The Mummy Returns Blu-ray Review

"The Mummy Returns" on Blu-ray delivers an exceptional visual presentation that holds its own against contemporary high-definition releases. The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and encoded at 1080p using the VC-1 codec, resulting in a highly detailed and vibrant picture. The source material appears well-preserved, with notable improvements over the previous HD DVD release, such as the removal of spots and scratches. However, some dark scenes suffer from a slight loss of shadow detail. Despite this, the dynamic contrast between the sun-drenched deserts and lush green exteriors provides a compelling visual experience. The film’s bitrate peaks impressively on the dual-layer 50GB disc, ensuring robust colors and finely detailed imagery.

The color palette in "The Mummy Returns" is particularly striking, featuring earthy tones and deep blues that convey the film's adventurous spirit perfectly. Outdoor scenes are a visual treat, especially the stark deserts contrasting against cloudless skies. Indoor scenes in London, though slightly hazy, maintain a high level of detail, capturing the city's ambiance effectively. The film’s special effects, while occasionally making CGI elements appear slightly artificial, blend reasonably well with natural shots without detracting from the overall visual quality. Flesh tones are sometimes on the warm side but remain largely naturalistic, adding to the film's immersive quality.

Despite some minor imperfections, "The Mummy Returns" on Blu-ray stands out for its nearly reference-caliber video quality. Grain is minimal and adds a subtle film-like texture, enhancing the viewing experience. Universal's transfer demonstrates strong visual consistency, with vivid blacks and vibrant colors throughout. This Blu-ray release is bound to satisfy fans and stands as a testament to the studio's commitment to quality home media presentations.

Universal's presentation of "The Mummy Returns" on Blu-ray boasts an exceptional DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, marking a significant upgrade from its predecessors. This lossless track is a demonstration of top-tier audio engineering. From the opening scene depicting the armies of Anubis, it becomes evident that every speaker channel is meticulously utilized. Surround channel action is relentless, with effects dynamically navigating between surround right and surround left channels. Bass frequencies are robust and well-defined, contributing to an engaging auditory experience, while dialogue maintains sharp clarity throughout the presentation.

The mix's dynamic range is superb, with deep, resonant lows and crisp, clean highs. Noteworthy sequences, like the Scorpion King prologue and the subterranean chambers, are infused with detailed atmospherics that enhance the immersive quality of the soundfield. Surprises abound, from ancient door reverberations to rushing water effects, all contributing to a vivid and lifelike sonic experience. The subwoofer consistently delivers powerful low-frequency effects, ensuring that action scenes are felt as much as heard.

Throughout the film, the track's ability to handle intense action seamlessly is particularly impressive. The climactic battles feature precise directional effects and substantial impact sounds that fully engage the listener. Surround speakers are in constant action, making this soundtrack truly reference-quality material. Overall, "The Mummy Returns" on Blu-ray offers a thrilling and immersive audio experience that sets a new standard in high-definition sound design.

"The Mummy Returns" Blu-ray offers an extensive array of extras imported from previous DVD and HD DVD releases, albeit presented in standard definition with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound. This collection includes a commentary track brimming with enthusiasm from director Stephen Sommers and executive producer/editor Bob Ducsay, who delve into the movie’s production challenges, special effects, and cast chemistry. Unfortunately, the video quality lags behind at 480p/i/MPEG-2. The extras encompass featurettes on visual effects, outtakes, and promotional content for the sequel. Fans of the franchise will find these features a solid, albeit unremarkable, deep dive into the production.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful remarks by Stephen Sommers and Bob Ducsay.
• Outtakes: Mildly amusing goofs set to music.
• The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon sneak peak: A promotional plug for the sequel.
• An Army to Rule The World Part 2: Special effects featurette focusing on the Scorpion King’s army.
• Unravelling The Legacy Of The Mummy: Exploration of Universal’s classic horror film legacy.
• Visual And Special Effects Formations: In-depth look at four key scenes in various production stages.
• Exclusive Conversation With The Rock: Interview with Dwayne Johnson about his role.
• Spotlight On Location - The Making Of The Mummy Returns: Behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
• Storyboard To Final Scene Comparison: Comparison of storyboards to finished scenes.
• Forever May Not be Enough music video: Music video by Live.
• U-Control: Interactive PiP feature requiring a Blu-ray Profile 1.1 enabled player.

