THE SCORPION KING
US, 2002, 92 minutes, Colour.
The Rock, Steven Brand, Michael Clarke Duncan, Kelly Hu, Bernard Hill, Roger Rees,
Directed by Chuck Russell.
Saturday matinee with a huge budget. Champion wrestler, The Rock, made a brief appearance in The Mummy Returns where he was a villain. In his full-length movie resurrection, he has become a big-screen hero, Mathayus, in the Arnold Schwarzenegger vein (and has the public support of Arnie).
We are in the Middle East a long time ago. Villainous king Memnon (Steven Brand) is merciless against his enemies who form a league to destroy him. Mathayus, an assassin from a dying tribe infiltrates Memnon's palace to kill Cassandra the oracle without whose advice Memnon will not act. However, she is not completely devoted to Memnon and goes with Mathayus. This is an occasion for limitless battles and confrontations between Memnon and Mathayus - which generally Mathayus seems to be losing until a lucky last minute.
Audiences will get what they expect in terms of colourful sets and costumes, heroism and treachery, and a lot of stoushes.
1. The popularity of The Mummy, the Scorpion King, making him a subject of his own film?
2. Audience enjoyment of ancient history, screen ancient history with its heroes and villains, exotic settings and costumes, décor? Musical score?
3. The comic-strip style - with the solemn touch?
4. The character of Mathayus and his brother, the initial attack, freeing his brother, the bonds between the two? The introduction to the world of the film - and the information given, the culture, violence, power, the aggression of Memnon and his kingdom? The other peoples under attack?
5. Memnon, his empire, his skills, the reliance on the sorceress? The old king and his son, betrayal by the son? The kingdoms, Balthazar as the warrior? His clashes with Mathayus?
6. So much of the film devoted to battles, fights, Mathayus and the chattering comic, the ants, the rescue?
7. Mathayus and the sorceress, her role in the court, her visions, his taking her, going through the desert? Her falling in love with Mathayus, her visions of his death and the destruction of his people?
8. Mathayus, his returning, the confrontation with Balthazar, with the traitorous son?
9. The character of the sorceress, her glamour, her role with Memnon, his reliance on her? Her friend with the invention of the gunpowder?
10. Balthazar, the warrior, his dislike of Mathayus, his fighting with him? Joining forces?
11. The combined troops, the plan of attack, the disguises, the infiltration, the gunpowder? The sorceress returning, Memnon and his ruthlessness with his troops? The fight, Mathayus seeming to be beaten, hit with the arrow, his drawing it out, aiming at Memnon and killing him?
12. Prosperity and peace restored, Balthazar leading his people away, Mathayus and the sorceress together - ready to go into The Mummy and The Mummy Returns!
