The Mummy, the new film from writer/director Stephen Sommers is a dazzling return to the phenomenal fun of Saturday afternoon serial movies. And while most of those films were "B" movies, The Mummy is nothing less than first rate. Starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz (pronounced Vice), this flick is a slick and smooth blend of Indiana Jones and Lawrence of Arabia all wrapped up in the clever Egyptian jaunt we saw in Stargate.

The Mummy begins several thousand years ago with a soft, sultry, yet violent bang. The Pharaoh’s lover has an affair. Together, she and her lover, Imhotep, plot to, and succeed in killing the king but their plans are foiled when the ever vigilant palace guards suspect something is wrong. The two are sentenced to a most horrible death too gruesome to be imagined. It’s not bloody but let’s just say you wouldn’t want to be in their shoes. Their mummified bodies are taken to a secret place called "The City of the Dead" where they rest-in-torment throughout eternity.

Several thousand years later Rick O’Connell while fighting in what looks like the foreign legion, accidentally discovers the secret city. Through a series of haps and mishaps Rick finds himself at the end of a executioner's rope only to be saved by Evelyn, a shy and beautiful librarian of antiquities, who needs Rick to find the fabled lost city. Trust me here, the story develops well and is filled with great detail and a dizzying array of cool one-liners that make the sparks between the two a treat to watch. Then there’s Evelyn’s brother Jonathan, a likable, sleazy, dopey sort who adds a comic book touch to the whole adventure. Also adding to the casting is an annoying little two-faced weasel called Beni. I guarantee you’ll hate this little chump but then again, that’s exactly what you’re supposed to do and I’m sure you’ll enjoy him. Beni is contrasted with a wonderful character who is tall, handsome, with strong Arabic features. The character is Ardeth Bay solidly performed by Oded Fehr. He is the leader of the cult that has protected the secret of the Lost City. He acts as both a dangerous foe and a compassionate benefactor to Rick and Evelyn. It’s a difficult role but one I’m sure you’ll appreciate.

Arnold Vosloo stars as Imhotep, the man who killed the Pharaoh and whose spirit is the Mummy’s. There are some brilliant special effects as we watch Imhotep frantically search for the jars that hold his seven vital organs – organs which he must reclaim to reconstruct himself into a functional mortal again. Oh, and let’s not forget one of the better villains and co-stars, the dreaded flesh eating beetles. These little guys are unreal as they attack like Piranha destroying in single bite gulps, anything in their path. The effects are stunning, wonderful, and a far cry from anything you've seen in recent memory.

Don’t take The Mummy too seriously and don't fetch your Rosetta stone looking for discrepancies. The Mummy is not designed to be historically accurate, its purpose is to use the fascinating backdrop of modern Egyptology to tell a delightful story. The Mummy is a fun movie with a fun cast that's very well acted and after the movie draught that has existed, save a few exceptions, is a very definite and welcome breath of fresh air. I do not recommend this film for young children. The special effects are too vivid, too real, and can both scare and scar a young child's imagination causing nightmares and fears that could last till adulthood. For more mature teens there will be no problem and as mentioned before, the film is simple and dynamic fun for anyone looking for edge-of-the-seat action all laced in a thoughtful and delightful story.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I give The Mummy a solid thumbs up and I think you will too.

See you at the movies!

Mike Way