Non-stop action and many homages to great films

Rating: Null/10 (4 May 2001)

This film hits you from almost the moment it begins - there are battles from beginning to end, even between locations - including on a double-decker bus.
Watch for tributes to "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Jason & the Argonauts" (soldier mummies), "Wizard of Oz" (those mummies again - they act like the Flying Monkeys), "Doctor Zhivago" and "Braveheart" - Spielberg is saluted a number of times, including a "bike-by-the-full-moon" nod to Amblin (except this time it's a homemade dirigible) - and the balloon itself is straight out of "Time Bandits" or "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen."
Great chemistry between Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz - even better than in "The Mummy". Arnold Vosloo continues to be an awfully sympathetic character as far as I'm concerned (his girlfriend, Patricia Velazquez, is such a wench). The beautifully orchestrated combat scenes between Weisz and Velazquez alone are worth the price of admission.
Great tongue-in-cheek humor - the kid, Freddie Boath gets some of the best lines. This is a great summer flick that doesn't take itself too seriously, and I'll bet Ray Harryhausen is wishing he could have used great f/x like these.