The Mummy (1999), The Bourne Supremacy, The 11th Hour
Mummy, The (1999)
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I remember watching this film back in 1999 and it amazes me how much I remember from it nine years later. Even though it has a lot of CGI for visual effects, this movie is undeniably enjoyable because it relies on its characters to get some emotions out of the audiences. It could’ve easily shown the torture and the kills but they didn’t so it leaves some images for the imagination. Brendan Frasier, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah are all funny in their own ways but the three of them are very distinct. The mummy, played by Arnold Vosloo, is an effective villain, especially during the scenes when the treasure hunters just brought him back from the dead. Stephen Sommers, the director, wisely shrouded the mummy in the shadows for as long as he could so that the audience will be curious regarding what he looks like, his out-of-this-world abilities, and therefore engaged. The picture is fast-paced and full of action, which reminded me of “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.” There are also a lot of quotable one-liners that kept the movie from being too serious. This is a campy, energetic roller-coaster popcorn flick that shouldn’t be taken that seriously.
Bourne Supremacy, The
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
A lot of folks were turned off by this installment’s unstable camera technique. I thought it was another dash of brilliance because it matches the film’s kinetic storyline. Matt Damon is back as Jason Bourne, angrier and more astute as ever. While this film serves as the transition between the (brilliant) first to the (magnificient) third installment, this one deserves some merit. If I had to pick which one is the weakest of the three, this would be it. Nonethless, it’s a four-star film because it managed to progress the story, find a decent footing regarding its tone, and the action sequences are bigger, more exciting. The classic, really complex car chase scene near the end of the film is nothing short of perfection. I felt like I was right there next to Jason Bourne. This entire franchise truly revived the tried-and-true action flicks that’s gotten stale. It’s my favourite spy trilogy. If there happens to be a fourth one, I would be more than willing to embrace it.
11th Hour, The
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
What I love about this movie is that it was able to move past the global warming issues and see the bigger picture with such clarity and purpose. It started off with the basics–elementary-level information that pretty much everyone should know about. But as it went on, it became a complex, well-organized academic paper that gets more fun the longer one sticks with it. I learned a lot from this film but I’m not going to mention all of them because it is best if one chooses to experience it for himself or herself. But probably one of the most important lessons I took away from this picture is that the fight against global warming is not to protect the planet. Ultimately, it is a fight to protect ourselves; the Earth flourished prior to our existence and it will continue to do so once we are extinct. I love Leonardo DiCaprio and it is almost impossible for me to not be biased but he really does have a small role here. He’s a well-known active environmentalist and that’s fine. But do not let his presence be a distraction. Focus on the various scientists’ comments and concerns, the facts that they try to convey, and the images of the destruction we’ve forgotten so quickly. I prefer this over “An Inconvenient Truth” because I think it is more geared toward my age group. Still, watching both films is a must because our society desperately needs to change its thinking when it comes to our planet.