The Mummy Returns, as a sequel, carries forward the adventure and visual splendor of its predecessor, albeit with varying degrees of success. Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) return, this time with their son Alex (Freddie Boath), to face new threats. Discovering an ancient bracelet once owned by the Scorpion King (Dwayne Johnson), they unwittingly trigger a series of events leading to another resurrection of the dreaded mummy Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo). The narrative intricately weaves together elements of fantasy and mythology, keeping viewers engaged, though it does require attention to avoid missing essential plot details. The film achieves a fine balance between action and storytelling, often pushing the boundaries of believability with scenes where O'Connell exhibits almost superhuman agility. Director Stephen Sommers ensures that fight sequences, such as those on a speeding double-decker bus, remain fresh and innovative.

However, while The Mummy Returns boasts refined action sequences and plenty of high-energy moments, it occasionally falters in the third act where some scenes beg for plausibility, leaving a somewhat mixed impression. The film tries to maintain the magic of the first with immersive locations and character progression that feels natural rather than forced. It shifts settings from desert landscapes to bustling London, providing a refreshing change that avoids monotonous repetition of the original. Despite being an exemplary example of a Hollywood sequel with pumped-up effects and action, it sometimes falls into the trap of overstuffing its plot with extraneous subplots and secondary characters like the Scorpion King and CGI pygmy mummies that may detract from its main stars’ charm.

Finally, it's noteworthy that the film excels with its lossless audio track, enhancing every boom and whisper to create an enveloping experience. Yet, certain CGI elements already seem dated, reminding us of how rapidly visual technology advances. Despite its flaws, The Mummy Returns encapsulates what makes a fun sequel: bigger stakes, more spectacle, and a clear love for its adventurous roots. For fans who appreciated the high-paced thrills and larger-than-life dynamic of the first film, this sequel offers more of the same satisfying escapism.

"The Mummy Returns," directed by Stephen Sommers, serves as a solid sequel that maintains much of the entertainment value of its predecessor, despite its reliance on CGI which, at times, falters. The Scorpion King's lackluster special effects, in particular, undermine the film’s climactic moments; however, this misstep is mitigated by the film's overall engaging action and advancement of the storyline. The legions of CGI soldiers demonstrate impressive detail, making up for the less polished aspects. Fans of the original will find enough to keep them interested and sufficiently intrigued by the sequel’s conclusion to consider following the ensuing spinoff films.

Universal’s Blu-ray release of "The Mummy Returns" excels in its technical aspects. The video quality continues to maintain high standards, closely matching that of the initial HD DVD release. Superior audio quality is where this Blu-ray particularly shines, offering an immersive and dynamic listening experience that surpasses previous versions. The supplemental content, while not abundant in quantity, is sufficiently curated to provide meaningful insights into the film’s production and background.

However, as a Blu-ray package, Universal has once again caught the ball on the fifty-yard line and dashed over for a touchdown. Superb picture and sound quality that elevate this disc to reference material are only half the story. The whole package just feels right – right down to the slipcase (that I normally hate with a vengeance!). The extras are mostly ported from several releases that this film has endured over the years, but the studio seems to have picked the best of them and packaged them nicely for us to enjoy in one go. So, it's the $50,000 question time again: Is it worth upgrading from the HD DVD release? That decision ultimately lies with you. However, this disc does add the U-Control feature and boasts a slightly better picture and far superior sound quality – so there's your excuse. If you're moving up from the SD DVD version and have the ability to play Blu-ray discs, it’s a no-brainer – click buy!