This latest resurrection of The Mummy is directed by Alex Kurtzman who produces Scorpion and Hawaii Five-O on CBS. The Mummy has a TV feel to it as Tom Cruise and his love interest, Annabelle Wallis, discover an Egyptian tomb in Iraq (a weird occurrence). The mummy (Sofia Bontella) in the tomb wants Tom Cruise to become the vessel to embody the God of Death, Set. Yes, there are several scary scenes. Plenty of thrills. Rats, spiders, and deadly birds. Yes, Russell Crowe is wasted in a silly role.
The Wall Street Journal headline to the review of The Mummy read: TOM CRUISE FALLS INTO A SAND TRAP. The movie reviewer, Joe Morgenstern, zinged the acting in The Mummy with lines like: “Jenny Halsey, a beautiful archaeologist played vervelessly by Annabelle Wallis…” Love “vervelessly”! This version of The Mummy doesn’t compare to the 1932 Boris Karloff film or the 1959 Christopher Lee classic. But if you’re looking for a mindless Summer popcorn movie, The Mummy will fit the bill. GRADE: C
Instead of seeing Tom Cruise (hate him …) I’d rather watch Karloff or Christopher Lee again twice …
But you’re probably right, George, many people just want popcorn movies …
Don’t have time for that – today I have to harvest cherries and sour cherries in our garden – that’s surely healthier and sitting in a chair eating popcorn ,,,
Wolf, parts of the U.S. are experiencing a Heat Wave so many people flee to the air conditioned movie theaters for relief.
Wolf, Jealous of your cherry orchard!!
Our paper gave this a one star review. I’ll see it, but it’ll be netflix or HBO. I did enjoy the original, as well as the Brendan Frazier ones (though Maria Bellow was horrible as his wife in the 3rd one)
OT: Escape to Margaritaville the musical was magic. The setting was so imaginative, the music blended seamlessly, and the cast was brilliant. I could easily have sat thru another show immediately. This is right up there with Boy From Oz as favorite musical
It was at the La Jolla Playhouse, and the forecourt of the theater (outside) was decorated with colorful adioronak chairs, signposts, lamps. At the end of the play, beach balls cascaded from the ceiling. Inside they had a spot decorated for photos.
The only negative was before the show, we were going to our seats, and I saw a lady with a walker just standing by the door, with another elderly lady. I asked if she need help, and she did, so one of my friends and I helped them. The lady with the walker asked me to hold her margarita, and I did, first asking her if she trusted me, and after she said yes, told her she shouldn’t. I helped her friend, and then was just entering the aisle where my seat was and discovered I still had the drink, so went and returned it to her. Before we left, I made sure the ushers were going to help them, as my friend Eileen and I were going to try to make it to the Cabrillo monument before it closed to get a lifetime senior national park pass before the cost goes from $10 to $80 (thanks for the heads up, Beth)
Escape is headed to Broadway and I’d love it if it is there when the Harry Potter play will be there.
Maggie, glad you enjoyed your trip to Margaritaville!
Tom Cruise’s name alone puts me off this. Although I have never been a fan of the Mummy.
Patti, I’m completely flummoxed by Tom Cruise’s decision to be part of this rinky-dink movie. It might be his worst film ever.
Tommy needs to make more movies like EDGE OF TOMORROW, not the crap he has been making.
Jeff, I totally argree. EDGE OF TOMORROW was clever and thrilling. THE MUMMY is anything but…
My favorite mummy movie is the first one with Brendan Fraser. Lots of fun.
Bill, I enjoyed the Brendan Fraser MUMMY movies, too. The had wit and humor. The Tom Cruise version of THE MUMMY lacks both.
Cruise can be very, very good and it’s a shame he lets his ego get in the way of his performances. I still watch some of his movies on cable but cannot see spending money on them. I never cared for TOP GUN (which I feel is highly overrated) and his MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise was founded on such disrespect for the original source that it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The first Jack Reacher was totally forgettable and I haven’t bothered with the second. His public persona comes across as a smarmy, know-nothing, ego-bloated fool and I suspect his private persona is the same. A wasted talent.
I’ll wait until THE MUMMY comes on cable to view it, if then.
I agree with Bill about the first one with Brendan Fraser.
Jerry, why Tom Cruise would agree to be part of this mess is inexplicable. The ending opens the door for a possible sequel, but who would go see it?
Cruise is a big negative for me. Since Universal already turned the concept into an excuse for an FX-heavy adventure movie in 1999, the orientation for this one isn’t a surprise.
Fred, from what I’ve read in the WALL STREET JOURNAL, Universal Studios had planned on a series of movies featuring “traditional” characters like The Mummy, Frankenstein, Dracula, etc. But if THE MUMMY bombs, that strategy might be put on hold.
Fuck that smirking dwarf $cientologist asshat and his lousy movie!!!
I hope I wasn’t too subtle!
Bob, Jeff Meyerson sent me a headline that read: WONDER WOMAN BURIES THE MUMMY.