This Mummy Has Fresh Breath...

Rating: Null/10 (5 July 1999)

Considering this is a story told many times and in many ways, 'The Mummy''s breath is remarkably fresh.
The film stands out from recent effects epics for three reasons: 1. It does not pretend to be something it is not. It is fun. Popcorn. Bubblegum. Entertaining, thrilling fun. The script tells you this. The shooting style tells you this. The actors tell you this. 2. It has a story - even if it is an old one. 3. The effects are used to help the story rather than as a substitute for one. In so many recent outings, effects are the star. Stephen Sommers (Dir.) seems to have said "Now, the story calls for this effect, how can I use technology to help tell this...", rather than "We've got some cool computers that make cool pictures, what can we have the story do..."
Those reviewers/fans comparing (favourably and unfavourably) The Mummy to the Indiana Jones franchise seem to miss the point. Doctor Jones was also a formula piece, harking back to the classic serials and b-movies of yesteryear. Even Uncle Steven would be happy to acknowledge that...Those films were fun for the same reason.
The Mummy sets out to entertain, and it does. While there may be some gore for gore's sake, on the whole there is a balance between the humour, hamming, horror and Horus.