Although another great film, the idiocy of The Mummy (1999) continues in The Mummy Returns.
- The Cult of Imhotep excavate Hamnuaptra to recover Imhotep's corpse and the Book of the Dead, Ardeth Bay is present and secretly witnesses the cult's actions.
You'd Expect: For Ardeth to have united the Medjai and stopped the cult from finding Imhotep corpse. The Medjai outnumber the cult by the thousands as shown when they fight the Army of Anubis.
Instead: Ardeth and the Medjai let them take Imhotep's corpse and Ardeth decides to follow them.
As A Result: The cult succeeds in resurrecting Imhotep, and in the novel, the cult is also able to dispose of the book of Amun Ra, the only known way of killing Imhotep. - Alex has just brought the chest containing Bracelet of Anubis into his house and hears it speak.
You'd Expect: For Alex to alert his parents to the Bracelet speaking or just leave the chest alone.
Instead: Alex open it and puts on the bracelet, which promptly attaches itself to his wrist.
As A Result: This leads to him being kidnapped and having seven days to take the bracelet off or it will kill him. - The Cult of Imhotep has resurrected Imhotep and decide to kill Evelyn, however, Rick and Ardeth save her and begin to fight back.
You'd Expect: For Imhotep to have learned his lesson after his last defeat and step in and quickly dispatch the O'Connells and Ardeth himself.
Instead: He summons his four mummified guards and orders them to kill his enemies.
As A Result: Although the O'Connells and Ardeth are forced to fight the mummies, they manage to kill them. - Jonathan and Alex have stolen a double-decker bus and escaped the museum with Ardeth, Evelyn and Rick, while the mummified soldiers are following and trying to board the bus.
You'd Expect: For Jonathan to stop the bus after reaching a safe distance and allow Rick and Ardeth to blow the mummies apart with their guns. It's dangerous but will allow Rick and Ardeth to control the situation better.
Instead: Jonathan carries on driving the bus, and the mummies inevitably board.
As A Result: Although the mummified guards are killed, Rick and Ardeth are left injured and exhausted, which prevents them for stopping the cult from kidnapping Alex. - The Cult of Imhotep arrive at Karnak; however, Alex pulls a lever on the train and tries to escape.
You'd Expect: For the Cult members to dismount the train and quickly recapture Alex; he's wearing the bracelet and needs to stay alive until the Cult arrive at Ahm Shere, and all of them should know this.
Instead: The Cult members on top of the train begin to fire their guns at Alex and nearly shoot him dead.
As A Result: Imhotep is pissed off by their actions, kills two members of the cult in anger and recaptures Alex himself. - The O'Connells have arrived at the Gold Pyramid and succeeded in saving Alex from the Cult; however, Anck-su-namun stabs Evy to death.
You'd Expect: For Imhotep to kill Rick, Jonathan and Alex to prevent them from interfering in his plans and take Jonathan's golden stick which is the Spear of Osiris.
Instead: He throws Jonathan aside and just walks into the Pyramid.
As A Result: He loses his powers which are taken by Anubis and a grief-stricken Rick arrives to go on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge against him. - Anck-su-namun is entrusted to watch over the Book of the Dead and the key by Imhotep while he fights the Scorpion King.
You'd Expect: For Anck-su-namun to keep the key on herself at all times.
Instead: She leaves both the key and the Book of the Dead on the side while she waits at the entrance.
As A Result: Jonathan arrives to distract her while Alex uses the Book to successfully resurrect Evelyn. - Imhotep throws the Spear of Osiris at the Scorpion King; however, Rick grabs it and stabs the King himself.
You'd Expect: For Imhotep to cut and run. He can't salvage this situation.
Instead: He runs up Rick and pointlessly screams "No!" as Rick commands the army to return to the Underworld. The temple starts collapsing and both end up hanging from a ledge over a chasm that leads to the Underworld. Too Dumb to Live doesn't even begin to cover it.
As A Result: Anck-su-namun and Evy run in and discover them. Imhotep begs for help while Rick tries to get Evy to leave, and it's Evy who musters the courage to mount a rescue while Anck-su-namun flees to her own ignoble death. Imhotep loses the will to live and lets go.
