The Mummy Returns (2001)

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 Amazon.com

Good Enjoyable Movie!

I enjoyed this movie as it is fun and easy to watch without being so serious. Lots of action, and the mummy is cool too! November 10, 2008

My Mummy Done Told Me

The Mummy Returns (Widescreen Collector's Edition)

This one is worth seeing. The characters are enjoyable (both the good and the bad guys) and Patricia Velasquez finally gets to do some serious acting. I'm not going to give away anything but let's just say if you're hoping for a chickfight between her and Rachel Weisz you probably won't be disappointed.

A lot of reviewers were negative on this film and I can understand they felt let down a bit. They'd already been stunned by the computer generated special effects in the first film and you won't see anything new in that way in this film (variations on a theme but nothing really NEW).

But we DO get a decent story, fine acting, great on-screen chemistry between our two stars (I didn't realize how great until I saw the third movie where they replaced Rachel with someone else as Evie and it just DIDN'T work at all. Mummy 3 is a clunker in a LOT of ways but without Ms Weisz there was none of the enjoyable interaction between her and Brendan Fraser that made this and the first one so enjoyable. And that would have helped make #3 more BEARABLE). Together Brendan and Rachel have a touch of that on-screen magic one sees when William Powell and Myrna Loy are on---or Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Maria Bello, though nice to look at and a good actress just wasn't right for the part. Bad casting ruined the last Mummy movie 3. Well, that plus a lousy script by Gough and Miller who should have stuck to playing Gough-- and crappy direction from Rob Cohen.

Sorry I got sidetracked but film three was just SO bad---the Tomb of the Dragon Emperor---it drags ON alright until the inevitable expected foreseen and unbelievably uninteresting by the time they reach it---ending.

THIS ONE is a CLASSIC buy it with confidence own it with pride display it with savoir-faire THE MUMMY RETURNS will never let you down.

Amaze your friends with trivia not found on IMDB (for instance, that Boris Karloff was Imhotep in the first Mummy movie back in 1932. But when he got his bandages off his name was Ardath Bey (here played by Oded Fehr) That in the Karloff film Ankh-es-en-amoun (loosely tranlated Life of Amoun---or Amoun-Ra) was NOT evil and was played by Zita Johann who died in 1993 but in her last film role she played a

LIBRARIAN (RAIDERS OF THE LIVING DEAD 1986). And, of course, that's what Evie is when we first meet her.
October 17, 2008

Movie: 3.5/5 Picture Quality: 3~4/5 Sound Quality: 4.5/5 Extras: 3.75/5

Version: U.S.A / Region A, B, C
Format: Blu-ray
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
VC-1 BD-50
Running time: 2:09:38
Movie size: 31,31 GB
Disc size: 36,03 GB
Average video bit rate: 23.07 Mbps

Main video: VC-1 / 23.07 Mbps 1080p / 23.976fps / Advanced Profile 3
PiP video: VC-1 / 744 kbps 480p / 23.976fps / Advanced Profile 2

DTS-HD Master Audio English 4553 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 4553kbps (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 1536kbps)
DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 768kbps
DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 768kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
DTS-HD Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps

Subtitles: English SDH / French / Spanish
Number of chapters: 21

#Audio Commentary
#Featurette: "Spotlight on Location" (SD, 20 minutes)
#"Visual and Special Effects Formation" Vignettes (SD, 20 minutes)
#Outtake Reel (SD, 5 minutes)
#Music Video (SD)
#Picture-in-Picture - U-Control
#'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" Sneak Preview (SD) September 12, 2008

Kudos to the Army of Annubis

All the effects and vistas look absolutely vivid and stunning. I was really impressed with how the film appeared in this format. I've owned this movie in regular DVD and the difference is like night and day. Every grain of sand as well as all the detail present in the Scorpion King, the wall of water, and of course the Army of Annubis were all realistic (looking)...and who could argue seeing Rachel Weisz in Hi-Def ? Although both "Mummy" films look the best they ever have, the second one wins the unofficial clarity contest. Oh yeah, the sound ROCKS !! September 8, 2008

looks the best in blu-ray

i watched that movie hundreds time and after i got it on blu-ray it was like watching for the first time. a must have in bd collection. September 7, 2008

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