E.T. has phoned home, and he must have been picked up, because he's definitely not in the building anymore. At Universal Studios Hollywood, there's a new (well, actually, very old) kid in town. Across from Jurassic Park - The Ride, the building that used to house everyone's favorite extra-terrestrial is now home to a very angry dug-up deity. REVENGE OF THE MUMMY, THE RIDE endeavors to continue making movies more interactive. A large contingent of celebrities were on hand to give the ride its inaugural spin, which benefited charities the Next Generation Council of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, and L.A. Family Housing.

The ride itself is a cross between new and old; the experience while waiting in the always lengthy theme-park lines is heavy on atmosphere, especially in the main burial room, which comes just before riders get on the mine cars that whisk them through the dark. A huge circular LCD screen plays a priestess parlaying prophetic doom for all who enter, intertwined with sections of footage from the movies. While many thought REVENGE OF THE MUMMY would aim to compete or compare with Disney's Indiana Jones ride, Universal chose to go a different direction.

After a thrilling zero-to-very-fast start, the inside of the all-indoor rollercoaster section resembles a black-lit carnival fun house, with sections of the story illustrated by more ornate CGI displays. Riders are buffeted with liquid 'blood' and blasts of room temperature steam at different points, while the car switches direction from forward to reverse half-way through. The entire experience could be best described as similar to, but an improvement upon, Disney's indoor 'Space Mountain' roller-coaster, though the ride seems to be over a little too quickly.

Read on for a description of some of the premier's events premium and peeps...and an astonishing revelation from Jon Favreau.

Bricks and Stones Protect These Bones - but styrofoam will never hurt me. The gate of Imhotep's Tomb is shored up before the ride's opening. Revenge of The Mummy integrates design ideas from the franchise's creator, Stephen Sommers, hoping to take readers inside the movie's world.

A Dynomite Opening - Former nemeses Brenden Fraser and Arnold Vosloo push the plungers of their ACME-style TNT, blowing the gate to pieces. The bricks that were subsequently strewn everywhere were turned into impromptu souveniers. All was fun and games until a few over-zealous production people began throwing the bricks into the crowd. While they were made of styrofoam, the props were also covered in plaster, making them heavy and hard. Several folks (including this one) got a solid bonk on the nut for not paying close enough attention to the flying projectiles...a small price to pay for the adventure, however. Later, Thora Birch placed her hand on my shoulder, and all was forgiven. Yow.

Mummy Dearest - Arnold Vosloo, who portrays The Mummy, Imhotep, in the movies, also supplies his voice for the new ride. Says Vosloo, “I think it's great that it's getting harder to tell when you're watching a movie, and when you're in one.” Would he ever reprise his role as Imhotep? “Oh, absolutely. It's too much fun. It will be nice to wait a few years though. I like doing other things, I like being on the stage. I just did a sort of art-house movie in South Africa.” What other sorts of roles would he like to play? “Well, I've always wanted to play opposite The Rock. I think we could have some very powerful on-screen battles.”

You had me at 'whaddup, yo?' - Jerry McGuire's now blinged-up Jonathan Lipnicki hams it up a bit for the camera. Up next is 'When Zachary Beaver Came To Town', in indie flick about a young boy who befriends a circus freak.

Swingin' At Universal - Jon Favreau heads down the red carpet. Said he in his angst ridden signiture tone, “I don't know if I'm even going to ride the ride, man. I've got too much stomach to be leaving it up in the air. I have this thing about big drops.” Could we ever see him work with Kevin Smith? “Well,” he said, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, “I don't want to confirm any of those internet rumors you people are so fond of, or anything, but I am The Green Hornet.” Favreau's current project is the sci-fi comedy Zathura, based on a children's book about to brothers whose house is flung into space by supernatural means.

Curse Of The Mummy's Womb - The Renaissance Man proves once and for all that he will undergo any danger, any trial, for the gratification of his loyal readers. Here, he dares the dangers of chatting up one of Imhotep's royal consorts. It should be noted that the Renaissance Man did indeed secure the fine young lady's phone number, but that all the digits were written in hieroglyphics.

Join us next week as the Renaissance Man sits in on a broadcast with the cast and crew of ANCHORMAN, Will Farrell's new innovative and flat out hilarious comedy flick.

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