STEPHEN SOMMERS

Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBB. 

USA, 2001.  Universal Pictures, Alphaville Films.  Screenplay by Stephen Sommers.  Cinematography by Adrian Biddle.  Produced by Sean Daniel, James Jacks.  Music by Alan Silvestri. Production Design by Allan Cameron.  Costume Design by John Bloomfield.  Film Editing by Bob Ducsay, Kelly Matsumoto.

The energetic cast from Stephen Sommer’s 1999 original returns completely intact with the new addition of the main couple’s son. Taking place a few years after the original adventure, this episode finds our heroes Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz taking on the vicious Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) once again, plus the added threat of the reincarnation of his eternal love Anuksunamun (Patricia Velasquez, whose extended role reveals a shaky and moderately-talented actress). The two groups are racing against time to be present at the reawakening of the centuries-dead Scorpion King (WWF Champ Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock), who will raise up his army and take over the world with his evil powers. The adventurous scenes are even more plentiful than they were in the original, though thankfully Sommers’ direction isn’t as heavy-handed as it was the first time around, thanks mostly to much better production design and a lighter score by Alan Silvestri. The film’s only drawback is an overemphasis on computer-generated images that after a while start to feel a little awkward. Weisz is even more charming than she was the last time, plus she has added fight moves.