Why protect Evie?
They makes such a fuss about protecting Evie from Imhotep instead of the Americans who are needed for Imhotep to regenerate and become all-powerful...
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Why protect Evie?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRzsUVXXMyE
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"Instead of the Americans who are needed for Imhotep to regenerate and become all-powerful"
shareOK, Bluto isn't enough...
Evie was knowledgeable about Egyptology, something the Americans weren't. Ultimately, if they were to stand a chance at all against Imhotep, they would need her knowledge of the ancient Egyptians and customs, plus she knew about the Book of the Dead and how to read hieroglyphs.
Plus, Rick worked for Evie after she saved his life. Why not put his efforts into protecting her?
Also, the Americans were adventure seekers and sportsmen who had guns and would seem to be less vulnerable than a librarian to anyone. Would one man with a gun be able to protect three guys with guns??
And you totally missed the point that ultimately, nothing Rick or anyone could have done would have stopped Imhotep from sucking them all dry, including the Americans. Rick was trying to protect Evie but it didn't matter - the only reason Imhotep didn't kill Evie was because he needed her to be alive.
They sacrificed their lives so Evie could take a nap instead of her trying her hardest to make up for her fatal mistake of reading the book...
It never seemed to cross their minds how the Americans could be protected. Instead they were having a laugh, playing with their guns and drinking booze, even though they were the key to Imhotep's regeneration and their friend had just been sucked dry. Even if they felt the need to protect Evie, it was dumb they didn't even barricade themselves with her inside the room.
I love this movie, but it's just silly how they're so obsessed with protecting Evie, when protecting the Americans should have been their priority while she went out to find out how to stop Imhotep. She was actually much safer being away from them anyway.
You are clearly overthinking this. As I said in my previous post, there was nothing that could be done to protect the Americans from Imhotep, and more importantly, the Americans wouldn't be of much use anyway. Guns, booze, and bravado apparently have little effect on mummies with an attitude.
Evie was the key, which is the answer to the question why Rick found it important to protect her (leaving out his growing feelings for her for now).
Without Evie, Rick would have been unable to stop Imhotep. Rick made the right call considering it was Evie whose knowledge of all things Egyptian enabled Rick to defeat Imhotep.
"You are clearly overthinking this."
Are we back on IMDb or something? That excuse was always just as useless as saying "it's just a movie!" I'm just a fan discussing a detail after having seen the movie dozens of times. And it's simply the truth that the gang protecting Evie while she was taking a nap instead of the Americans who were needed for Imhotep's regeneration, was not the smartest or most logical thing to do. First and foremost, he was after them, Evie could've tried to figure things out while they were being protected. I especially don't get why Evie, as the expert, didn't mention it.
I'm just a fan discussing a detail after having seen the movie dozens of times.
Which is the very definition of "overthinking". You could have read the group's collective response and said "yeah, I guess that might explain it".
Look, if we really want to, we can search for and point out a lot of things that should have been done differently, not only in this film, but in virtually every movie ever made.
But let's look at this like it was a window allowing us to view a historical event. Could things have been done differently? Of course. There was no playbook for Rick, Evie, Jonathan, the Americans or their expert Egytologist to follow when it came to dealing with a cursed mummy who was in the process of rejuvenating himself. In fact, Rick used the lessons learned from this encounter in the sequel, and even then the sequel's playbook didn't provide a bullet proof plan.
Getting back to picking on inconsistencies in any film, I always wondered how the rehydrated Imhotep had magical mystical powers over both man and nature after he came out of the box, but had bupkis when they easily captured him and stuffed him in the box. If that would have been your question, I would have agreed.
But you asked about protecting Evie specifically, and I gave you the answer: Evie, mistakes and all, was the key and the best hope for Rick to defeat Imhotep, which is what actually happened! He made the right choice.
Once again, the Americans were of no use and are only in the movie to fill out the story and provide both comical and dramatic interest, which they did. If Rick spent more time trying to protect the Americans, which he couldn't have anyway!, than he did protecting Evie, a whole different set of events would have needed to transpire to stop Imhotep and it would be a different movie.
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"Which is the very definition of "overthinking". "
Again, it's an useless excuse, because it suggests people on a movie board shouldn't discuss details in a movie that aren't logical. Just because a detail doesn't stand out at first, doesn't automatically mean it makes sense.
"Look, if we really want to, we can search for and point out a lot of things that should have been done differently, not only in this film, but in virtually every movie ever made"
And the problem with that is? If you're a fan, it's fun to discuss details. Doesn't mean you're trashing the movie.
"You could have read the group's collective response and said "yeah, I guess that might explain it"."
