Siskel & Ebert Review The Mummy

[@JoeMama-tl4tr]

20 years later and this film aged really well obviously not the CGI, but the story, cinematography, and chemistry between Rick and Evie was incredible . I like watching it now more than I did back then

[@Top10WizardReviews]

"Popcorn movie." I give it 5 bags.

[@FriendZone75]

I give it three hot wet kisses.

[@Crabman394]

I like how pleasantly surprised Ebert was when the other guy agreed with him

[@thegr8n84ever6]

I saw this in theaters at 10 yrs old. I was more scared of the scarabs than the mummy. Those cgi bugs freaked me out

[@marcomacias3960]

the CGI just freak me out. Period. it is not scaled nor rendered realistic.

[@jesusrivera521]

Saw this in theaters when I was 9 for my birthday. Had to leave early cause I made a scene.

[@squamish4244]

@@marcomacias3960 That was the peak of what CGI could do in 1999. I actually think it mostly holds up pretty well.

[@pluckyduck11y]

Ha! This is why we loved Ebert. His 3 minute introduction to the movie seems to suggest it will be a thumbs down from him, as he points out the weaknesses and cliches, yet he cannot conclude anything other than ultimately liking it. And I agree, it is that type of movie. Cheesy, hokey, loud, but still fun.

[@karmatt3098]

He loved these types of movies unabashedly.

[@LukeLovesRose]

The Mummy has grown into a beloved classic for many of us. Weve actually grown to love its cheesy swashbuckler hero, Rick or more specifically Brendan Fraser

[@wildethang93]

Future Oscar winner by the way. This movie is cheesy but also a fun thrill ride.

[@LukeLovesRose]

@@wildethang93 Hes totally proven himself in the industry

[@paulstaker8861]

It's only apparent after the 3rd or 4th time how well this movie is written within the popcorn movie boundaries. Every line exposes character, moves the story forward, creates drama and is often fun and clever. The action and comedy flows smoothly between eac hother with the dialogues so the movie never drags and constantly deliver new thrills right to the end. At the time, this may be just another hollywood cash-maker, but it's almost impossible to find something now (at least for a crowd-pleaser) that reaches this level of craft.

[@silverfox4231]

Knowing what I know now and the films that I've seen watching this film as an adult still makes me happy. I love both mummy films. They're the embodiment of adventure.

[@ilikespacedinosaurs]

What do you think of mummy 3?

[@silverfox4231]

There were parts i loved like the final fight but idk...it didnt feel like "The Mummy" to me. I didnt like that his son was a dick even though he looked up to his father. It kind of felt like a cash grab movie. They tried to do all the things that mummy fans loved but it just didn't feel..."authentic" ? i wanna say? I may have to rewatch it again since i havent seen it in so long. Idk why Anubis wasnt the next big threat. It woulr have made sense since they stopped his plans. He would want to raise his army this time and succeed. The 3rd film made me really miss the egyptian theme also...but like i said i may just have to watch it again.

[@squamish4244]

@@silverfox4231 The movie is so loaded with confusing developments that you just stop caring eventually.

[@marcpatricknorman]

Is that Mr. Smithers from The Simpsons?

[@c.c.l.9139]

I disagree that the arab-bashing was too much. The Americans are mostly gun-toting stereotypes, the british are mostly bookworms with one sporting a monicle. O'Connell, as the protagonist was a more fleshed out character, of course. Most of the arab characters were goofy because the movie is goofy while Ardeth Bay isn't portrayed negatively or goofy at all.

[@gixxerfixxer4159]

I agree. Everyone gets made fun of in this film, not just Arabs.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

I didn't really notice the Arab bashing in the film. It seemed to be the way that foreigners in the region treated the locals at the time the movie is set it. It didn't seem to go out of it's way to do it either, but if they had left it out, I think the movie would have felt off. As opposed to the odd Indiana Jones movies where they could easily have added a German or two who wasn't a Nazi and probably had a stronger movie for it.

[@Kruppt808]

Just like people were offended by a song in the Disney cartoon movie Aladdin. ...... come on people let's try to take our heads out of our ass for a second.

[@gatchywatchyentertainmentb2090]

@@Kruppt808THATS WHAT IM SAYING!

[@elijahblechman8633]

r.i.p. roger

[@BooBop1987]

I love that movie!

