The Mummy Returns

Rating: 5/10 (23 June 2005)

If you liked the original 1999 story of an Egyptian monster brought back to life, then you might like the sequel. The film starts with the story of The Scorpion King (wrestler The Rock) who swore an oath and his soul to the god Anubis, and after he had done what he wanted, they all returned to the sands, waiting to be woken again. Then it is 1933, Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) is still exploring Egyptian places, along with wife Evelyn "Evie" (Rachel Weisz) and their son Alex (Freddie Boath). Soon after returning to London, the bad guys have brought the body of High Priest Imhotep, and they just need the bracelet of The Scorpion King to help him take over the world. They bring Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) back, and he is reunited with the body (no soul yet) of Meela Nais, aka Anck Su Namun (Patricia Velasquez). They do eventually get the bracelet, that is on the arm of Alex, and with his help they navigate their way round Egypt to find the burial of The Scorpion King so Imhotep can kill him. Meanwhile, Rick, Evie, Jonathan (John Hannah), Medjai Ardeth Bay (Oded Fehr) and balloonist Izzy Buttons (Human Traffic's Shaun Parkes) they are following Alex's trail and trying to help Alex before the sun rises and sucks the life out of him. Eventually they save Alex, and the bracelet is taken by the guy responsible for bringing Imhotep back, but the Madjai still have to fight off the army of Anubis soldiers, aka dog soldiers (LOL), Evie (or Princess Nefertiri) is fighting Anck Su Namun, and Rick is fighting now mortal and powerless Imhotep, as well as The Scorpion King, who has turned into a giant scorpion, a lot of fights. Also starring Alun Armstrong as Baltus Hafez and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Lock-Nah (now in TV's Lost). The story is still quite cheesy, but the special effects are much more elaborate. Rachel Weisz was number 18 on The 50 Greatest British Actresses. Worth watching!