An admirable and thoroughly enjoyable attempt at imitating Hong Kong Action/Horror Films

Rating: Null/10 (9 July 1999)

The mere trailer of this film dahsed my expectations of it being yet another dull American made "action" trash. Although it still contained the obligatory one-liners, goofy humour (that's perfectly alright) and brainless babes, this film is excellent in its burrowing of Hong Kong action/horror elements.
Hong Kong action, you say. Get with it, guys. The way that Colonel Rich O'Conell (Brendan Fraser) fought with two guns blazing at the same time looked like he just came from doing a John Woo film. In fact, the clumsy way that he fought with two guns endearingly reminds one of Chow Yun Fat's antics from his first John Woo film, "A Better Tomorrow." As well as him, many of the other characters, including the wimpy Jonathan, fought in the "John Woo's double pistol style of Martial Arts" throughout the film.
Secondly, there are the classic Hong Kong style shots of a mighty magical villain (Vasoloo) holding his arms in the air and commanding a horde of underlings to do his bidding beneath him. The way that Imhotep summoned his underlings of insects and Godlike Powers comes straight from Hong Kong Horror Films like "A Chinese Ghost Story" "The Bride With White Hair" and other "Hopping Vampire" movies. There is the heroe's desperate sword-to-claw stand against a horde of toothed horrors, as well as his futile attempt to fight the evil lord (Imhotep) himself bare handed.
Finally, there is that undeniable shot from "A Better Tomorrow" of the final stand of three men against a tide of endless enemy, each armed with double pisotls, a machine gun and a shotgun. This technique has also been used in the disgustingly funny "From Dusk till dawn."
Overall, for it's admirable attempt at copying Hong Kong Action/horror Theatre, this is a great film to pass time with.