Review of The Mummy (2017) by Tjaw — 12 Jun 2017

"The Mummy" is yet another desperate special effects-driven modern mess from Hollywood that favours expensive, pretentious, no-longer-impressive CG razzle-dazzle and awkward set-pieces designed to tease later films over a coherent and gripping narrative and interesting characters.

Like many movies designed to be part of a "cinematic universe", it just cannot stand on its own because the filmmakers crammed in so many unnecessary plot threads relating to the other upcoming Dark Universe films that it's less about thrills and fun and feels more like a very, very long advertisement for the entire series.

And that's not what a film called "The Mummy" should feel like. Thanks to this film I'm once again concerned about the future of blockbuster movies. New cinematic universes are constantly being planned and it's ruining the art form, making it a chore to sit through overextended movies and memorise plot threads.

It's all done to keep hype constantly going, which maximises the box office grosses because everyone just wants to see what references to other movies will show up. Well done, Hollywood for once again proving to the world that, apart from the occasional surprise (see Wonder Woman) your filmmakers are no longer interested in making films for everyone - only for themselves, to satisfy their hyperactive imaginations (and wallets).

I will definitely be watching more independently produced, underground and low-budget films after this because I can no longer suffer this ongoing cinematic universe trend.