OK Sequel, Terrible Visual Effects

Rating: 1/10 (5 April 2002)

This movie is so packed with CGI that it makes it look like a video game demo. After watching quite a large number of new computer generated movies, it all comes down to this: the effects are good, only if the director is talented enough to make them look real.
In my opinion only three artists incorporated computer effects successfully in their movies: Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott and James Cameron. Only these people created movies with heavy use of cgi in the last 10 years that looked real (in fact they looked so real that you didn't even notice them).
Apparently for some people computers can give you all the power to create anything visually, without using any of the old days' craftsmanship. 'The Mummy Returns' looks fake, especially at the climax of the movie. When Scorpion King arrived, I was looking for my joystick! Didn't anyone realize that they should combine real shots of the Rock with some cgi?
As a story, 'the Mummy Returns' is okay for a sequel, quite inventive at places and with some nice sence of humor. Still, it takes a lot of talent for someone to create the new 'Indiana Jones'.
To all directors: Please go back to using miniatures and physical photography. Watch the 1993 Jurassic Park to study what's real. (That goes also for some old timers that return to their saga after 20 years, just to shows us cartoons!)