#The mummy returns movie cgi series#
Even though this came out before the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, it has some of the elements that made later entries in that series far too complicated even with its simplicity. How bad can it be? Well, bad is in the eye of the beholder, and this is extremely enjoyable for what it is in spite of the fact that like most fantasy action films of the past 20 years, it can be just TOO much. OK, since I've already watched "The Mummy", I might as well carry on with its sequel, especially since much of the main cast (lead by Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz) have returned, and the first one was so much fun.
But never mind that – THE MUMMY RETURNS improves on the first film, and that's a definite good thing. By the time the completely-CGI Scorpion King shows up at the film's climax, they're hopelessly messy and quite appalling, and the cartoonish pygmies are also a disappointment. As for those FX, they're a mixed bunch, ranging from passable but seeming to deteriorate as the film progresses. Whether it's mummies chasing a double decker bus through the streets of London, Arabs and Westerners duking it out in displays of swordsmanship, or deadly pygmies lurking in the bush, the fight scenes come thick and fast and once again, they're heavy on the special effects. This being an action-adventure, you'd better pray there's plenty of action to be had, and the good news is that there most definitely is. Heads up to The Rock, who impresses despite only having five minutes of screen time, and Patricia Velasquez, who seems to be trying to rival Weisz in terms of bad acting but who really looks the part – especially those eyes! Other characters I liked were Izzy, the black pilot the black bodyguard, who whups major backside, and Alun Armstrong, who seems a little lost here, a world away from his usual films. Fraser and Weisz return as the hero and heroine Fraser is typically wooden, while Weisz gives another absolutely appalling performance how is this woman still getting acting jobs? Far better is John Hannah, whose comic relief role is reduced here, and the returning Arnold Vosloo seems a lot more comfortable with his central role. Unfortunately the film-makers decided to put a kid into the proceedings, and Freddie Boath plays an irritating public school brat of a boy you'll be praying for him to get his head lopped off or at the very least lose an arm during the proceedings, but to no avail. It's all wonderfully stupid, and the script is a real clunker this time around. I won't talk about the plot – suffice to say the action shifts from Egypt to London and then finally back to Egypt again. Despite the overlong running time, THE MUMMY RETURNS provides adequate entertainment for those in a forgiving mood. It's certainly more fun than the first film, as everything's settled down a little and there are no hopes waiting to be dashed. It's packed with preposterous special effects and some awful acting, but despite these things, I couldn't help but enjoy it a little. Loud, brash, and resolutely dumb, this is a film that requires you to leave your brain outside the door before sitting down to watch. THE MUMMY made a whole heap of cash at the box office, so the big wigs ordered more of the same, and what we get is THE MUMMY RETURNS. In all respects it's a direct continuation of the first in the series, with the viewpoint of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I wasn't a major fan of the first MUMMY film so it took me six years to finally bother watching this sequel – when I happened to catch it on television. The only other sequel that I have seen that is more of the same yet lives up exactly to the standard of its original is Home Alone 2:Lost in New York.
All in all, a fun sequel, that shows that more of the same can actually work.
#The mummy returns movie cgi plus#
Plus Freddie Boath is perfectly tolerable as Alexander, and John Hannah is fine too, same with Allun Armstrong of all people.
The other performances are fine too, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are both charming in the lead roles, and Patricia Velasquez is just beautiful beyond words as Meela Nais/Arnk Su Namun. Although he isn't given as much to do, Arnold Vosloo still impresses as Imhotep, who I admit I did find scary in the original, not so much here, but Vosloo's performance is great. The visuals are very impressive, and the music score, this time by Alan Silvestri is very effective, though I do prefer the Goldsmith.
But it does have a sense of unpretentious fun, and that is great to see. Of course the sequel does have flaws, the plot isn't quite as strong as the one in the original, the scorpion king was a bit of a disappointment(he could've been designed better) and again like the original it is overlong. Both the original and this are great fun and completely likable.