The Mummy Blu-ray Review

The presentation of "The Mummy" on Blu-ray is a visual treat, maintaining an exceptional balance between traditional and modern filmmaking techniques. Predominantly shot on 35mm film, the transfer exudes a rich, textured, and filmic quality throughout. Fine details are consistently sharp and vibrant—every smudge of dirt, scar, and tattoo on characters is rendered with precision. The colors, graded with a contemporary blue/gray palette, stand out against earthier tones in the open-air shots of Iraq. Fireball sequences offer punchy oranges and reds that pop, adding a layer of dynamism to the generally drab hues.

Blacks demonstrate impressive dynamic range and gradational highlights, holding detailed textures even in the darkest scenes. Shadow detail is meticulous, with no noticeable banding and minimal crush. The overall image is clean, with no compression artifacts or print wear evident. The 2.40:1 aspect ratio is faithfully preserved in this refined 1080p transfer via the AVC codec. Facial complexions appear natural with lifelike textures, revealing every conceivable blemish, scar, and pore.

Adding to the visual allure, the Blu-ray’s encode showcases stunning clarity and definition in every frame. Even fast-paced scenes retain distinct detailing, from stone carvings to metal beam rivets. Colors are cleanly rendered and accurate, with primary hues vibrant and animated enough to make even the gloomiest parts of the film appear lively. Contrast is applied expertly for a first-rate picture; brilliant whites and exceptionally deep black levels contribute to a beautiful cinematic quality. Despite slight dips in brightness quality in a few moments, overall visibility remains excellent, enhancing the film’s stylish and atmospheric cinematography.

Universal’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack for "The Mummy" is a standout feature, delivering a highly immersive and precise audio experience. The dynamic range and clarity are notable, with robust use of the entire surround platform to enhance the film’s action sequences. The overhead channels are utilized effectively, particularly during scenes involving helicopters and descending into tombs, creating an impressively encompassing soundstage. Dialogue is firmly anchored in the center channel, ensuring clear and balanced voice rendering throughout. While the low-frequency effects are powerful and deep, they occasionally lack the ferocious intensity expected in certain scenes, though this is a minor drawback in an otherwise exceptional auditory presentation.

The soundtrack's integration with Brian Tyler's score is excellent, as it evenly spreads across the screen and surrounding speakers, occasionally bleeding into the overheads to create an engaging auditory environment. The mid-range frequencies exhibit superb clarity during both loud and subtle moments, maintaining a clean and full-bodied fidelity that enhances the listening experience. The soundscape is expansive, with well-prioritized dialogue and seamless off-screen movement between channels. The low-end frequencies are responsive and capable of delivering wall-rattling bass during key moments, although only a few scenes stand out for their impressive depth.

Action sequences benefit significantly from the detailed and precise placement of sound effects. Scenes like vehicle rollovers offer extensive width and top-line clarity, with crashes and crunches registering vividly. Debris from Ahmanet's rampages and violent sandstorms fill the room with outstanding directionality, utilizing top-end support effectively. Despite some moments where gunfire lacks punch, the audio remains highly engaging and capable of satisfying seasoned audiophiles. Gunshots, explosions, and atmospheric effects are dispersed throughout all channels for an encompassing experience that sustains energy and excitement from start to finish.

