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The Scorpion King (2002) Universal Pictures 1 hr. 34 mins. Starring: Dwayne Johnson a.k.a. The Rock, Kelly Hu, Michael Clarke Duncan Directed by: Chuck Russell The Scorpion King Rating:  
E-MAIL GINO PAGLIUCA I never had expectations for this film. I knew the plot wouldn’t really matter, and in that case I was right, but it doesn’t end there. This is one of those films created solely to make money, and still I can’t understand how it would earn enough to make a profit, because aside from kids that don’t know any better and that are willing to see their “Rock” on screen, why would anyone pay to sit through this? The jokes aren’t funny and the actors know it, the action is second rate as are all the other elements that make for a good action/adventure film. Slap together some second hand sets, lame costume design and shallow characters and you have your self a boring time at the movies. The Rock has enough presence to carry a film this big; the thing is it’s all an illusion, perhaps suiting the dessert setting. Watch as what you believe is plot and character development; vanish before your very eyes. The dialogue, like photocopies, just gets worse and worse with every line. How and why people go see this I cannot understand. Tell me what entertained you? Please!! E-mail me and tell me what exactly you got as a form of enjoyment from this film. Is there really a need to explain the story? I don’t even think I can remember it properly, and in fact why should I if they don’t even apply enough effort in attempting to create one. Anyhow, The Rock plays Mathayus, an Arkadian (like it matters), who has been trained to be a serious bad-ass, and now must go after Memnon (the villain, like that matters), a bad guy who’s invading all sorts of territories. Along the way The Rock meets a handful of silly characters; most noticeably is former Academy Award Nominee Michael Clarke Duncan. It’s a shame his size limits him to roles like this one, for though I’m sure his pay was fine, he’d prefer to be doing something else. As far as effects and action goes this film has plenty, but again it is second rate. You have seen it all before and then some, and to top it all off you have seen it done better. The love interest in this movie is played by Kelly Hu who has been on the cover of every magazine these past months, and unfortunately doesn’t really impress me in this film even if she is barely clothed in the slim 94 minutes of this film. Actually the run time is a plus, but believe it or not, it actually felt longer and I checked my watch 4 times before it was over. I somehow feel I always pick on the story or script when a movie goes sour like this, and most of the times I’m right, because after all that is the basis for 90% of most films (just took that percentage for example so don’t hold me to it, but I’m pretty sure it’s ballpark). In this case it would be fair to say that it was an ensemble of reasons, no one was really doing there best from the beginning. The actors are all fairly new to the screen and just don’t all have the experience to know better than the performance they are giving. The director, Chuck Russell, has delivered crap like Eraser (starring past action-hero Arnold) and Bless This Child. I loved “The Mask” (also directed by Russell), where you can see quality in that film, from the look and feel of the sets and make-up and effects, to a pretty funny and off-beat story. In “The Scorpion King” you just don’t have those elements coming together. If only there were a team of people to stop movies like this from being green-lit (I hope I don’t have to use that line for my “Minority Report” review). So what I suggest is watch something else. If it’s within the genre, just rent “Indiana Jones” films, or better yet, spend your bucks on something different like “Y Tu Mama Tambien”. Unfortunately the damage has been done; Scorpion King is America’s number one movie. We’ll have to put up with a sequel. Click here to comment on this review or post your own thoughts. Gino Pagliuca © TheWorldJournal.com |
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