The Mummy (1999) - 7/10
Definitely a fun watch. I hadn't seen it in years and it aged better than I thought it would. The story is fine, acting as well and I have to say the effects held up pretty good actually. Of course you can see that they are 20 year old effects, but the mix of them with the actual actors and also some real practical effects was definitely the right way to go. It also helps that the film doesn't take itself too seriously. Seeing this I always wonder why Brandon Fraser didn't become a real a-lister (at least for a while).
The Mummy Returns - 6/10
The funny thing is, when I was younger this was my favourite. I loved the Anubis warriors, the airship, the massive Medjay army going to war, the huge secret oasis and the scope of it all. But now I think those were the exact things they took too far. That and the silly plot device where some of the main characters suddenly were reincarnated Egyptian warrior ninjas or suddenly appeared to be holy protector/warriors.
I would have been fine with just the Anck-Su-Namun woman being reincarnated and have a knowledge of the past. Rick and Evy just should've happened to come across the Scorpion King's bracelett and be dragged into the adventure that way. It would be a better explanation if Evy had some fight training from Rick during the years between the films, than suddenly become an expert warrior because it happens to be the right year and she has dreams and visions... The kid was redundant. Jonathan could've put on the bracelett and he would become the macguffin. Would suit his character as well, seeing he's always into treasure and stuff. The airship should've been a regular boat. They were pretty much always flying over water anyway. I still loved the Anubis warriors but they're intimidation came in numbers. They should've had around 6 or 7 of them, but be very lethal and hard to kill. That would also be reason to cut down the Medjay army significantly because it was just too big of an army for a group of secret protectors. Then finally... the Scorpion King... yeah. They really took a step backwards in visual effects there. Was it too difficult to just film The Rock doing the scenes and copy-paste his torso on the creature? The creature half looked fine. They did mixed effects for the first one, so why not here?
Anyway, it despite it's flaws I still liked it, but I think a lot of it has to do with nostalgia as well.
The fugitive + Firt Blood = The Hunted.
