Film of the Week: The Mummy (2017)

I prefer The Mummy (1999)

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

OK, I need to explain myself, don’t I?

There is one definite thing this new mummy film has done better than the ones before it; the CGI. The Mummy Returns had dreadful effects that were clearly dated even back when it was released. However, the story isn’t as strong as The Mummy (1999)

This is the first film in Universal’s attempt to make an interconnecting franchise with various characters, known as the Dark Universe. An interesting idea that when I first heard about it, does, in theory, work. Seeing a number of iconic monsters on screen together, along with other famous characters, would be an entertaining experience, and most definitely be the first of its kind.

Establishing this universe does seem a daunting thing to put on the shoulders of this first film, and it unfortunately doesn’t carry it as well as it could have done. It throws the story around so much, it’s sometimes hard to keep up with what’s going on, and at times, doesn’t actually feel like a mummy film at all. All the elements are there to set up future films, get the characters ready for further development, create that core we can all revolve around, but it doesn’t utilise them well.

The reason why I said I prefer The Mummy that came out in 1999, is because it focuses on the mummy only. Its three-part formula is: They find and accidentally release the mummy, which begins wreaking havoc on the world, and then is defeated by the main characters. In the 2017 version of the film, the find and accidentally release the mummy, which begins wreaking havoc on the world, and then is captured by some secret government organisation, which we then focus on for a good long while so we can learn about how important it is, we learn that Tom Cruise’s character, Nick Morton is cursed with something, the mummy escapes and begin wreaking havoc on the world, and then is defeated by the main character.  I understand it needs to establish the universe it’s in, but the story seems to convoluted and struggles to focus entirely on the character the film is named after.

I know I probably shouldn’t be comparing the two films. They are after all, completely different. It’s hard to officially declare this one as a reboot of the previous, but it holds the same name. In the eyes of Hollywood, this is a reboot, therefore needs to be compared. If The Mummy (1999) hadn’t come out, I would have classed this as a good mummy film, but unfortunately, it isn’t the case. The structure has too many levels and the story is too convoluted. If I had a choice between The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy (2017), I would choose the first.

This film is much better than The Mummy Returns in terms of CGI. I also want to say that The Mummy Returns backtracks on so much The Mummy sets up, there are so many contradictions, it almost feels forced. And of course, The Mummy: Toom of the Dragon Emperor cannot be classed as part of the series with how dreadful it is, but even that has better CGI than second. However, despite this film having better CGI, it essentially copies and pastes that of what The Mummy (1999) does, but having a gigantic sand storm chase the main characters, and a face show up in the middle. It's different in how the storm is raging through the city of London, but it's essentially the same effect. I wouldn't have minded that if the rest of the film was better than that of the previous installment.

Rant aside, The Mummy (2017) does have a few good points. Tom Cruise’s performance, alongside Annabella Wallis does build a strong chemistry. I enjoyed seeing them interact with each other. I would have liked if she wasn’t revealed as a member of the secret organisation though, because then it would have been just two ordinary civilians hunting for the same thing – their chemistry portrays such, but their character’s aren’t that, which creates some confusion on my behalf, I’m afraid to say.

If this film wasn’t part of the Dark Universe, cutting out all the secret organisation stuff, this would have rivalled and probably beaten that of The Mummy (1999), because we would have had more time to learn about the mummy, the characters, seen battles between the two, but instead we only see a small battle, the mummy captured, and then the climactic battle is over as soon as it begins and it seems the mummy herself was being put back into her sarcophagus as soon as she climbed out. Cut the secret organisation out, you’re left with a hollow film. I’m sorry, but I didn’t like it as much as The Mummy (1999).

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)

This time it really is the end of the article.