Calling to mind Italian sword-and-sandal flicks starring Steve Reeves, this spin-off from The Mummy Returns from director Chuck Russell is entertaining, escapist hokum. The plot is hardly original: an evil warlord (Steven Brand), who has conquered and enslaved half the tribes in the desert, is opposed by a lone warrior (wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, in an imposing, star-making performance), who unites the remaining warring factions and leads them against the common oppressor. There might not be much sense or depth amid the noisy, not terribly gory, violence, but the spirited nonstop action, vigorously directed by Russell, makes for an unpretentious, enjoyable adventure. This effective macho epic is a lot more fun to watch than a mere cash-in title, made solely for the wrestling brigade.

In ancient Egypt, peasant Mathayus is hired to exact revenge on the powerful Memnon and the sorceress Cassandra, who are ready to overtake Balthazar's village. Amid betrayals, thieves, abductions and more, Mathayus strives to bring justice to his complicated world.