And what's the "collective response"? You guys are not all saying the same thing. I'm fully aware Rick cared more about Evie, but that still doesn't explain why none of them realized it was much more dangerous to leave the Americans unprotected. Giving the Americans priority wouldn't have meant a certain death for Evie.
I know the answer you provided, but just because you disagree with me, doesn't mean I have to agree with you. Especially since I've now realized Evie was in much greater danger staying near the Americans.
" I always wondered how the rehydrated Imhotep had magical mystical powers over both man and nature after he came out of the box, but had bupkis when they easily captured him and stuffed him in the box."
To be fair, I don't think the movie makes clear what exactly these powers are. But if you want to start a thread about this, hey, just go ahead!
The movie wouldn't necessarily have been that different with a simple acknowledgement that the Americans needed protection to avoid Imhotep from regenerating instead of making the protection of Evie the priority.
"Which is the very definition of "overthinking". "
Again, it's an useless excuse, because it suggests people on a movie board shouldn't discuss details in a movie that aren't logical.
No one said you couldn't ask a question or discuss it. But when you get an answer that would explain your question, constantly dismissing an answer that is logical is overthinking.
And to summarize my answer to your original question: Evie was an important knowledge base to defeat Imhotep and the Americans were not. Further, Rick could not have stopped Imhotep from killing the Americans anyway. I mean really, it's hard to argue against that unless you just want to be a "right fighter".
" I always wondered how the rehydrated Imhotep had magical mystical powers over both man and nature after he came out of the box, but had bupkis when they easily captured him and stuffed him in the box."
To be fair, I don't think the movie makes clear what exactly these powers are. But if you want to start a thread about this, hey, just go ahead!
His powers were on display: he could turn himself into sand and blow in the wind, he could wave his hand and throw people against walls, he could command the winds to take down an airplane, he could overpower and suck the fluids out of anyone he wanted. But he had no such powers in the flashback sequences. When the pharaoh's guards grabbed him after he stabbed the pharaoh, he went without struggle and allowed them to cut out his eyes, tongue, other organs and stuff him in a box.
But if I asked: "Hey, why did Imhotep have no supernatural powers when he killed the pharaoh yet was almost a God when he was resurrected?" Someone might have suggested (although not shown) that perhaps his original curse upon his death along with the power of the passage read from the Book of the Dead gave him the unexplained powers in his second life. At that point, I might say: "yeah, I guess that makes sense even if there was no exposition explaining it. Thanks."
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"But when you get an answer that would explain your question, constantly dismissing an answer that is logical is overthinking."
Just because I don't think the answers have been satisfying, doesn't mean I automatically dismiss every answer. Don't you think I considered several explanations before posting this?
Sure, Evie's knowledge is important, but my point still stands. She was not in any immediate danger. At that moment their priority should've been to delay Imhotep's regeneration as much as possible, while she figured out how to beat him. Putting her near the Americans was even more reckless.
"But he had no such powers in the flashback sequences."
Well, ofcourse not, he was still an immortal human back then. He had no powers of his own. Ardeth's voice-over in the beginning stated he'd gain "strength of ages, power over the sands, and the glory of invincibility" upon the release from his sarcophagus.
Well, ofcourse not, he was still an immortal human back then. He had no powers of his own. Ardeth's voice-over in the beginning stated he'd gain "strength of ages, power over the sands, and the glory of invincibility" upon the release from his sarcophagus.
But why *him*. Why did none of any of the other mummies, priests, guards etc. gain these same powers?
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"And you totally missed the point that ultimately, nothing Rick or anyone could have done would have stopped Imhotep from sucking them all dry, including the Americans. Rick was trying to protect Evie but it didn't matter - the only reason Imhotep didn't kill Evie was because he needed her to be alive."
That is the correct answer.
Nope.
"Instead of the Americans who are needed for Imhotep to regenerate and become all-powerful"
Evie had no clue how to stop him at that point, so protecting the Americans would've given her the time to figure it out.
Don't know what movie you watched. The Americans were nothing but grave robbers who knew nothing of Egyptology, curses, ancient texts, etc. There were only a handful of people who knew anything about this in this film: Evie, the Egyptologist the Americans hired, Beni, and Rick. You were given the correct answer. Evie had knowledge and the Americans had guns. Notice the guns had no effect?
shareDon't know what post you read. I never even suggested that the Americans knew anything about Egyptology.
Nope, the answers given do not explain why Rick doesn't care whatsoever about protecting the Americans "who are needed for Imhotep to regenerate and become all-powerful". Have a nice day.
" I never even suggested that the Americans knew anything about Egyptology. "
Then what use would they be? Their guns had no effect on the mummy LOL.