The extra features on "The Mummy" Blu-ray are comprehensive and engaging, providing a well-rounded behind-the-scenes look at the film's production. Highlights include detailed featurettes on key aspects like "Life in Zero-G" which covers the creation of the plane crash scene with real zero-gravity effects, as well as "Rooted in Reality" where the filmmakers discuss modernizing the classic monster tale. The supplementary materials also feature extensive interviews with stars such as Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella, and commentary from the director, Alex Kurtzman, along with cast members. The inclusion of deleted and extended scenes, an animated graphic novel, and a feature commentary track further enriches the viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted and Extended Scenes: Four excised and extended sequences.
• Cruise & Kurtzman: A Conversation: An engaging chat between Tom Cruise and Alex Kurtzman about the film.
• Rooted in Reality: Discussion on grounding the movie in 21st-century realities.
• Life in Zero-G: Creating the Plane Crash: Behind-the-scenes look at the plane crash sequence.
• Meet Ahmanet: Sofia Boutella's insights into her character.
• Cruise in Action: Behind-the-scenes footage of Tom Cruise performing his stunts.
• Becoming Jekyll and Hyde: Exploration of Russell Crowe's dual role.
• Choreographed Chaos: Coverage of filming key scenes in London.
• Nick Morton: In Search of a Soul: Tom Cruise discusses his character.
• Ahmanet Reborn Animated Graphic Novel: An animated short focused on Ahmanet.
• Feature Commentary: Director Alex Kurtzman and cast members provide commentary.

"The Mummy" (2017), directed by Alex Kurtzman, endeavors to reboot the classic Universal Monsters franchise, introducing it under the banner of the 'Dark Universe'. The narrative centers on an ancient Egyptian princess, Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella), mummified for her malevolent pact with the god Set. Unearthed by treasure hunter Sgt. Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) and his friend Chris Vail (Jake Johnson), Ahmanet wreaks havoc in modern-day London, vying for Morton to become Set's vessel. This film's ambition seems to distract from its execution, resulting in a fragmented plot weighed down by excessive exposition and lackluster character development.

Cruise's portrayal of Morton, a wisecracking opportunist masquerading as an archeologist, is familiar territory for the actor. His interactions often feel forced, detracting from potential chemistry with co-stars Annabelle Wallis (Jenny Halsey) and Crowe's Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. Notably, Boutella's Ahmanet captivates with a commanding presence, though her character is underutilized, primarily serving as a narrative device rather than a formidable antagonist. The supporting cast, including Wallis as the intelligent yet sidelined archaeologist and Johnson's comic relief as a pseudo-corpse, struggle to rise above the script's limitations.

Visually, the film boasts impressive set pieces and special effects, from ancient tombs to catastrophic plane crashes. However, the action sequences—often pre-revealed in trailers—lack originality and cohesion. The movie's tone fluctuates awkwardly between horror, comedy, and supernatural thriller without fully committing to any genre. This inconsistent pacing and heavy-handed attempt to tie into a broader cinematic universe ultimately compromise the film's potential. Despite some engaging moments and nostalgic nods to previous Mummy iterations, "The Mummy" struggles to find its identity, resulting in a spectacle that entertains but fails to resonate deeply or set a robust foundation for future Dark Universe endeavors.

"The Mummy" (2017) attempts to revive the classic Universal Monsters franchise by entering the crowded market of cinematic universes with its fledgling Dark Universe. Despite a promising premise and the star power of Tom Cruise, the film struggles with pacing and identity, rendering it a predictable watch that feels like an extended trailer. The plot's narrative does little to evoke the sense of horror or depth required to make it memorable, resulting in a standard, effects-heavy action film. However, Annabelle Willis and Sophia Boutella's performances provide much-needed authenticity and complexity, with Boutella particularly shining as the conflicted and cunning antagonist.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray edition of "The Mummy" performs outstandingly. The video quality is immaculate, showcasing crisp visuals and nuanced color reproduction that truly maximizes the 2.40:1 AVC aspect ratio. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is equally impressive, delivering an immersive audio experience with crystal-clear dialogues and dynamic sound effects. Additionally, the supplemental package provides a decent array of extras, making the overall Blu-ray package highly commendable despite the film's narrative shortcomings.

In conclusion, while "The Mummy" (2017) may falter as a leading piece for Universal's Dark Universe due to its lackluster script and predictable execution, the exceptional video and audio quality of its Blu-ray release make it worth a rental. Fans of action and special effects will appreciate the technical prowess, even if the film itself leaves much to be desired in terms of long-term franchise viability.