Alrighty gentlemen and ladies, we gots ourselves a review of the Mummy from an escapee from a mental institution that's wanted for murder and all types of other unsavory acts.... Like raising a sun that steals credit cards and makes off with all your money. But... She is forgiven, she sent in her observations on this cinematic chiller.... Here's the lady...
I saw THE MUMMY tonight. I was given a complimentary pass to this advance screening after an embarrassing episode at Universal Studios' T2-3D ride. Just for kicks, a friend of mine took me in without telling me first what it was. If you ask me, that's kinda like taking a VietNam vet to see PLATOON on his birthday. Needless to say, I wasn't laughing.
Actually, nobody was because I freaked out and dove through one of the screens. Anyway, after the police threw a net over me and pumped me full of sedatives the studio gave me some movie passes... anything to keep me happy and as far away from the park as possible.
At the screening I bumped into evil genius Moriarty and his grotesque henchmen. Just between you and I, these guys are awful. They tried every pick-up line in the book on me. It was embarrassing, actually. I told them that I was flattered but would kick their asses if they didn't stop. They knew I wasn't playing around and became perfect gentlemen very quickly... just in time for the movie to start.
To put it simply, the first shot of the film made me lose my damn mind. Words can't describe it, so I won't even try. You just have to see it for yourself. But I will say that it's so perfect and spectacular that it's what you'd imagine a live-action Disney Animated film would look like. Again... wow, wow, wow.
Overall, the film is really enjoyable... the kind you get the feeling was made by people who love movies and love making them. It's grand, extremely well crafted, and one cool ride. Rather than give you the story synopsis, since I'm certain Moriarty will include it in his review, I'll give you my reactions...
Writer/director Stephen Sommers does a great job breathing new life into the old story. His Mummy isn't a guy wrapped in bandages, slowly limping after his victims. Instead, he's created a monster that's a real threat that can release plagues and change form. At the same time, though, this is a sincere tribute to the 30's/40's Universal monster movies. I wish the makers of those old films could see this new telling. I bet they'd get a real thrill out of it.
The film is also very reminiscent of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. In many ways I feel it's the successor to RAIDERS that the two INDY follow-ups should have been. It's got that RAIDERS feel... it's scary, it's gruesome, it's dangerous, it's funny, it's old fashioned, and it's a hell of a lot of fun. The structure is somewhat formulaic, it does rely on stereotypes, and you have a pretty good idea who's gonna die from the beginning. But somehow it manages work so well that it's easy to overlook these (I hesitate to call them flaws)aspects.
Brendan Fraser, who I don't always like, is a perfect meaty matinee hero. He balances the action and humor with panache. Also, not since Bob Hoskins in ROGER RABBIT has an actor played this well to characters later added in post production. I say this, of course, not having seen Liam Neeson's performance in you know what. But let's not get into that.
Even though I got to go for free, I can safely say it's worth eight bucks because I plan to see it again while it's in theaters. It's one of those films that works best on the big screen. So don't be a jerk and wait for video. Surprisingly, I can even see this as a great date movie. Even with the mild language and no graphic sex, it's probably not wise to take any young children to this one, though. Like RAIDERS, it's got a nasty edge and when people die, believe me... they die!
So if you're up for a cool flick and can stomach the sight of flesh-eating bugs and reanimated rotting corpses, check it out.
-- SARAH CONNOR, 01:59, 04/29/99[END OF TRANSMISSION]
