Review of Mummy Returns, The: Collector`s Edition (Widescreen)

Introduction

Call me easily pleased, but I really like The Mummy Returns. I think it even has the edge on its prequel, 1999`s The Mummy. Once again, Rick O`Connell (Brendan Fraser) and his now-wife Evie (Rachel Weisz) do battle against Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) and his main squeeze Anck-su-namun (Patricia Velasquez). This time matters are complicated by Rick and Evie`s son Alex (Freddie Boath), and the legacy of The Scorpion King (WWF`s The Rock).

The result is another trip into Indiana Jones territory. Now this might be blasphemous to some people, but personally I think Stephen Sommers has a better touch for this kind of thing than Spielberg. He lacks that self-conscious saccharine edge that spoils a great deal of his movies (and most particularly in Indy`s case The Last Crusade). There are certain scenes in the movie that in other hands could be steeped in sentimentality, but instead are refreshingly understated. The only outburst comes from Rick, who`s big enough to look after himself. The scene also shows what a dynamite actor Brendan Fraser is. Freddie Boath as Rick and Evie`s son could be even more maddening than he is, but under Sommer`s direction he`s quite pleasingly played. It`s just a shame the kid`s not a better actor.

Okay, the picture has some shortcomings. If you liked the first picture, you may be disappointed. If you`re an Indiana Jones fan, be prepared to change your allegiance. The action zips along at quite a pace, and if I had to pick out stand-out moments from the movie, I`d have to say - The Pyramid Sucks, British Museum, Catacomb Flood, Anubis Warriors and Pygmy Mummies - although not in any particular (leastwise chronological) order. You`ll have to see the movie to get the joke about the pyramid.

Video

Picture quality of the main feature is immaculate. The quality of the extras is frequently not so wonderful, but then as the content is worse than the picture quality, it`s a moot point. Of the movie itself, it`s a lighter picture (literally) than its predecessor, spending much less time lurking in pyramids. That doesn`t mean washed out. Colours and contrast are excellent, and while some of the CGI work teeters on the edge of believability, it`s better to just suspend one`s disbelief and get swept along with the action.

Audio

English and French Dolby 5.1 mixes that are very satisfactory to the ear. Crank up the volume for some of the shockwave effects and upset the neighbours. The R1 version doesn`t include the DTS mix that`s supposed to be on the R2 and R4 copies, but then there may be material cut from those regions (especially if Universal does a cheapie and uses the same master for R2 and R4).

Alan Silvestri`s score, while not having some of the more barnstorming elements of Jerry Goldsmith`s original score, is very pleasing to the ear and more so for not trying to copy Goldsmith`s score but striking out in its own direction.

Features

There are plenty of extras on the disk, but quantity and quality are two different things. When you start up the disk, some of the extras are auto-run before the movie itself starts, but two presses of the skip chapter button will get you to the start of the movie. The menus are animated, like the Buffy season 2 menus - a virtual environment that the camera scoots through before settling on an object where the menu appears. There are the usual Scene Selection, Extras, Languages and Play options. You should note if you want subtitles you have to select them before starting the movie as some handset controls are disabled by the disk once it`s running.

Of the extras themselves, of note are the "Spotlight On Location", "Visual Effects Formation" and "Outtakes". The first is the usual short documentary sent out to TV companies as promotional material. It isn`t as deep as one might like but it`s better than nothing. Visual Effects Formation is the same format as on the original "The Mummy", with John Berton (effects guru) taking you through a step by step breakdown of some of the key effects sequences in the movie. The Outtakes are a five minute promotional trailer that show the gang goofing around on set. Watch the movie before you see these because they`re funnier that way. Everything else on the disk is pretty much publicity puff material of the lowest nature. The preview of The Scorpion King can only serve to keep people away from that picture. One of the extras is Oded Fehr (Ardeth Bey) making a charity appeal.

Conclusion

A humdinger of a movie - nice and silly, not too nasty, plenty of action and jokes. If you want a proper horror movie look elsewhere, but if you`re after something daft to keep the kid in you entertained, this is what you`re looking for. This version includes the material trimmed from the R2 print - when Evie headbutts Anck-su-namun, so if you`re sensitive about that kind of thing, you`ve been warned.