Mum about The Mummy

JUDE, NOW A REGULAR visitor of my blog, e-mailed me the other day asking why I still do not have a movie review of The Mummy, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in my blog. (So I am now a movie critic, huh? Am I supposed to feel flattered or what?) Haven’t I watched the movie yet, he asked, reminding me even that I said I was eagerly waiting for it in my June 2 blog entry, Indy Movie (http://awonderfulblog.com/2008/06/indy-movie/). Wow, this guy is thorough, isn’t he?

I am supposed to be ìon leaveî for a few days from blogging to give way to an important project I am wrapping up for the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. But Jude is adamant. Besides, I won’t dare disappoint one of the very few people who do read my blog. More so because I don’t even know Jude personally. I do know that he doesn’t mince words, both in his matter-of-fact comments in my blog and in his scathing e-mails. Peace, man.

I did watch The Mummy, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor last Saturday with my ex-girlfriend.

How do I find it? Well… let me put it this way: On its own merit it is a very entertaining and well produced movie. The mere presence of Jet Li and†Michelle Yeoh definitely added a lot of value to it.

But it has at least half a dozen problems:

First, just like most sequel movies it has the misfortune of having to deal with the fact that its earlier installments were certified blockbusters. Even more so that Mummy 2 is one of those rare sequels that outdid their originals. The expectations on Mummy 3 were simply too high, and it failed, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh notwithstanding.

Second, the absence of Rachel Weisz in the female lead role made Mummy 3 simply not the same The Mummy movie anymore. Maria Bello‘s performance in replacing Rachel Weisz as†Evelyn O’Connell†is unassailable. But something is amiss. The chemistry of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz as Mr. and Mrs. Rick O’Connell in the first two installments is already almost synonymous with the movie’s brand. It simply is not the same anymore without Rachel Weisz. I’m sure Jude and many others are as curious as I am why Rachel Weisz didn’t reprise her role in the movie. The best answer I got courtesy of Yahoo Answers is this: ì…sources speculate a handful of reasons for Weisz’ departure from the franchise, including her participation in as many as four other acting gigs, her recent Oscar win, and caring for her nine-month-old son.î

Third, newcomer Luke Ford as Alex O’Connell, the grown up son of Rick and Evelyn, doesn’t seem to fit the character, aggravating the lost chemistry between the senior O’Connells.

Fourth, Jet Li’s Chinese ìmummyî and his evil legion failed to give moviegoers (or at least me) ìthe creepsî as did the mummy of†the Egyptian high priest Im-ho-tep†in the first two installments. I recall one butt-raising suspenseful moment as Alex O’Connell enters the tomb, but that’s about it. I have two theories why this is so. First, after two installments viewers may have already grown too familiar with those mummy stuff and antics. Second, most people have already been exposed to the Terraccota relic. We don’t really associate the Terraccota with things that are scary, do we?

Fifth, Mummy 3 has an even bigger misfortune of having to screen just a few weeks after The Dark Knight.

Lastly… I forgot what my sixth and last reason why I think Mummy 3 is somewhat a forgettable movie… which quite sums up what I think about the movie.

And that is why, Jude, I wasn’t that motivated to blog about The Mummy, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. I am actually curious to know what YOU think about it. #

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