Movie Review: The Mummy
Rated by 1 member
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know this film is extremely violent. Men are
killed by gunfire, sword wounds, fatal acid, insect bites, and
numerous magical plagues. There is virtually no blood or gore
and much of the violence is directed toward the "undead," whose
bones shatter when struck with swords or fists. In a series of
scenes, many characters (including the lead) drink shots of
bourbon whiskey. A man stumbles drunk throughout the film and
another vocally lusts after the whiskey. Parents should know
that THE MUMMY is a violent film, and fully deserves a PG-13
rating. It's inappropriate for young children.
An interesting point of discussion among families might be the way women and indigenous people are portrayed in this film. How does Evie's (Rachel Weisz) strength as a scholarly, cultured, bi-racial librarian compare to other lead female roles in cinema today? How are people of different races depicted in THE MUMMY? Are they respectful of their cultures?
Common Sense Media Review
This film is filled with rich content and is a worthy heir
to the action-adventure/archaeology-meets-swashbuckling genre
made famous by Harrison Ford in the
Indiana Jones series. Rick O'Connell (Brendan Frasier)
leads Evie and her brother to the lost city of Hamunaptra where
they discover treasure that accidentally awakens a three
thousand-year-old cursed mummy. The undead creature is bent on
resurrecting his mummified girlfriend using Bible-size plagues
and undead armies.
Action, comedy, and the captivating romance between O'Connell and Evie are at the heart of THE MUMMY. At times, the out-of-this-world special effects and battle-sequences have one longing for the old-school charm of Lawrence of Arabia or The Ten Commandments. Regardless, this film is extremely exciting, and at times educational. Its juxtaposition of intricate Egyptian history and spirituality, with contemporary Hollywood spirit, might inspire teens to study Egyptian history and spirituality.
Families who enjoy THE MUMMY might want to check out Pirates of the Caribbean, the Indiana Jones series, Goonies, and perhaps Tomb Raider. Also recommended are classics like Ben Hur and Lawrence of Arabia.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
