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The Mummy Returns [2001]


RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £7.50 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Proving that bigger is rarely better, The Mummy Returns serves up so much action and so many computer-generated effects that it quickly grows exhausting. In his zeal to establish a lucrative franchise, writer-director Stephen Sommers dispenses with such trivial matters as character development and plot logic, and charges headlong into an almost random buffet of minimum story and maximum mayhem, beginning with a prologue establishing the ominous fate of the Scorpion King (played by World Wrestling Federation star the Rock, in a cameo teaser for his later starring role in--you guessed it--The Scorpion King). Dormant for 5,000 years, under control of the Egyptian god Anubis, the Scorpion King will rise again in 1933, which is where we find The Mummy's returning heroes Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, now married and scouring Egyptian ruins with their 8-year-old son, Alex (Freddie Boath).

John Hannah (as Weisz's brother) and Oded Fehr (as mystical warrior Ardeth Bay) also return from The Mummy, and trouble begins when Alex dons the Scorpion King's ancient bracelet, coveted by the evil mummy Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), who's been revived by... oh, but does any of this matter? With a plot so disposable that it's impossible to care about anything that happens, The Mummy Returns is best enjoyed as an intermittently amusing and physically impressive monument of Hollywood machinery, with gorgeous sets that scream for a better showcase, and digital trickery that tops its predecessor in ambition, if not in payoff. By the time our heroes encounter a hoard of ravenous pygmy mummies, you'll probably enjoy this movie in spite of itself. --Jeff Shannon


As good as the first
Review date: 2008-09-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

The Mummy Returns doesn't disappoint as the sequel to the brilliant 'The Mummy', with special effects and a great script making this an absolutely brilliant film. You don't need to have seen the first film to know what's going on, but i would definately help if you want to understand the full picture. This is an absolute must see for any 'Mummy' fans!

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Reviews


rubbish
Review date: 2008-06-08 Rating: 2 out of 10

the first flick was an entertaining romp but this is complete drivel.the cgi is awful the plot is none existant.the acting is solid but this is a real let down

Okay
Review date: 2008-03-08 Rating: 4 out of 10

When i bought the Mummy Returns on VHS it was without seeing it, i had really enjoyed the Mummy and thought this would be a sound buy, and at the time (some seven years ago) i thought it was after seeing it. But 7 years later looking back on both the Mummy and its sequel i realize that both this films, more so the second one are rather limited. Its not that i didn't enjoy them or felt the effects were poor, but they don't really give you anything more than a decent enough adventure story which really becomes formulaic in film 2. I think The Mummy had enough fun, good acting a was a good enough watch for 2 hours, despite rolling around in its own humorous easy-going story, but hey that was very watchable and there was hardly a dull moment in that movie which in short delivered what it promised and did its job as a fun filled summer blockbuster. But number two never really enters new territory, you have a organized group of bad guys who want to resurrect the mummy from film one to "take down" the new villain, the scorpion king(which allows "The Rock" a glorified cameo at the start of the movie). Of course should either creature succeed it will bring about "the next apocalypse" or so we are told. Enter Brendan Frazer...his family, and the Egyptian warrior from film one.

The heroes from film one are all back with one new slightly indifferent addition Alex the O'Connell's son who manages to avoid being too annoying despite taking any real seriousness the film had to offer away. The acting for the most part is good with the regular gags,one-liners and more of the same action from film 1. Whether The Mummy returns is a rehash is up for debate but generally quite a bit is recycled from its predecessor namely the action sequences such as the sandstorm from film one, this time with water, various nods to gags in film one such as dialog, the bookcase scene but i suppose this film has enough new material despite not seeming all that original. The action scenes are fun namely a bus chase involving mummies at the start and the most improbable chase through the jungle where Brendan Frazer outruns the sun(yes i did say that). I think another reviewer on this page(Rp Jones) hit the nail on the head when they said the novelty of the first movie had worn off.

The Mummy was(for me at least) a 20's style adventure in the desert with a arsenal of special effects, good actors and a decent premise that featured all this action in pyramids and exciting scenes of that nature and thats what i at least found so appealing about it after looking back over it. Its sequel doesn't ever seem as interesting despite being watchable and the characters seem a little more detached in the scenes involving CGI than they did in the first one. As a massive Indiana Jones fan i feel obligated to say that these film s do not come anywhere remotely close to that Trilogy but to be fair we don't generally get a Raiders movie very often so it doesn't infringe on these movies too much, just don't go in expecting to see Raiders of the lost Ark/Temple/Last Crusade quality in these movies is all i mean.

Overall the two Mummy movies do alright, i enjoyed film one even if it it was a bit silly and could have afforded to be a bit more sinister it was still entertaining. The Mummy returns however didn't do it for me in the ways the first movie did, it didn't manage to pull off the humor and occasionally serious aspects of the first nor was the story as interesting, while film one was a part loves story/adventure/apocalyptic , Returns revolved around a quest for immortality and i suppose the family dynamic it introduced. Finally, The Mummy did enough a good blockbuster, Mummy returns was OKAY both do just enough to pass. I have posted this for both The Mummy movies pages because this is an opinion of both as opposed to just one of them.



Surprisingly good
Review date: 2007-02-18 Rating: 8 out of 10

I was quite prepared to dislike this film as both fighting/fantasy type movies don't always suit my taste. However when i watched this (although it took me a while to get into it) i was surprised by how i actually did. Obviously its based in deserty style scenes and the acting is wonderful, just perfect. There is something going on a lot in this movie, therefore it certainly isn't boring. And although i actually did enjoy this quite, many probably would find the style of the movie just boring!
This is one film that may surprise you too. I reccomend you to hire this out.

Not as good as the original
Review date: 2005-01-15 Rating: 6 out of 10

Having seen The Mummy and enjoyed it, I was excited to see how a sequel would fair. The first was action packed and very entertaining. It was quite different from any other film I'd seen, and the storyline was well thought up. Unfortunately, the second, in my opinion, was less so. The novelty of the original had worn off, and I was disappointed to see that nothing much had been changed. You still have the action mixed in with a little mild horror, but the storyline was less interesting. Having seen the first film, you could predict the outcome of events in the second quite easily, therefore any element of suspense was lacking.
However, I must admit that the film kept me occupied for its duration. It's easy to follow, and doesn't ask you to keep constant track of things from one minute to the next. Some cheesy lines or phrases are unavoidable in films like this one. Personally, I believe these add to the character and nature of the film.
In brief, if you are expecting something new and original to succeed the first film, forget it and this might not be for you.
If you're looking for 'more of the same' and just want a film that's easy to follow and doesn't make your brain hurt from complicated plots and storylines, this will be right up your street. For the price Amazon has set the dvd, you can't really go wrong anyway.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
John Hannah
Arnold Vosloo
Brendan Fraser
Rachel Weisz
Freddie Boath

Creators:
Brendan Fraser (Primary Contributor)
John Hannah (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Pictures
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures
EAN: 5050582311365
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2005-04-04
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 129 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001
Language: English (Original Language)

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