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The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

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For the video game adaption of the movie, see The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (video game).
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
File:Dragon emperor ver4.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRob Cohen
Written byAlfred Gough
Miles Millar
Produced byStephen Sommers
James Jack
Bob Ducsay
Sean Daniel
StarringBrendan Fraser
Jet Li
Maria Bello
John Hannah
Luke Ford
Isabella Leong
Michelle Yeoh
CinematographySimon Duggan
Edited byJoel Negron
Kelly Matsumoto
Music byRandy Edelman
Additional:
John Debney
Distributed byUniversal Studios
Release dates
United States:
August 1, 2008
[1]
United Kingdom:
August 8, 2008
Running time
111 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$145 million[2]
Box officeDomestic
$88,969,805
Foreign
$196,600,000
Worldwide
$285,569,805

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor[3] is a 2008 American adventure film that follows The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. It was released on August 1, 2008 in the US.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is directed by Rob Cohen and written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Bob Ducsay, Sean Daniel, Stephen Sommers and James Jacks produced the film.

The emperor, "Emperor Han" in the film, is based on Qin Shi Huang, ruler of the Qin Dynasty, and the first emperor of China, not the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu of Han.[4][5]

Plot

Han, first Emperor of China, known as the Dragon Emperor conquered all his enemies, many of whom were buried under the Great Wall of China, and mastered the five elements, but could not conquer death. He sought the help of a witch, Zi Yuan, who knew where to find the secret of immortality. Han orders his second in command, General Ming, to help her with her research. Han tells Ming that no man is to touch Zi Yuan, as he wants her himself. The two fall in love during their search however and are watched by a spy. After Zi Yuan supposedly casts the immortality spell on Han, he invites her to the balcony where she is given the choice of becoming Han's wife or watching Ming die. Zi Yuan angrily denies Han and watches Ming pulled apart by horses. Han then stabs Zi Yuan. She reveals that she has in fact cursed the Emperor and his army, turning them into the Terracotta Army, and flees.

In 1947, 13 years after the events of The Mummy Returns, explorer Rick O'Connell, his wife Evelyn, and brother-in-law Jonathan are retired but still miss their adventuring days, while their son Alex has become an adventurer. With the financial backing of Roger Wilson, an archaeology professor, Alex locates Han's tomb. He is attacked by a mysterious woman, but brings Han back to Shanghai. Meanwhile, the British government entrusts the O'Connells to take the Eye of Shangri-La back to China as a good faith gesture from to the Chinese. They arrive at the Imhotep, a night club in Shanghai owned by Jonathan. Alex gives them a tour of the exhibit, where it is revealed that Wilson is in league with a paramilitary group led by General Yang and his Second-in-Command Choi, who see Han as the only one who can bring order to China. Using the Eye, which contains water from Shangri-La, they resurrect Han into his terracotta form. Han accepts the service of Choi and Yang but kills Wilson. The woman from the excavation site tries to kill Han with a dagger cursed by Zi Yuan, but fails.

The woman reveals herself to be Lin, a protector of Han's tomb and Zi Yuan's daughter. The O'Connells, Jonathan, and Lin trek through the Himalayas and reach the tower that will reveal the path to Shangri-La when the Eye is placed on top of it. Han and his allies arrive soon. Lin summons a trio of Yeti to assist in the battle, but Han manages to place the Eye atop the tower. Rick is impaled by Han's sword while protecting Alex as he triggers an avalanche, which buys them time to reach Shangri-La first.

There Rick is healed by Zi Yuan. Using the water, she and Lin have become immortal and have guarded the secrets of the Emperor. Han arrives and bathes in the pool, restoring his human form and gaining shape-shifting abilities. He shapeshifts into a three-headed dragon, kidnaps Lin, and flies to raise his Terracotta Army at the excavation site. The O'Connells and Zi Yuan pursue Han, while Jonathan and a pilot Mad Dog Macguire leave to gather reinforcements to stop him.

