Screen Scene
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 2, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 Universal Studios Brendan Fraser
reprises his starring role as Rick O’Connell in "The Mummy
Returns."
“The Mummy Returns” Starring Brendan Fraser
and Rachel Weisz Directed by Stephen Sommers
Extending the special effects, action,and storylines of
1999’s “The Mummy,” the sequel “The Mummy
Returns” offers even more bang for the buck. The movie finds
the hero and heroine of the original, Rick O’Connell (Brendan
Fraser) and Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), married with a son, Alex
(Freddie Boath). A 5,000-year flashback introduces the warrior
Scorpion King (WWF wrestler The Rock) and his army. Defeated, the
king sells his soul to the god Anubis in exchange for invincibility
in battle, and his soul ends up in stasis until resurrected. Legend
says that whoever raises the Scorpion King and kills him will take
command of his invincible army of canine warriors and can conquer
the world. Evil fighter Lock-Nah (Adwale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) summons
ancient Egyptian warrior Imhotep (the bad guy in the first
“Mummy”), the only man who can defeat the Scorpion
King, so that he and Imhotep can rule the world. As in the first
movie, Imhotep really only wants to bring back Anck-Su-Namun
(Patricia Velasquez), his lover in ancient Egypt, so that they can
get a white house with a picket fence, 2.4 children and a minivan.
Imhotep makes it personal with the O’Connells by kidnapping
Alex, so now Rick and Evelyn have to save the world and their son,
going on wild adventures through Egypt. The viewer is treated to
visually fantastic scenery: endless sand dunes, immense ancient
cities, mountain passes and an evil enchanted rainforest in the
middle of the desert. The landscapes, acting and plot of the movie
give it a definite fantasy or comic book feel. Many of the
computer-generated effects are spectacular. In one scene, a
gigantic wall of water comes seething through a canyon where the
heroes are journeying by dirigible, and to heighten the effect, a
menacing human face materializes on the wall of water as it is
about to engulf them. Viewers of the first “Mummy”
movie will see many improvements in the sequel due to advancements
in special effects technology. The special effects of the partially
resurrected Imhotep are fantastic, showing a grotesque human form
without all the flesh, internal organs and muscles showing. Equally
impressive are the battles between humans and the Scorpion
King’s animal army. Industrial Light and Magic did a good job
making legions of warriors, pygmy mummies, the wall of water and a
slew of other creations that give “The Mummy Returns”
an “A” for special effects. Unfortunately, the movie
suffers from the same faults of many Hollywood blockbusters. Holes
in the plot as big as London double-decker buses are abundant.
Every character is essentially one-dimensional ““ if a man is
big, looks mean and has a sword, he’s a bad guy; if a man is
skinny, doesn’t carry a sword but looks surprised all the
time, he’s a cowardly good guy used for comic relief.
“The Mummy Returns” uses the ancient Egyptian idea of
reincarnation with the interesting but slightly ridiculous idea
that Evelyn O’Connell was Nefertiti in her past life, and
throughout the movie she has flashbacks of herself fighting
Anck-Su-Namun in the royal court. Regardless of the overall campy
feeling of the movie, fans who liked the first “Mummy”
can’t really lose with this one. With all the grandiose
special effects, it would be a shame to only view this on a 13-inch
TV set.
