The Mummy Returns 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Mummy Returns 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Update June 6, 2017: Universal has forwarded a new, sealed copy of the trilogy along with a note stating that the slots that hold the discs have been specially coated to protect the discs from scratching. Further, the studio states that the packaging and discs have been tested and no flaws were discovered. Universal believes my copy to be a fluke. Finally, the studio says that no complaints have been received about the packaging. I will be viewing the movies (4K versions only) again over the coming days and will update the reviews with results. I have also forwarded the forum link to Universal.

Update June 9, 2017: All three new copies of the 4K discs played flawlessly. The Mummy was twice scratched upon initial removal but was able to play without issue. The others showed no signs of damage, not scratches and not the larger surface wear exhibited on the previous discs. The discs were sent to me directly from Universal, factory sealed, in the same fold-open packaging. Upon receipt, I immediately transferred the discs to different cases to minimize potential wear. I have also been notified that Universal has acknowledged receipt of the forum thread and the representative I have been in contact with is taking another look at the issue after previously being told there were no widespread problems. Even with mine playing perfectly, there certainly does appear to be more widespread problems and all three of my discs working perfectly is not a sign that everything is now fine with the release. I will update again if there is reason to do so.

Universal has released the Adventure sequel film 'The Mummy Returns' (2001) to UHD to tie-in to the new film releasing this Summer and starring Tom Cruise. The film features a gorgeous 2160p/HDR-enhanced transfer and a new DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack. It is currently only available as part of a box set with 'The Mummy' and 'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.' Unfortunately, packaging problems are besieging this set and ruining discs. Read on for more information.

The Mummy Returns 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note 1: Several Universal representatives were asked to comment on whether this transfer is from an upscaled or true 4K source. None have responded to the inquiry.

Note 2: Due to scratches received in transit and under the stress of the packaging, I was unable to view the movie from the 57:45-minute mark forward (oddly right around the same time as The Mummy). The difference is that the disc was entirely unplayable from there forward. No amount of reasonable waiting or chapter skipping solved the problem. To make matters worse, chapter skipping backwards did not work, either; the disc just displayed the same frozen frame. Ejecting and restarting the disc allowed playback from the beginning, with the same problems repeating. Therefore, this review does not explicitly cover anything that happens in the movie's second half, but as with The Mummy I would be surprised if there was a change in overall quality during that time, anyway. Again, several Universal reps were contacted about this issue, but none have seen fit to respond.

Note 3: The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

The Mummy Returns doesn't display an image that's quite as dynamic as The Mummy. Still, Universal's 2160p/HDR-enhanced UHD presentation offers a massive upgrade over the Blu-ray. The image is impressively filmic, with light grain retention obvious, but the image overall plays a bit smoother and flatter than The Mummy. Details are sturdy and dense. Much of the movie's first half -- the half that could play -- is very dark. Shadow details hold up well and blacks never drift too far into excessively bright and washed out territory. The film opens with bright, sun-drenched exteriors and the few minutes that played prior to malfunction return the movie to a much more forgiving exterior area. These segments look magnificent. While there are some unnatural white pops and speckles visible along the bright blue skies, they're relatively few in number and usually hard to spot. Details are very sharp here, naturally so, allowing for dusty objects, various styles of clothing, and skin textures to reveal their inherent complexities with ease. Colors are very firm in the movie's earthy palette. A few standout primaries sparkle, but the movie maintains its desert-y palette for the duration. Comparatively speaking, detailing enjoys a very steep improvement over the Blu-ray. Textural nuance is astronomically enhanced. Image clarity is strikingly higher. Where the Blu-ray appears very pasty and flat, the UHD is the exact opposite. Color depth and density are improved as well. The platte never looks different, but it's much firmer, more capable of finding the proper nuance and balance necessary to bring the movie to life.

The Mummy Returns 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Mummy Returns features a DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack. The presentation offers a rip-roaring sort of listen right from the beginning. The large-scale battle is super aggressive, perhaps to the point over saturation but since it's all mayhem and offers few, if any, finer-point sounds to get lost in the shuffle, it proves an enjoyable experience as shouts, sword clanks, shield thumps, and the general din of battle fills the stage. Overheads are not used discretely, necessarily, but there's no mistaking their complimentary use to create a much more involved, robust, and immersive sensation. Music enjoys excellent width and, again, no shortage of surround implementation. Clarity never misses much along the way and supportive bass is well balanced. Atmospherics are pleasing and add a good bit of life to the track. Dialogue reverberation in tight tombs is a highlight, with the backs and overheads both working to recreate the environment and effortlessly pull the listener in. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized. Again, this review only applies to, essentially, the film's first half due to problematic discs.

The Mummy Returns 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Mummy Returns' UHD disc contains no new supplemental content. It does carry over the commentary track from the original release. The included 1080p Blu-ray features all of the bonus materials as listed and reviewed here.

The Mummy Returns 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Mummy Returns is a fairly average sequel, in some ways bigger but not particularly better. It exists less to tell a story of any real interest and more to draw fans of the original to the theater (and, today, the home video releases). That's OK. It's perfectly acceptable entertainment, neither here-nor-there, certainly not a classic but far from a train wreck. Universal's UHD release isn't quite as visually dynamic as The Mummy, but it's a solid one and a serious upgrade over the Blu-ray. Audio is very good, too. Unfortunately, Universal's packaging has left many discs (including these review copies) damaged and unable to play back smoothly, if at all. Recommended if the studio gets its packaging straightened out.