A group of explorers--including a prudish British librarian and a rogue American soldier--in early 20th century Egypt unleash the ancient mummy of a cursed priest. To regain life, the mummy must kill those who released him. If he suceeds, it could mean the end of humanity.
Subgenres: adventure, action
Director: Stephen Sommers
Writers: Stephen Sommers (screenplay and screen story), Lloyd Fonvielle and Kevin Jarre (screen story), Nina Wilcox Putnam and Richard Schayer (story), and John L. Balderston (1932 screenplay)
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz
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The first time I saw The Mummy was in a theater, which is, of course, the proper place for this kind of epic action flick. I thought it was light fun, but nothing to write home about--a little too dumb, a little too eagerly trying to recapture the feel of an "old fashioned" Hollywood adventure. (The Indiana Jones movies are also supposed to evoke the feeling of old serials, but I've yet to see any film from decades long past that even comes close to capturing the feel of the more modern epics. But I digress.) The second time I saw The Mummy was on DVD, and I realized I had some issues to work out with the film. So I watched it again. And a few weeks later, again. And a few months later, I watched it again. Yes, I still think it seems like a sped-up, dumbed-down version of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but I respect it for what it is: a fun, well-crafted action-adventure film. Its purpose is to thrill and chill, and that it does, using a combination of humor, old-fashioned derring-do, and very modern CG effect to tell a story that is a delightful hybrid of old and new Hollywood sensibilities. The acting and characters (not to mention the directing) are all overly broad, but that suits the movie's tone perfectly. The Mummy is focused on being a summer popcorn flick, not on being a classic, and it suceeds. (Sep 9, 1999/May 4, 2001) philjohn.com - approaching the unexplained 
Somehow I didn't really want to watch this movie, and I didn't go during the opening week but a bit later. When it came into cinemas, I had nothing else to do, really, so I went to see it eventually, awaiting a somehow silly monster flick. So in no way was I prepared for what awaited me. The film defied all negative expectations and surprised audiences nearly everywhere, at least so far as I've heard. Unlike The Matrix or [Star Wars: ]Episode I or The Blair Witch Project, there was no hype whatsoever preceding it, so the surprise was even greater. This movie is fun, it is effects-loaden, has a terrific soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith and hilarious acting, being sort of a modern Indiana Jones movie. Cinematic entertainment at its very best. One technical remark: The DVD (Widescreen Collector's Ed.) features the complete soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith in a brilliant Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Click on 'Languages', the music will then start after some seconds. (Apr 9, 2000)
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Early drafts of the script had an emphasis on horror, as opposed to the action/adventure approach the film finally took.