Chris Young Rating: 7
“About Adam” Starring Kate Hudson and Stuart
Townsend Directed by Gerard Sembridge
Introducing someone new to the family is easy in “About
Adam.” Set in New Dublin, Ireland, “About Adam”
is the smart and sexy tale of Adam, God’s gift to all
mankind, and his influence upon the Owens family. Adam (Stuart
Townsend) is an irresistible and handsome man, who lives to make
other people happy. Perfect in almost every way, Adam is the
son-in-law of every parent’s dreams and the friend and
confidant that everyone wants. Adam becomes introduced to the Owens
family after meeting Lucy Owens (Kate Hudson) at the restaurant
where she works. From the bookish Laura (Frances O’Connor) to
the sexy Alice (Charlotte Bradley), the Owens clan is an eclectic
family who become smitten with the charming Adam. As Adam is
introduced to Lucy’s brother and sisters, each of them
becomes entranced by his good looks and personality, and they
engage in a unique relationships with each that will change their
lives forever. “About Adam” has a refreshing script
that is lighthearted and fun to watch unfold on the screen. Telling
the stories of each of the family members’ encounters with
Adam, the whole story of Adam is slowly pieced together like a
puzzle, finally becoming a complete picture. Although the film ends
a bit oddly, it is very comical, bringing out all the
eccentricities of the characters. One of the few films set in New
Dublin, “About Adam” shows a bustling city, comparable
to Los Angeles and even San Francisco, surrounded by beautiful
rolling hills. The film depicts a more modern Ireland that is a
pleasant departure from the dreary country seen in many other
films. Townsend plays Adam wonderfully and allows Adam’s
deceptive and benevolent appeal to come alive. Hudson, fresh from
her Golden Globe nod for “Almost Famous,” takes on a
New Dublin accent for the role of Lucy. In a role that could have
made her seem a little miscast, Hudson’s conviction and
honesty compel the audience. Funny, sweet and an all-around
feel-good movie, “About Adam” tries to give life not
only to the characters but to the audience as well, and almost
succeeds at doing so too. Set in Ireland, some of the humor was
likely lost in the crossing of the Atlantic. Many references to
cultural icons will be unfamiliar to U.S. audiences. “About
Adam” is a smart, funny and sexy film that’s
delightfully entertaining. Although no pearls of wisdom about
integrating into a new family are bestowed upon the audience, the
lighthearted way the film handles the subject is fun to laugh about
and a good way to take a break from the realities of life.
Jacqueline Maar Rating: 7
“Eureka” Starring Koji Yakusho, Aoi
Miyazaki, Mawaru Miyazaki and Yohichiroh Saitoh Directed by Shinji
Aoyama
Hollywood loves action-packed thrillers in which high-speed
chases end with flying bullets and big explosions. Rarely does an
audience see any other perspective than the hero’s. What
happens to other characters, the innocent bystanders? Witnesses to
the bloodshed barely get a moment on screen. Director Shinji
Aoyama, however, takes on the witnesses’ perspective in
“Eureka” when a crazed man hijacks a bus in a small
town in Japan. The shocking event leaves only three survivors:
Sawai, the bus driver, Kozue, a young schoolgirl, and her brother
Naoki. Kozue (Aoi Miyazaki) and Naoki (Mawaru Miyazaki) withdraw
into complete silence soon after the hijacking. When another tragic
accident takes the life of their father, and their mother leaves in
search of a new life, the children are left all alone. Sawai (Koji
Yakusho) finds his way back to the town a couple years after the
incident and reunites with the orphans who are barely managing to
take care of themselves. In an attempt to resolve their common
experience, the three, along with the children’s city slicker
cousin, Akihiko (Yohichiroh Saitoh), go on a soul-searching
journey, this time on a different bus. Yakusho, who has previously
acted in films such as “Shall We Dance” and “The
Eel,” gives an outstanding performance as the bus driver
turned adoptive parent and is one of the few highlights of the
film. Another exceptional aspect is that the film is shot in sepia,
giving it an artistic, photographic element that persists
throughout its 217 minutes and can help the viewer endure this
lengthy film. Each frame looks like a photograph coming to life.
But beyond the cinematography, the plot crawls along at a
snail’s pace and can leave the average viewer dozing off, not
missing much at all. The story does, however, have a few
interesting twists, such as when dead bodies begin appearing during
the journey. Still, it would not have hurt to shorten some of the
film’s longer scenes. Perhaps Hollywood filmmakers know what
they’re doing when they rarely take the angle of the
distressed witness. “Eureka” certainly doesn’t
fit into the summer blockbuster category but it does allow viewers
to see life from a different angle.
Janet Nakano Rating: 4
