It is 3800 BCE and a raiding army from the North commanded by the "Scorpion King" -- a beefy individual that looks like WWF's The Rock, (wait it IS The Rock), marches against Waset (Thebes), Egypt with a large number of soldiers. Even though it is 3067 BCE, which places the timeline in the Old Kingdom, the raiding army looks like New Kingdom with the equipment, as does the opposing Egyptian army. The fact that Waset didn't rise to prominence until the first Intermediate period of the old Kingdom (11th Dynasty) around 2134, also doesn't impact on the film makers' consciousness. The two armies "Hollywood" charge together and clash for a bloody good five minutes, using the cinema melee techniques developed from "Braveheart." So opens "The Mummy Returns."

The Rock is defeated (sorry, no WWF script here,) but as he slinks off, he pronounces that he will return ("I'll be back") and have his revenge. He makes a pact with Anubis, powerful god of the Underworld, who in turn raises a large of army of Jackal-headed undead, (brings a new meaning to the term "dogface" referring to a soldier), which then storms Thebes and slaughters the population. The Rock is invincible, and he plans to subjugate all of Egypt, except Anubis who has completed his part of the bargain, has no sense of fair play and imprisons the Rock in a golden pyramid. But his army remains sleeping, and if the King returns in 5,000 years, Armageddon for the world awaits.

Now that we have the elements of a rocking good story, fast forward to 1933 because the deranged curator of the British Museum plans to do that very thing. Except he plans to destroy Scorpion King and take control of his dogfaced army. But how will he do that? By summoning the Mummy Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) to defeat him. His ace in the hole is the reincarnation of Imhotep's lover Anck-­Su-Namun (the fetching Patricia Velasquez in constantly low cut costumes), who has the ability to do this. Of course the former soldier turned archeologist Rick O'Connell, (Brendon Fraser) his Egyptologist wife, Evelyn, (Rachel Weisz "Enemy at the Gates") who is the reincarnation of Anck-Su-Namun's mortal enemy are standing in their way of world domination.

Confused? See the movie. This sequel not being confined to a remake like the first, gives this "Mummy" legs, allows Director/Writer Conners and company to have a good time. Not to mention they get to spend 20 mill on special effects as well.

Acknowledging its links to Spielbrrg's "Indiana Jones" franchise, "Mummy Returns" has lots of plot devices from "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and Fraser finally realizes how to play the wisecracking O'Connell like Harrison Ford. In fact the transformation is so complete, it is almost like Fraser becomes Ford, except for that dreadful English accent of course. The fact that Fraser and Weisz are now married with a son helps the plot considerably, no more of that "I hate you so I must be in love with you" byplay between the two that slowed down the first film.

Of interest to wargamers is the movie's opening advance of the opposing armies. Through the magic of CGI, the Egyptian shemsu are in companies of 50, not 40 like believed, but close enough, ten ranks deep. So this is probably how the Old Kingdom army looked when it was arrayed in battle 4000 years ago. The only disappointment is the lack of archers (megau), and the lack of large shields (ikem). Another problem is the use of the khopesh, which was a New Kingdom weapon. Also bad is the pole axe used by Anubis' legions that looks like an old Vulcan leer-pa rejected from Star Trek. Otherwise there are plenty of Egyptian weapons like the dja, (Short spear) and axes (ikbu). Shame the weapons are steel, not bronze.

There is also a massed Arab cavalry charge that is visually exciting, and two duels with knifes between Velasquez, and Weisz. The weapons used are Japanese three pronged Jitte but no matter, great choreographed fight scene with two scantily clad females. Besides this, the production design of Allan Cameron's Egyptian motifs is pretty spectacular.

This is an outstanding popcorn movie in the tradition of "Raiders." And speaking of that, funny, I was an archeologist once. I don't remember it being that exciting. Of course I got to carry a toothbrush, not a .45 and I didn't have willowy babes like Weisz draped all over me. Guess I was born too late.

The Mummy Returns

An Alphaville Production
Produced by James Jacks, Sean Daniel.
Written and Directed by Stephen Sommers

Cast
Brenden Fraser Rick O'Connell
Rachel Weisz Evelyn O'Connell
Arnold Vosloo Imhotep
Patricia Velasquez Anck-Su-Namun
John Hannah Jonathan
Oded Fehr Ardeth
Freddie Boath Alex O'Connell

Released by Universal Pictures
Running Time: 2 hours, 9 min.