Han summons his army, which will become invincible after crossing the Great Wall. To buy time, Zi Yuan sacrifices her immortality and that of Lin to revive those buried beneath the Great Wall. Led by Ming, the undead army and the Terracotta army fight. Zi Yuan and Han also fight one-on-one. Zi Yuan sacrifices herself to steal back the cursed dagger. Alex saves Lin who receives the dagger.

Jonathan returns with warplanes to fight back. While Rick and Alex head off to fight Han, Evelyn and Lin fight Yang and Choi. Yang gets caught in one of the rotating wooden cranks. Choi attempts to pull him out and refuses to let go, crushing and killing them both. Rick and Alex find themselves outmatched against the shape-shifting Emperor, and the dagger is broken during the confrontation. Rick goads the Emperor into fighting fair, and manages to plunge the dagger hilt into his heart. Alex in turn stabs him in the back, destroying him.

Back at the Imhotep, Mad Dog is the new owner and the O'Connell's celebrate. But Jonathan goes to Peru with the Eye of Shangri-La, a place he claims has no mummies. Once he arrives, however, mummies are discovered there.

Cast

Production

In November 2001, director Stephen Sommers, who directed the previous Mummy films, said about directing a third Mummy film, "There's a demand for it, but most of the gang would only be up for it again if we could find a way to make it bigger and better."[6] In May 2004, Sommers expressed his doubts about having the energy to make a third Mummy, though the cast of previous films had expressed interest in returning.[7] In December 2005, a review of a script written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar was about a Chinese mummy (China's first emperor, who wants to take over the world with his army of accursed warriors in 1940). The idea of the emperor and his army is based on the real-life Qin emperor Qin Shi Huang, who was buried amidst thousands of crafted and fired terra cotta soldiers, called the Terracotta Army, dated at latest to 210 BC. (Incidentally, the Terracotta Army is actually mentioned at the end of the novelization as something that will be discovered in the future, although its relation to the emperor's army, or rather how the destroyed army made it into the site is left unexplained.) [8]

Casting

In March 2006, actor Oded Fehr said Sommers had told him a third film was in development and being written, with only Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz's characters returning for the sequel.[9] The following September, director Joe Johnston was offered the helm by Universal Pictures, who hoped to start filming early in 2007.[10] Later in the month, Weisz expressed interest in reprising her role.[11]

In January 2007, Universal announced that Stephen Sommers, director of the first two Mummy films, would not be attached to direct the third film. It was then announced that Universal entered talks with director Rob Cohen to take the helm from Sommers as the director of the third Mummy.[12] Later in the month, the story was revealed to center around Brendan Fraser's and Rachel Weisz's characters, as well as their now grown-up son. Negotiations with the actors were in progress at that time.[13] In February, casting began for the role of Alex O'Connell. In addition, John Hannah reprised his role as Jonathan.[3] Also in February, director Rob Cohen mentioned that Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh will star in the movie although the official confirmation was not published until May.[14][15]

In April, Fraser re-joined the cast for The Mummy 3.[16] Weisz did not, citing "problems with the script."[17][18] The film was shot in Montreal[19] and China. The movie was reported to be titled The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.[20] In April, Luke Ford was cast as Alex O'Connell,[21] and in May, Maria Bello was cast to replace Weisz in the role of Evelyn. Bello reported during an interview that the new "Evy" is different from the original "Evy". "She has the same name, but she's quite a different character," said Bello.[22] At a news conference in Shanghai, Bello told the audience that "Rob Cohen has 'created a new Evy ... in the first two Mummy's she was all actiony and lovely, but this Evy might be a little more ... forceful in terms of her martial art skills and shooting skills'".[23]

Filming

Principal photography started at Mel’s Cite du Cinema in Montreal. There, the Eye of Shangri-la scenes were shot by production designer Nigel Phelps.The team then shot on the courtyard set of gateway to Shangri-la. The courtyard was dressed with fake snow, created by effects supervisor Bruce Steinheimer’s team.[24]