[@LSnicket4]

...Roger looks like he just discovered what could be his best pal to share his toys with when he found out Ansen liked The Mummy, too

[@jedijones]

Did we just become best friends?!

[@ead630]

This guy speaks well and seems like he knows movies, he might've been an OK replacement for Gene

[@SolidusScott87]

Seeing this for the first time in the theater back then is one of my favorite moviegoing experiences ever. Peak Brenden Fraser.

[@nicocancilla4399]

This movie is Crazy! CRAZY GOOD!!

[@2H2521]

One of the best films of 1999, just a total blast.

[@yo6488]

I met the visual effects supervisor for tis movie.

[@justinmitchell7115]

Should've kept him around for the second one. the CGI in the sequel was noticeably worse

[@yo6488]

+Justin Mitchell they did

[@robertemery4979]

What went wrong?

[@bernlin2000]

They really nailed it on this review: The Mummy isn't a classic, but it is very fun to watch. The CG was really awesome when I first saw it (although it's pretty standard today).

[@squamish4244]

Actually I think it has become a classic of the adventure genre. It's one of the best films meant for pure entertainment that I've ever seen.

[@2H2521]

@@squamish4244 I agree.

[@Danjoker.]

It's a classic for us millennials.

[@spacecowboy1313]

The scarabs used to scare the shit out of me when I was a kid.

[@timefilm]

Comparing the mummy to Congo and anaconda is like comparing lord of the rings to twilight and hunger games.

[@luisalcalavillanueva5283]

He Was Just Talking About The Movies That Him Remember When He Saw The Mummy Not Comparing With Other Movies or Doing Corss Overs With Other Movies That He Remember

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

whats with the caps?

[@sansthedrummer]

The mummies didn't scare me as a kid, but the damn scarabs did.

[@MichaelBrookham]

Is it me, or does the guest critic's voice sound a little like Gene Siskel's?

[@TheWinstonSlip]

I’m ten years late but you’re so right.

[@17thSHIT]

I actually liked this movie in a sort of switch-your-brain-off way.

[@JamesCarmichael]

It's amazing to study Roger Ebert and how his mind works. He claims that the movie stereotypes the Arabs, but completely glosses over the fact that EVERYBODY is a stereotype in this movie.

[@darthdragonborn1552]

Yeah there’s an obvious scene of Jonathan going “Americans” in a not flattering way when they were shooting like crazy lol

[@JamesCarmichael]

​@@darthdragonborn1552 The English woman is a Librarian for god sake. He also missed the fact that Oded Fehr is a stern strong character who plays somewhat of a mentor sage type character for Ric who is himself a cardboard cut out of a swashbuckler. Imhotep is a decent enough character, but very much "I am the bad guy" type. I mean i don't dislike Ebert really, but he was a bit of an idiot and very biased often only looking at a part of the picture when is comes to these kinds of things.

[@darthdragonborn1552]

@@JamesCarmichael He’s always had horrible takes. He thinks the third Mummy was the best, and went out of his way to say Tommy Boy was unquotable, when its actually really really quotable. That one will confuse me till I die.

[@JamesCarmichael]

@@darthdragonborn1552 3rd Mummy was decent, but it doesn't have the character of the first two. I haven't seen Tommy Boy so i cannot comment.

[@samuelbarber6177]

This movie is my guilty pleasure. It’s basically just a B Movie and I love it. Like, I think it’s meant to be bad.

[@eriqqusbrowun1084]

The fire made those chocolate covered beetles extra crispy like fried bacon.

[@SubterrelProspector]

I love love LOVE The Mummy.

[@HelloFade2]

If Ash from Evil Dead and Indiana Jones had a love child and then took away 75% of bad assery from that love child, you would have Rick O'Connel from the Mummy.

[@Blodia1990]

Rick is pretty badass imo

[@farneyblakeley]

that woman who played Rachel made this movie watchable, the sequel was horrible

[@TopFlightSecurity415]

i loved this movie

[@KaiserBecks]

Great movie, too low budget to rival classics like Indiana Jones, but it was a proper revival of the genre.

