Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Happy first day of summer! Here's some events to help you avoid the heat!!


Well, it's officially summer and temperatures around the Pacific Northwest are about to go up significantly.  Maybe not hot enough to keep planes on the ground, but enough that some of us will be looking for some indoor activities to help keep cool.

So it's summer and everyone is suppose to be happy
about the weather.
I'm just counting the days until fall returns and I 
stop melting!

Good thing this edition of the Weekly Update is full of great movies and events taking place inside, so Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy fans will find a place with AC, some tasty snacks and great movies to justify avoiding the sun.  The Bad Batch, the latest film from director Ana Lily Amirpour, is opening in theaters around the Northwest this weekend.  Batman: The Movie is playing at The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR, Zardoz plays at The Grand Cinema in Tacoma, WA, and The Addams Family hits the stage in Tigard, OR.  You'll also find details on Grindtopia 7, several features from Studio Ghibli coming back to the big screen and the Skullface Astronaut Double Feature Horror Film Event in Salem, OR, next weekend.

Be sure to check out the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar from more events coming this summer.  In July, The Hollywood Theatre presents Spielberg On Film, screenings of some of the director's greatest films, from made-for-TV movies to Hollywood classics, and most are being screen in 35mm!  Burlynomicon returns to the Lovecraft Bar in Portland, Friday Night Frights keeps Tacoma spooky with a great lineup of movies through August, and the list keeps growing!  Oh, and I've found the date for the 2018 West Coast Haunters Convention in Portland, OR, next April, so mark your calendar!!  Keep checking back, as I'm continually keeping the page updated with more great events!

Remember, you can have your Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy event listed on The Shadow Over Portland by just emailing me at shadowoverportland@live.com.  Get me the details and I'll post it on the site.  Best of all, listing your event on the site is FREE!

And, should you attend any of the events listed, please let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!

Buy Tickets Now!


Puppeteers for Fears brings Cthulhu: The Musical! to 18th and Union (1406 18th Ave in Seattle, WA) on July 21, 22 and 24 (Friday, Saturday and Monday) at 8 pm.  The production brings H.P. Lovecraft's classic tale to life with hand-and-rod puppets and an original score featuring pirate chanteys, power-ballads and heavy metal.  While all ages are welcome, the material is considered R-rated, so parental discretion is suggested for small children.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the 18th and Union website.  Be advised, the Portland, OR, performances sold out in days, so get tickets early!
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You might need to watch for snakes as Mystery Science Theater 3000 presents a LIVE riff of the Arch Hall Jr. film Eegah at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (1037 SW Broadway in Portland, OR) on July 28 at 8 pm.  I don't need to say much more about this, except that tickets will sell out fast, so don't delay.  For additional details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts website.

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Holy Heavenly Homage, Batman!  The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) pays tribute to the late Adam West with a screening of Batman: The Movie tonight and tomorrow (Saturday, June 24).  Both shows start at 7:30 pm and you know the screenings with sell out, so get your tickets early!  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Ongoing




Colossal, starring Anne Hathaway, who finds herself in control of a kaiju attacking South Korea, is playing at The Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 East Burnside St in Portland, OR) through Thursday, June 22.  For showtimes, visit The Laurelhurst Theater website.

Colossal is also showing at The Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) through Thursday, June 22.  Showtimes and dates vary, so visit the Olympia Film Society website for more details.

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The psychological horror film, It Comes at Night, opens tonight at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  The film runs through Thursday, June 22.  For more details, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

It Comes at Night is at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St in Yelm, WA) through Tuesday, June 27.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Yelm Cinemas website.

Haunted Attractions

Please visit the Haunted Attractions page for details on trap rooms and ghost tours in the Pacific Northwest, as well as an advance details for October haunted attractions.

Open Film Submission

Please visit the Open Film Submission page for details on submitting your film to the Unreal Film Festival in Memphis, TN, the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival, the PDXtreme Fest, the Idaho Horror Film Festival and the Axe Wound Film Festival.

May, 2017

Wednesday, June 21



Mikes Movie Riff Off presents The Lost Boys at the Acme Tavern (1310 Tacoma Ave S in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 8 pm.  You can text your riffs onto the screen during the film, as well as take advantage of $5 "cheezeburgers."  And you don't want to miss the "WHAT'S IN THE BOXXX???" raffle, or the surprise shot during intermission!  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Euro-horror returns to The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) as Weird Wednesday present's 1964's Dr. Orloff (AKA The Awful Dr. Orloff, among other titles).  Directed by Jess Franco, the film deals with a mad scientist performing awful experiments on beautiful women abducted from nightclubs.  What more do you need?  The film starts at 9:15 pm and admission is free, but you must be 21 or older to attend.  Be sure to stop at the concession stand to purchase some tasty snacks and beverages, and support the ongoing mission of The Joy Cinema to keep Wednesdays WEIRD!  Oh, Dr. Orloff might seek you out as his next victim should you try to bring in outside food or drinks.  For more details, visit The Joy Cinema website.