At the ADF stage in the city, Phelps’s team created sets of the Terra Cotta mausoleum. Set decorator, Anne Kuljian made 20 different statue heads and interchanged between shots. One soldier and horse statue was bought from China, and then copies of it were made in a workshop in Montreal. Propmaster Kim Wai Chung supervised the making of the horses’ bridles and mausoleum ornaments in China. Meanwhile at Mel’s the brutal battle between the Emperor and Rick, the first scene shot with Jet Li.[24] [25]

On October 15 2007, the team moved to China. At Shanghai Studios, a set depicting the city in 1940's was used for the chase sequence shot in 3 weeks. Gen. Yang’s camp was filmed in a Ming village near Tian Mo. at the studio, Chinese cultural advisers aided Cohen in order to depict the Qin Dynasty language and ceremonies.[24] The O'Connell family's drama scenes were shot in an Egyptian-themed nightclub suitably named "Imhotep's."[26]

The crew frequently had to halt in and near Shanghai when soldiers marched. The setting of desert battlefield was actually a training facility for the Chinese army that was leased.[27]

Effects

The visual effects were done by two Los Angeles-based VFX houses. Rhythm and Hues Studios designed the yetis and dragons, while Digital Domain will handle the battle scenes with Jet Li's terracotta warriors. The pool of water resembling diamonds took Rhythm and Hues 11 months to complete.[28] The award winning A.I software Massive which was used on Lord of the Rings was used to create the undead battle scenes.

Design company Imaginary Forces created the opening title sequence and end titles. IF designers also shot real paint splatters and brushstrokes. To portray an "accurate and historic China," they turned to calligrapher T.Z. Yuan for ink brush writing.[29]

Music

The bulk of the score in the movie is composed by veteran composer Randy Edelman. The soundtrack will feature numerous different Chinese and Middle Eastern ethnic instruments along with classic British folklore, and is expected to be released on July 29 by Varese Sarabande records, two days before the film's initial release. Composer John Debney provided additional re-scored material for most of the bigger action sequences, which was recorded in July 2008.

Marketing

The Mummy Movie Prequel: The Rise & Fall of Xango's Ax, a comic book limited series by IDW Publishing, was published to promote the film. The comic explores the relationship between Rick and his son Alex.[30]

The trailer for the film debuted on May 16, 2008, attached to The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.[citation needed]

Sierra Entertainment made a game version of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor for Wii, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS, which was released on July 22 2008 in North America.[31] It was poorly received.[32] Gameloft made game version of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor for mobile phones. [33]

Theatrical run

The film premiered in Los Angeles on July 27, 2008.[34] With it, the first official trailer of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released.[35] The film had a wide release of 3,760 theatres in North America on Aug 1 2008.[36]

The film was the top-grossing film the day it opened, earning $15.2 million (The Dark Knight was in second place with $12 million) on Friday. However, the film did not become number one overall in the box office on opening weekend, claiming only $40.4 million, which allowed The Dark Knight to claim the top spot for the third week in a row with $42.6 million.

The film however scored a bigger success at the international box-office where it opened to No. 1 in 26 of the 28 released markets over the weekend and grossed over $59.5 million in the three day period.[37] It substantially outpaced comparable openings for 1999's The Mummy ($16.7 million) and 2001's The Mummy Returns ($21.5 million) in the same markets.[38] The film also set opening records for the distributor in Korea (drawing $13.3 million), Russia ($12.7 million), Spain ($6.7 million) and Thailand.[38] The film has been dropped to third place in the box office by the movie Pineapple Express as of August 10, 2008.

As of August 19, 2008 the film's domestic total stands at $87,170,600 while its worldwide total is at $283,270,600.[39]

Reception

Critical reaction to The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor has been almost universally negative. As of now, it holds a 11% "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 148 reviews.[40] Metacritic reported, based on 33 reviews, an average rating of 31 out of 100.[41]

A positive review came from Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, who gave the film three stars (out of four). Ebert remarked, "Now why did I like this movie? It was just plain dumb fun, is why." Ebert also states that it is the best in the series.[42] Nathan Rabin of The Onion's A.V. Club also gave a positive review, who said the film "succeeds largely through sheer excess", albeit within a context that "plods along mechanically through its first hour."[43] William Arnold of Seattle Post-Intelligencer gave a mildly positive review, saying that "anyone in the market for an overblown and totally mindless adventure-comedy will certainly get his money's worth."[44]

Dallas Movie Reviewer Casey C. Corpier said that the film was almost as enjoyable as the original and liked the fact that it delivered what it advertised.

