With the inevitable Mummy legacy-sequel in the works, I felt it was best to establish what the franchise has produced thus far. You basically have a great first film, a sequel that is essentially a remake and better in many ways (but missing the feeling of “new”), and then a disastrous follow-up years later.
3. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The third film felt like a total cash-in. Fraser’s career was not going well enough for him to decline it. Rachel Weisz’s career had become too respectable for it. Maria Bello – while very talented – was wildly miscast as Weisz’s replacement. They hired a total DUD to play their adult son. Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh were given nothing to do. The stuff was that retreaded out there felt tired. Nothing new connected. It is simply one of the worst films I have ever seen. Decades from now people will watch this (if they are unlucky) and assume it was written by ChatGPT 14 years before that LLM was released to the public. Putrid shit.
The Mummy Returns is simultaneously a remake of the first film where they hit almost all the same beats and play variations of the same arcs but also wrap up the major arcs of the main heroes and villains. You watch this film and feel like they have likely done everything they could have hoped to accomplish with this series. All the returning actors were still sharp in their roles and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was an excellent addition. This film might technically be evil though for unleashing The Rock upon everyone.
1. The Mummy
This film just has the magic that big blockbusters are meant to have – great actors carrying the thing. Genuine chemistry among the leads. Inspired casting up and down the film. Compelling set pieces. A classic villain. And it most importantly just has that warm, cozy feeling that makes you want to live in this world forever. I love this film (and Returns) just so much.
The Reel World 