One of the few sequels that actually lives up to it's predecessor.

To be quite honest, I was very excited about this movie from the start. I thoroughly enjoyed The Mummy, and as soon as I heard about a sequel, I was licking at the chops waiting to see it. It's funny how things work out.

I actually didn't get to see this movie until about about a month or so after it's release. This was one that I wanted to go see on opening night... but unfortunately work got in the way of that plan.

The movie does have it's quirks... such as Brendan Fraser's character all of the sudden being a Magi... WHAT?! Had they incorporated it a little more subtly, it might have worked... but it was just so blatantly thrown into the story that it rates as the highest cheese factor of the movie. But fortunately it's not dwelled upon... too much.

And the young boy who plays the son, Freddie Boath... WOW! This kid can act! Sure, there are some good child actors out there... but why couldn't they cast THIS kid to play Anakin Skywalker in Episode 1? GOD he was so much better than Jake Lloyd.

Patricia Valesquez returns as the resurrected Anak Su Namun... the original 'love interest' for Imotep (The Mummy)... and the Sai sparring match between her and Rachel Weisz in a flashback... oh... my... God. If you're a guy, and that scene doesn't turn you on... you might as well come out of the closet now, because you're definitely gay.

The plot is basic action / adventure fare... a guy wants to rule the world, so he resurrects Anak Su Namun, so that she can lead him to the burial ground where Imotep rests from the first movie. The idea is to bring Imotep back, so that he can fight and defeat the Scorpion King (played by The Rock), take control of the army of Anubis Warriors, and lay waste to the mortal world.

We obviously can't have this happening, so enter Rick (Branden Fraser) and Evie (Rachel Weisz... aka Hottie)... they find the bracelet that unlocks the Scorpion King, and their son unwittingly gets it stuck on his wrist, which sets off the events in motion that will lead to the release of the Scorpion King. Oh... and if he doesn't set foot in this ancient, fabled pyramid that nobody has even heard of except in myths within 7 days... he dies. That could put a damper on someone's spirit, eh?

So the chase is on. Remember the mummy guards from the first movie? The ones who basically just looked like badasses, but didn't really do much... well... they got to be badasses in this movie. And Imotep, he really didn't do much this time... except drain the Nile. In a very similar scene to the first movie, Imotep takes control of nature, and creates a massive destructive force to wipe out his adversaries flying through the air. Only, instead of sand in this movie, it was water, from the Nile river. When he started, he was waste deep... when it was over it was a small, barely ankle deep stream. I thought that was pretty cool, how they made sure to take that into effect. The only problem I had with this scene though... they were flying through a canyon, and being chased by this raging tidal wave... I kept thinking "Go UP!"... but that wouldn't make for a very exciting chase scene now would it?

When they finally reached the pyramid... just in time, mind you... Rick and Imotep are in a race to reach the lair of the Scorpion King... and once there, begin their battle with each other. Whoever destroys the Scorpion King controls the Anubis Warriors... should that be Imotep, we're all doomed. Eventually, out comes The Rock... er.. um, I mean, The Scorpion King.

It was a cool concept, with a failed execution. And maybe it's just my computer animation background... but it was horribly obvious to me that this entire creature was computer generated. With the Anubis Warriors, and the mummies, and even Imotep before he was fully restored... they're very believable. But with the Scorpion King... he just looked plasticy. Putting that aside however, the scene played out nicely.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend this movie, and I'm certainly going to be getting the DVD... if only to watch that sparring match... over... and over... and over... and.... uh... ummm... Right. So... go see this movie, if you haven't already. If you were a fan of the first movie, you won't be disappointed.