Emperor Morphetine
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The Mummy- Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor- A ReviewAmazing what a change of plan can do for you! I was due to be off to watch Bournemouth play at home to Gillingham to start their Division Three campaign this afternoon, but because of the awful weather today ended up in the (considerably warmer) cinema. The film of choice for the afternoon was the third 'Mummy' film- 'Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor'. Suppose before I start I should say that you will probably be disappointed if you believe it's going to be better than the previous two but if you like adventure films it's probably a good afternoon's entertainment. A bit of a no-brainer but good fun if you're willing to forgive some obvious flaws.
It's a fairly good story- Alex O'Connell (Luke Ford), son of Rick ( Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn ( Maria Bello ,replacing Rachel Weisz, boo hiss!) is on an archeaological expedition to find the tomb of China's 'Dragon Emperor' Han ( Jet Li), whose story is explained in a short prologue. In essence he's a very bad man! A sorceress, Zi Yuan ( Michelle Yeoh) curses him and his army after he goes back on a promise to grant a wish if she teaches him the secret to eternal life, turning them all to stone and creating the legendary Terracotta Army. An evil Chinese military general, Yang, wants to resurrect the Emperor to halt what he sees as a country going wrong and will stop at nothing to get it.
Meanwhile Rick and Evelyn are now retired, he a man of leisure and she a novelist alongside Evie's brother Jonathan ( John Hannah). They are contacted by the British Embassy and thus the adventure begins........It's a bit hit and miss really though, there are some good action sequences and the special effects and martial arts/fight sequences are great, but I got the feeling that most of the actors were in second gear, just treating the film as another paycheck, and it all gets a bit 'samey' after a while. Plus Maria Bello puts on a preposterous English accent ( she's American).
By all means go and see it if it appeals to you but I think you could probably rent it on DVD at a later date and perhaps enjoy it that way too. Not too sure if another addition to the series is necessary after this one, although it was a clever idea to switch the action from Egypt to China.
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Lucifer_666
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Great review bud  
I want to see this film but I think I will get the dvd or perhaps download...
I was expecting to hear that it wouldn't be as good as the first two to be honest particularly when I heard Weisz wasn't returning though it still sounds fun and sure what more can you expect from a 3rd film like this I suppose...
I also agree it was clever to switch it to China though
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Catnapper
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I watched The Mummy on tv last night 
It's another one I'm aiming to go and see....I liked the first 2 films because of the mix of action and comedy and I'm looking forward to seeing Jet Li's martial arts again! (He was excellent in The Forbidden Kingdom)
They're saying The Mummy franchise could continue with stories set in Peru or Mexico.......maybe with Luke Ford taking over from Brendan Fraser as the hero?
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Emperor Morphetine
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Well by all means go and watch it Cat, you'll probably enjoy it in that case. Funny you should mention South America as a possible next story location too....I shall say no more, but you'll see what I mean if you watch the film.
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Catnapper
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Oh...you've got me all curious now!
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Emperor Morphetine
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Good, it'll keep your grey matter ticking over until you see the film then.
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Catnapper
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You big tease you 
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Lucifer_666
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South America? hmmm...so they are thinking of another possible sequel?
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Emperor Morphetine
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| Catnapper wrote: | | You big tease you |
Well, I aim to please!  . And yeah, I think they are setting the stage for a sequel Luc.
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Lucifer_666
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Are they setting up the son to take over bud like the Indy movie kind of?
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Emperor Morphetine
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I thought there was a strong hint they might be as soon as I left the cinema!
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Lucifer_666
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Hmm then it looks like you could be right Cat...you were saying that before that you thought they might set up the son for a possible replacement for Frasier 
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Emperor Morphetine
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There is a strong whiff of that sort of thing at various points in the film, they haven't really hidden it all that well....
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Lucifer_666
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Not that I think Frasier can continue on for a good few films yet...crikey look at Harison Ford
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Emperor Morphetine
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He's got a few movies left in him for sure.
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Lucifer_666
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And some....I understand it more with Ford because he really is coming to the end...in fact I thought he had but Frasier is still relatively young??Unless he's not keen on making them anymore or they want a more female pleasing leading man?
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Emperor Morphetine
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They tried that with the female lead role after Rachel Weisz left and I don't think it worked too well, Maria Bello just isn't up to it ( and she's less attractive!)
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Lucifer_666
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Oh I'm totally with you bud Weisz is soooo much nicer.....I don't really rate Bello that much to be honest with you while Rachel is quite hot 
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Emperor Morphetine
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Oh yes, she's a barnstorming babe!
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Lucifer_666
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I think this is the first time I want to be a snake mate
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Emperor Morphetine
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Oh yeah! Lucky old snake, I'dve loved to be in there with her...
