The Scorpion King **** (2002, Dwayne Johnson, Steven Brand, Michael Clarke) – Classic Movie Review 383

Wrestling star The Rock is as solid as a rock as a movie star in the title role in this thrilling, non-stop action spin-off from The Mummy Returns (2001), directed by Chuck Russell in 2002.

The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson) plays Mathayus, sole survivor of a band of assassins sent to kill the sexy sorceress Cassandra (Kelly Hu) guiding the cruel Memnon (Steven Brand), who’ll stop at nothing to be world leader.

With fantastic special effects, great fights and even a sting in the tale, it’s a happy return for the Mummy series. The Rock proves a surprisingly decent actor as well as charismatic action star and strong screen presence. Kelly Hu is beguiling but Steven Brand proves the film’s one weak link as a depressingly cardboard villain, Memnon. Michael Clarke Duncan (Balthazar), Bernard Hill (Philos), Grant Heslov (Arpid) and Peter Facinelli (Takmet) also star.

Other cast members include Ralf Moeller as Thorak, Branscombe Richmond as Jesup, Roger Rees as King Pheron, Sherri Howard as Queen Isis, Conrad Roberts as Chieftain, Joseph Ruskin as Tribal Leader, Esteban Cueto as Third Akkadian and Nils Allen Stewart as Torturer.

For the record, The Rock is of course better known now as Dwayne Johnson, and this movie’s the one that turned him from a wrestler to a hit movie star, as the heir to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who took a leave of absence as Governor of California.

It’s co-written and co-produced by Stephen Sommers, the man behind The Mummy Returns, and co-backed by the World Wrestling Federation.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 383

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