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| Bubba Ho-Tep The Plot A mummy is doing some horrible things in a Texan retirement home and its up to Elvis and JFK to stop it. The Movie I went into this film not really knowing what to expect. All I really knew was that actor Bruce Campbell (of "Evil Dead" fame) and director Don Coscarelli (of "Phantasm" fame) were involved, and that sounded promising enough for me. While I may have been expecting a fantastic horror piece, what I got instead was pretty entertaining nonetheless. "Bubba Ho-Tep" is an interesting film. First off it must be noted that the major characters of the film (Elvis and JFK) are quite old, which is why they're living in a retirement home. With this fact comes a very interesting social commentary on how the elderly are viewed today within our society. Second I'd like to mention again, that this isn't really a horror film, at least not within the forefront. This film is actually much more of a drama/comedy, with a little horror in the background. While that combination might sound a little odd, especially with Campbell, Coscarelli, and a mummy involved, it surprisingly just works. I cant really explain it; the film just works. Campbell really has the part of an elderly Elvis down. The makeup, wardrobe, and Campbell's commitment to the character works wonders to create an astonishingly accurate portrayal of Elvis. This is easily one of the better acting parts I have seen in a long time (especially in terms of horror films). Campbell will probably not win any awards, but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it. The story, originally based on the short story by Joe R. Lansdale, is the backbone of the film. The premise of the story might be a little over-the-top, but is original and interesting enough to guide the film forward. Another large factor into the success of this film is the music. Brian Tyler created one of the better scores I've heard in a long time. It's emotional and exciting, and acts as an underlying force that helps create all the different moods of the film. Overall I liked this film a lot. Again it is not really a horror film, as the mummy takes a back seat in this one, so it may not be for everyone. However, for anyone who likes Bruce Campbell, this movie probably will enough of this and that for you to enjoy it; and for anyone looking for something new and offbeat, this might be worth a look. The DVD This MGM release is pretty good. The audio and visual transfers are excellent. The extras are plentiful. We get two audio commentaries. The first one is from director Don Coscarelli and actor Bruce Campbell. It is very interesting, insightful, and entertaining, as is any audio commentary with Bruce Campbell (though Coscarelli is no slouch). The other commentary is with "The King"(Campbell most likely). It's done through the perspective of Elvis (were he still alive), watching the film. There's not a whole lot of interesting information in this one, though it's good if you're looking for some laughs. Also included are four making of featurettes: "The Making of Bubba Ho-Tep" featurette, "To Make a Mummy" (makeup and effects featurette), "Fit for a King" (Elvis costuming featurette), "Rock Like an Egyptian" (featurette on the music of "Bubba Ho-Tep"). All of which are very interesting and entertaining to watch. We also get a couple deleted scenes (with optional by Coscarelli and Campbell), music video, photo gallery, original theatrical trailer, TV spot, and Joe R. Lansdale reading from the novel that inspired the film. Additionally, included is a fantastic booklet with a few pages written by Bruce Campbell and the rest being some captioned pictures. Overall the DVD is pretty amazing, and is one of the better ones I have seen.
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