Moving closer to the end of the Twentieth Century, this tale of undead Egyptians isn't technically a Universal film, although they did distribute it.
1290 BC, priest Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) is having an affair with Anck-Su-Namun (Patricia Velasquez), wife of the pharaoh. Despite their care the affair is discovered. Anck-Su-Namun figures her lover can resurrect her later, so she kills the pharaoh, with Imhotep stealing away her body to the City of the Dead.
Things go south quickly, as pharaoh's bodyguards (the Medjai) assault the priests during the ceremony and slaughter them. Imhotep is spared but only for a moment. Him, they mummify alive and bury in a secret grave. The Medjai are then tasked to guard over his unholy remains forever.
1923 AD and a French Foreign Legion patrol is ambushed in the remains of the city. Rick O'Connell (Brenden Fraser) takes charge after the brass deserts. Fellow Legionnaire Beni (Kevin J. O'Connor) swears to fight besides his friend, at least until Rick turns around then Beni splits.
After a bloody battle, Rick staggers out of the city, unware the Medjai watch his presence and order him left to the mercy of the desert.
Jump ahead to 1926. Ne'er-do-well Jonathan Carnahan (John Hannah) presents a gold box and map to his sister Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) and swears they will lead them to the fabled City of the Dead.
Knowing her brother, Evelyn demands to know who he stole it from and Jonathan comes clean. They find Rick, currently awaiting the hangman's noose. Figuring he would know the current area better than an old parchment, Evelyn barters a deal to get Rick released from prison.
The party is soon assembled, although they quickly spot Beni acting much the same as Rick to a group of hot shot Americans. The Medjai soon assault both groups on the Nile, although Rick's group gets to the right side of the river.
Both groups find the city. Evelyn finds what's left of Imhotep while the Americans finds the Book of the Dead and jars containing the mummy's organs. Evelyn soon reads aloud from the ancient book and the Mummy is alive.
Can Rick and Co. stop the undead fiend they unleashed?
More action adventure than pure horror, although there are some nifty scares. Fraser steals the show as the rough and tumble Rick. Even Vosloo is menacing as the Mummy although they do build up the character's magical abilities a bit much. He acts more like a zombie in bits like a mummy, although I suppose old fellow bandages dragging a foot behind isn't quite as spooky as it once was.
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