Mummy Collection: The Mummy (Widescreen Collector's Edition)/The Mummy Returns (Widescreen Collector's Edition)

After cutting his teeth on family friendly adventures like Disney's Huck Finn and The Jungle Book, writer/director Steven Sommers was given the task of remaking The Mummy for a new generation of moviegoers. Taking pages from Raiders of the Lost Ark and drawing on his own experience from previous movies, Sommers crafted a fun supernatural adventure that plays like a true matinee. And it is a true wonder.

It is the 1920's. Rick O'Connell, adventurer and mercanary, is sprung from jail by a beautiful British librarian and her questionable brother in the hopes that he will lead them to the lost city of Hamunaptra, City of the Dead, said to contain the wealth of Egypt. However, there is a twist. 3000 years ago, the High Priest Imhotep was imprisoned in the Hamunaptra for his part in murdering the Pharoh. Cursed with the Hom-dai, he would become incredibly powerful should he ever be awakened. Guess what happens.

The plot is fairly cliched and predictable, but enjoyable nontheless. Imhotep is, while rather evil, a person whose actions can be at least understood as he tries to ressurect his true love. The main cast is equally entertaining and impressive, with Brendan Frasier doing a fantastic Harrison Ford impersonation as O'Connell, Racheal Weis showing depth in her female lead character, and John Hannah providing some great physical comedy. Special note goes to Oded Fehr as the Med-jai warrior, Ardeth Bay. There are some great one-liners and some fantastic banter.

Like Raiders, The Mummy is an action movie, and the action delivers. Sommers has a specific style of directing that is equally reminiscent of Spielberg and Micheal Curtiz, and he knows how to do GOOD adventure. The action pieces are just as tense and enjoyable as anything from Dr. Jones's exploits, but it never feels recycled or tired. From the opening confrontation between the French Foriegn Legion and the bandit Tuaregs (which is reminiscent of Van Damme's Legionaire, only not bad) to the final fight and escape from the City of the Dead, Sommers keeps the pace tight and exciting, and the characters impressive, entertaining, and funny.

This movie does NOT take itself seriously, it's honest about it, and it is does so for a reason. It only asks that we have fun while watching. And this is a very easy thing to do. 5/5

2001 saw a sequel to The Mummy hit theaters, featuring the return of the entire principal cast from the first movie, and adding Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to the mix as the evil Scorpion King.

Eight years after the events of the first movie, Rick O'Connell and Evylyn Carnahan have settled down, married, and have a son. A son who takes after his parents FAR too much. After accidentally beginning a countdown to Armageddon by opening the bracelet of the Scorpion King, young Alex is kidnapped. Imhotep has been awakened once again, and it's up to the adventurous parents to rescue him.

Aided by the super-cool Arab ninja, Ardeth Bay, the pair set off on a race across Egypt to reach the Oasis of Am Sher before the Scorpion King's army of Anubis Warriors is used to enslave the world. The audience gets more background about each of the main charcters, from a strange tatoo that could signal Rick as a sacred warrior, to strange visions of the ancient world that show Evy as an Egyptian princess. It all ties into the story cohesively and systematically, but it is nice to get a fresh view of the characters that worked so well in the first film.

Just like its predecessor, The Mummy Returns is a saturday matinee style adventure movie where the fate of the main characters, and often the world, hang in the balance again and again. There are more set pieces, bigger special effects, nastier monsters, and generally more of EVERYTHING. However, it never feels like it's only "more of the same," because Sommers always manages to make it fresh, like the chase through London on a double-decker bus, or the skirmish in Am Sher with a savage tribe of Pygmy mummies. Additionally, in the pre-Lord of the Rings era of early 2001, The Mummy Returns featured two of the biggest and most impressive battles scenes on screen, reminiscent of Spartacus and Braveheart in their scope.

Most importantly, however, The Mummy Returns does not suffer from sequelitis. The story and characters translate so seamlessly from the first film that it feels as though is is merely a continuation of the first movie, rather than a sequel made to make some extra cash. The relationships have evolved, the characters, though wiser, are still just as endearing, and the story ties in more with the first movie than you would think. Additionally, it's nice to see an adventurer stick with his love interest, rather than finding new hubbies each movie, ala Indiana Jones and James Bond.

All the acting in the second film is equally solid as the first, with the same tongue-in-cheek situational humor that makes the movie subtely poke fun at itserlf even as the characters are in dire peril. This kind of attitude toward the adventure movie keeps the mood light, even through some of the darker twists the plot takes. We know how it's going to end, and it's a heck of a lot of fun to watch this movie get there. Like its predecessor, The Mummy Returns is a case study in great matinee adventure, adding a modern twist to the genre. 5/5

The extras on the DVDs are worth the price of admission and then some. Along with the falleries and trailers, the "Making of" segments on both movies are comprehensive and informative, with behind-the-scenes looks at the cast, locations, and visual effects. However, the commentary tracks on both Mummy movies are the best segment. Steven Sommers and editor Ducsay share experiences about the shoot, stories about the actors, and keep the back and forth both entertaining and interesting, and they seem to be having a generally good time all the way through.

The complete package is one of the best adventure sagas in Hollywood today. The DVD quality is fantastic, and the extras are some of the best available. It's not going to become a timeless classic, but The Mummy Collection is the best way to kill an afternoon since Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The action in both movies moves along nicely, and the characters are likable and sympathetic. I found myself rooting for them - yes, even Frasier's character. In the second movie the bad guys (Imhotep and Anck Su Namun) steal the show, but it's just the sort of release from the goody-goody lead characters that is needed to keep the movie from getting too sugary sweet.

I've watched these movies every time they'e been on TV, so I've seen both probably five times, but still feel the need to buy the DVD's. They're just that good. If you want to forget all about reality for a couple of hours and travel to an exotic place for an exciting adventure, check these out.