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Heavy Metal Horror Nites, Part 1: Trick or Treat takes place tonight at the Lay Low Tavern (6015 SE Powell in Portland, OR).  DJ Marty King mixes 80s metal with the horror film Trick or Treat, featuring appearances from Ozzy Osbourne and Gene Simmons.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page

Thursday, June 22



The Greeley Grindhouse Film of the Month, The Beast of Yucca Flats, screens tonight at the Greeley Avenue Bar and Grill (5421 N Greeley Ave in Portland, OR) at 7:20 pm.  Arrive early and partake of Happy Hour before the film starts.  You must be 21 or older to attend.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page

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Herschell Gordon Lewis' Blast-Off Girls, the story of a band (played by Chicago garage band The Faded Blue) raising to fame, and exploited by, their sleazy new manager, plays tonight at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR).  Showtime is 7:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Cinema 21 website.

Friday, June 23



The Second Annual Magical Labyrinth Masquerade Ball takes place this evening at Old Nick's Pub (211 Washington St in Eugene, OR).  Dance the evening away in your finest gown or costume, topped off with a fabulous mask, and enjoy performances by Contact Orb jugglers and a very special Fire Dancing Troupe.  The event starts at 5 pm, and tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the day of the event ($15 with a costume).  More information will be posted later, as the site promises some "very special guests this year."  For additional details and all the updates, visit the Facebook Event Page.  

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The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) is celebrating its Five Year Anniversay with the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez love letter to classic exploitation films, Grindhouse, through Thursday, June 29.  Showtime is 8 pm.  For more details The Joy Cinema website or the Facebook Event Page.

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The Bad Batch, the new film from Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night) opens today at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA).  The film deals with a girl, left in a fenced off Texas wasteland who is captured by a band of cannibals.  Expect the film to be more complex than that simple summation.  As of this post, the movie is scheduled to run until Thursday, June 29.  Visit The Grand Illusion Cinema website for showtimes.
 
The Bad Batch also opens at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR). As of this post, the movie is scheduled to run until Thursday, June 29.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Holy Heavenly Homage, Batman!  The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) pays tribute to the late Adam West with a screening of Batman: The Movie tonight and tomorrow (Saturday, June 24).  Both shows start at 7:30 pm and you know the screenings with sell out, so get your tickets early!  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Pink Floyd: The Wall plays at the Dragonfly Cinema (822 Bay St in Port Orchard, WA) through Tuesday, June 27.  Showtimes have yet to be announced.  For more details, and a list of showtime when available, visit the Facebook Event Page

Saturday, June 24



Heroes and Villains Fan Fest and Walker Stalker comes to the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Portland, OR) this weekend.  Guests for Heroes and Villains include stars from the CW DC Universe, as well as from the TV show Gotham.  At Walker Stalker, you can hang out with cast members from The Walking Dead.  To check out the list of guests, and for any updates, visit the Heroes and Villains website and the Walker Stalker website.  For advance ticket sales, visit this link for Heroes and Villains and this link for Walker Stalker.  Please note, it appears the ticket price is for both events, at least at the Walker Stalker link. 

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The Rose City Shakespeare Company presents A Midsummer Night's Dream at 7:30 pm tonight and tomorrow (Saturday, June 24) at Hipbone Studio (1847 E Burnside St., Ste 104, in Portland, OR).  The troupe uses art, music, magic, circus, mime and dance in their productions, and this romantic fairy land adventure should provide some visually striking moments.  Doors open at 7 pm.  Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 S Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) present a screening of the cult classic Zardoz tonight at 11 pm.  If you used a robotic voice to say the title to yourself, you know what to expect.  If you haven't a clue, well, just don't miss this wacky Sci Fi adventure.  You won't be able to unsee the costume Sean Connery wears in this one!  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Seattle Outdoor Cinema opens the season with a screening of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story at the South Lake Union Discovery Center (101 Westlake Ave N in Seattle, WA).  This screening will have a family friendly section (it is the ONLY family night for the series) and will have light sabers for sale.  The event will also have food trucks and craft beer.  The event opens at 6 pm, and the movie will start around dusk.  Get there early so you're assured admittance.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Tacoma Goth Picnic takes place from noon to 3 pm today at Wright Park (501 S I St in Tacoma, WA).  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Sunday, June 25



Fathom Events brings Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro back to theaters nationwide.  Tonight's GKIDS presentation, the first in the Studio Ghibli Fest 2017, is dubbed in English and starts at 12:55 pm PST.  Visit the Fathom Events website for more details, and to locate a theater screening the film in your area.  You'll also find a link for a series pass to the Studio Ghibli Fest 2017, which includes admission to this screening and the five other features running through November.

