Rent The Mummy (1999)

Indiana meets George of the Jungle. - The Mummy review by JD

Two of the main actors are well known for their light hearted roles (Four Weddings and George of the Jungle). The action scenes have the same look and feel as Indiana Jones and so I was surprised to look back at the film and remember that its 15 rating for horror is justified. I think however it is a horror comedy, and one of the best of this genre.

Sun-Baked, Sandblasted, and Smiling - The Mummy review by griggs

Fun trumps logic here. Stephen Sommers’ The Mummy is ridiculous in all the right ways—an adventure ride that never stops long enough for you to notice the scaffolding wobble. Brendan Fraser is an amiable rogue with perfect comic timing, Rachel Weisz supplies sharp-eyed pluck, and Arnold Vosloo glowers magnificently as Imhotep. The plot is a treasure map drawn in crayon, the script and continuity have more holes than Swiss cheese, and some line readings creak like tomb doors—but the sheer entertainment value is undeniable.

Crucially, the 90s CGI still convinces: that howling sandstorm face, the scarab swarms, and Imhotep stitching himself together from dust all carry real punch. Jerry Goldsmith’s score belts along, the set-pieces keep topping themselves, and the film understands the sacred rule of matinee fun: if the gag lands and the chase sings, forgiveness follows.

Daft? Absolutely. But I grinned through it—and that counts for a lot.

Great Fun - The Mummy review by GI

This is a rollicking and thoroughly entertaining piece of hokum obviously influenced by Indiana Jones but manages to keep itself exciting, humorous and downright good fun from start to finish. Despite its horror film roots this is actually a piece of fantasy adventure made with adults in mind although there's no resort to gore or fright, it's more of a swashbuckler than an outright monster film. Set in the 1920s Brendan Fraser is fantastic as the hero Rick O'Connell who happens to know the location of a lost Egyptian city being sought after by egyptologist Evelyn (the tantalisingly beautiful Rachel Weisz) and her hapless brother Jonathan (John Hannah). Unfortunately for them others are looking for it too but it's protected by an ancient brotherhood who happen to know an ancient evil resides there and of course it's not long before this gets awakened. So what with it's 50s serial styling, great storytelling and a nostalgic feel for those great fantasy films of yesteryear like Jason and The Argonauts (1963) this is absolutely superb. There was a couple of fairly pointless sequels but this one is a film to really enjoy time and time again.