Contrary to popular (very popular) belief, the absence of Rachel Weisz, and replacement by Maria Bello, is NOT the reason that the third installment of the Mummy trilogy fails to be a bigger, better movie than the original.
"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" just does not have the "Bam!" that the previous two films had. The replacement of one of the stars is always a really large factor in any movie series, and the romantic chemistry between Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evie (originally Rachel Weisz, now, Maria Bello) O'Connell was practically non-existent.
I've seen divorced couples pretend to care about each other more than this supposedly madly-in-love-for-20-plus-years couple. The magic just isn't there. And no romantic adventure and adrenaline-pumping storyline can make it so.
Another detractor is Luke Ford's portrayal as Rick and Evie's 20-year-old son, Alex. Much has been made of the fact that Rick and Evie seem way too young to have a college-age son, but in real life, Fraser and Bello are 40 and 41, respectfully, and nothing in the film makes them seem any younger.
Ford's performance is adequate, but nothing to write home about. A veteran Australian actor, best known for his work on "McLeod's Daughter's," a 2001-2004 hit on one of the alternate television channels, he should have been better.
If it was the writing that slowed him down, he is not alone. The script was rather weak -- otherwise, how can you explain the same performers playing the same characters that they played in two previous hits, and the results come out so boring?
Ford's only shining light is the romantic flame he sparks for co-star Isabella Leong (as Lin, the Protector of the Secret) a Chinese actress in her first American movie.
On the plus side, the scenes of the late 1940s/early 1950s were really well done, including the "Lost Horizon's" locations and the Shanghai street scenes and nightclub sets.
Once again, John Hannah brings minor-league comedy to his role as Evie's brother, Jonathan, and makes for the only player from the first two movies who remains true to character. Even the star, Fraser, looks like he'd rather be anywhere else but in this movie.
Yes, Jet Li (as Emperor Han) is his typical butt-kickin' self, but most of his on-air time is as the decaying mummy. His final battle scenes are very good, and do rate up there with the first "Mummy" movie.
There has already been a lot made of all the CGI graphics in this movie. I think all the buzz must be about the Yetis (Abdominal Snowmen) in the Tibet-like scenes, because most of the other major CGI stuff is in the Undead vs. Undead finale, which is quite similar to the original movie's visuals.
The Yetis look real enough and are actually fun to watch, as they side with the O'Connells during a battle in the Himalayas. They are vaguely familiar and remind you of the werewolf from "Van Helsing."
Movie critic Jeffrey Lyons calls "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" a popcorn movie, meaning it is what it is. A fun movie; not rocket science, not "Citizen Kane."
If "Mummy..." is a popcorn movie, it is popcorn without any salt or butter. Boring, with none of the flavor of the original.
Billy Summers is a freelance photographer who also reviews films for the Putnam Herald. He can be reached at summers855@verizon.net.
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