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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, from Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, today at 3 pm.  The film is presented in the original Japanese with English subtitles.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Monday, June 26


Grindtopia 7: 1972 Night! takes place tonight at 6 pm at Hattie's Hat Backroom (5231 Ballard Ave NW in Seattle, WA).  First up is some kung fu action with Lady Whirlwind at 6 pm.  Next up, at around 7:45 pm, is Slaughter, starring the legendary Jim Brown taking on the Cleveland mafia.  The final feature starts at around 9:30 pm with a screening of Brian DePalma's horror classic Sisters.  The event is free to attend, so be sure to support Hattie's by indulging in some tasty beverage inspired by the films!  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The McMenamins Mission Theater and Pub (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Luc Besson's Sci Fi classic, The Fifth Element, today through Friday, June 30.  Minors are admitted with a parent or guardian to all screenings except on Thursday, June 29 (this is a 21 and older only screening).  Showtimes vary, so visit the McMenamins Mission Theater website for more details and advance ticket sales.

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Fathom Events brings Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro back to theaters nationwide.  Tonight's GKIDS presentation, the first in the Studio Ghibli Fest 2017, is presented in the original Japanese with English subtitles, starts at 7 pm PST.  Visit the Fathom Events website for more details, and to locate a theater screening the film in your area.  You'll also find a link for a series pass to the Studio Ghibli Fest 2017, which includes admission to this screening and the five other features running through November.

Tuesday, June 27



Home, A Bar (719 SE Morrison St in Portland, OR) hosts the Horror Brew Pub Quiz tonight at 7:30 pm.  Gather a team and test your horror trivia knowledge for a chance to win a gift certificate to Home, A Bar.  Or maybe you'll be lucky and win a horror theme prize in the raffle!  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Wednesday, June 28



The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is celebrating 30 years of Star Trek: The Next Generation with a screening of The Best of Both Worlds.  In this classic two part episode, the Borg attack the Federation and capture Picard, turning him into Locutus, leaving Riker and the crew of the Enterprise facing the choice of killing their captain or giving  the Borg a chance to assimilate the Earth.  Showtime is 7:30 pm.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Thursday, June 29



They're creepy and they're kooky...  And they are coming to the Deb Fennell Auditorium at Tigard High School (9000 SW Durham Rd in Tigard, OR).  The Broadway version of The Addams Family will take the stage through July 23.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Broadway Rose Theatre Company website.  Please be advised that children under six, including babes in arms, will not be admitted.

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OzCon International returns to Portland, OR this weekend (see below), and Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) is celebrating with a one night only screening of The Wizard of Oz tonight at 6:30 pm.  Emmy Award-Winning producer and Oz historian John Fricke will introduce the film and host a follow-up Q and A, along with trivia and prizes!  For more details and advance ticket sales (on sale now and strongly recommended), visit the Cinema 21 website.

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The Miyazaki Film Fest, hosted by Moon Burros, takes place tonight at the Wayfinding Academy (8010 N Charleston Ave in Portland, OR) tonight at 5 pm.  The films screened will be Princess Mononoke and Ponyo, and there will be a pre- and post film discussion focusing on the balance of art, nature and activism.  A suggested donation of $5 is asked, and all proceeds with go to fund the "soon to be Wayfinding community garden!"  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Friday, June 30



The seventh annual GEAR Con (Gaslight-fantastic Explorers, Adventurers and Romantics' Convention) takes place this weekend at the DoubleTree by Hilton (1000 Multnomah St NE in Portland, OR).  Expect lots of costumes (and a costume contest), evening entertainment a marketplace and more.  For more details, and a link to ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page

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Luc Besson's sci fi classic, The Fifth Element, screens tonight at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 9:30 pm.  This digital restoration is part of the film's 20th Anniversary, and a nice prelude to the upcoming Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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OzCon 2017 takes place this weekend at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel (8235 NE Airport Way in Portland, OR).  A celebration of author L. Frank Baum and the Land of Oz, the con features special guests Doug Aberle (animator of the Nome King in Return to Oz), Oz historian John Fricke and Inanna McGraw, co-author of Merry Go Round in Oz and The Forbidden Fountain of Oz.  For all the details on all the events, and registration information, visit the OzCon website.

