Embark on the ultimate action adventure that spans continents and explores ancient history with The Mummy Trilogy including The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Follow the exhilarating journeys and exploits of daring explorer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) and his family as they combat the evil undead from the dusty tombs of Egypt to the hidden catacombs of China. Filled with amazing special effects and breathtaking battles, it's a passport to spellbinding entertainment you can watch again and again!

Well, at least that’s what Universal wants you to believe with their release of The Mummy Trilogy on UltraHD.  But this series is creakier than the original Mummy release from 1932.

None of these movies have aged well.  Universal thinks otherwise and, having upgraded all three films - 1999’s The Mummy, 2001’s The Mummy Returns, and 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - onto the UltraHD 4K format, the studio is advertising this release as full of AMAZING special effects.  Uh, no.  These films, directed by Stephen Sommers (who did the first two) and Rob Cohen (who did the third) are fun if you are challenged with something to do, but they hold no water - nor did they ever - when it comes to the special effects department.  They were always laughably awful in that department.  That’s not to say the films are completely without merit.  They are fun . . . with the right mindset.

But the movies are flimsy, full of holes, and completely (if not ridiculously) over the top, asking much from its audience when it comes to suspending its disbelief as Brenden Frasier as Rick O’Connell dives deep into the Egyptian desert and accidentally resurrects an ancient legacy of terror and tension.  As imagined by writer/director Stephen Sommers these films combine the suspense of the legendary horror classic from 1932 with the adventure-filled spirit of Indiana Jones.

But they largely fail.  It’s a double-edged sword when you - with full access to the Universal Monsters Hall of Fame catalog of creeps, creatures, and critters - mess with emotional connections, swapping them out for CGI slickness which completely misses the point.  The Mummy wanted nothing more than to be left alone . . .

. . . but Sommers didn’t leave him alone. 

And, honestly, the only one which works is the original in which O'Connell (Fraser) pairs up with librarian Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) in the search for some long lost treasure.  It’s a romp and a half as a motley archeological crew conquers the curse of the living dead—the vengeful reincarnation of the Egyptian priest Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo). Yeah, it’s riddled with the same leaps in logic, but its fun spirit wins in the end.

The Mummy Returns, complete with mummifield monkeys doubles-down on the dumbness of the original and presents audiences with what came before plus The Scorpion King (The Rock in his film debut) and, with really bad CGI, makes for a cinematic journey few can stomach.  I mean, I am sure the movie has its fans, but I am not one of them.  This reviewing of Sommers’ sequel makes it clear to me that this one is best enjoyed by the youngest audience member in ANY household.  It’s just a bombastic disappointment, which can’t replicate what sorta worked in the original film.

Now, Rob Cohen’s attempt to resurrect the franchise in 2008 might be a little worse than The Mummy Returns BUT, full of digitally created yetis and dragons, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor also misses the mark.  Battling a 2,000-year-old-curse this time, a ruthless dragon emperor (Jet Li) comes back to life with a diabolical plan to enslave the world. Mankind's only hope against him and his legions of undead warriors lies with the courageous O'Connell family, who chase him from the dangerous catacombs of China, to the icy Himalayas and beyond.  And, trust me, it’s just as ridiculous as yetis become the highlight here. 

With Maria Bello (replacing Rachel Weisz, who played Evelyn in the first two films) stepping and China, not Egypt, as the main location for the action, the moniker of The Mummy becomes a bit of a stretch, too.  And then there’s the whole father/son relationship between Alex (now played by Luke Ford) and Rick (Frasier) which just wears out the audience rather too soon.  This one is also just as riddled with plot holes and stunning leaps in logic as yet another ghoul must be sent back to the grave before it is too late.

Look, this franchise has its fans.  I am not one of them, but I do enjoy the first film in the series as it seems more in spirit with adventure films from the 1930s.  The rest, well, the best I can say is that the UltraHD sheen is quite . . . spirited.

This release is now available.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD

Home Video Distributor: Universal Studios
Available on Blu-ray - June 6, 2023
Screen Formats: 2.40:1, 2.36:1, 2.35:1
Subtitles: English SDH; French; Spanish
Audio: English: DTS:X; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1; English: DTS Headphone:X; Spanish: DTS 5.1; French: DTS 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc; Six-disc set; Bonus View (PiP) BD-Live
Region Encoding: Region-free

Embark on the ultimate action adventure that spans continents and explores ancient history with The Mummy Trilogy including The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Follow the exhilarating journeys and exploits of daring explorer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) and his family as they combat the evil undead from the dusty tombs of Egypt to the hidden catacombs of China. Filled with amazing special effects and breathtaking battles, it's a passport to spellbinding entertainment you can watch again and again!

VIDEO

Presented in its original aspect ratio of  2.35:1, the new 4K restoration taken from the 35 mm original camera negative is exceptional. With increased depth and detail in, the picture quality is very clear and healthy. The shadows also have a remarkable deepness that also increases the depth of the shots, especially the nighttime footage. There are no traces of scratches, marks, or other imperfections to be seen either.  But, this set is largely just an upconversion, meaning the the 2160p video is just alright.

AUDIO

Sourced from the 35 mm original 2.0 surround magnetic track, the new,  DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtracks sounds awesome. The dynamic range is impressively shown off in the violent scenes with gun shots coming through with a little extra bang to them. Music, ambient noises, and dialogue all come in clear and sharp.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• See individual listings

Special Features:

Disc 1 - The Mummy (1999):

• Includes a digital copy of The Mummy (1999) (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
• Features High Dynamic Range (HDR10) for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color
• Feature Commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsay
• Feature Commentary with Actor Brendan Fraser
• Feature Commentary with Actors Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O'Connor and Arnold Vosloo

Disc 2 - The Mummy (1999):

• Deleted Scenes
• Feature Commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsay
• Feature Commentary with Actor Brendan Fraser
• Feature Commentary with Actors Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O'Connor and Arnold Vosloo
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Sneak Peek
• Visual and Special Effects Formation
• An Army to Rule the World Part 1Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy
• Building a Better Mummy
• Storyboard to Final Film Comparison
• Photograph Montage

Disc 3 - The Mummy Returns:

Includes a digital copy of The Mummy Returns (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)

Features High Dynamic Range (HDR10) for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color

Feature Commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsay

Disc 4 - The Mummy Returns:

• Outtakes
• Feature Commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsay
• Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Sneak Peek
• An Army to Rule the World Part 2Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy
• Visual and Special Effects Formation
• An Exclusive Conversation with The Rock
• Spotlight On Location
• Storyboard to Final Film Comparison
• Live "Forever May Not Be Long Enough" Music Video

Disc 5 - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor:

• Includes a digital copy of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
• Features High Dynamic Range (HDR10) for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color
• Feature Commentary with Director Rob Cohen

Disc 6 - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor:

• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• The Making of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
• From City to Desert
• Legacy of the Terra Cotta
• Feature Commentary with Director Rob Cohen

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade