The Mummy (1999)

Ebert finds the film good trash, cheering nearly every minute despite its flaws in script and direction. He singles out the fun action sequences and silly dialogue for enjoyment.

The critic finds the film a lot of fun despite its dumb script and stereotypes, praising its blend of Indiana Jones-style antics, impressive special effects and chaste romance as escapist entertainment. Brendan Fraser is highlighted as a likeable hero, with the effects department singled out for creating spine-tingling moments.

The film is fun, with terrific set pieces and assured direction from Stephen Sommers. It abandons the original's dark metaphorical power in favor of healthy, risk-free scariness and Indiana Jones-style action.

The film is undermined by weak writing but succeeds as an ambitious actioner with imaginative set pieces and effects that deliver chills and thrills. It rarely has a dull moment and evokes classic adventure films through strong technical work.

Lane notes the film has a blast of fun and roots for Brendan Fraser but criticizes the ignorance, racism, and lack of character depth. He singles out the shape-shifting mummy effects and action hilarity for praise amid complaints about stereotypes.

The digitally manipulated villain meets adversaries in vibrant action and epic adventure, with ancient curses, archaeological treasure hunts and romantic elements. Sommers embroiders the story excessively with gruesome modern additions, but Fraser brings goofy macho enthusiasm and Vosloo provides brooding menace.

Holden describes it as a gaudy comic video game with cheesy effects and no pretenses to seriousness. He praises the lavish but silly special effects and the over-the-top horror spoof elements.

Turan says it's harmless fun for young teenage boys with cartoonish effects and adventure, but drags on and is yucky. He singles out the special effects and Indiana Jones-inspired elements for appeal to juveniles.

The film is a mostly entertaining series of theme-park rides but sorely misses out on magic, atmosphere, mystery and romance. It features over-the-top action, unlikable heroes, cardboard villains, irritating comic bits and offensive stereotypes.

This overlong and thematically meandering film has mostly downmarket performances, but its tongue-in-cheek approach makes it enjoyable for the settings, humour, chases, creepy crawlies and state-of-the-art SFX. It aspires to Raiders but falls short of Spielberg.

McCarthy calls it pure hokum with lame comedy and no suspense. He singles out the broad performances and feeble dialogue for complaint, while noting abundant effects.

The critic praises the film as delivering class effects, dashing adventure, laughs and non-stop action, while also being scary. They highlight Stephen Sommers' original direction that avoids Spielberg clones, along with strong performances from Brendan Fraser as the beefcake hero and Rachel Weisz as the brainy, sexy lead.