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The Five Year Anniversary celebration continues at The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) with Raiders of the Lost Ark playing through Thursday, July 6.  Showtimes have yet to be announced, so check back here, or The Joy Cinema website, later in the month.

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The Olympia Film Society presents Mad Max: Fury Road Black and Chrome at 9 pm tonight at The Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA).  Tickets are $9 ($6 for OFS members) and are available 30 minutes prior to showtime.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Mad Max: Fury Road Black and Chrome will also screen at 11:55 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC).  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.

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The Bad Batch, the new film from Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night) opens today at The Kiggins Theatre (14011 Main St in Vancouver, WA).  The film deals with a girl, left in a fenced off Texas wasteland who is captured by a band of cannibals.  Expect the film to be more complex than that simple summation.  Showtimes have yet to be announced, so visit The Kiggins Theatre website for more details later in the month.

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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) has added an additional screening of Jim Henson's dark fantasy, The Dark Crystal, tonight at 6:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.

July, 2017

Saturday, July 1



The Seattle, WA, Red, White and Dead Zombie Walk and Movie Party has come back from the grave!  The undead fun kicks off at 6 pm with an all ages zombie walk around South Lake Union, starting Denny Park and ending at the Space Needle.  The event is open to the public.  Then, around dusk, The Seattle Outdoor Cinema is presenting a screening of the rom/zom/com classic, Shaun of the Dead on the lawn of the South Lake Union Discovery Center (101 Westlake Ave N in Seattle, WA).  Please note, the screening is for those 21 and older ONLY!  General admission is $5 in advance, $10 at the door, though a variety of ticket upgrades (including guaranteed seating with the purchase of a season pass for all SOC screenings).  The event is expected to reach capacity, so arrive early and hang out at spend some time at The Winchester Bar Beer Garden (you WILL need your ID).  Be sure to dress up for the Zombie Costume Contest!  For more details, you  can visit the Facebook Event Page or the Everbrite.com Page for details and advance ticket sales.

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The Capital Taproom (150 High St SE in Salem, OR) hosts the Skullface Astronaut Double Feature Horror Film Event tonight starting at 6:30 pm.  Local indie horror film director Joe Sherlock will be present to talk about the two films, Blood Creek Woodsman and Odd Noggins, and possibly discuss his future projects.  Oh, and the films will be shown in the Taproom's HAUNTED BASEMENT!  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page

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E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial kicks off the Spielberg On Film series at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 7 pm.  The film will be presented in GLOURIOUS 35mm, so I'm assuming it's NOT the CGI edited version that hit home video.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Sunday, July 2



The Zymoglyphic Museum (6225 SE Alder St in Portland, OR) is open today from 11 am to 4 pm.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

The Mummy (2017)



I didn't go into The Mummy expecting a gourmet meal, a delicate balance of horror and dread that would send shivers down my spine.  All I wanted was the cinematic equivalent of a greasy pub cheeseburger with fries.  Familiar, filling and served up with a feeling of guilt for enjoying something empty and cheesy.  But in this film, the first in the studio's Dark Universe, the cooks at Universal Pictures forgot that fast food fixes need to be tasty and flavorful.  It's too bad that, for all the filmmaker's efforts, The Mummy is so bland, you'll be avoiding a return trip no matter how severe your craving for cinematic cheese.

The story follows Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) and comedic cohort Jake (Chris Vali), two American soldiers in Iraq who are outside of their assigned area looking for treasure.  Nick has a map leading to a hidden site, taken after an evening spent with Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Walis), an archeologist working for a shadowy group in London.  Nick is caught by his superiors and Jenny before plundering the underground site, and he and Jake are ordered to help explore the cavern.

The three unearth the sarcophogus of Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella), an Egyptian princess mummified alive for killing her father and attempting to give the Set, the god of the dead, human form.  Running short of time, as an enemy battalion is heading to the site, Nick expedites the process of raising the sarcophogus from the cavern that serves as Ahmanet's prison.  And it should be no surprise that Ahmanet arises and sets out to fulfill her vow to Set.

The organization Jenny works for, the Prodigium, is dedicated to prevent such evil events from occurring.  But, try as they might, you can't keep a good mummy down for long and soon Nick and Jenny are racing from sandstorms and undead beings unleashed by Ahmanet as she continues her quest.

