The Mummy

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, and Arnold Vosloo

Written and Directed by Stephen Sommers

Produced by James Jacks and Sean Daniel

Cinematography by Adrian Biddle

This film would not be on this site had it not been a blockbuster hit in Hollywood last Spring. Now it is being dumped on an unsuspecting public worldwide. The original reviews were disastrous but the American public paid little heed. Instead, they flocked to theaters hoping to see a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" genre movie with sand, camels, curses, mummies, booby traps, evil doers, heroes, and a thrill a minute. In short, this piece of celluloid camel dung made millions.

I went with an open mind. There is wisdom, at times, in letting one's mind regress to that of a ten-year-old and enjoy a rip-roaring, purely escapist movie. It was neither good nor rip-roaring and the only escapist thing that came to mind was how quickly I could get out of the theater.

It was a "Raiders" "rip off" for sure. Unfortunately, Stephen Foster (director) is no Spielberg, and Brendan Fraser (star) is no Harrison Ford. With some incredibly bad dialogue, video game special effects and a confusing story, actors tried desperately to make sense of their lines. You have here what is known as a genuine "stinker."

It was obvious that the helplessly lost actors were lacking direction. Some attempted to play it as a spoof while a few were taking their roles far too seriously. After 20 minutes the entire theater was cheering for the evil mummy to kill the heroes, resurrect his lost love (the Pharaoh's mistress) and ride off into the desert sunset. Unfortunately, a few "heroes" survived after a long 2 hours, and disappeared into the blood red Sun.

MAY A SEA OF ANCIENT LOCUSTS DESCEND UPON UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IF THEY TRY FOR "MUMMY RETURNS."" Sadly, these "curses" rarely work. A thousand pardons Effendi, I fear we're in for another one!

Skip "The Mummy" and rent "Charlie Chan goes to Egypt" with Sidney Toler and a very young Rita Cansino (Hayworth). It's a cinema masterpiece by comparison and you'll have a lot more fun.

As I left the theater I realized that my time would have been better spent discussing the meaning of life with the sleeping teenager behind the popcorn concession.

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