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.

A hugely enjoyable action adventure, with great performances & a stunning 4K remaster (4K Blu-ray) - The Mummy review by Timmy B

This is such a great film. Brendan Fraser is never better as Rick O'Connell and Rachel Weisz his guide and later love interest. The action is brilliantly staged and there is never a dull moment.

For me though, the best thing by far is how light the film is in tone. Unlike the terrible Tom Cruise reboot, which decided that throwing lots of story with terribly shot action was the way to go, this Mummy film certainly delivers the scares and action, but with a lightness of touch which is so welcome. Stephen Sommers deserves so much praise for not only writing but also directing this, never losing the wide-eyed excitement we as the audience get.

And welcomingly, this film has been remastered on 4K Blu-ray with brilliant results. The CGI has held up so well and the colour palette looks stunning. I have The Mummy Returns to watch next and I hope this remastering is as good with that as this.

Finally, the 15 rating still baffles me. Whilst there are absolutely some unpleasant moments and shocks, these are never more than a strong 12 rating.