Movie Monday Feb. 6: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Rounding out my month of The Mummy is the final installment, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. This movie wasn’t as well received as the first two, but it is no less filled with supernatural mummies, action, and heart.

**Warning, mild spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the movie yet, what are you doing?**

In 1946, Alex O’Connell (Luke Ford), the now grown son of Rick and Evelyn, discovers the tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) in China. The Emperor, an ancient warlord who wanted immortality, along with his army was cursed by sorceress Zi Yuan (Michelle Yeoh) after he killed her lover. When Alex and his professor Wilson (David Calder) discover the tomb, they are attacked by a mysterious woman (Isabella Leong), but are able to drive her off and bring their findings to a museum in Shanghai. Around the same time Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn (Maria Bello) are approached to return a gemstone, the Eye of Shangri-La, to the Chinese government. They run into Alex in Shanghai at a club owned by Jonathan (John Hannah), Evelyn’s brother. All four of them, along with the mysterious woman Lin, then discover that rogue General Yang (Anthony Wong) wants to use the Eye to resurrect the Emperor. He successfully raises the Emperor, aided by Professor Wilson. Lin reveals that only her cursed dagger can kill the Emperor. The O’Connell group then travels to a mountain temple to try to stop Yang and the Emperor from reaching the immortal waters of Shangri-La. Though they are aided by yetis during their attack, they are unable to stop the Emperor. However, they trigger an avalanche that slows him. Lin takes the group, including a dying Rick, to Shangri-La. Zi Yuan, who’s immortal, is there and able to heal Rick. Alex also discovers that Lin is her daughter, making her immortal too. The Emperor arrives and is able to bathe in the immortal waters, granting him supernatural powers. He transforms into a three-headed dragon and kidnaps Lin. The O’Connells and Zi Yuan travel to the Great Wall of China to stop the Emperor’s terracotta army from rising while Jonathan heads to Shanghai for reinforcements. Zi Yuan gives up her and Lin’s immortality to raise her own undead army to fight the Emperor. She battles the emperor and is fatally wounded, but is able to steal back the cursed dagger. Alex and Rick then fight the Emperor while Lin, Evelyn, and Jonathan, as well as a few fighter planes, defeat Yang’s forces and the terracotta army. Working together, Alex and Rick kill the Emperor. Everyone returns to Shanghai, except Jonathan. He decides to move to Peru with the Eye of Shangri-La, once again leaving with the treasure.

So, what do I think?

I know some people don’t like The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, and I get it. It’s not set in Egypt with the original mummy Imhotep, has a different actress playing Evelyn, a different director, and seems to rely on CGI and fight scenes instead of a strong script. Still, I don’t mind some of these changes. I was disappointed that Rachel Weisz didn’t return, but Maria Bello did an admirable job with a well-loved character. This version of Evelyn is definitely more action star than love interest, which shows a step down in the chemistry between Evelyn and Rick. The main romance storyline is between Lin and Alex, though their chemistry is lacking as well. 

One change I did love in this movie was the casting of Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. Both veteran martial arts movie stars did a lot with a little. Though neither character was particularly well rounded, Li and Yeoh brought their A game as well as their fighting skills. The fighting style for their characters is a nod to Hong Kong action movies as well as ancient China. Their inclusion definitely brought up the quality level of this movie.

Though I wish that The Mummy franchise didn’t end on this so-so of a note, the proposed sequels were canceled by Universal Pictures. Instead they decided to make a very disappointing, both critically and financially, reboot. There are some rumors that a potential sequel could be in the works, but that’s mostly from the continuation of the Brenaissance. And the love of fans like me.

One moment that made me laugh:

The ending with Jonathan going off to Peru. He wants to go there because there aren’t any mummies, but soon after mummies are discovered. It’s a bit of irony, and a great set up for another sequel. Too bad Universal went with the reboot.

One moment that made me hold my breath:

When Rick almost dies. I remember the first time I watched this scene. I thought that they were actually going to kill a character for real this time. Then I remembered Evelyn’s resurrection and figured that they’d find a way to save him. Of course, I was still nervous for about a minute.

I’d give The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor 5 terracotta soldiers out of 10.