 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
- Review Date: July 28, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Violent action sequel should've stayed buried.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this third installment in The Mummy series has plenty of action violence, which may be a big draw for kids. Only a few of scenes are actually gory -- faces melting off, men about to be decapitated or dismembered -- but most of the battle scenes involve explosions, sword fights, guns, and hand-to-hand combat. Be prepared for the vast hordes of skeleton warriors; they could be quite scary for younger viewers. There's relatively little swearing, although hero Rick does refer to two Chinese soldiers as "Ying" and "Yang." In addition to a few kisses, a woman appears in a long negligee, and two characters appear about to make love (passionate kissing lying down).
What's the story?
In the third film in the Mummy franchise, Rick and Eveyln O'Connell (Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello, who took the role over from Rachel Weisz) are living a life of bored luxury in 1946 England -- until they're asked to personally escort a priceless crystal back to China. They don't know that their 21-year-old son, Alex (Luke Ford), is also in China on a dangerous expedition, instead of in college as they believed. Soon after they meet up, all three O'Connells must try to stop the crystal from awakening the ancient terra cotta army and its ruthless leader, the Dragon Emperor (Jet Li).
Is it any good?
The first two Mummy movies were far from action masterpieces, but when you compare them to THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR, they seem like Oscar contenders. Without director Stephen Sommers at the helm and Weisz playing Evie, the new movie lacks the central chemistry that made the first two films charmingly bearable. Although it's always a pleasure to see Li and Michelle Yeoh (who plays a witch who cursed the emperor and his army to their stone tombs) show off their considerable martial arts skills, the action sequences are cribbed from parts of The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean (note to action directors: undead skeleton armies are officially passe).
Although the battle scenes are what most moviegoers crave, that's no excuse for sloppy dialogue and poor acting. Why young newcomer Ford thinks a pseudo-Bronx accent peppered with his native Aussie cadences is what the son of a rich American and his educated English wife would sound like is rather misguided and continuously annoying. Fraser, meanwhile, who's proved that he's adept at more than a popcorn blockbuster, phones in a performance so blah that it's hard to believe his character was likable in the first two films. There's no doubt that this movie will attract young audiences desperate for more high-decibel, CGI-heavy violence, but it would've been so much better had this particular Mummy not been unearthed.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether sequels are generally as good as the originals. Can you think of any that are? Does it matter when, as in this case, one of the main actors doesn't come back? Also, the bulk of the film is set in China: How is Chinese culture represented? How does that depiction relate to the time period in which the movie takes place? Did you learn anything about Chinese culture?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
GO SEE IT. now
So good. Quite funny actually. A mans face melts off. BTW the yeti's are really cute and i want one
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
November 2, 2010
AGE
good action movie but not as good as the first two mummy movies.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Not the best movie, but ok. for 10 and up.
The only concern I would consider is the violence and scary scenes. No bad language to speak of. As far as quality, nothing like the first two Mummy movies. Has gone down hill
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
August 9, 2010
AGE
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Violent.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Mummy Overkill
I am a huge fan of the Mummy films from the early 2000s, and those were well-made and wrapped up the story just fine. I loved the acting and characters. I don't think this movie should've been made. Sure, it's great to add onto a classic series, but not with a completely different cast with terrible acting ability. It has nothing to do with the previous films, and well, let's face it- the storyline sucks. There is random humor thrown in everywhere, the only of which is funny are Jonathan's lines. The script is just as bad as the acting. I think the film would've worked and be less of a corny spinoff if Rachel Weisz was still in it, but it's still a mummy overkill...this one should've stayed dead.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
March 13, 2011
AGE
its fine for tweens
the 3rd was the best but it had to much violence and language for kids to see,
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
its fine for tweens
the 3rd was the best but it had to much violence and language for kids to see,
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
March 13, 2011
AGE
its fine for tweens
the 3rd was the best but it had to much violence and language for kids to see,
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
this film has mild language like a-s,b------d,and one h--l
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Rob Cohen |
| Cast: | Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 119 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 31, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | December 15, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | adventure action and violence. |
Review It
Video review
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