I mean, I guess I could just copy-and-paste this again:
"Instead of the Americans who are needed for Imhotep to regenerate and become all-powerful"
you could copy and paste again, but its still wrong. There was nothing Rick could have done to protect the Americans as we saw quite clearly. The mummy wanted the Americans but he also wanted Evie. Even without the Americans the mummy had power. At least Evie had knowledge. As the movie turns out, it was knowledge that helped Rick defeat the mummy. I see reading the rest of the threads you are one of those posters who aren't interested in answers, you just think you found a plot hole and started this thread under the cover of a question.
shareEvie's knowledge was not able to help protect the Americans, so their priority at that moment should've been to protect them as best as possible to avoid all hell breaking. So I'm definitely right.
I NEVER claimed I found a plot hole, it's simply a detail I don't find logical. Your reply seems typical of someone who's just pissed because their explanation isn't automatically accepted.
I posted it as a question, because it's exactly what I thought when I watched this scene. I'm open to a reasonable explanation, but obviously I already tried to think of one before I posted this and discussing the topic further I only noticed more issues.
I already explained why I don't find the suggested explanations satisfying. You're free to agree with them, but I certainly don't have to.
You're wasting your time (as I did). He's like a dog with a bone he won't let go of despite the answer being so obvious. As you said:
There was nothing Rick could have done to protect the Americans as we saw quite clearly.
Exactly. This is a serious case of the OP overthinking the story. Rick ultimately defeats Imhotep with Evie's help, so what's the problem?. Isn't that whole point and plot of the story?
Since the reason the Americans were killed and Evie was not was because Imhotep wanted the Americans dead and Evie alive, putting more effort to save one over the other would have had no effect on the story.
No matter what Rick did, the Americans were going to die by Imhotep's hand and Evie was going to live because Imhotep wanted to use her to resurrect Anck-Su-Namun.
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Absolutely. Rick couldn't have known about the mummy's power. He figured that Evie needed his help more than the gun toting Americans did. And you're right about Rick not being able to save either Evie or the Americans. They would all be dead if the mummy wanted that. The only reason Evie didn't die is b ecause the mummy wanted her alive. I won't repsond to the poster again. He is like a dog with a bone.
share"Rick couldn't have known about the mummy's power."
Lol, now that's a lie. They had just come back from the museum where the Medjai guys explained to them exactly what Imhotep's powers and plans were.
"The only reason Evie didn't die is b ecause the mummy wanted her alive."
Did you even watch this film? Imhotep wanted her dead, he just needed to kill the Americans first to do so. And that's exactly why their safety should've gotten priority.
"You're wasting your time (as I did). He's like a dog with a bone he won't let go of despite the answer being so obvious."
And you're so stubborn you fail to understand what I keep saying to you (and the other poster) again and again.
"putting more effort to save one over the other would have had no effect on the story."
See, missing the point again.
"No matter what Rick did, the Americans were going to die by Imhotep's hand and Evie was going to live because Imhotep wanted to use her to resurrect Anck-Su-Namun."
And again.
Once more, Imhotep needs the Americans to fully regenerate and become all-powerful. If Rick wants to save Evie and himself, the most logical thing would be to make their safety a priority. At least it would buy them time to figure out a way to defeat them for good.
(And I'm not a "he", by the way)
"Once more, Imhotep needs the Americans to fully regenerate and become all-powerful. If Rick wants to save Evie and himself, the most logical thing would be to make their safety a priority."
I don't understand why such a simple concept is beyond you. Despite you saying otherwise, nothing Rick could have done would have saved the Americans. Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Since this is sticking in your craw, how do you think Rick could have saved the Americans from the mummy's wrath?
You are a stubborn tool. I purposely didn't respond to you the last two times you replied to me, so I would appreciate it if you didn't respond to me in the future. It's hard to win an argument with an intelligent person, it's impossible to win an argument against an idiot.
"I don't understand why such a simple concept is beyond you. Despite you saying otherwise, nothing Rick could have done would have saved the Americans. Nothing."
Good lord, more proof that you still fail to understand ANYTHING I said. First, it's a lie they couldn't be saved. If they had found the Book of Amun-Ra earlier, they could've defeated Imhotep and saved them all. Second, I didn't argue whatsoever that Rick could've saved them. The point is that they needed to stop Imhotep from fully regenerating or at least postpone it until they had found a way to defeat him. If Rick had been as fatalistic as you, he wouldn't even have gone after the Egyptologist, but just left town with Evie or something. But he actually did want to stop Imhotep from fully regenerating, he just didn't make a very logical choice in his effort to do so.
"it's impossible to win an argument against an idiot.
Well yeah, if I have to explain a very simple thing over and over again to said idiot...
If you don't like me responding to you, there's always the ignore button.