KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 -- The Mummy franchise has had its highs - and its share of creative misfires.

The original The Mummy (1932), directed by Karl Freund and starring Boris Karloff, launched a culturally influential legacy, spawning numerous sequels and adaptations over the decades.

For many audiences worldwide - including in Malaysia - the version that endures is The Mummy (1999), written and directed by Stephen Sommers.

Widely popular upon its global release, it was the kind of film you'd find sold out in VCD shops at the time.

That revitalisation of the 1932 classic hit with charm, humour and adventure, brought to life by a cast including Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Kevin J. O'Connor and Oded Fehr....