The Mummy' movie review: Tom Cruise helps resurrect classic movie monster. Mummies come back from the dead. It's what they do. Hollywood has taught us that. So it's unsurprising, and probably inevitable, that Universal has set out to resurrect its onetime blockbuster "Mummy" franchise, nearly 1.

And, to be honest, if they had stuck with that fairly simple plan - - to reboot the series with a kick- ass, new, contemporarily set "Mummy" movie - - things probably would have worked out just fine. But the new "Mummy" movie isn't just a "Mummy" movie. And that's where it gets tripped up.

The new "Mummy" movie, as it turns out, is also the first in Universal's Dark Universe series, envisioned as a multi- movie cross- over monster- movie franchise. Think "The Avengers," but with fangs and claws rather than with capes and masks. By the time it's all done - - if the vision is realized - - it will have resurrected any number of classic Universal movie monsters. Bride of Frankenstein" is already in pre- production. Follow- up movies on the Wolf Man, the Invisible Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Dracula are all reportedly in various stages of development, with others on the way. But first comes director Alex Kurtzman's "The Mummy," which at its outset, at least, shows promise - - not just for it but for the overall Dark Universe franchise. It stars none other than Tom Cruise, who knows a thing or two about top- lining a big- budget summertime movie, and it surrounds him with all the prototypical blockbuster elements: one- liners, explosions, romantic tension, a hapless but wisecracking sidekick (Jake Johnson, of "Jurassic World").

Producer Chris Morgan has opened up about the future of Universal's Monster Universe after The Mummy, detailing exactly where they're at with the franchise. · New Orleans Movies 'The Mummy' movie review: Tom Cruise helps resurrect classic movie monster.

And it's also got a mummy, of course, (Sofia Boutella, "Star Trek: Beyond") whom we meet after the obligatory extended voiceover laying out the ancient act of treachery that cursed her - - or blessed her, depending on your point of view - - with eternal life. Before she can rise and wreak havoc, though, she must be freed from her tomb, which was well- hidden by her ancient Egyptian contemporaries. That's where Cruise comes in. In contrast to the previous "Mummy" franchise - - in which Brendan Fraser's main character was modeled after Indiana Jones - - Cruise's character is more of an anti- Indy. Named Nick Morton, he is an ethically challenged member of the U. S. military who busies himself during his Mideast deployments to hunt for, and then loot and sell, whatever treasures of antiquity he can find.

Three guesses as to whose tomb he stumbles across in the opening 1. The Mummy."For the next two hours, Cruise will spend most of his time running, punching, diving and trying to look taller than he is in real life, as his character frantically attempts to shake the ever- pursuing mummy, who has decided he must join her in the eternal afterlife. Understandably, he's not overly keen on the idea. As the story takes shape, we end up with an effects- driven chase film that, while ticking all the blockbuster boxes, functions reasonably well as something we don't see every day: a big- budget horror film. Or that's what we would have gotten, at least, if the film's producers wouldn't have slammed on the brakes at the film's midpoint to set the table for the overarching multi- monster franchise.

It starts harmlessly enough, with momentary hints of monsters that will show up in future installments: Dracula, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and others. Then it promptly proceeds to tread all over the fine line that separates the fantastical - - which is what "The Mummy" is up to that point - - from the ridiculous, which is what it becomes with its midpoint table- setting. In the interest of remaining spoiler- free, I won't provide any further details of the scene in question, other than to say that Russell Crowe plays a role in it, and that once you hear his character's name you very well might laugh out loud. Which goes to show you: It's a tricky thing updating these classic monsters for modern audiences. Watch Snow White: A Tale Of Terror Online Full Movie. They have for so many years become such a part of our culture - - appearing as everything from theme park rides to Halloween costumes to characters in "Looney Tunes" cartoons and Abbot and Costello movies - - that if they are at all inelegantly re- introduced, they can very quickly transmutate from figures of intended horror to subjects unintentional hilarity. Which is what happens here. While it only occupies about 2.

Kurtzman's film, betraying its previously established sensibilities. If you'll pardon the monster analogy, there's a sort of Jekyll- and- Hyde thing going on here. The core of "The Mummy" is built around a mostly fun, fast- moving vibe, while its malformed midsection seeks to undermine anything good it has accomplished.

From that point on, "The Mummy" struggles to rediscover its footing. It manages to do so to an extent, with a well- conceived conclusion that satisfyingly wraps up the story at hand while also hinting at the future of the franchise - - and while eliciting little to no eye- rolling, no less. The question then is this: Which model will the rest of the Dark Universe series follow? That of the core of "The Mummy"? Or that of its ill- conceived subplot? If it's the former, then there will be a lot to look forward to in coming years as the series hits its stride.

But if it's the latter? Oh, the horror.___________THE MUMMY2 stars, out of 5. Snapshot: The classic horror thriller gets rebooted again, starring Tom Cruise as a member of the U. S. military who discovers the tomb of an undead Egyptian princess - - and then accidentally sets her loose on the modern world. The film is envisioned as the first in the Dark Universe cross- over franchise, which will reintroduce various classic Universal movie monsters.

Cast: Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance, Russell Crowe. Director: Alex Kurtzman. MPAA rating: PG- 1. Running time: 1 hour 4.

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1. All of this is to say that not only is “The Mummy” the worst movie that Tom Cruise has ever made, it’s also obviously the worst movie that Tom Cruise has ever.
2. Universal’s The Mummy was down 4% on Saturday with $11.5M from its opening day of $12M. This puts the Tom Cruise movie slightly higher in its opening at $32.2M per.
3. The Mummy movie review: Dead, decaying, badly bandaged. The worst Tom Cruise film ever The Mummy movie review: The Dark Universe of monster movies kicks off with the.