Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Mummy Returns Blu-ray Movie Review

This worthy sequel features one of the best lossless audio tracks yet.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 11, 2008

There is a fine line between coincidence and fate.

In my review of The Mummy, I wondered if that film was one of the most widely released on home video and played on television films of the past decade. After screening The Mummy Returns, and liking the movie well enough to be interested in both The Scorpion King and the upcoming theatrical release film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, I now wonder if ever there has been a franchise that has spawned two sequels, a spinoff movie, and a direct-to-video sequel to the spin-off in such rapid succession. The American Pie series of movies beats out The Mummy franchise in sheer volume and over a similar timeframe, but as to which series offers the better films, that's debatable amongst film fans (I'll take The Mummy franchise, personally). The Mummy Returns is a fun (and obligatory) sequel to the first film, ratcheting up the adventure, special effects, and volume, but not quite capturing the magic and sheer entertainment of the first. That's just fine, because sequels are supposed to be a bit inferior, right? (Well, not always. Darn, where are the Aliens and Empire Strikes Back listings when you need them, or just that clip form Scream 2 where this very subject is discussed?)

You better give the movie at least a 3.5/5, or else!

Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser, The Air I Breathe) and Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz, Chain Reaction) are back for more adventures in The Mummy Returns, this time with their son, Alex (Freddie Boath), in tow. On an archeological quest, the couple discovers an ancient bracelet once worn by the Scorpion King (Dwayne Johnson, The Game Plan), an ancient warrior whose deal with the god Anubis spared his life and provided him a great army with which to conquer the world. With the bracelet safely returned to London, the family finds itself under attack from an enemy bent on resurrecting an old foe, the mummy Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo, reprising his role from The Mummy). When Alex inadvertently unlocks a mystery that may spell certain doom, the forces of both good and evil must not only battle one another, but deal with the possible resurrection of another ancient foe, the deadly Scorpion King.

One label which cannot be applied to The Mummy Returns is "brainless action movie." While elements of standard-fare banality and tedious action/adventure clichés are scattered throughout the movie, the plot is fairly in-depth and requires viewers to leave their thinking caps on and pay attention to the film, rather than just gloss over the story and wait for the action to develop. Viewers may oftentimes find themselves scratching their heads should they not pay full attention to the plot; indeed, I often had to rewind the disc a bit because I found I had missed an important plot point while taking a note on some aspect of the film or the audio/video quality of the Blu-ray disc. Movie fans that are just as interested in the action as they are the story should not find themselves disappointed by this sequel. The action often stretches the limits of possibility and breaks a few conventional laws along the way, and some of the characters acquire what can best be described as cartoonish or slightly more-than-mortal abilities. O'Connell now finds himself with the ability to catch knives and other sharp, fast-moving objects in mid-flight throughout the film; his abilities as an action hero no longer center on the barrel of his pistols, the swiftness of his feet, or his wisecracking mouth. While fighting ability is increased, so to is the fight choreography. Director Stephen Sommers doesn't allow audiences to let their guard down and wallow in mundane, seen-it-before battles. A fight on a double decker bus speeding through the streets of London is a fine example of the "new and improved" action sequences scattered throughout the film.

Speaking of London, the change in locations from the desert to the city is a natural progression for this franchise that was most welcome. While there is still enough sand and ancient ruins to satisfy your thirst for such locales, another two hours of nothing but would have felt like a complete rehash of the first film. Fortunately, both the change in location and progression of the characters feels like a natural one; at no point does the film suffer from a lack of genuine care for the franchise and its characters. In other words, the change in scenery fits seamlessly into the world of The Mummy, and it doesn't feel forced as if the reason for the change was studio politics, budget constraints, or ease of shooting. The Mummy Returns manages to maintain a freshness and excitement that a sequel to a series of this nature needed to keep fans in their seats and glued to the screen.

The Mummy Returns Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Mummy Returns debuts on Blu-ray with a transfer that's as solid as the one accompanying film's predecessor. Presented in 1080p high definition and framed in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, The Mummy Returns is nearly demonstration-worthy material. The same earthy color schemes seen in the first Mummy film are back in this one, in parts of the movie, anyway. In fact, you could almost transplant much of the video review of the first film into this one for a fairly good description of what you'll see on your screen. Black levels are as fantastic in The Mummy Returns as they were in the previous film's transfer. Detail is wonderful, right down to the most miniscule particles of dirt, debris, cobwebs, sand, and other various dusty and ancient remnants of the bygone era depicted in parts of this film. When the film shifts to London, various interior shots appear a bit hazy. Much of the first half of the film is darker in nature than the bright, warm, sun-drenched shots seen in The Mummy, even taking into account the numerous sequences taking place inside the temple as seen in the first. These London sequences don't offer the startling detail and clarity of the bright shots, but they hold their own remarkably well. Blacks maintain a high level of consistency and colors are vibrant, noted by the red color of a double-decker bus and other random and brightly painted objects. Detail remains high on everything from the wet streets of London to, once again, Imhotep's mask. The greener exteriors that play prominently in the film's final act are lush and realistic in appearance. Detail in all the green leaves is high in both the foreground and the background. There is an excellent sense of realism about these scenes, thanks in large part to the first-rate visuals. Flesh tones are reproduced to perfection on this disc, and there is a deep, oftentimes three-dimensional quality to the picture. Like The Mummy disc, there is the occasional black speckle on the print, but it remains in excellent condition throughout. A slight amount of grain covers the image and adds to the deep, theatrical quality of the movie. Once again, Universal has delivered a nearly perfect image, one that fans everywhere are going to love.

