Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
niffy mummy tale, 7 Jul 2007
Jason Scott Lee (No relation to Chris Lee who has a cameo in the film, along with Honor Blackman and Jack Davenport) plays a cop investigating a series of murders that has origins of an ancient curse a la King Tut. Also with Gerald Butler, Lysette Anthony, Sean Pertwee and Shelly Duvall. The movie starts in 1940 with an expedition in Egypt under Sir Richard Turkel (Chris Lee). After months of digging they have discovered an entrance to a tomb. Sometimes goes horrible wrong after they enter the tomb, with everyone crumbling to dust. Turkel valiantly by blowing it up, giving his life breath to save mankind from the horror that was unleashed in the tomb.
It jumps nearly 60 years (no reason why it took so long to get around to it again), and Turkel's granddaughter (Louise Lombard) is leading a high tech team to the very tomb grandpop tried to seal for all time. Naturally, meddling grandkid is determined to open the tomb. We learn the tomb was the final burial place of Talos, a Greek cult leader who was banished for conjuring with the dark arts. He found his way to the Pharaoh's Court in Egypt where he held sway. No one turns to dust, but one team member freaks out and is never sane again and another dies reaching a pendant.
Everything is sent back to London where they are put on display at the British Museum. There is a break-in, a gruesome murder, and the mummy of Talos is stolen. After that, grizzly murders begin to happen across the city and Turkel's granddaughter and the "other" Lee try to stop the Talos before it's too late.
Great popcorn flick.
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Underrated Mummy flick is great entertainment, 22 Mar 2005
I had never heard of this movie until three days ago, but given my interest in the original "Highlander" (which Russell Mulcahy also directed), a like of the Sommers Mummy movies and an appreciation of Christopher Lee movies I decided to give 1999s TALE OF THE MUMMY a chance.
I am glad I did! This movie was not at all scary but like the Sommers original MUMMY movie a lot of fun with a good dose of suspense, intrigue and (something the other movie lacked) a great twist in the end.
Actually, in some respects I prefer this Jason Scott Lee fantasy adventure horror suspense movie.
Firstly in addition to the prelude which includes the Lee cameo, there were a number of recognizable names from British cinema - notably Honor Blackman, Jack Davenport and Sean Pertwee.
The movie lacked the flashy special effects of its more famous counterpart, but what it lacked in effects it more than makes up for in plot and real suspense. In many ways it is a superior movie with some great performances by all the principals - including the very beautiful Louise Lombard (who I felt bore a striking resemblance to Amanda Tapping of STARGATE SG-1 fame). Jack Davenport (often mentioned in fan circles as a possible replacement for Pierce Brosnan for the part of 007) also made an impression as a English detective attempting to solve a series of grisly murders in the British capital.
The story begins in 1940 with an expedition to Egypt. Sir Richard Turkel (Lee) is excited to hear that after nine months of digging, an entrance has been discovered to a tomb. Moments later however it is up to Turkel to sacrifice his own life in a (successful) attempt to seal off the tomb for (he hopes) all eternity.
Skip forward 59 years (it's never explained why it took over half a century) and Sir Richard's granddaughter Sam Turkel (Lombard) is on the verge of entering the tomb first discovered by her illustrious ancestor. The tomb we learn is that of Talos, a Greek religious cult leader who was sent into exile for practicing dark magic, and who subsequently found a new home in the Pharoah's Egyptian court.
The finds are transported back to London where they are put on display at the British Museum. Then, after what is believed to be a "break-in" a series of paticularly gruesome murders begin across the city.
The murder mystery is an interesting element in this movie, something that is missing from the Fraser-Weisz vehicle that was playing to packed theaters that summer. In fact, without giving too much away it's interesting how this mystery develops in the closing moments of TALE OF THE MUMMY.
Overall, I found this a very entertaining and enjoyable movie that should satisfy not only fantasy horror fans, but also mystery fans. Highly underrated it makes good use of location shooting and offers strong production values and an intelligent, engaging plot. You may not have heard of TALE OF THE MUMMY before but one things for sure - you will not soon forget it.
Recommended.
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Mummy No-one Noticed, 29 Feb 2004
This film has been overlooked, largely because of the huge success of the Brendan Fraser 'Mummy' movies which appeared around the same time. No, the fx of this film don't compare in any way to those of the Hollywood blockbuster, but it has a lot to recommend it - not least the perfomances by the largely british cast, including a stand-out act by Sean Pertwee. There are some genuinely creepy moments, a few surprising twists, and the pleasure of seeing the unpleasant demise of a well-known 'Eastender'. It acts as a reminder that while Hollywood rules the big budget glossy movie market, they don't hold a monopoly on creative and entertaining scripts. Given the cash available for the US 'Mummy', this one would have knocked your socks off; as it is, it provides a damn fine piece of entertainment.
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