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The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Widescreen)
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List Price: $29.98
Our Price: $15.99
Your Save: $ 13.99 ( 47% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Michelle Yeoh
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Universal
EAN: 0025195015936
Format: AC-3
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Universal Studios
Release Date: 2008-12-16
Running Time: 112
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
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Editorial Reviews:
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Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 12/16/2008 Run time: 112 minutes Rating: Pg13
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Unworthy release trying to leech off the franchise
Comment: For those of you who have read my reviews (for which I am grateful, by the way), you will undoubtedly have noticed the trend for these that has emerged over the time since I began writing them. Initially, they consisted of two or more paragraphs which gave a general description of the film/s plot, followed by some commentary of the film's production aspects such as acting, writing, directing, etc. Over time, the reviews grew longer and had more baroque lead-in & transitional paragraphs, accompanied by elements of editorial commentary.
For this review, I will try to keep the commentary (relatively) brief and won't incorporate lengthy editorializing:
THE MUMMY (1999) was a very creative and interesting film with a fantastic trailer, a great script, and very good dialogue. It was a suspenseful action film that was able to ably integrate elements of horror and humor. The acting was very effective all-around. This highly effective combination made for not only an enjoyable film and impressive cinematic achievement, but is one of the few that could claim the overused and often undeserved title of "New Classic".
The first sequel (2001) was less clever and at least a little annoying. The funniest (unintentionally) part of the film was the central notion to the theme of the wife suddenly becoming aware of "oh that's right, I just remembered that I am a reincarnation of the evil queen's main rival and can take her on in a highly stylized and well-choreographed fight scene". It was literally almost that blatant. In addition to the substitution of excessive CG effects in place of a well-written story, the film also had the clichéd stereotype of the whiney/frightened Black sidekick.
Its second sequel (2008's THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR) had a poor script, bad acting (from good actors, which means lousy directing) and was just a lame and somewhat tedious & tired film altogether. The lead actress was replaced (Maria Bello for Rachel Weisz), which was the closest thing to good acting (seeing Maria Bello do a passable British character). Otherwise, it was wholly implausible that the two main characters were parents to an adult son. All dialogue between the son (Luke Ford) and the cute Asian good quasi-ninjette (Isabella Leong) consisted of loud and campy declarative affectations that came straight out of a bad Neil Simon play (is there any other kind?) or a 1930's film. Brendan Frazier's dialogue was reduced to stock theater gruntings as if lifted from a 1940's or 50's film. John Hannah was reduced to saying loud bewailments every time he spoke. The addition of Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li was ostensibly for some impressive chop-socky action scenes, even though both are average and subpar actors respectively. In fact, there was only a brief wire-fu sequence which was a long way from impressive. The story was banal and insipid. In spite of some impressive visuals, the film just wasn't all that good.
The first film required a significant suspension of disbelief, but was a competently written & filmed story. What all three have in common is the idiotic notion that an evil guy will be banished in death with a terrible curse which is somehow escapable, and allows that he will have super powers once he comes back to life. How about in place of a super-curse, you just kill the guy and make sure he stays dead or powerless. I suppose that is just naïvely wishful thinking...
By the way, the last line of the film suggests there's a fair to decent chance there will be another sequel. Yikes.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Widescreen)
Comment: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Widescreen) is the third movie in the series and it is painfully bad. The plot is a joke. Bredan Fraser phones in a lame performance and the replacement actress for his wife try as she might the chemistry is just not there. The first two movies were full of fun, wit and good adventure. This move is nothing short of a travesty. Pointless violence, a plot written by Dr Nick Riviera from the Simpsons or maybe even Homer himself, shoddy acting. I was so disapointed considering that the first two movies are good enough to watch again and again. This one I will avoid att all costs. 1/5.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I love the series, but.....
Comment: ...the ball was dropped on this film. Someone in Hollywood believed Brendon Fraiser and Jet Li in the same film would miraculously make this a winner. That someone should lose his job.
Synopsis: Ancient Chinese warlord is reawakened (along with 10,000 Terra Cotta warriors) to conquer the world. And there are Yetis....
The first two movies in the series were fantastically entertaining. You had action, emotion, love, despair, and discoveries of a linked past that made the movies engrossing. They had excellent scripts, beautiful effects, and acting that made it look real. I watch them over and over. This dog...well, at least I watched until the end.
Whoever cast this movie screwed the pooch. Fraser, as Rick O'Connell is, of course, excellent. I love the gung ho balls ahead character. He IS the character. In fact, he is the franchise.
Rachael Weisz declined to return citing problems with the script. Boy did she make the right call. So Maria Bello is cast as Evy. Dear God In Heaven. what where they thinking! Where Weisz played Evuy with emotion, perfect timing, and a boatload of sex appeal, Bello is a block of freaking wood who phones in her part. She has NO fluidity, no sense of timing, and not a trace of sex appeal. In fact, a block of wood could have done a much better job.
In the 2nd film, The Mummy Returns, the son, Alex, has a very strong `proper' English accent and typical `Brit' attitude. In this movie, Alex (Luke Ford) has NO trace of accent or his English upbringing. He plays the role like a young John Wayne, as if he was raised in Arizona. It totally fails.
Jet Li as Emperor Han...well, I loved him in Lethal Weapon 4, Unleashed, and The One. He should have done the role of Emperor Han with the same soft-sneering attitude he had in LW4. But he wasn't directed that way in this film. He was concrete, and wooden. There was no sense of surprise upon awakening 2000 years later. No marveling at the changes in the world. No wonder at how the world had changed. Totally unrealistic.
Redeeming factors: Michelle Yeoh (very big star in China) as Zi Yaun, the witch who betrays Han knowing his merciless character, Isabella Leong as her immortal daughter, and Russell Wong as General Ming Guo (Han's right hand man who falls in love with Zi Yaun). John Hannah plays Evy's gold-digging brother seamlessly from the prior films.
And there are the Yetis. Ya gotta love the Computer Graphics. At first, the Yetis were fluff, but then you start to like them. They are the `untarnished good' surrounded by evil.
The special effects are admirable. The battle scenes at the end are exceptional. The warriors (and Han) turning to sand and clay are so cool, myself and my friends all gave it a big `WHOA!'.
Rent it, just to see it. Own it, ONLY if you need to complete the series.
Hope this helps you decide.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing : (
Comment: I am a big fan of the Mummies...up until this one. I tried to prepare myself for the fact that Rachel Weisz wasn't in it...unfortunately I guess I wasn't prepared enough. The new Evie just doesn't have the same...something...that Rachel had.
I was also very disappointed in the graphics...the graphics have just gone down hill since Mummy 1.
I honestly hope they just stop with this one.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Relax and have some fun!
Comment: If you check your mind at the door to your movie room, and put this on with the intent to be lost in fantasy, then you will love this movie. It has its usual action scenes, damsels in distress, and of course the undead. Even though the movie carries the titled, The Mummy, etc. it does not really have a single mummy in it.
Jet Li is interesting in his role, and it is a bit distracting having a different actress play the wife, but you can at least enjoy Brandon and the Brother in law. Its a bit of fun and if you take it too serious, then you will hate it. Pop some corn and just enjoy it.
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