Hollywood re-makes are often dismissed as another attempt by Hollywood to make a dollar without really trying. While it is true that movies such as The Longest Yard probably did not need to be redone, there are some movies that benefit from a re-make and some current Hollywood directors that realize that a subtle tip to the original movie can help make a re-make more effective. Some directors go overboard with the tribute to the original movie and ruin their re-make but director Stephen Sommers found that perfect blend of new version and tribute in his 1999 re-make of the classic horror film The Mummy. The 1999 version of the Mummy uses the same basic premise as the 1932 Boris Karloff version but takes everything in the Mummy more than one step further. The whole time, however, Sommers makes sure to keep that underlying fear that runs throughout the entire original Mummy and uses it to make his 1999 re-make of the Mummy a modern movie classic. Sommers also adds the one thing to his Mummy that the first one did not have, humor. The 1999 version of The Mummy is an exciting a terrifying romp through modern day and ancient Egypt but with that Brendan Fraser flair for comedy that also makes the entire movie a lot of fun.

The basic premise of both Mummy movies is that the ancient Egyptian high priest Imhotep is freed after centuries of being imprisoned for having an affair with the Egyptian pharoh Seti’s wife Anck Su Namun. Modern day explorers find Imhotep’s tomb and release him causing nothing but problems. In the 1999 version we are introduced to Evelyn Carnahan and her mousy brother Jonathan. They want to find Imhotep’s tomb to learn from its contents. They manage to employ the services of Rick OConnell, played by Brendan Fraser, and together the group finds the tomb of Imhotep. Along with that group is another group of explorers who are out to only find the riches they think are hidden in Imhotep’s tomb. In the end they wind up releasing the spirit of Imhotep who slowly regains human form and decides that he wants to destroy all free thinking people and rule the world. He also wants to bring back Anck Su Namun by using Evelyn’s body. The Mummy is an expertly woven tapestry of action, adventure, horror, and comedy that keeps the story moving and the audience glued to their seats until the very last scene. Jonathan Carnahan, played by John Hannah, is the perfect straight man to Fraser’s quick wit and the two of them together add an element of comedy to The Mummy story that was not in the 1932 version but obviously needed to make the story complete. The 1999 Mummy is not some lifeless looking corpse wrapped in gauze that we are all familiar with but a spirit regaining human form by slowly reversing the process of decomposing. It is very disturbing and done very well.

The Mummy went on to be a huge financial success and also gathered up an Oscar award for its perfectly done sound effects. It was so successful that the day after it was released the producers called Stephen Sommers and indicated that they wanted a sequel immediately. Brendan Fraser was perfect in his role and The Mummy proved to be a more than worthy re-make of the original 1932 Boris Karloff horror masterpiece.