THE SCORPION KING
Year: 2002
USA: Universal Pictures
UK: UIP (UK)
Cast: The Rock (Dwayne Johnson), Steven Brand, Kelly Hu, Michael Clarke Duncan, Bernard Hill, Grant Heslov, Peter Facinelli, Ralf Moeller, Branscombe Richmond, Roger Rees, Sherri Howard, Conrad Roberts, Joseph Ruskin, Esteban Cueto, Nils Allen Stewart, Scott Schwartz, Andre Henschel, Mike Hilow, Nick Hermz, Wesley John, Michelle Baney, Barry Kramer, Marissa McMahon, Tim Iannello, K D Aubert, Sonia Vera, Angelica Castro, Tutu Sweeney, Yuki Tokuhiro, Te'amir Sweeney, Al Leong, Woon Young Park, Marcus Young, Paul Sloan, Talani Rabb, Sole Alberti, Cristina Rodriguez, Pennelope Jimenez, Sean Michael, Adoni Maropis, Bernard White, Amy Hunter, Diana Lupo, Heather Burton, Nikki Flux, Rachel Moore, Summer Altice, Brandon Gonzales, Peter Quartaroli, Peter Navy Tuiasosopo, Amanda Bentley, Claudia Orellana, Jim Maniaci, Shant Demirjiaan, Gus Rethwisch, Richard Cetrone
Director: Chuck Russell
Country: USA
UK: 91 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence and some sensuality
UK Certificate: 12 contains moderate action violence. The distributor sought and was given advice during post-production which resulted in the removal, prior to formal submission, of a headbutt delivered by the hero to the villain in a climactic fight sequence.
UK Release Date: 19 April 2002
Synopsis
5000 years ago, a ruthlessly ambitious warlord named Memnon (Steven Brand) believed he was destined to rule the scattered peoples of the desert. With an army of crude barbarians at his command, he swept across the mountains and the plains, enslaving those he did not slaughter. He struck with a merciless precision that filled those who opposed him with dread because as his enemies were acutely aware, Memnon's strategies were plotted by a seer who advised him on when, where and how to attack. He never lost a battle.
Only a few tribes, never natural allies, stand between Memnon and the throne. knowing his final strike is inevitable, they grudgingly unite against their common foe by enlisting the services of Mathayus (The Rock), a man descended from generations of Akkadian assassins skilled in the deadly arts, to eliminate the sorcerer and deprive Memnon of his most dangerous asset.
Thus Mathayus enters a battle that commands all the cunning, courage and strength he can arouse from his powerful core. Slipping into Memnon's palace in the notorious city of Gomorrah, Mathayus discovers that the evil leader's visionary is a woman, the beautiful Cassandra (Kelly Hu). Rather than kill her, he takes Cassandra hostage, deep into the desolate Valley of the Dead. Although he and his scrappy band of allies would be severely outnumbered, Mathayus is convinced any hope for survival will require direct confrontation with Memnon.
Cassandra's visions have predicted Mathayus would die in such a fight, but Mathayus has always lived by the simple but profound creed of his people - live free, die well. He also believes that he can create his own destiny, and with that conviction transcends his heritage, evolving from assassin to legend... to THE SCORPION KING.