Though somewhat slow moving, the 1999 update to Universal’s classic horror franchise molds itself right into the expectation for a summer blockbuster. Overdone, rousing, funny, and loads of fun to watch without an ounce of intelligence, The Mummy is a wild ride - even with a longer than typical running time. Casting is wonderful, and Stephen Sommers nails the tone in his direction for this franchise starter.
Brendan Frasier brings his oddly goofy charm alongside Rachael Weisz, perfectly set in this 1930s period piece. Dueling teams of archaeologists begin their quest for an ancient city in a slow moving setup that leads to a series of constant action and mildly gruesome PG-13 deaths. The adventure is set against large-scale action set pieces, including special effects sequences that pay homage to some of the classics of the genre.
Characters are established sufficiently for a movie focused on sheer entertainment. Weisz plays a stubborn clutz perfectly set in her interest in ancient Egypt that leads her into situations of heavy danger. Damsel in distress sequences set up nicely plotted, if predictable story elements that unwillingly pull her into an ancient sacrifice ritual.
Special effects by ILM have not aged gracefully, and some painful computer-generated shots prove detrimental. There’s also a clash in tone when the villainous mummy first appears (who, like in the original, remains in bandage-wrapped form for a short time) compared to his eventual reincarnation then played by Arnold Vosloo. Visual gags lessen the evil intentions of grossly decomposing living dead and fail to prepare the audience for some of the darker script points later.
While missing a few opportunities, the over-the-top action leads to countless memorable sequences, particularly as Brendan Fraiser takes on multiple reanimated guards. It’s a nearly exact replica of the 1963 climatic sequence in Jason and the Argonauts. Wildly fun and imaginative scenes like this quicken the pace and keep the film interesting.
While its actual connections to the quintessential 1932 Mummy are loose at best, this is a fine addition to Universal’s line. It’s certainly a movie aimed at a new generation of filmgoers, replacing dire atmosphere with energetic action. That’s simply the type of movie The Mummy is, and it ranks up there with the best of them. 
Substantial clarity is the immediate reaction to this HD-DVD presentation. Egyptian tombs lined with gold are presented with no aliasing, gorgeous lighting, and fine detail is remarkable. Equally impressive are outdoor sequences aside from minor print damage, never marred by compression or grain. Night shots hold together with consistent black levels at a slight expense of clarity. While the massive increase in resolution is none too kind on the special effects, the benefits far outweigh the negative.
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