abs-14

I would have to say that THE MUMMY RETURNS is a more than satisfactory sequel to THE MUMMY. If you liked the first one (and I did) then you'll know what to expect and hope for this time around. And it doesn't disappoint. The return of all the main original cast members helps to give the movie that familiar "boy's own adventure" feel that was one of the original films winning qualities. Don't expect too much in the way of plot or story-line here but for over 2 hours of non-stop effects-led action, this picture cannot be beaten. For the most part the computer FX are very good to brilliant, but there are a couple of moments when they don't convince, especially with the appearance of the Scorpion King at the climax. It reminded me a bit of one of those excellent Ray Harryhausen creatures from JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS or any of the Sinbad adventures. Good in their day certainly but surely not cutting the high tech mustard of today's movies. Whether the budget or time was getting a bit tight or they simply went for a mega special effect too far I don't know, but whatever the reason I feel that if they couldn't match the quality to the rest of the film they shouldn't have bothered, and maybe come up with a slightly less ambitious ending. But I'm nit-picking. If you liked THE MUMMY then go and see the sequel. It's more of the same....but MORE!

This is a typical film noir of the period and , in my opinion, this is no bad thing. It follows all the typical patterns of a hundred other B-movies of a similar type of it's day. Shadowy photography, good man laid low by the femme fatale, a few seedy gangsters thrown in, all the ingredients are there. If you're not a big fan of noir then you might switch off after 30 minutes exclaiming that "I've seen it all before", and you'd be right. Personally I love the genre and thought this was a competently made movie with good performances by the leading actors. McGraw is perfect as the law-abiding detective seduced into lawlessness by the siren of the piece (Dixon).

If you like film noir check ROADBLOCK out. If you don't then maybe this movie's not for you.