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The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)

Director: Rob Cohen

Time Out rating

Average user rating

52 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Making the farcical tenor of the recent Indiana Jones film feel like a paragon of dramatic and archaeological integrity, this phoned-in action threequel doesn’t even have the good grace to deliver on its title and feature any mummies (‘Reanimated Clay Statue’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it).

An increasingly tired-looking Brendan Fraser dusts off the boots and bomber jacket as Rick ‘Ricochet’ O’Connell, this time heading to China with thrillseeking missus Evy (Maria Bello) to deliver an artefact to a museum, only to be ambushed by a tyrannical general who wants to resurrect the long-dead Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) to, well… who knows why? John Hannah reprises his role as stock babbling twit while newcomer Luke Ford – an eminently slappable 1970s waxwork of Matt Damon – crops up as Rick’s annoyingly impetuous son Alex.

Creating the sense that one eye seems to have been on the film’s potential for computer-game spin-offs, with the other on the prospect of interactive museum tie-ins, Rob Cohen’s pallid direction, combined with a script packed with groan-worthy quips and dimestore mysticism, merely drags the characters from point A to point B. The humour, fun and B-movie self-depreciation of the first two chapters are also woefully absent.

Author: David Jenkins

Time Out London Issue 1981 August 7 - 13, 2008

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User reviews of this film

ivorwallison said...

Posted on Oct 22 2010 17:32 An excellent effects laden well shot reasonably well directed load of rubbish - available to rent with some friends and lots of beer and pizza - stands up fairly well against the previous incarnations

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Phil said...

Posted on Mar 07 2009 21:22 This is a shockingly bad movie, none of the charm, humour or originality of the previous two (it's basically a re-hash of the earlier plots) and I fully agree that Cohen has created a complete TURKEY.

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Douglas said...

Posted on Dec 22 2008 01:27 Awful film. Why? Well, I`ll be brief, but basics...
1.No real story at all.
2. The change of Evy to a different actress was a terrible mistake. the new actress was badly chosen, but what they should have done was just say that the Heroe`s wife was sick, divorced or just plain dead cos that blew believability bigtime right there. Even Brendan looked tired and even embarrassed at having to pretend he knew someone he didn`t.
3. The son looked too old.
4. Ok, I can take Yetis. But there`s no explanation of how and why? they appear, are super-friendly and vanish. Completely unbelievable. Only 10 year olds could watch it.
5. Totally rubbish ending. Jet Li wasted.
And that`s only a few of the things wrong with it.
I wasted 2 hours with my 17 year old daughter and she being a big fan of the Mummy films was left very quiet.
Absolute rubbish advised for 10 years and younger only.
I must learn to check more film reviews in future before buying the movie.

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roger rabbit said...

Posted on Oct 25 2008 12:38 Im all for saying NO TO DRUGS ! but after this movie im now a junkie!

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Max said...

Posted on Oct 12 2008 17:26 Dave, me thinks you are the only cretin here. More importantly my friends and I thought the film was absolutely spiffing - well done chaps!

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Dave said...

Posted on Oct 11 2008 00:57 What is it about Timeout online that draws such an astonishing array of cretins to comment on its film reviews?
Every film review I read on here is awash with legions of barely literate "user reviews". I just don't understand, as Timeout itself is consistently intelligent and high quality.
As for the Mummy 3 - weak...very weak.

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sally said...

Posted on Oct 01 2008 15:59 totally wicked film--- very action-packed!!!!
the enemy is very extremly well played and its full of a bit of humour here and there. defo one 2 watch.....you'll enjoy it!!!!!!

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davey jones said...

Posted on Sep 11 2008 20:23 absolutely pointless and crammed with an overload of special effects that dont match the realism expected. For me its just another money grabbing movie, diff people playing on the success of the mummy movies and attracting people to go and see what they think will be another great action/adventure movie. Sadly, not to be..

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gods sake said...

Posted on Sep 08 2008 14:16 absloutley rubbish it was like watchin grass grow

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a said...

Posted on Sep 07 2008 17:23 :)

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Simone said...

Posted on Sep 06 2008 17:43 Enjoyed watching this movie. Lots going on in this movie, plenty of action! If you think this is boring you must be blind, deaf and dumb.

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sara said...

Posted on Sep 06 2008 16:35 the mummy was boring i found it absolutley astonishing outrageous and soo tiring, i have one word for it it was...............B.O.R.I.N.G

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this dude loves films said...

Posted on Aug 31 2008 15:56 I have actually never ever seen a better film in my life, when the mummy turned into the flying dragon was so realistic and had my hairs stand up on end. And as for the yetes, i was blown away. Do they really exist because if so, oooo baby i gotta get me one of them! Peace film lovers

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Cookie said...

Posted on Aug 30 2008 20:26 This film in my opinion wasnt anyhing on the Past 2 Mummy films which where fantastic. In itself its not a bad film but when following 2 amazing films it was always going to be hard to make the grade and unfortunatly it doesnt quite deliver.

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sam said...

Posted on Aug 30 2008 13:27 people who liked previous mummy should watch it ull enjoy it

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