An entertaining matinee movie.

Rating: Null/10 (5 May 1999)

This is a modern "B" movie of the 40's and 50's mixed in with 90's style and effects. Directed by Steven Sommers, who has worked with action before (THE JUNGLE BOOK ;1994;, and DEEP RISING). The film is about two teams, one led by the rip-roaring Rick O' Connell (Brendan Fraiser) who brings along a beautiful English archaeologist (Rachel Wesiz) and her often drunk brother (John Hannah). The other team are greedy Americans who are led by Sommer's regular Kevin J. O'Connor and they bring along an Egyptolgist (Johnathan Hyde). The two teams are trying to make it to Hamunaptra (the City of the dead) where it's loaded with tons of treasures. Once they reach the ancient city of the dead, they are warned by a traditional army to stay away from the city and to leave immediately. The foreigners don't really care, until they realized that they found the book of the dead, and once it's read, the dead priest, will rise and won't be stopped, until all who have awakened him are killed and till he takes over the world. This is a "matinee" movie, it doesn't mean that it should be only watched in the matinee, but it reminds you of a old-fashion action film. Along the same lines as RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, it has plenty of mixutre of terror, action, humor, and of course, gross bugs. The actors do a respectable "B" movie job, Brendan Fraiser stands out as a typical Sommer's action hero (if you've seen DEEP RISING, you'll know what I mean). Rachel Wesiz plays a very pretty heroine, and John Hannah is the "side-kick" that the audience will be rooting for. This is an entertaining movie, it's no classic, but it is worth watching. It is very fast paced, and it does grab your attention throughout the two hour plus movie. It's fun, and worth a look at. It will keep the movie freaks entertained for this weekend and possibly the following weekend, at least until THE PHANTOM MENACE opens. **** out of *****