alan Silvestri are nicely balanced, with one never more prominent than the other. Every word is clear, even in the echoed chambers of the temples. The balance is a bit heavy in the low range, but it's all the better to get the full menacing effect of the thundering of the army of the dead in the beginning and the end of the film. If only they looked as scary as they sound.

Score: 8 out of 10


Packaging and Extras

The disc comes in the standard red case with Universal's usual promotional insert featuring other HD titles. The extras carried over from previous releases include:


Some of the bonus material from previous releases has been left off of this one, including all of the DVD-Rom content, a preview of The Scorpion King and an interview with The Rock. In its place is an easy-to-use interactive menu, which can be accessed and browsed though while the movie is playing. The disc also includes an interactive My Scenes feature, which allows the viewer to build a list of favorite scenes with the push of a button at any time during the movie.

Score: 7 out of 10


The Bottom Line

There are films that were ready made for the HD format, but this isn't one of them. The added detail only makes the clumsily rendered CGI effects look even more fake. A well-mixed audio soundtrack is the only thing that saves this disc from irrelevancy.

(HD review by Cindy White)

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