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My Kind Of Crazy

thanks for starting this
im surprised there wasnt a thread already for this
love this franchise

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Me too, Jen! I'll add you.

Yeah, we've been using the Action/Adventure genre thread for these movies the whole time and it overbears that thread to the point where it seemed logical to start this one.

I'm thinking of also starting a separate ship thread for Rick and Evie

Hope nobody's offended by the title I guess Arnold just views this as a two-installment series the way that most of us do. These were the only two made by the cast's favorite director (Stephen Sommers) and I really cannot stress enough how Evie without Rachel is NOT Evie -- and I don't dislike Maria Bello in other things, so it's not bias against her.

Why they agreed to do one without Rachel is beyond me. This whole series gained adoration for the chemistry between her, Brendan and John.

P.S. I mean no disrespect to lovers of the 2008 movie It's just not for me. My interest was purely in the Imhotep story arc.

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Interesting how 20 years on, Arnold Vosloo (who played Imhotep) still thinks The Mummy Returns was the stronger movie of the two.

I suppose it depends on what way you look at it? It definitely had a bigger scale than the first and was able to expand the universe for these characters, but it also suffered from CGI criticism (Scorpion King), Imhotep's emasculation and the endless debate of whether Anck Su Namun was out of character for abandoning him (as well as the additional backstory of her and Evie having known each other in their past lives).

I personally prefer the grandeur feel of the first movie, how it was based in Egypt and nailed the balance of scares & comedy (whereas the second leaned more towards the latter). The first film just felt scarier to me, and captured the Hammer horror style of monster movie-making.

I definitely think the strength of the sequel - unlike what many others think - is the downfall of the Imhotep and Anck Su Namun romance. I thought it was very true-to-life to witness him sacrifice everything for her, only for her to metaphorically stab him in the back. Something about her character to me, ever since their first scene in the first movie, screamed 'femme fatale'. I think she was self-serving all along, wanted out of her boring marriage and used the feelings of an obsessed holy man to ensure her freedom. I think it was fun for her to witness her husband's second in command to betray his faith for her. Moreover, it was great to see in the sequel how Stephen Sommers juxtaposed Anck Su Namun leaving Imhotep to die, as he tearfully watched Evie rescue her husband Rick from his own potential death situation. The comparison of Rick and Evie's true love in that they would unconditionally do anything for each other, with Imhotep's blind passion for Anck Su Namun resulting in both their deaths, was very well done. It doesn't get the credit it deserves, because people focus too much on the CGI for Dwayne's villain.

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THAT scene where Imhotep envies the love between Rick and Evie -

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So much love for Rachel as Evie online -

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I loved this guy (one of the trio) in the sequel who kept foreseeing and expecting a curse to get them:

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Always reflecting on the utter brilliance of Stephen Sommers having Anck Su Namun betray Imhotep in the end. I've seen people debating all the time about who was the biggest manipulator between the two of them.

One thing I can never agree on is people who view her running away as "out of character". No, it just reinforced that love & lust are two separate things. Her actions revealed her true nature. It's also difficult to feel sorry for Imhotep when she does this, because you could say it was karma for him stealing the Pharaoh's bride.

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Brendan Fraser almost died whilst filming THE MUMMY

This isn't breaking news, I remember this was confirmed years ago, but it's always insane to read about just how far Brendan pushed himself to the physical limits for this role. He did truly almost suffocate in that hanging scene.

atwoodsmariano

Personally never seen these movies

Never really had any interest

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Give them a chance, Allison, if you get the time. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz have terrific chemistry, John Hannah is a hilarious klutz and Arnold Vosloo has memorable presence as the Mummy. He really takes it seriously, even when some scenes feel comical.

The sequel is a great companion piece, follows these characters ten years later

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Am I naive to still hope for a Rachel/Brendan MUMMY reunion? Knowing they're still in touch gives me the feels -

lessismore

awwwww I am so happy for him too

I want a reunion too! Loved them so much.

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I liked Maria Bello in 'Coyote Ugly' but I honestly never watched Tomb of the Dragon Emperor because I didn't want to see anyone else playing Evelyn.

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