[@BradiKal61]

fun characters and fun action scenes but not a great movie. a perfect analys. This is the movie that made me a Brendan Fraser fan

[@Kruppt808]

From a table top war game enthusiast point of view it's what we call a "beer and pretzels" movie. Nothing to complicated, just sit back and watch the action and have a couple of laughs. It's not The Godfather but it's not Howard the Duck either.

[@Bisbeatle]

Was this one made after Siskel died?

[@ECL28E]

@thesatanic6 The problem with stop motion is that it looks too artificial.

[@ilovepanslabyrinth]

@EIricbrother I remember part two kickin ass when I saw that at the cinema as well Ah memories

[@jordanthomas4379]

This movie is a classic, I love it sooooo very much.

[@thegoldentroll]

Which one is Siskel?

[@heroicprime]

Wrestling Historian siskel dead.

[@sammykewlguy]

Ebert was shocked to be agreed with. Lol.

[@ECL28E]

@Superfreaxx True, but CG can be good if done well like in Terminator 2 or Sin City

[@bobthebear1246]

This movie was fun. I definitely recommend it. As a matter of fact all three _Mummy_ films were really good.

[@ECL28E]

@thesatanic6 Also, CGI can look good if use correctly like Gollum in LOTR or if stylized like in Scott Pilgrim or Sin City

[@Chubachus]

so much better than indy 4

[@TheNCBproductions]

yep.

[@BooBop1987]

Wow!

[@toxicitzi]

It's interesting that they didn't keep David Ansen in the show, he was really good, although I can see why they had to replace him. The show needed to be interesting and also have different points of view from each critic to associate with more crowds, on top of being informative.

[@adagiobreeze8493]

This movie holds up well 20 years after its release and against its predecessor

[@davidgraham8299]

I agree. Nothing deep and meaningful, just pure escapist fun. Can't go wrong.

[@ECL28E]

@YesWeCantaloupe no. almost all movies use CGI

[@pseudofox]

This movie is 100% dumb. Yet it's totally fun.

[@RonsaRRR]

Transformers are dump. And thid movie is awesome.

[@japeth3213]

Compared to the Tom Cruise movie, this is Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[@LiterallyGod]

promisedeyes this movie is why people go to the movies. To be entertained

[@VenusAxe]

Funny thing is I could care less about Indiana Jones, however I always enjoy The Mummy. It's ridiculous, funny and charming, and it doesn't take itself seriously, because it's not meant to be taken seriously! I don't think it's stupid by a long shot, just plain good old fun. The sequels though try to get away from that point in my opinion and tries to be more serious, eh it fails in that, but I enjoy the the sequels too.

[@alcabane3125]

many people like the trilogy i love them, one of the lovers of teh franchise, yes its camp but good i mean it is the mummy, and i know alot of people dont like it it rips off indiana jones lets see about tom holland drakes uncharted, but i liked everything about this film. I wish they kept doing them until the end of time. the special effects are great, the story is great, i remember going to the walk through mummy ride in universal way back, early 2000s, and now is a roller coaster, man do i feel old

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I remember going into the theater expecting a suspenseful horror flick. Instead I got something more akin to Jurassic Park or Independence Day. I hated it.

[@squamish4244]

@Bisbeatle Yes.

[@asianfireflie]

A top ten best film of all time.

[@ilovebrandnewcarpets]

Top comment is all that needs to be said. It's dumb, but for sure a thumbs up.

[@grkpektis]

@3:13 is that a joke this guy must have ever seen a disney move

[@rubenpunk1983]

Wooouhhh no sabia que todavia seguian haciendo criticas.

[@squamish4244]

@blackacidlizzard What are you talking about? The evil Russians in Rambo 2, Rocky IV, and a shitload of other movies filmed during the Cold War where they are portrayed as over-the-top and barely human. Or all the Russian gangsters in movies now. Or Indy IV. Or The Way Back, which just came out a year ago, set in the Gulag.

[@allyxvolta4040]

Siskel looks totally different here. I KNEW he was a Time Lord!

[@peterkuykendall2367]

That is guest critic, David Ansen of Newsweek.

[@ninjawraith17]

@KahlerHahn A child wearing his father's hat and holding a shoelace is more interesting to watch than Indy 4.

[@TheNCBproductions]

It wasn't all that hard to understand. I don't think it was as bad as other people say, but its still kinda lame, especially compared to Raiders.

