The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior (2008) (V)

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers:

Randall McCormick (screenplay)
Stephen Sommers (character)

Release Date:

19 August 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Prequel To Spin Off Of Sequel To Remake

Cast

Andreas Wisniewski	...	Pollux
Jeremy Crutchley	...	Baldo
Shane Manie	...	Jesup
Pierre Marais	...	Young Mathayus
Warrick Grier	...	General Abalgamash
Az Abrahams	...	King Hammurabi
Vaneshran Arumugam	...	Gudean Emissary
Wayne Shields	...	Black Eyed Soldier
Robin Smith	...	High Priest
Diane Wilson	...	Woman in Swamp
Sean Higgs	...	New High Preist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chase Agulhas	...	Noah
Natalie Becker	...	Astarte
Michael Copon	...	Mathayus
Randy Couture	...	Sargon
Karen Shenaz David	...	Layla (as Karen David)
Simon Quarterman	...	Ari
Amira Quinlan	...	Concubine
Clodagh Quinlan	...	Concubine
Tom Wu	...	Fong

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, and sexual content including references.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Atlantis, Western Cape, South Africa

Company:

ApolloMovie Beteiligungs

Trivia:

Dwayne Johnson turned down the chance to reprise his role.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Scorpion King (2002)

My Review

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

"The Scorpion King 2" begins the story of warrior Mathayus (Michael Copon), who will later become the Scorpion King and fall to the dark side (a la Darth Vader).

After the death of his father at the hands of ruthless Sargon (Randy Couture), Mathayus goes away for a few years to learn the ways of the scorpion, and returns a full-blooded warrior. Sargon is now king, and brings Mathayus on as his personal bodyguard.

After Mathayus' brother is accused of speaking out against the king, Mathayus is ordered to kill him, but instead saves him and goes on the run, with lifelong friend Layla (Karen Shenaz David) and Greek poet Ari (Simon Quarterman), heading to Egypt to find the fabled Sword of Osiris which can be used to take down the king, who's received dark powers thanks to the lord of the Underworld, Astarte (Natalie Becker).

We follow Mathayus' journey to Egypt, the Underworld, and eventually back home to face Sargon once and for all - for revenge and for humanity.

I wasn't expecting much out of a direct-to-DVD movie, so maybe that's why I enjoyed it. I thought the acting was pretty decent, with many humorous moments, as well as the action being extremely impressive. The only thing that didn't impress me was the 'special effects,' including a scorpion that looked half scorpion, half something else. Other than that, I thought it rather enjoyable.