As expected, mayhem ensues.

And Ahmanet does bring on the mayhem.

It's hard to deny the impact Wonder Woman will have on The Mummy.  Universal announced lower expectations for the film a few days prior to opening weekend, once it was apparent the superhero phenomenon film would dominate cineplexes for a second week, hoping the appeal of Cruise in overseas markets will keep the film from losing money. 

Had the release date been different, The Mummy might have performed better in theaters, as it isn't a terrible film.  The action sequences are exciting and well staged.  The airplane crash, prominently featured in early trailers, looks great on the big screen.  The siege of London is thrilling as well and a considerable amount of reanimated corpses appear throughout the running time.  The film contains all the elements for an enjoyable summer blockbuster, which might leave horror fans unhappy with the end product, but the film was marketed as an action film.  Complaining that it wasn't scary is pointless. 

But the film has some serious problems, which would likely doom The Mummy regardless of the critical response or release date.  The main issue is that despite the efforts of six writers, including director Alex Kurtzman, the film is little more than a a bland, unsatisfying remake of Stephen Sommer's 1999 film of the same name.


And it's not like the filmmakers tried to hide 
the similarities between the two films.

It's not just the recycled story bits and scenes, or the similarity between the names of the hero in both films (which makes comparisons between the two movies near impossible to overlook), but the filmmakers and lead actors fail to generate interest in and, most importantly, and romantic spark between the main characters.

The same stock characters, the roguish soldier of fortune and the bookish archeologist, were present in the 1999 version, but Brandon Fraser and Rachael Weisz transcended the material.  Audiences fell for the chemistry between Rick and Evie and wanted to see their further adventures. 

But any chemistry between Cruise and Walis isn't present.  The script doesn't help matters, as the audience is introduced to Jenny after the two met.  She's upset that he left her with the map and without a goodbye, while he is only preoccupied with her implied description of his inadequate performance.  While a mismatch couple starting out antagonistically is a common Hollywood troupe, Nick's behavior makes Jenny's eventual attraction hard to believe.  And despite the time the two spend together, it's hard to believe they would ever become romantically involved and take the risks for each other required by the script.

After almost 20 years, I'd still go see another mummy 
movie with these two as the stars.

Another issue is the script lacks any sense of humor or playfulness.  Referring to the 1999 version once again, the film had scary moments, but the tone was more humorous than frighting.  The approach works because Sommer seems to have taken his inspiration from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, as the human characters are funny, but the monsters they face are always menacing. 

Suggesting some humorous moments be added into movie launching the Dark Universe might seem strange.  But, as I mentioned earlier, this was a summer blockbuster, not a horror film, aimed at the same audiences that enjoyed Universal's Mummy films in the early 2000s.  Hell, my mother is not a monster fan, but she loved Sommer's version of The Mummy and even owns a copy of it on DVD.  But I know she's not going to like this one, as part of her reason for liking the 1999 version is that, "It's fun."  And I suspect that, by  eliminating any attempts at humor, the new film will turn away fans of the earlier version.

I think he's as surprised as I am that a film
with swimming mummies isn't more fun.

Another problem is, intentionally or not, the film contains moments that echo better films, and not just Summor's.  The script never makes clear if the scenes are planned homages or just moments of unoriginal writing.  And while those moments might be lost on mainstream audiences, it will make many horror fans groan and shake their heads.

The story gets interesting when the group are brought to the Prodigium, in part thanks to the obligatory tour Nick gets of the base.  We get a few glimpses of the monsters to come, and we get to watch Russell Crowe walk away with the film.

His character is introduced early on as the leader of the Prodigium, but thanks to spoilers coming from Universal, we know he's Dr. Jekyll, and the script delivers a nice tease concerning his darker side.  But when Mr. Hyde emerges, Crowe becomes the best part of the film.  Thankfully, Hyde is not a full-on CGI monster, allowing Crowe to rip into the scenery with gusto.  For all it's faults, The Mummy did one thing right, and that was to make me excited for a Jekyll and Hyde film with Crowe.

The scenery can run, but it can't
Hyde from my chewing it up!


But a few good scenes can't save this movie.  Along with an ending more intent of setting up possible future movies than proving a satisfactory conclusion, The Mummy feels more like a Frankenstein's Monster, assembled from parts of better films.  While such an approach can work for a summer blockbuster, the filmmakers neglected the main ingredient to leave the audience full and satisfied.  We have all the makings of a wonderful cinematic fast food meal except for the most important ingredient, characters we want to see in future films.