Horror Movie Reviews
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Title: Tale of the Mummy (1999) |
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Review of Tale of the Mummy
- When an archaeological expedition opens an ancient Egyptian tomb, the unimaginable evil of a cursed pharaoh -- Talos -- is unleashed! But before all are lost, team leader Sir Richard Turkel (horror legend Christopher Lee -- DRACULA, THE MUMMY, THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN) heroically sacrifices his own life to destroy the tomb and contain Talos once more! Then, years later, Sir Richard's granddaughter (sexy Louise Lombard) sets out with her own team to finish her grandfather's work ... not knowing that she herself is about to reawaken the supernatural terror of the mummified Talos! Also starring action star Jason Scott Lee (RUDYARD KIPLING'S THE JUNGLE BOOK, DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY), the heart-pounding RUSSELL MULCAHY'S TALE OF THE MUMMY tells us that this time, there may be nothing that can stop the mummy's murderous quest for immortality!
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Comments for Tale of the Mummy
- Posted on 2008-07-22
Attack of the Killer Gauze Monster
I feel cheated. This movie comes up in credited roles for Gerard Butler. Well, you barely see him! He pops his head into a tent, goes into the tomb, and is dead within 2 minutes. So, if you're looking for another movie to drool over Mr. sexy Irish accent, forget this one. And he dies for nothing, trust me.
But, that wasn't my entire reason for purchasing this movie. I also enjoy all things Egyptian - tombs, mummies, curses, etc. But if you want to see a well-done movie, watch the one with Brenden Frasier! I disagree with the reviewer who called him something like a George of the Jungle blown-up bit of eye candy. Please! It's a cool movie - and as far-fetched as "The Mummy" is, it's more plausible than this!
This is NOT Hollywood quality, either in acting or special effects. It truly is a bunch of CG gauze bandages flying around strangling people and dragging them down toilets and stuff. I think the actors get very cheesy at times, and the half-hearted attempt at romance between Jason Scott Lee and Louise Lombard is pretty cheap.
On one hand, I enjoyed the story of Talos - how he came to Egypt, what he was doing, how he was made immortal and how he had to be resurrected. The chamber he's found in was chilling enough as well. But, I also found it to be a little stomach-churning. More graphic detail than horror exactly.
And, as Talos is in his final stage of resurrection, the mask and makeup they used for him made me laugh! You can SO tell that it's a huge fake head put onto a normal-sized body. It doesn't move enough to look real - it just looks like some dude dressed up in a rubber suit with a huge rubber head. The movie obviously did not have a big enough budget to really get the makeup/costume and CG they needed to pull off what they were trying to achieve.
I think there were some good elements. As I've said in other reviews - good underlying elements, but poorly executed. The story of Talos is interesting, so is his resurrection, and there's a reincarnation element (also seen in The Return of the Mummy) that had more possibilities in the plot line. I didn't like the ending either. I don't care if it's unconventional and a little unexpected, it was terrible. It did leave room for a sequel, and I won't ruin the ending if you do want to see this film, but I certainly wouldn't want to see it.
Oh, and at the end, Jason Scott Lee looked like a vampire or possibly the kid and demon at the end of Stephen King's "The Storm of the Century" rather than what he was supposed to be.
Overall, the movie was rather corny, shoddily put together and more sickening than thrillingly horrible. No comic relief, nothing other than flying gauze, rubber and death.
Score: 2
- Posted on 2007-10-31
The review I would have wanted to read
Here is the review that I would have wanted to read regarding this movie. At the end of the story, all the heros are dead, and the evil monster is left to roam the world unknown and unopposed. I wish one of the reviews I had read before buying this movie had told me that; I would have spent my money on something else. This being said, I cannot say that this was a bad movie--it wasn't. It was worth watching. But not worth buying to keep. The best part was finding out that the mummy's beloved princess from ancient Egypt (who he must kill in order to gain immortality for himself) has been reincarnated in the modern world as a man, not as a woman. That little twist at the end of the movie threw me for a loop--it was a wonderful idea, and I am surprised that no one ever thought to do it before. But they only let you in on that secret at the very end of the film, they don't really explore the concept or use it to much potential. But if you are like me, and want your movies to end with the heros victorious and evil defeated, don't bother to buy this. Rent it or catch it on cable.
Score: 1
- Posted on 2007-08-04
Even Jack Davenport can't save this!
What a joke of a movie. As much as I love Jack Davenport even he couldn't save this bomb.
Score: 2 - Posted on 2005-12-11
Only for Ronan...
Yeah, you probably don't know who Ronan Vibert played in this film-- he was in the beginning... he went down to look at the mummy w/ Christopher Lee's character. And he said something cocky.. he had those goggles on and was drinking champagne I believe, and then.. got killed by the mummy after trying to climb up the rope...
yeah that's all I saw the movie for, and to be honest I fell asleep during the movie... even though it was an OK movie.
Eh whatever... don't waste your money though. It's not THAT great.... although Ronan's part was funny lol..
Score: 2 - Posted on 2005-10-19
Nifty horror film
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.
Score: 5
