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Just what I expected

Best movie of this year hands down!

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

If you've watched 'The Mummy Returns' you may be aware that it was Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's first on-screen role. His contribution to the film was hardly iconic, but it appeared to be career-defining enough to give him his own spin-off movie, 'The Scorpion King.' Ignoring the fact that he was a baddie in the Mummy Returns, he's now our hero. And for good reason – he's so damn lovable! It's hard not to root for him, even in a film that really isn't that good. Not that that applies to The Scorpion King. It's great fun. Hardly a classic, but just good fun. And, I'll wager that the demographic most likely to appreciate it would be young boys (or men like me who are still into sword and sorcery etc – I think that qualifies me as a 'geek'). I can see gangs of young lads crowding round the telly on a Saturday afternoon to watch the Rock beat countless faceless baddies to a pulp.You certainly don't need to have seen any of the Mummy movies to enjoy this. Although both films are definitely in the 'action/adventure' genre, they don't really feel alike. It's basically a 'stand-alone' movie which is only related to its predecessor by the one central character and it's more at home among the 'sword and sandals' films than with the Mummy trilogy.It has a very basic plot. Every scene is a set-up for the next and everything everyone says is an important plot point that will have some significance later on. The goodies are good and the baddies are very easy to spot. Sometimes a film uses the tool of having the hero and the villain constantly squaring off against each other, playing off each other. However, here we have possibly the most stereotypical villain ever. He shouts. He bawls. He wants to marry women who he knows hate him. He wants to conquer the world and has a habit of killing any of his men who displease him. He's not that great to be honest, but, seeing as it's The Rock's movie and not his, it doesn't really matter. He fills the 'villain' role.Besides the Rock's charm as a leading man, it's also worth mentioning his helpers. You have Kelly Hu as 'the Sorceress' who absolutely smoulders in her role and Grant Heslov as 'Arpid' who basically plays the part that John Hannah's played in the Mummy trilogy as the 'comic relief' of the film.Like I said, this isn't an amazing movie, but if you're looking for a 'family friendly' Conan-type action film that will keep the boys entertained on a west afternoon, then this is it (or you're just a big kid at heart!).

Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock) played a wonderful role as Mathayus in this film. I really enjoyed his character.To me, this film is outstanding! I can enjoy this movie as a stand alone film (away from "The Mummy" movie series). The story/script is good and well acted out by all of the actors. The sets and costumes are awesome - really took me back to the time of the Akkadian Empire. Action, action and lots of fun action in this adventurous film."The Scorpion King" would make a great double feature with a movie like "Conan the Barbarian " or "The Beastmaster".8/10

Do you smell what The Rock is cooking? Yes, it is most likely bronzer and a hint of cocoa butter. Well, I smell what The Rock is cooking and let me tell you, it is a fragrant whiff of awesome! Here is the recipe for success when it comes to a movie like this: one suave wrestler - whose physique and facial expressions trump any acting ability that some elitist film snob would expect of him; a handful of extravagant fight scenes accompanied by cartoonish sound effects; one sexy, barely dressed actress - just in case the testosterone-induced fight scenes aren't enough to attract the male demographic; and lets not forget the numerous one-liners left over from Brendan Fraser's Mummy dialogue. It's true that there is a shameless theft from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom where The Rock escapes arrows by running behind a rolling gong. But then again, in Temple Indy was escaping machine gun fire. – SPOILER ALERT - The movie ends quite abruptly and I felt deprived of a climactic battle between the rebels and the army of the awkwardly Anglo fascist villain. There are those who would make a silly fuss over the historical accuracy of The Scorpion King. As is common knowledge, the actual Scorpion King was a skinny Jewish guy. To those people, I would say, if you want historical accuracy, go watch Xena Warrior Princess. This is about The Rock, people! Watch that signature eyebrow raise a near inch in the air and don't fight the oncoming orgasm.

In an ancient time, predating the pyramids, King Memnon is using the psychic powers of his sorceress Cassandra to for tell his great victories. In a last ditch effort to stop Memnon from taking over the world, the leaders of the remaining free tribes hire the assassin Mathayus to kill the sorceress. But Mathayus ends up getting much more than he bargained for. Now with the help of the trickster Arpid, tribal leader Balthazar and an unexpected ally, it's up to Mathayus to fulfill his destiny and become the great Scorpion King.....A silly spin off of an even sillier movie, The Scorpian King is by the numbers Conan piffle, but it does show that Dwayne Johnson had very good screen presence, even though the script is dire.Russell is a good director, and knows how to handle a high concept movie, but here he loses the plot.....and then some.So what we are left with is Johnson and the great film writer Grant Heslov walking around the desert, bickering, having fights, bickering some more, and chasing after the cut price Sean Pertwee.There isn't any urgency in the movie, the set pieces are lethargic, and Kelly Hu's hair is always in the wrong place.It's the Fast and the Furious of sword and sandals movies, and it just plods on and on, until the predictable finale.If your a fan of Johnson, forget this, and start with The Rundown, at least it's fun.