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times said the film "has some good things [but] does not have enough of them to make the third time the charm."[45] Ken Fox of TV Guide called the film "passable popcorn fare."[46] Jennie Punter of The Globe and Mail said the film is "kind of fun, but the twists and turns are all too familiar."[47] Michael Sragow of the Baltimore Sun said the film is "like an Indiana Jones movie without rhythm, wit or personality, just a desperate, headlong pace."[48] Elizabeth Weitzman of the New York Daily News said that "boredom is the very basis of this sequel."[49]

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called the performers "tools."[50] Jane Horwitz of the Washington Post called it "tiresome and messy."[51] Stephen Holden of the New York Times called it a "frantic, cluttered mess of cheesy computer-generated action-adventure clichés."[52] Andrea Gronvall of the Chicago Reader said the film "lacks any supernatural chills."[53] Marc Savlov of the Austin Chronicle called the film "little more than a cluttered, noisy, and unsatisfying thrill ride to nowhere."[54] Lawrence Toppman of the Charlotte Observer criticised both the plot and CGI effects and added "Jet Li ought to stop kicking screen enemies and start kicking his writers."[55]

Pete Hammond of Back Stage said that the next installment in the series should be a musical, not a film.[56] Matt Stephens of E! described it as "stale plotting, cheesy CGI, [and] cadaver-stiff acting."[57] Jane Horwitz of Washington Post said it "borrows mightily" from Indiana Jones and martial arts films.[58] Ty Burr of Boston Globe states: "Despite exotic locations, epic cinematography, and much spectacular crash and bang, this "Mummy" feels like a threadbare toss-off."[59] Richard Corliss of Time magazine while praising the final fight scene between Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh, described it as two movies: "a good adventure epic, with all the Chinese people, and a wan one, with O'Connells and the other the Westerners."[60] Jake Coyle of Starpulse states: "Like recent films such as "300" or the new "Indiana Jones," Tomb of the Dragon Emperor uses history like a prop — a loose costume for ludicrous plot lines."[61] Chris Hewitt of TwinCities.com said that Rachel Weisz "comes off best" for opting out and criticised Maria Bello's performance.[62]

Sequels

Actress Maria Bello stated in an interview that another Mummy film will "absolutely" be made, and that she has already signed on.[63] Actor Luke Ford is signed on for a total of three films.[64]

