The Mummy Returns (2001)

 

The Mummy Returns - 2001

Coming up next is 2001's "The Mummy Returns".  The O'Connells are back!  This time, not only are they battling fiendish ancient priest Imhotep, they're also going up against the Scorpion King!

The film's cast includes Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Oded Fehr, Dwayne Johnson, Freddie Boath, Patricia Velasquez, Aharon Ipale, Shaun Parkes, Alun Armstrong, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

We start out with the origins of the Scorpion King and the Bracelet of Anubis.  The Scorpion King and his army is waiting to be awakened once again so they can conquer the world.

Five thousand years later, Rick and Evie O'Connell discover the bracelet while on an artifact finding expedition in Egypt.

Elsewhere, the body of priest Imhotep has been rediscovered.  It is believed that Imhotep is the only one with the power to defeat the Scorpion King and take over the world.

Back in England, the O'Connells' son Alex tries on the bracelet and sets in motion a plan that will awaken the Scorpion King.

Also in England is Imhotep, who has now been awakened.  He is most gratified to see the reincarnation of his lover, Anck Su Namun.

Knowing that the O'Connells possess the Bracelet of Anubis, Imhotep unleashes several of his priests to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting city of London.

They succeed in kidnapping Alex, though as long as he is wearing the bracelet he is safe from harm.  Rick and Evie are devastated.

Back in Egypt, Alex discovers that he only has five days to lead Imhotep to the oasis of Ahm Shere to awaken the armies of the Scorpion King or the bracelet will suck the life out of him.

With the help of an old friend, the O'Connells, Jonathan, and their friend Ardeth Bey, travel by dirigible across the sands of Egypt, hoping to catch up with their son.

By the time Imhotep reaches Karnak, he has fully regenerated.  Alex makes sure to leave a trail so that his parents know where he is and how to find him.

Eventually, the oasis of Ahm Shere is reached, and Imhotep and Rick must put their own battle on hold in order to face the Scorpion King himself.

Naturally, Rick and the gang save the day.  Before the oasis of Ahm Shere is reclaimed by the desert, Jonathan gets one last keepsake, an enormous diamond!

Everyone sails home on the dirigible.  Rick and Evie kiss, while everyone rolls their eyes.

Cast rundown:

   Brendan Fraser...................................Rick O'Connell

   Rachel Weisz......................................Evelyn O'Connell

   John Hannah......................................Jonathan Carnahan

   Arnold Vosloo.....................................Imhotep

   Dwayne Johnson.................................The Scorpion King

   Freddie Boath.....................................Alex O'Connell

   Patricia Velasquez...............................Anck Su Namun

   Aharon Ipale......................................Pharaoh Seti I

   Shaun Parkes.....................................Izzy Buttons

   Alun Armstrong..................................Baltus Hafez

   Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje..................Lock-Nah 

And that's it for The Mummy Returns.  This sequel to "The Mummy" broke all kinds of box-office records when it was released.  Two cast members suffered horribly during the filming.  Brendan Fraser endured a torn spinal disk, a cracked rib, and injured knees.  Dwayne Johnson had a bout with food poisoning and sunstroke, losing 10 pounds during production.  He said that it was the worst he ever felt in his life.

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Skyscraper (2018)

 

Skyscraper - 2018

Coming up next we have 2018's "Skyscraper", a film about a man who must evacuate his family from inside the world's tallest building after it erupts into a fury of fire following an act of terrorism.

The film's cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Moller, Noah Taylor, Byron Mann, Pablo Schreiber, McKenna Roberts, Noah Cottrell, Hannah Quinlivan, and Tzi Ma.

In Hong Kong, the world's tallest skyscraper is being fully opened.  Called "The Pearl", it is 3,500 feet tall and has 225 floors.

Up until now, the bottom half of the tower has been open to the public for shopping, concerts, and hotel stays.  After a final security check, the top half, which is residential, will be opened.

The man doing the final security check is Will Sawyer, who has been living in the tower as a preview with his wife and two children.

When Will goes to visit with the owner of "The Pearl", he sees some of the tower's most amazing features, including a huge indoor park complete with waterfall.

Inside the penthouse, Will is amazed by all of the state of the art amenities on display.

The owner takes Will inside the sphere which gives the tower its name, "The Pearl", and shows him what will become one of the premier tourist attractions in the area.

All of those amenities sound wonderful.  However, there are those that don't wish the skyscraper success, and they actively plot it's destruction.

They start a fire on the 96th floor of the tower.  Crowds watch in awe at the flames.  They can't believe this seemingly indestructible building has become an inferno.

Will is off sight.  His family, however, are trapped inside the tower as the flames grow higher and higher.

Will realizes that his family's only chance is for him to save them.  Using all of his ingenuity and special training from an earlier career, he gets past barricades and lots of policemen to access the building.

Once Will locates his family, they've got to work together to beat the clock and escape the building before it completely implodes on them.

Things don't look good as the flames continue to climb higher and higher.  The gathered crowd watches from a safe distance with baited breath.

Luckily, things turn out all right for the Sawyer family.  When Will asks the owner of "The Pearl" what he plans to do, the owner says, "Rebuild".

Cast rundown:

   Dwayne Johnson.............................Will Sawyer

   Neve Campbell................................Sarah Sawyer

   Chin Han........................................Zhao Long Ji

   Roland Moller...................................Kores Botha

   Noah Taylor.....................................Mr. Pierce

   Byron Mann....................................Inspector Wu

   Pablo Schreiber...............................Ben

   McKenna Roberts.............................Georgia Sawyer

   Noah Cottrell...................................Henry Sawyer

   Hannah Quinlivan.............................Xia

   Tzi Ma............................................Fire Chief Sheng

And that's it for Skyscraper.  A production designer for the film gave an interview to the New York Times which said that the name for the tower, "The Pearl", is actually derived from a Chinese myth about a boy who swallows a pearl and turns into a dragon.  The pearl sits inside the dragon's mouth high above everything, while the tail rests on the ground.

As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.