Why doesn’t anybody learn from their past mistakes? The first movie ok, I get it ..he didn’t know that the mummy would actually rise and hunt him down, the second, we all saw it : the mummy did return. So, to try again and again to go against the rules and think that maybe this time it is all a myth, it seems to me that the consequences are fair. The new installement “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” proves, once again, that you don’t mess with mummies or with Jet Li, who is Emperor Han, a very powerful evil and almost dead emperor.

Rob Cohen, who also directed “Fast and Furious,” is a good, talented director, who knows what an action movie means. But his time, “The Mummy” is just an action movie. There is no progress of the characters, no advancement. Just lots of action, which tends to become boring at times. Viewers need to see something else than non stop running and fighting and screaming. Things do indeed happen, but only externally.

On the other side, the chemistry between the characters is very much there. Brendan Fraser keeps it cool and funny, without losing his courage, Maria Bello is more active, fitting perfectly with the action. Also, the rest of the cast, even though some of the actors are new, manages to remain natural.

This new Mummy movie finds Rick O’Connell, who last fought with the Scorpion King in Egypt, teaching and wife Evelyn, who is now played by Maria Bello, writing a “Mummy” novel. They are both in a slump: Rick looks like he needs some new adventure and Evelyn needs some inspiration for her book. So, when the opportunity comes, they both jump at the chance to experience a new adventure. They set off to Shanghai because they have to take there a precious artifact. Once they arrive there, they meet Evie’s brother Jonathan who runs a nightclub called Imhotep’s. The family also encounters their son Alex (Luke Ford), whose accent is more Australian than British. Just like his parents, Alex is very attracted by archeology and danger, being also very lucky. So lucky that he finds the tomb of the Dragon Emperor and the chambers housing his massive army, which are all under China’s desert.

Back in 50 B.C, the Emperor (Jet Li) betrayed a good witch Zi Yuan who made him immortal. The witch cast a curse upon the Emperor, sending him into a latent state, somewhere between life and death. Viewers can’t see much of Jet Li, even though he’s the Emperor, because, most of the time he’s acting through terracotta. But martial arts moves and special effects are still worth watching. So, as everyone suspected, Rick and his family, along with guardian Lin, try to stop the evil Emperor to rise from the dead and suppress freedom, by invading Tibet.

Tough job but there is no one else to do it. Besides, isn’t everybody looking for new and exciting experiences? What is there more exciting than fighting with terracotta undead soldiers, while yetis come to the humans’ rescue? Or the fact that underneath the Great Wall of China were buried the Emperor’s enemies which, of course, come to life, in order to finish the fight? Excitement all the way! And why should it be otherwise, as this is an action movie with a great story and good special effects. There are all the ingredients which can make the movie a hit: good actors, good director, great overall chemistry, special effects and exciting action and also a great idea for a movie.

I’m thinking that this should be the last Mummy sequel, because oversaturation is just around the corner. There are no more opportunities for Fraser in this movie to become funnier, as his “I hate mummies” and “I really hate mummies” lines are getting old. Also, the fact that he always wins in the battle against mummies and other creatures, it’s too obvious. This movie should make him consider letting go to the franchise. It was good but things have to end at one point.

While the action is set in China, the sights are amazing. Viewers will be delighted to see some great mountains and some beautiful Great Wall locations, before their return in the middle of the fight with the undead. There are some parts…well…more parts that resemble Indiana Jones’ movies, but we can let that one go.

Even if the action is a little bit overreacted and over the top and viewers may not want to see another army-desert-battle movie for some time, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” is worth watching.

Brendan Fraser was last seen in “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” also an action-adventure movie. His upcoming projects are “Inkheart,” “G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra,” “This Side of the Looking Glasses” and “Singularity.”

Maria Bello, who you remember from playing Lil in “Coyote Ugly,” will also appear in “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.”

Michelle Yeoh from “Memoirs of a Geisha” will star in “Babylon A.D.” and newcomer Like Ford played the part of Charlie Mollison in “the Black Ballon.”

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor -a Universal release, presented in association with Relativity Media, of a Sommers Co./Alphaville production.

Directed by Rob Cohen
Written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar
Cast: Brendan Fraser (Rick O'Connell), Jet Li (Emperor Han), Maria Bello (Evelyn O’Connell), John Hannah (Jonathan Carnahan), Michelle Yeoh (Zi Juan), Luke Ford (Alex O’Connell), Chau Sang Anthony Wong (General Yang), Isabella Leong (Lin), Liam Cunningham (Maguire), David Calder (Roger Wilson), Russell Wong (Ming Guo)
PG-13, Running time: 112 minutes
Produced by Sean Daniel, James Jacks, Stephen Sommers, Bob Ducsay.
Executive producer, Chris Brigham.
Co-producers, Lei Qin, Doris Tse, Josette Perrotta.
Screenplay, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar.