Logan Sork Film Reviews
The Mummy
In the 1990’s Universal Studios wanted to re-imagine their popular monster films from the 1930’s, some of the most iconic films of all time. These included the likes of Dracula, The Invisible Man, Frankenstein and many others. The one that caught the attention of the studio however was The Mummy, as director Stephen Sommers pitched his re-imagining as more of an Indiana Jones-esque adventure rather than a horror movie. The remake was an outstanding success for the studio which resulted in a new franchise with sequels and several spin off films based on other universal monster properties being made. All with good reasoning as well, as The Mummy is fun, imaginative, action packed and has enough great characters and atmosphere to make up for the otherwise unconvincing effects and an ok story.
The Mummy is directed by Stephen Sommers and stars Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, Arnold Vosloo and John Hannah. The film opens in Ancient Egypt, where the priest Imhotep (Vosloo) is mummified for his love affair with the pharaoh’s wife. For his crimes he is buried with an ancient curse. In 1925, Archeologist Evelyn (Weisz) and her brother Johnathan (Hannah) are searching for the legendary city of the dead. Guiding them in their journey is ex solider Rick O’Connell who has been to the city of the dead. Upon their arrival, the archeologists wake the ancient mummy, who wishes to continue his bid before he was mummified, leaving a trail of terror in his path. It is up to the archaeologists to put a stop to Imhotep before he brings about Armageddon in his wake.
The sense of adventure and wonder is something that very few films manage to catch these days. Sommers knows when to let the dialogue settle and let the camera take in the amazing landscapes and extravagant set pieces. The set design and cinematography are absolutely breathtaking, heling to lend themselves to the exotic locations and adventurous tone the film has set. He also knows how to film action sequences that are very similar in tone to the ones in the Indiana Jones franchise. Adding to the adventure and wonder is Jerry Goldsmith’s magnificent score, which plays like a classic adventure score complete with loud overtures, quick percussion pieces and haunting vocals for the films more mysterious moments. All of these elements combine to produce a beautiful, exciting and fun adventure that spares no expense on the visual or auditory spectacle.
The characters are also fun, with each having an interesting backstory or quirk to help them add some different dimensions to the film. Sure, most of them are simple by today’s standards, but at least they’re not boring. The performances are also fun, Fraser does come across as wooden in some scenes, but it is more than made up for in other performances. Arnold Vosloo in particular as the almost mute Imhotep, who plays it with a sense of mystery and menace. Though some of the comedic aspects are slightly dated, they still add to the adventurous tone of the film.
Story wise, the film is a straightforward adventure film, and for some that might not be enough. There isn’t really much new to elevate the genre. All of the familiar beats and patterns are still there: ancient curse, explores find it, curse is released, must stop it. Some might also prefer a little more depth which is not found here. The story is serviceable enough, but the sets, characters, music, action sequences and overall atmosphere help to balance out the otherwise okay story.
The visual effects on the other hand are a whole other issue. The practical effects are excellent, whether it’s the mummy warriors or the practical gunshots, all of those are extremely effective and convincing. The CGI effects on the mummy and some of the environmental backgrounds… not so much. They really don’t fit well and aren’t lit properly. Thankfully the mummy eventually becomes more human like and the environmental effects are minimal, but other than that the effects are not realistic looking in the slightest, which is not to say that they’re uninteresting to look at. While they look pretty, they just don’t look like they are there.
This film is awesome, it’s got a great sense of adventure, features some great cinematography, beautiful set designs, fun characters and a fantastic score. It’s not perfect though, with its story being mediocre and its CG effects being far below average. Overall however, The Mummy is a fun action adventure film with a lot of great elements to keep the bad ones buried for good, resulting in a flawed yet fun film.
8/10