The best action/adventure since Indiana Jones and the Last crusade

Rating: Null/10 (10 February 2003)

9 out of 10
The Mummy is maximum adventure, a rollercoaster ride of non-stop action, cliffhanger thrills, and crowdpleasing humor. Writer/director Stephen Sommers' homage of Saturday Matinee serials and past horror films is every bit as fun as the Indiana Jones movies, and even surpasses them when it comes to frenetic pacing. Not since The Last Crusade have I seen an adventure movie so enjoyable and immensely likeable.
To keep the film from ever getting boring, Sommers wisely delivers a wide variety of action sequences. There are massive gun battles (the opening is spectacular), chases (on foot, car, and even airplane), and swordfights. So much of it is so thrilling, it's hard to decide which action scene is the best (perhaps the opening gun battle or the sandstorm or the climactic sword battle against the mummies). The special effects are outstanding and Arnold Vosloo as the mummy Imhotep makes for a genuinely imposing villain.

Most importantly, though, the characters are likeable and a lot of fun. Brendan Fraser makes for a dashing action hero, Rachel Weisz is an appealing heroine, and John Hanna is hilarious as Weisz's inept brother. With characters worth caring for, the movie even builds up palpable suspense and excitement, all the way to the very end. Too bad the sequel wasn't nearly as fun.