The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - Blu-ray
by Peter Dimako
When the first “Mummy” came out back in 1999, I was semi-impressed. I felt the film was filled with cheesy humor despite impressive effects as well as a charming male and female lead in Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
The next film came plummeting downhill for the most part and introduced the “Scorpion King” character which opened up the way for a film of the same title starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This was then followed up by the recent straight-to-video release “The Scorpion King: Rise of a Warrior” starring Michael Copon and wannabe actor Randy Couture of UFC fame.
Now we have the third installment in “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” with martial arts legend Jet Li stepping into the picture. Being a big Indiana Jones fan, I would never have thought I would ever say that a “Mummy” flick would ever provide more action-packed, viewer enjoyment as well as a better screenplay. After witnessing the last hellspawn “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” I back my words with no hesitation; “Dragon Emperor” is a ton of fun with rollercoaster thrill rides, wonderful effects, humor and now, thankfully enough, beautifully presented in Blu-ray in a Deluxe Edition.
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For those unfamiliar with the story, here’s what it’s about:
Filled with spectacular action and sharp banter, THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR finds the dashing Rick and Evelyn O'Connell (Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello, who took over for Rachel Weisz) called upon for another world-saving adventure. The film opens in 50 B.C., when the ruthless Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) seeks to conquer one last enemy, death, and become an immortal ruler. But when the Emperor betrays an obliging sorceress (Michelle Yeoh), he and his army are cursed to spend an eternity in statuesque limbo. Fast forward to 1946, when Rick and Evelyn are struggling to adapt to their self-imposed retirement. But the fates have other plans, and soon the O'Connells are crossing paths with their somewhat estranged son, Alex (Luke Ford). While enthusiastically carrying on the family's tomb-raiding traditions, Alex has unwittingly brought the Dragon Emperor back to life. With the world in peril, the O'Connells must overcome their differences to prevent the Dragon Emperor from gaining immortality for himself and his army. Along the way they're joined by a mysterious young woman (Isabella Leong), a wily pilot, and a trio of Abominable Snowmen. Jumping from Shanghai to the Himalayas to the Chinese desert, director Rob Cohen (THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS) takes audiences on a breathless adventure that continues THE MUMMY's love of quick wits, close calls and big battles. The result is a spirited romp that proves evil is no match against a family united.
The features:
Universal Blu-ray offerings are always impressive, this is not different. The U-Control is in again; a way to enjoy interactive features while you’re actually watching the movie.
- The Dragon Emperor’s Challenge – One may test their knowledge of the Mummy films and take a shot at an interactive trivia game.
- Know Your Mummy – Great to use if you want to see all the different connections between the three films. Provides clips, galleries and more trivia.
- Scene Explorer – Action is constant in “The Dragon Emperor,” now you can move through the scenes with up to four different points of view and multiple angles.
- Visual Commentary – Director Rob Cohen gives his feedback during the film, should you wish.
There are HD featurettes aplenty within the second disc. These include:
1. Picture in Picture
2. The Making of the Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
3. From City to Desert
4. Legacy of the Terra Cotta
5. Visual Commentary with Director Rob Cohen
If you’re in the mood for more, there are deleted and extended scenes to explore as well as several other behind-the-scenes looks in “Jet Li: Crafting the Emperor Mummy,” “Preparing for Battle with Brendan Frasier and Jet Li” and a look at the world of the latest film in “Creating New and Supernatural Worlds.
If you connect to the BD-Live Center via your player, then you can share movie clips and snag even more bonus content!
Overall – Fantastic fun and a film I’m more than likely to revisit at some point or another.
Shop "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"
- MUMMY:TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (BLU-RAY) - $39.98
- MUMMY:TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (DLX.ED) - $25.77 vs. $34.98
- MUMMY-TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (FS) - $21.99 vs. $29.98
