Review of The Mummy (1999) by Justin R — 09 Jul 2011

If there's one thing that gets me excited before a movie, even before it officially starts, is see that "Universal" logo light up the screen. Going back to the 30's it was there and it still appears.

I just know that when it come to epic movies, this studio can deliver. Unfortunately, I've never had the chance to see 1932's "The Mummy". Anything with Boris Karloff, I'll definitely like or appreciate.

I think this movie stays true to whatever feeling they would have tried to capture int the 30's, had they been doing it fresh today. They seem to get mostly everything right in this movie. Everyone does their job well, from actors to set designers.

The thing I like most about it, is the romantic aspect. This is something that most films don't or can't pull of nowadays. The score and the cinematography all capture something very old and nostalgic, making you want to be in a place that would not have been an easy place, or time, to be in.

I think Fraser and Weisz did a great job and had great chemistry. A couple you can root for! They play off each other well, and have certain moments that can be touching, and also hints of that old time Hollywood feel.

The villains are just as good, in that you can sometimes sympathize with them. In the case of Arnold Vosloo, he does a fine job of the main antagonist. Without saying much, or saying things you can't understand, he has a fire in his eyes that do the speaking for him.

And like the hero, he just wants his girl and his happy ending. It's just that the world will pretty much end in his ending. Oded Fehr's role as "Ardeth Bay", serves as a good outside party to throw into the mix, as his character is native to the land and just wants everyone to go away.

John Hannah's "Jon Carnahan" was a good sidekick character although sometimes too annoying or distracting from the story. The Mummy's special effects are great and for the time, probably pretty groundbreaking! There are great scenes with CGI where it really does help the movie instead of hinder it.

The movie fails to hit you in the heart with some lesson or something that really moves you, but that's not what it was about in the first place. The one liners can always become a bit much, especially coming from Fraser and his goofy smirks, but he does well and he pulls off the character well.

I'm glad Universal had one last push before the turn of the century to give us an epic, romantic picture that reminds audiences that the past can be linked to something great. With imagination and folklore, it's a movie like this that allow us to keep the "oldies but goodies" alive, in a respectful, fun way.

It keeps the franchise alive for younger viewers to dream up again!