Amazon.co.uk Review
There's nothing original in
The Scorpion King, but this derivative action franchise gets off to a rousing start by cleverly stealing from a lot of better movies. Capitalising on his brief cameo in
The Mummy Returns,
Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a. World Wrestling Federation star the Rock) stars as Mathayus, an Akkadian assassin in the age preceding Egyptian pharaohs, who vows to avenge his brother's murder by an undefeated warlord (Steven Brand) prophesied to become the desert-ruling Scorpion King. Their battle for supremacy comprises most of the film's brisk 95-minute running time, punctuated by comic relief from Mathayus's obligatory sidekick (Grant Heslov), romance with a beautiful sorceress (Kelly Hu), and alliance with a massive Nubian (Michael Clarke Duncan) on the eve of their climactic showdown. There's no rhyme or reason to the film's depiction of ancient civilization (the costuming is particularly ludicrous), but the Rock demonstrates adequate action-star potential, and director Chuck Russell (
The Mask) wraps it all in a slick, professional package. --
Jeff Shannon
Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
English
Cantonese
Region 2
Biography Showcase For Shaw Brothers Legend Lar Kar Leung
Trailer Gallery
Talent Showreel For Won Jin
Interview Gallery With Chin Kar Lok And Won Jin
Feature Length Audio Commentary With Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
English
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