Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
Sting with a thrill
SWORD & SORCERESS: Cassandra (Kelly Hu) and the Scorpion King (The Rock)
The Scorpion King (ENGLISH)
Cast: The Rock, Michael Clarke Duncan
Dir: Chuck Russell
LAST WEEK we went to the future for our popcorn thrills with The Time Machine and this week we go 5,000 years into the past into the evil city of Gomorrah for more popcorn thrills. The film tells the back-story of the Scorpion King from Mummy - II. Who says only George Lucas can do prequels?
In a time (no not of ancient gods, warlords and kings, though the pace and fun quotient is very similar to Xena Warrior Princess) before the pyramids were raised, the land in turmoil cried out for a hero - can't help the Xena references!
So there is this evil warlord Memnon who is out to crush everybody and become supreme ruler - wonder who or what he'd rule if everyone were dead. The few tribes that manage to hold out against Memnon are organising a secret revolt.
The sorceress, Cassandra who correctly predicts the outcome of every battle, helps Memnon in his dastardly deeds. The resistance decides to kill the sorceress and hires the ancient assassin tribe of Akkadians to do the job.
The Akkadians are quickly whittled down to one, who decides it makes more sense (cinematically or tactically is not clear) to capture the sorceress and defeat Memnon. WWF superstar, The Rock, is great fun as the Scorpion King and Michael Clarke Duncan makes for a fine, impressive Balthazar.
Steven Brand as Memnon speaks with a British accent in the tradition of screen villains while Kelly Hu displays more of her lovely body (in an interesting outfit made mostly of ropes with knots in strategic spots) than her acting prowess. But then who is complaining?
The action is fast and furious with fisticuffs, sword fights, flames, sand storms and snakes vying for screen space. The sidekick with the funny lines and the eccentric inventor make their mandatory appearance.
Directed by Chuck Russell who earlier helmed fun actioners like Mask and The Eraser, The Scorpion King is a hugely entertaining fast-paced sword and sorcery epic.
MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
|