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Lucifer_666
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Me too...I'd be slithering all over the place
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Emperor Morphetine
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I think that's a given, so would I. She always looked good in the previous two Mummy films and she's got a nice figure- why did she not do the third? Maria Bello is nothing next to the lovely Ms Weisz, I felt a little bit cheated if I'm honest!
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Catnapper
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Speaking of Maria Bello, her prim and proper English accent annoyed me for about the first 20 minutes of the film......as though she was trying too hard to sound English. But as the film went on I forgot her accent and just enjoyed the film!
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Emperor Morphetine
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Yeah, it is quite an enjoyable movie if you can suspend disbelief for a few hours and switch off your brain. I don't know how easy that is for some people but as a film student myself it sometimes proves difficult!
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Lucifer_666
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I sometimes think there is nothing better...I love movies that you can just switch off and delve yourself right into even if they are just popcorn action flicks
I'm still gutted about the bello situation though  bring back Weisz 
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Emperor Morphetine
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Yeah, it is nice to just switch off and enjoy a bit of spectacle isn't it? I still would've preferred Rachel Weisz as Evelyn though- nice eye candy for ogling....
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Lucifer_666
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Yeah particulatrly in those skimpy egyptian outfits she would end up fighting in
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Emperor Morphetine
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Oh, those really showed her off didn't they? Needless to say she was smoking hot in those scenes. Also I saw the Scorpion King film the other day and the woman who plays the sorceress in that isn't too bad a looker...
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Lucifer_666
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I see what you mean
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Catnapper
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I don't know how she kept those skimpy costumes on....I kept expecting a wardrobe malfunction any minute
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Emperor Morphetine
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Some were hoping for one....
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Lucifer_666
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Emperor Morphetine
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Well, wouldn't you be?
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Catnapper
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I wouldn't! I kept hoping the tape holding her in place stayed put
I read something about the new Mummy film today.......Rachel Weisz didn't want to be in it because it meant spending months in China with her young son and she didn't want to play an older Evie.......which you can understand seeing as their son's an adult in the film!
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Emperor Morphetine
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Yeah, but I still can't understand the casting of Maria Bello!
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Lucifer_666
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Yep that had me stumped too for a long while....she really is not in the same league...perhps she knew the director
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Catnapper
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Did you see Mario Bello on the National Movie Awards show the other night? I think she had some shimmer type cream on to give her skin a sheen..........but it made her look sweaty! 
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Emperor Morphetine
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You'd think celebs would have more sense than to lather themselves in make up at times. Some turn up looking right states! But others get it right and look really good.....
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Lucifer_666
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How do we know she wasn't just really sweaty...perhaps it wasn't a cream at all
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Catnapper
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I thought she'd be really glamorous but she looked pale and washed out (cause of the colour dress she was wearing)......and she looked sweaty
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Emperor Morphetine
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Well, she was far from ugly in the film but I was still pining for Rachel Weisz to be honest....
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Catnapper
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I'm sure you'll be seeing her soon in other films!
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Emperor Morphetine
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I'd hope I will, she's lovely and also a great actress.
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Lucifer_666
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Sweaty Bello
I do agree about Weisz aswell
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Emperor Morphetine
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Rumour has it that another 'Mummy' film is in development, as Maria Bello has apparently let slip that she'd signed up to do another one.
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Catnapper
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Oh so if she's signed up, Brendon Fraser probably will too and his screen son won't be taking over like we thought
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Emperor Morphetine
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No, I think there's life in him yet!
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Lucifer_666
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Another Bello Mummy movie  what are they thinking??? ..we want Weisz ...we want Weisz ...we want Weisz......
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Emperor Morphetine
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Apparently she said no because of her young son which is fair enough really but you'd think they'd have got someone better to replace her.
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Lucifer_666
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Hmmm I wonder who could??.....
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Emperor Morphetine
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That's more like it I'd say.
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Lucifer_666
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Yep I think so though she may have struggled with the english accent ....it wouldn't have bothered me though
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Emperor Morphetine
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Me neither, a good female lead is a necessity!
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Lucifer_666
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Its essential tio its whole construction really.....
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Emperor Morphetine
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Especially with a series like the Mummy films, I always thought Rachel Weisz was a good (and extremely attractive) foil to Brendan Fraser.
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Lucifer_666
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Yeah I agree they had a very good chemistry I thought and both looked realistically like they could actually be a couple...I just can't see Bello in the same part  though I still haven't seen the film so I must give the benefit of the doubt
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Emperor Morphetine
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It'll probably be on DVD before long anyway. So it's probably worth a rental to help make your mind up!
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Lucifer_666
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Very true ...and then as I watch it in the silence of my house I can pine the loss of the Weisz
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Emperor Morphetine
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A sad loss, she's lovely....
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Lucifer_666
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Raaaaaaaaaaaaachel!!!!  
Oh that was my really badly acted.... over the top....pine moment
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