Movie Reviews: Mummy Returns, The

Two years ago, movie theatres were rocked by a special-effects bonanza called "The Mummy". Now comes the sequel, "The Mummy Returns" with the same cast, plus a pint sized newcomer and an overgrown wrestling star called The Rock.

"The Mummy Returns" is set eight years after the first film. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weistz are back as the adventurous couple who have settled down in London with their little boy played by Freddie Boath. But their fascination for ancient Egypt leads them into another adventure.

And there are, of course, plenty of these bandaged guys running after them. Yes, the campy tone is the same, but the plot gets complicated.

A chain of events finds the corpse of their old nemesis Imhotep resurrected and reunited with his love Ancksunamun. As the mummy seeks immortality, the film takes us back to Egypt into the realm of the scorpion king. Wrestling star The Rock plays the fierce warrior who sold his soul thousands of years ago to gain military power.

The special effects are amazing, but the plot and the humor run thin. The real focus is on the cat fight between two past life Egyptian divas. Patricia Velasquez and Rachel duke it out, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" style.

And The Rock, Fraser and Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep also battle for power.

Holy hieroglyphics: this free-for-all gave me a headache, but in truth "The Mummy Returns" is about making money. Fans of the first film will undoubtedly bring their curiosity and their wallets to "The Mummy Returns" returns.

The plot is so shallow that I got restless fast. But I will say the effects are even better than the first film, which guarantees that my video game loving nine-year-old nephew and all of his buddies are going to love "The Mummy Returns". I just don't think mummy and daddy will like it.