The Mummy...Dig it!

Rating: 10/10 (21 August 2008)

Let's face it, not too many people remember the 1932 film The Mummy very well. But its 1999 remake is an Egyptian thrill ride complete with explosions, flesh eating scarabs, Brendan Fraser, desert people, plagues, Rachel Weiez, and, of course, a cool mummy. The movie assumes you have an imagination (I do obviously) and is nothing but a fun time.
Brendan Fraser stars as Rick O'Connell, who will remind people of Indiana Jones, but more badass. Fraser portrays Rick as a wise-cracking American who is searching for treasure beneath the sands of an ancient Egyptian city. He is also escorting Evy (Weiez), a nerdy but pretty British librarian, and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah), who, like Rick, is interested in striking gold. Trouble starts when Evy accidentally awakes Ihmotep (Arnold Vosloo), a former priest of a Pharoah that was mummified alive for murdering the said Pharaoh, after having an affair with his mistress (Patricia Velazquez). Things go from bad to worse when Rick's "buddy" Bennie (Kevin J O'Connor) sides with Ihmotep in exchange for gold. Joining the battle to kill the mummy is the leader of a desert people tribe (Oded Fehr) who warned the party in vain to leave the city or die.
The film is not only a great action movie, but it can also be considered a comedy. Fraser and Hannah frequently crack out classic one liners such as Fraser's "If I don't make it outta here, don't put me down for mummification" and Hannah simply showing disgust when a group of Americans are seen having fun when the desert people attack. O'Connor is funny as the bumbling Benny, and Weiez simply works her magic on Fraser. These two have some great on screen chemistry. Fehr is awesome as a gun shooting desert guy. And while the mummy is a bit whiney, Vosloo does a good job with part anyway.
An excellent film. A perfect 10, and I definitely recommend the film's sequels as well.