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   Alright, I didn't want to see this.  It looked really campy in the trailers and lines that I'm sure were meant to come off as funny came off more stupid than anything.  I think my grading of this film might be more lenient because I expected so little from it.  For most of the people who viewed the trailers, I'm sure the same thoughts that crossed my mind, crossed theirs as well:  The special effects look good, but the story is probably pretty stupid.

    Now, before I go any further I must make a comparison.  If you liked The Phantom you probably will like this.  They're very similar.   Intelligent girl, strong man, old artifacts, bad guy looking for power-sort of story.  I would probably give The Phantom the same grade too.  The Phantom has better writing but The Mummy has interesting touches that make it about even with it.  The Mummy includes historical facts with its story.   Most comic book-like movies simply make up their own histories to conveniently fit within their story.  However, this one uses real facts about Egyptian history and beliefs and incorporates them well into the story...i.e. the importance of cats.

    Just like I thought after watching the trailers, this movie is filled with its share of cheesey lines/scenes.  There are bizarre, unneeded and confusing elements thrown into the story that just make you shake your head and mumble, "why?".  For example, what was the deal with the crazy pilot that just out of nowhere sunk in quick sand?  What was that all about?  Completely random.   Total, there are about 12, give or take, cheesey lines and scenes. 

    Even though the premise of the story is of course, pretty unbelievable, the writers push the fact that this couldn't happen.  Just because the idea of the Mummy is unbelievable, they should still make the characters like people you would see in real life.  They don't though.  Ok, example, the brother...they're all about to die and yet he takes his dandy little time reading the spell.   Completely ludicrous.

    Again, the trailers proved correct.  The special effects were pretty impressive.  Nothing spectacular, but enough oohs and ahhs to take notice.   I was especially proud of the effects done on the Mummy.  One note to the special effects people: A person's mouth should only open so wide...beyond that it gets a little freaky.  One interesting element that I particularly was impressed by, was the addition of the little bugs.  Ok, I warn you, if you are at all afraid or creeped out by bugs...this might get to you.  These killer beetles are pretty scary.  They definately add intensity to the movie.

    The acting by the leads was alright I guess for this type of movie.   Definately very campy.  However, the supporting cast was weak.  I wanted to reach through the screen and strangle the character of Benny.  And that's not because he was annoying, although he was that.  I hated the delivery and basically everything about him.  I thought it was a bad job by the casting director.

    I was kind of impressed by the man who played Im-Ho-Tep (the Mummy).   However, I left the theater wondering why Billy Zane did not play him.  Zane is a bigger star, he's proved that he can play this type of role, he's the same coloring, bald head, decent body, and a list of other similar traits.  This guy is bigger than Zane and he's not as attractive, but that's about the only differences.  Perhaps they tried to get him for the film and he denied them.  Who knows, I was just curious.

    Anyway, to sum up all of this mumbling...I thought this movie was cheesey at parts and campy just like it looked.  However, I liked the story and the special effects and the acting wasn't terrible so it can still be a fun movie to watch.