Ok, here we go with the 1999 version of The Mummy (Not to be confused with the 1932 version of The Mummy). This one, starring then Hollywood heartthrob Brendan Fraser and the well cute Rachel Wiesz this is, I guess a retelling of sort of the original Mummy tale, but really it’s a different movie all together. This movie watches more like a cross between say “Indiana Jones” and a movie about Mummy’s. The action like an Indiana Jones film is top notch and some great special effects with this one but more importantly its an enjoyable film and there’s a little horror but really I’d say anyone over the age of 12 (Possibly down to 10) should be comfortable watching this one. For what it’s worth I like the departure’s and creative licences this film took. I guess with almost 70 years of technological advancements it was fair game to be re-imagined this way.
THE PLOT
The story opens up with the pharaoh’s priest Imhotep making a play for the Pharaoh’s wife, but getting busted and as a result being sentenced to a particularly cruel type of mummification with would leave him forever cursed. 3000 years later our friends Rick (Fraser) Evelyn and Johnathan go searching for the lost town where Imohtep was buried in the hopes of digging up some rather valuable treasure. Another group of mercenaries / Archeaologists catch onto the fact they’re trying to do this so we have a race between two parties to see who gets the treasure first.
There’s a bit of a romantic sup plot between Rick and Evelyn, Much like an Indiana Jones movie and the action is over the top but very entertaining. My only real grip is I like the idea of the Mummy dressed up in bandages, ie: the traditional version. This guy comes back initially as a rotting corpse that reconstructs himself by making victims out of those that seek to violate his resting place.
Can our hero’s save the day? We’ll thats up to you guys to find out by watching this one. It’s a great ride and very entertaining. I’d give it a definite thumbs up. Just don’t expect a serious horror movie out of this one. I’m not the only one that thought so, as wit was one of the biggest films of 1999 grossing well over $400 million at the box office and spawning a whole bunch of sequels and off shoot films.
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