The Mummy was envisioned as the keystone for the whole new universe of monster movies. Hopes were high with Tom Cruise leading the pack. But something snapped. This flick simply was not up to the expectations. Instead, it went on to split audiences and critics alike.
The 2017 film The Mummy with Tom Cruise was supposed to be the grand kickoff for Universal\’s Dark Universe. This article begins to explore why this film did not land as expected. We shall examine its strengths and weaknesses, and what it means for the future of monster pictures.
Tom Cruise\’s Star Power vs. Expectations of the Genre
Tom Cruise is a well-manifested action man. Now, this gives rise to a question. How did his established image go with the horror/adventure feel that The Mummy was looking for?
Cruise\’s Action Filmography and Branding
Think \”Mission Impossible\” or \”Edge of Tomorrow.\” Whenever you\’re watching him in an action film, you know you\’re in for treats. His casting in \”The Mummy\” set expectations. Audiences expected thrills and stunts.
Did that casting help or hurt the movie? It might have brought in viewers who would never dream of watching a monster film; yet it also distanced it from feeling like the monster movies.
Balancing Horror and Action: Was it a Mismatch?
Now comes the pivotal question: was it doing justice for either genre, or failing one or the other? A few scenes worked, while others seemed slightly off-tag.
This sort of smack-dab kind of proves the point. You\’ve got the scene where zombies chase Tom Cruise, who cracks jokes and dodges blows. It\’s pure action, but does it read creepy? Some would say that was a little awkward.
The Dark Universe: Ambitions and Underachievements
So Universal had major dreams. Dark Universe was going to be all of that. The Mummy was meant to be the genesis of it all.
The Dark Universe Concept Would Action Universe Be A Good Fit?
Dark Universe aspired to unite the classic movie monsters: Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wolfman. It\’s going to be akin to The Avengers but with fearsome beasts. So many movies were already lined up. This was a major sell for movie studios.
Such an idea could\’ve been magnificent. It is one shared universe full of monsters. Such is the vision that Universal had.
Critical and Commercial Performance: Disappointments Out of the Gate
\”The Mummy (2017)\” did not receive favorable reviews. Neither did it quite rake in the expected bucks from the US box office. Critics called it all sorts of ugly names, from \”a jumbled mess\” to \”generic.\”
Such an immediate failure at the box office had a material impact on the workings of the Dark Universe. Other movies planned are now sitting on the shelf. The idea is now dead.
Plot vs. Character Development
An exciting story can save a movie. So, was The Mummy one of those? How was the story? Were the characters growing?
Narrative Strengths and Weaknesses
The story did have pace issues. At times, it was s-l-o-w; one wonders if the reason for it was that it went too fast. Issues of credibility bothered some audience members.
For example, one second, the character is terrified of the mummy. The next second, he is joking with it. That\’s going to feel odd.
Character Arcs: Cruise, Boutella, and Wallis
Did the good guys change at all? Cruise played Nick Morton, a soldier stumbling upon Ahmanet\’s tomb. Sofia Boutella was the mummy herself, and Annabelle Wallis was Jenny Halsey, an archaeologist.
Some thought Boutella nailed it in terms of the life she breathed into Ahmanet, while others felt her character fell short of development. The chemistry between Cruise and Wallis, some felt, came off as forced.
Visual Effects and Production Design
On a great monster movie should go great on visuals. Did The Mummy live up to that? Let\’s inspect CGI and sets.
CGI and Practical Effects
The movie used CGI and practical effects. Some CGI looked outstanding, and others looked fake.
The practical effects were really good. They helped the film maintain a dirty ambience. The CGI couldn\’t always match the same.
Set Pieces and Action Sequences
The plane crash was really memorable. It was exciting and great to look at. The tomb of the mummy was crafted beautifully.
Those scenes were special. They told the story visually in quite an engaging way.
Legacy and Lasting Impact
What kind of legacy did this film create? What did it change in the field of monster movies? What was the large consequence for Tom Cruise\’s career?
Influence on Future Monster Movies
The Mummy did not create a trend for monster movies in the year of its release. If anything, it became a cautionary tale; with heavy doses of criticism raining down on it.
Studio executives learned one lesson: they can\’t just dump monsters into a room together. They need storyline and character. An emphasis on character development is vital.
Tom Cruise\’s Career Trajectory
This movie is but a blip on the cruise radar. Not one of his finest roles. It is definitely not the usual action movie starring cruise.
He got busy with other shoots almost immediately. He returned to doing what he does best. Making the action movies that people love.
Conclusions
The Mummy (2017) is a complicated case. It had promise but in the end failed. Maybe Cruise was a casting mistake; that was how high the Dark Universe ambitions were set.
In the end, the movie divided the audience; it was neither an overwhelming failure nor a spectacular success. Monster movie franchises: real difficult. We shall see.