The Mummy Returns Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Mummy Returns may have made a deal with Anubis to sound this good. Presented in a lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, this active, powerful mix is truly reference material from beginning to end, and as fine as The Mummy sounded on Blu-ray, this one beats it. The opening battle scene will rattle your house from its foundation. It borders on being too loud at reference volume, which might be my only complaint or concern pertaining to this entire soundtrack. "Crazy" is the best word to describe not only this brief opening battle, but the soundtrack as a whole. Every speaker is liable to be blown out by the power and awesome presence of the mix. Fantastic atmospherics are to be heard throughout, notably in the early stages of the movie in the underground chambers. It's spooky and somewhat scary, and the effect is first-rate. The opening of ancient, sealed-for-centuries doors features nice reverberations throughout the soundstage, effectively placing us in the presence of the tomb. Rushing water in chapter four invades the listening area with unmatched power and presence that may have you running out of your media room for your life, just like the characters in the movie. The pounding of the subwoofer is a regular occurrence on this track, so be forewarned! It's definitely a marvelous and breathtaking sonic experience from the opening shots of the movie to the final frame. Surround speakers are in constant use. Every action scene is alive with room-filling, lossless goodness that permeates every cell of your body with its presence, authority and clarity. The battle scene in chapter 14 is particularly satisfying. I've rarely been more happy to have a good home theater set-up as I was during this presentation. Gunshots and their impacts are present in every speaker. The action is intense with heavy, saber-rattling power. Dialogue is consistently strong throughout the track; every syllable is driven home nicely by the center channel. Simply stated, The Mummy Returns is one of the finest listens on Blu-ray today.

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

The Mummy Returns comes alive on Blu-ray with a solid selection of extras, but this set as a whole is not nearly as exhaustive as the package found on the first disc. Only one commentary track is available here, and it contains writer/director Stephen Sommers and executive producer/editor Bob Ducsay, the same participants from the first commentary track on the previous disc. As expected, the feel is similar. The filmmakers are eager to discuss their movie, give praise to Industrial Light and Magic, point out various oddities and humorous stories from the set, and generally entertain while enlightening. This one is worth a listen for fans. An Army to Rule the World, Part 2 (480p, 5:59) examines the construction of the Scorpion King's canine-like army, the reappearance of a few bad guys from the first film, and more. Unraveling the Legacy of 'The Mummy' (480p, 8:07) is the first of two identical features transported over to this disc from The Mummy. The piece looks at the history of the classic Universal horror pictures of old, with an expected emphasis on 1932's The Mummy, featuring interview clips with Stephen Sommers, make-up effects artist Nick Dudman, and others as they look at the place of both The Mummy and The Mummy Returns in Universal horror lore (hey, if they can put the same feature on multiple discs, I can say the same thing I said about it in the first review, too!).

Visual and Special Effects Formation (480p) is a feature that allows viewers to see several scenes in varied stages of production, including "Conceptual Stage," "Reference Plate," "Plate Photography," "Visual FX Elements," and "Final Plate Sequence." The scenes broken down include Imhotep Returns, Pygmy Mummies Attack, Anubis Warriors Rising, and Scorpion King Revealed. Next up is An exclusive Conversation with The Rock (480p, 3:42) that features the musclebound star sharing his thoughts on the film. Spotlight on Location: The Making of 'The Mummy Returns' (480p, 20:03) which proves to be a standard seen-one-seen-'em-all making-of fluff piece. A Storyboard to Final Film Comparison (480p) is next, allowing viewers to see select scenes from the film played above the original storyboards. Available scenes include Blimp Being Chased (2:31), Pygmy Chase (3:13), and Scorpion King Final Battle (2:01).

A music video from the group Live entitled Forever May Not Be Long Enough (480p, 4:33) is included. A series of outtakes (480p, 6:06) are next, followed by the second redundant feature from the two Mummy discs, 'The Mummy: Tomb of the Emperor Dragon' Sneak Peak (480p, 3:01). Finally, this disc is U-Control enabled. The "U" symbol remains on-screen and when content is available, users can view it by selecting it through the "enter" button on the remote, or have the content begin automatically if that option is selected in the U-Control menu.

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

The Mummy Returns is a solid sequel that doesn't retain the magic and charm of the first film, but is entertaining enough in its own right. Perhaps the movie's biggest downfall is the lack of polish on the appearance of the Scorpion King. Frankly, the special effects that render him are terrible, and as great as the other effects are (just take a look at how good his legions of CGI soldiers appear) the downright terrible final product is more comical than scary and realistic. Otherwise, The Mummy Returns is good enough and progresses the story sufficiently to keep fans of the original film interested, and ends so as to pique your interest in both the official sequel and the spinoff films, which I am sure will all look and sound fantastic on Blu-ray if this film and its predecessor are any indication. Universal's Blu-ray release of The Mummy Returns is on par with that of the first film, lacking just a bit in total number of supplements but trumping the first film in audio quality. This is a fantastic disc in its own right and is definitely recommended!