References

  1. ^ "The Mummy and Hellboy 2 Switch Dates". ComingSoon.net. 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2007-07-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Universal's re-born identity". Variety.com. 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2008-04-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b "The Mummy 3 Gets New Title and Date". Worst Previews. 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2007-07-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "The curse of a franchise". The Daily Yomiuri. 2008-08-15.
  5. ^ "The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor - After this, I want my Mummy!". Daily Mail. 2008-08-07. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Steve Head (2001-11-15). "New Scorpion King Pics and More!". IGN. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Sommers Won't Helm Mummy 3". Sci Fi Wire. 2004-05-19. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Michael Vaal (2005-12-03). "Exclusive Script Review: Mummy III Script". IESB.net. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Clint Morris (2006-03-16). "Fehr talks The Mummy 3". Moviehole.net. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Stax (2006-09-07). "Fraser Set For Mummy 3?". IGN. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |In September 2006, Universal considered Joe Johnston to direct this film instead of Jurassic Park IV but Johnston declined. url= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Paul Davidson (2006-09-11). "Weisz Wants Mummy III". IGN. Retrieved 2006-12-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Gabriel Snyder (2007-01-09). "Cohen in talks for 'Mummy 3'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-01-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Cindy White (2007-01-22). "Mummy 3 Spoilers Unwrapped". SciFi.com. Retrieved 2007-01-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Stax (2007-02-16). "Mummy 3 Exclusive - Character and casting scoops!". IGN. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Michael Fleming (2007-05-04). "Li and Yeoh take "Mummy" roles". Variety. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Diane Garrett (2007-04-11). "Fraser returns for 'Mummy 3'". Variety. Retrieved 2008-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Rachel Weisz Leaves Mummy 3
  18. ^ Beth Hilton (2007-05-07). "Weisz criticised for 'Mummy' decision". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2008-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Patricia Bailey (2007-02-27). "Mummy moves back to Montreal". Playback. Retrieved 2007-02-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "New Title for Mummy 3". Bloody Disgusting. 2007-04-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Michael Fleming (2007-04-30). "Ford to star in third 'Mummy'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-05-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Michael Fleming (2007-05-13). "Bello replaces Weisz in 'Mummy'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-05-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ YouTube - The Mummy 3 - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
  24. ^ a b c Mummy, The: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor--Shooting in China Accessed on Aug 1, 08
  25. ^ Chung, Philip W. (2008-08-01). "Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh: From ‘Tai Chi Master’ to ‘The Mummy’". AsianWeek. Retrieved on 2008-08-04.
  26. ^ The Mummy 3 Shanghai Production Video
  27. ^ 'Mummy' Cast & Crew Shared Battleground With Chinese Army - Starpulse Entertainment News Blog
  28. ^ LA-based S'porean creates magic on the silverscreen by Stacey Chia The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. July 26, 2008
  29. ^ IF Captures Grandeur Of China In The Mummy Titles VFX World. Animation World Network. August 1, 2008
  30. ^ Bill Radford (2008-03-23). "Starscream transformed into comic book". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Sierra Entertainment (2008-05-08). "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor to Rise This Summer". Sierra Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ "IGN's first look at The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor". IGN. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  33. ^ Cosmin Vasile (2008-05-08). "Gameloft Announces "The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" Mobile Game - To be available this summer". Softpedia. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  34. ^ Batman may bow down to Mummy By Carl DiOrio The US Daily Reuters. Date: 31 July 2008
  35. ^ Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer attached to The Mummy 3 - SnitchSeeker.com
  36. ^ Movies With the Widest Openings at the Box Office
  37. ^ ""Mummy beats Batman at foreign box-office". Reuters. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  38. ^ a b "'Mummy' wraps up international boxoffice". Hollywood Reporter. 2008-08-03. Retrieved 2008-08-04. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  39. ^ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mummy3.htm THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR]
  40. ^ Rotten Tomatoes. "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor".
  41. ^ Metacritic. "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor".
  42. ^ Review by Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
  43. ^ Review by Nathan Rabin, A.V. Club
  44. ^ Review by William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  45. ^ Review by Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
  46. ^ Review by Ken Fox, TV Guide
  47. ^ Review by Jennie Punter, The Globe and Mail
  48. ^ Review by Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun
  49. ^ Review by Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
  50. ^ Review by Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
  51. ^ Review by Jane Horwitz, Washington Post
  52. ^ Review by Stephen Holden, The New York Times
  53. ^ Review by Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader
  54. ^ Review by Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
  55. ^ Review by Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer
  56. ^ Hammond, Pete. Movie Review BackStage. Retrieved on August 1, 2008
  57. ^ Movies
  58. ^ The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: Movie Showtimes and Reviews on washingtonpost.com's City Guide
  59. ^ The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Movie Review - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Movie Trailer - The Boston Globe
  60. ^ Hong Kong Revives The Mummy - TIME
  61. ^ Mummy Heads East For Olympian Senselessness 2008-07-31
  62. ^ http://www.twincitiesm.com/movies/ci_10054561?nclick_check=1
  63. ^ Shawn Adler (2008-03-10). "'Mummy 3' Star Maria Bello Talks About Taking Over For Rachel Weisz, Fighting An Invisible Baddie". MTV. Retrieved 2008-04-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  64. ^ "Luke Ford Signed For Three 'Mummy' Films". Bloody-Disgusting. 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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