Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11912 in VHS
• Released on: 2004-09-13
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 87 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
There's nothing original in The Scorpion King, but this derivative action franchise gets off to a rousing start by cleverly stealing from a lot of better movies. Capitalising on his brief cameo in The Mummy Returns, Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a. World Wrestling Federation star the Rock) stars as Mathayus, an Akkadian assassin in the age preceding Egyptian pharaohs, who vows to avenge his brother's murder by an undefeated warlord (Steven Brand) prophesied to become the desert-ruling Scorpion King. Their battle for supremacy comprises most of the film's brisk 95-minute running time, punctuated by comic relief from Mathayus's obligatory sidekick (Grant Heslov), romance with a beautiful sorceress (Kelly Hu), and alliance with a massive Nubian (Michael Clarke Duncan) on the eve of their climactic showdown. There's no rhyme or reason to the film's depiction of ancient civilization (the costuming is particularly ludicrous), but the Rock demonstrates adequate action-star potential, and director Chuck Russell (The Mask) wraps it all in a slick, professional package. --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
A prequel to 'The Mummy' tells the story of an alliance that is formed to overthrow the tyrannical ruler called Memnon.

Customer Reviews

Really good film...
... But, in a way, it sort of depends on what you like. If you don't like films which contain magic, lots of fighting, sorcery... Then this film isn't for you.

If you enjoyed The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, then you will probably enjoy this. Personally, I think that it did very well with the suspension of reality. It's got a good mix of actors, and the conflicts in the film are real and engaging.

The film does unfortunately fall into the trap of many in that the lead male character seems to automatically fall in lust with the female character. However, since they don't immediately jump into bed with each other, I think the film can be forgiven this.

All in all, I would say that The Scorpion King is well worth watching, and probably very good value for money.

LIVE FREE
If you want to see a documentary about lifestyles and history of ancient mesopotamia, try the History Channel, or visit your local library; "The Scorpion King" loosely adopts this time frame (about 5 thousand years ago) but only as a convenient background for a reasonably entertaining action story featuring the carefully sculpted Rock (with those artfully etched eyebrows). Sure, we've seen it all before, as the entire movie has been generated, or even cloned, from various standardized stock characters, situations, and even dialogue, but "The Rock" acquits himself well, and is a good natured, honorable and generally likable hero. The effects are good, the action is fast-paced, but the real star of the show is Miss Hu, as the sorceress Cassandra (with a name borrowed from Greek mythology of an era 2000 years later)- she is absolutely gorgeous.

The setting of pre-pyramid Egypt was apparently selected simply to fit into the chronology of the Mummy movies, in which the Rock's Scorpion King character was introduced (as an evil force, however, which is never quite reconciled in this film, in which he is the valiant hero). As noted here, and in previous commentaries, the tribes, costumes and settings seem to have been purchased wholesale from the "Hercules" and "Xena" wardrobe and prop departments, and represent various anachronistic cultures, technologies and geographic locations. The 21st Century "politically correct" ethics are well in force, but they don't get too much in the way of the entertainment.

On that subject, it is interesting to note, however, that though a wide variety of ethnic types is represented by the cast: the Rock himself is part polynesian, his "Akkadian" brother has made a career of portraying American Indians, Miss Hu is oriental, and Balthazar (another anachronistic borrowed name, this one from the "Three Wise Men" of the Bible story), played by Mr. Duncan, is of African-American descent. There is a tribe of "Amazons" for the women's rights crowd. (The only real Middle Easterner is the buffoonish stock sidekick for our hero, who is played by that guy who was in "True Lies" who was the Arabic speaking computer expert).

In this politically correct Hollywood story the true villains must, of course, be caucasion, and, of course in the best Hollywood tradition, the evil king must speak with an English accent,(I think the evil King's Captain of the Guards even had a German accent). The opening scene shows a clearly Northern European tribe (complete with antler chandeliers, blond hair and bad teeth) proving themselves cruel and barbaric, and thus richly deserving of the thrashing they are soon to receive by an aggrieved Rock. (What a wandering band of pre-Vikings is doing so far from home, or 4,000 years before their time is just the first of many such mysteries the film leaves us to ponder).

As I mentioned, these are only minor quibbles. The most important point is that the movie is never reduced to sniggering sexual innuendo, (although there are several scenes featuring attractive young women in provocative attire), gore (which is ostensibly widespread, but remains off-camera) or off-putting posturing by the Rock. Miss Hu is radiantly lovely, and very sexy without lewdness; her tryst with the incipient Scorpion King is discreet, even though her outfits seem to all come from the Hittite version of the Victoria's Secrets catalogue. The Rock proves rather hard to damage, but does not have a sense of smug invincibility which detracts from some films of this type.

I think the Rock will have a good chance to claim the mantle of action-hero left by the aging Arnold, Sylvester and Harrison. Let's hope that his next project gives him something more original to work with. I'll go see it. As for Miss Hu's next endeavor, I'll see it twice!

Wow! Spectacular showcase for Won Jin.
The action sequences in this movie are just fantastic, and are a brilliant showcase for the extraordinary kicking talents of Korean Taekwondo expert Won Jin. How he is not a major star in Hong Kong cinema is really beyond me, on the strength of this movie alone he should have become a major international action star, you will not believe some of the moves he pulls off! In fact the only let down in this movie is yet again the tacky use of over-the-top wire-work, which spoils the action and is certainly not even needed given the magical skills of Won Jin, he just doesn't need wires. The DVD extras provided by Hong Kong Legends are superb yet again; interviews with Won Jin and Chin Gar lok, and the obligatory yet essential audio commentary from Bey Logan. The best extra though, is the action showcase from Won Jin; this is a two-minute feature of Won Jin performing various astounding feats with his stunt team. Your jaw will hit the ground! This guy is a true artist. Fantastic and Inspirational! check it out!!!