In my opinion, I think what mostly attracts viewers to watch this movie is the chance to see a favored WWF wrestler of Rock’s stamina, try his hand at acting. Why not? He now joins the new generation of stereotypical macho, muscle men -- a title once held true, and with ease, by macho men such as Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Lundgren, and Weathers, among others. While they no longer hold such heavyweight titles, (so to speak), these “been there, done that” men can still hold their own in movies.
Let’s be frank, “The Scorpion King” is not Oscar material, but it is, fun to watch. Produced as an installment of the ‘Mummy’ series, there seems to be a lot of missing ingredients that could, in some way, connect this movie to the “Mummy” series. Maybe it’s because WWF’s very own Vince McMahon is the executive producer.
Whatever the reason, it is…
5000 years in the past, and Warlord Memnon, (Steven Brand), has defeated tribes across the Gomorrah desert, with the aide of the beautiful Sorceress, Cassandra, (Kelly Hu), who can foretell the future.
<Enters Mathayus>, (a.k.a. The Rock), an Arkkadian assassin, enlisted by other tribes to kill the Sorceress and defeat Memnon. Mathayus and his brothers, attempt to sneak into Memnon’s campground, to make good on their word to other tribes. Unaware of the trap and dangers awaiting them, Mathayus and his brothers are attacked . Mathayus escapes, but is later captured and forced to watch the murder of his brother by Memnon’s hands.
<Enters the beautiful Sorceress>, who has, no doubt, foreseen her own freedom from Memnon, with the aide of Mathayus. She tells Memnon that Mathayus must not die by his hands. Memnon, believing in the Sorceress, has Mathayus and a beggar, placed in the desert and buried in the ground, surrounded by mounds of venomous fire ants. In a swift moment, the beggar is free, the guards become ant food, and Mathayus pleads for help from the beggar, as the hungry fire ants are about to have him for dinner.
<Enters Mathayus into the city to finish the job>. Now, instead of defeating Memnon for the sake of the other tribes, Mathayus is out to revenge the deaths of his brothers as well. With a swift release of the arrow from the bow, Mathayus has a clear shot of Memnon, but the same little thief who robbed him, is now in need of his help. A costly decision leaves Mathayus fleeing from Memnon’s guards.
Freed by the only means of “air-travel” available, Mathayus finds himself surrounded by Memnon’s harem. He must now battle his way to safety, as guards are summoned into the room. Soon he finds himself in the same room with the Sorceress, (who is bathing in petals and clad in nothing but skin, with finely lined hair to cover her 00 (double-digits), Mathayus kidnaps her and flee through a trap door within the bathing vault. Now on the run from Memnon’s men, Mathayus, Cassandra, and the thieving beggar flee to the desert. In an attempt to escape from Mathayus, the Sorceress tells him of her unwanted captivity under the strong-arm of Memnon.
<Enters daylight>, Mathayus, (in full speed), horse-back riding a camel, a desert storm, and Memnon’s men.
“I cannot speak for anyone else, but this was pretty good acting in this scene. Mathayus, taking out Memnon’s men one-by-one, swiftly, with a bit of Schwarzenegger and Stallone egotistic-like style.”
What happens next is some indication of a connection with “The Mummy Returns.” Mathayus, is stabbed in the leg by Memnon’s top guard, using an arrow drenched in scorpion venom.
<Enters Cassandra>, who must now save Mathayus using her sorcery powers and risking her own life to suction the venom of the scorpion into her body.
Captured again, Mathayus, Cassandra, and the beggar find themselves in a city ruled by (an out of place, out of character) Michael Clark Duncan, and a herd of Amazon females. A fight ensues between Mathayus and Duncan that is straight out of the WWF arena, (comical moments and all), with Rock getting the most punches, but in the end, walking away like a true winner.
<Enters nightfall> the Sorceress foresees death by the hands of Memnon and his men.
<Enters romance> as if we were not expecting this moment.
Knowing that she must return to Memnon, to prevent the foreseen death from occurring, the Sorceress leaves Mathayus behind. Memnon, now feeling betrayed, challenges the Sorceress to prove her loyalty. Meanwhile, Mathayus and the others are making their way back to the palace to retrieve the Sorceress, and defeat Memnon and his men.
<The Finale> A gladiator style fight occurs inside the palace between Mathayus and Memnon, while (Michael Clark Duncan) and the Amazon women battle Memnon’s men outside the palace. As with all movies with a happy ending, good conquers bad, and (left to the imagination of the viewer), Mathayus and Cassandra live happily ever after in a newfound kingdom, to be governed and ruled by Mathayus.