Rating: PG13
Genre:
Adventure
Theatrical Release: 04/19/2002(USA)
Release Date: 10/01/2002
SubTitles: English/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French/Espanol
Sound: DD5.1
Run Time: 92 Minutes
Flags: Violence
Distributor/Studio: Universal Studios
The Rock has his first starring role in this prequel to
The Mummy films, which was developed while
The Mummy Returns was still in production. The film takes place in ancient times, when a mighty swordsman,
Memnon (
Steven Brand, making his film debut) ruled over nearly all the known world.
Memnon, a brutal tyrant, defeats his enemies in battle with the help of a beautiful sorceress,
Cassandra (
Kelly Hu), who can predict the future. The last of the "free tribes" form a fragile alliance to fight
Memnon, and hire a trio of Akkadian assassins, led by
Mathayus (pro wrestler
The Rock, who made his big-screen debut as this character in
The Mummy Returns), to kill the sorceress and thus remove
Memnon's advantage.
Balthazar (
Michael Clarke Duncan of
The Green Mile), the powerful leader of the Nubians, objects to hiring mercenaries, but the plan goes forward. The assassins are betrayed by
Takmet (
Peter Facinelli), the son of one of the tribal leaders, and
Mathayus finds himself unable to kill
Cassandra. Thanks to the unlikely machinations of
Cassandra, and the aid of a horse thief,
Arpid (
Grant Heslov of
True Lies),
Mathayus escapes to the desert. He eventually abducts
Cassandra, who explains that
Memnon was holding her against her will.
Mathayus thwarts
Memnon's efforts to re-capture
Cassandra, then uses his newfound sense of justice to convince the surviving tribal leaders to join forces again to defeat
Memnon.
The Scorpion King was directed by
Chuck Russell.
Jonathan Hales (
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones) was credited with the story, and WWF owner
Vince McMahon has an executive producer credit. The film, which was shot in the U.S. (very unusual for a big
action film), reportedly underwent extensive re-shoots when the first cut came in with a running time of 70 minutes.
~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
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