[@Buradori0]

LOL good God! If I had a cookie I'd give it to ya! XD

[@Jetset906]

The whole "Mummy" series felt, to me, like a bargain basement rendition of "Indiana Jones". It really paled in comparison.

[@tardersauce12]

@BlueSnech there was an original mummy you know

[@2009joeyjoejoe]

This one is for Brian Orlotti!!!!!

[@juffan]

This is a good matinee. If you enjoyed it, check out The Mummy 2. If you enjoy that, then stop. STOP. Do not look for a third movie. There is no third movie.

[@WalterLiddy]

Loved the leads, it is fun - but I agree not a good film really, and the comic relief was way too much.

[@billyboblillybob344]

Arabs were undoubtedly the largest target audience for this film...definitely unforgivable.

[@Dottiecurran]

@RottenJaws Ha ha. I think the mummy is Ebert

[@Arthus850]

this was after gene siskel died wasn't it

[@peterkuykendall2367]

Yes it was.

[@greenlantern3121]

I'd say complaining about the portrayal of Arabs without mentioning Ardeth Bay being awesome is disingenuous.

[@Chubachus]

The only things that went over my head at Crystal Skulls were drinks being thrown at the screen

[@cjcool91]

But the Maji were arabic and they made them bad ass.

[@MatthewLedZepfan]

and jeepers creepers

[@stevenbaxter7162]

This movie is great dosent deserve the critisim

[@yellowcougar18]

@EIricbrother Exactly. It's just all about taking the absolute pee, and having a laugh. There are a few flaws, some quite noticable, but the sequel Mummy returns is incredibly weak compared to this. The CGI Scorpion King is terrible, and obviously not the Rock, and the acting and kid are irritating as f@*k. No sense of danger. I bet Brendan Fraser still wishes he was as slim now as he was then. He's gotten noticably heavier.

[@07foxmulder]

the third was TEN times better than the second. the second was brutal. absolute garbage.

[@bigoldinosaur]

So The Mummy is a guilty pleasure for Roger. Huh.

[@mic187x2]

i'll never forget seeing this movie after so many family menbers told me how good it was. they were all wrong. i was in the theatre bored senseless. not one of these movies were good. even the racist indiana jones and the temple of doom was more enjoyable .

[@TheDeeFormed]

is ebert now the mummy?

[@berighteous]

Greatest.Movie.Ever.

[@UniteForgetLeftRight]

this whole movie was pretty cool until imotep became restored to a human

[@kreuz7sieben]

Sad how cancer changes a man...

[@yellowcougar18]

@j04370859 I dunno, they really made Im Ho Tep weak in the second film, he does not seem like a threat at all. And the story lacks structure. Oh, the kid is irritating, a bad actor, and annoying as hell. He did not feel like their kid. Far from it, as he seemed more of a nuisance. And rather bad actor too.

[@Double17L]

*brofist*

[@Blodia1990]

I agree 100% on the Arab bashing truly deplorable

[@SOLOHeyman]

Yeah but in the defense of The Mummy. Arabs are smelly.

[@Blodia1990]

@@SOLOHeyman Disgusting bigot, you are

[@blindthrall]

Thumbs up if the bullshit title fooled you too.

[@acrovader]

Ah, 1990's cgi...

[@MrStuDubb]

Awkward start. Good Lord.

[@jacobchanza6163]

the nostalgia critic brought me hear

[@ZarahLean]

Ebert could be in a horror flick

[@MadMax052]

Arabs do smell. Not all of them obviously, but when you walk by a pack of them in the hall the air literally becomes noticeably more humid.

[@denisecoffin314]

The title is perfect for Ebert LOL

[@nmcvicker03]

i agree with a lot of what you said but i just didn't like it. No nitpicking aside, it just didn't have the magic of the original 3 and felt forced. It was all just kind of flat to me.

[@citygirl5705]

Yep, no argument here. But in the case of middle eastern people (men) it's usually justified.

[@flannus]

That would be fine except the movie is poorly written, extremely phony looking, and is a slap in the face two fans of the franchise and moviegoers in general. It manages to be worse than the Star Wars prequels.

[@Potidaon]

Anaconda, Roger? Really? Uuuuuuuuuugh.

[@Kousaburo]

Anaconda? Congo? Ebert is a spazz.

[@Clay3613]

No, that one sucked.