Despite Jet Li’s Would-Be Resurrection, ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ Still Flops

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:23:17 -0700

CHICAGO – The threequel that culminates with “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” is so hackneyed that even the main star of the previous two films – Brendan Fraser – wasn’t enough to sell audiences on a third return. Universal Studios needed to enlist co-star Jet Li to stand a fighting chance and take the mood the Asian way.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

If there’s a single success this may have, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” may finally be the only film that can vanquish the epic, two-week reign of “The Dark Knight” at the box office. Projections target approximately $50 million for its opening weekend.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”.

View our full, high-resolution “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” image gallery.

Brendan Fraser’s Hollywood dossier is currently most memorable for these three films, which progress from mediocre all the way to 2008’s tragedy.

Likewise, Fraser in the Indiana Jones-like role (but not nearly as well-scripted as Harrison Ford’s character) is a surefire recipe for mediocrity.

It’s no mystery why the evolution from “The Mummy” in 1999 ($43.4 million opening; $155.4 million total) and then “The Mummy Returns” ($68 million opening; $202 million total) only two years later in 2001 took seven years to yield “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”.

The filmmakers, studio and production companies clearly spent seven years flailing about a single question: Do we really want to make a third or should we just let this one go at two?

In the decision to green-light the threequel, Jet Li’s star power and villainous character clearly was the film’s attempt for rejuvenation.

“The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” which stars Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello and Michelle Yeoh, opened everywhere on Aug. 1, 2008.

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” review.

Jet Li as the vicious emperor comes back to life in “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” which races from the catacombs of ancient China high into the spectacular Himalayas.
Photo credit: Digital Domain, copyright Universal Studios

Explorers Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn O’Connell (Maria Bello) in “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” which races from the catacombs of ancient China high into the spectacular Himalayas.
Photo credit: Digital Domain, copyright Universal Studios

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” review.

New ‘Sweeney Todd’ Stills; Movie Posters: Dr. Seuss Film, ‘The Forbidden Kingdom,’ ‘Hottie,’ ‘Zohan’

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:24:37 -0700

Paramount Pictures on Wednesday evening released new production photos for “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” which opens on Friday.

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in “Sweeney
Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.
Photo credit: Leah Gallo

Alan Rickman (left) in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.
Photo credit: Peter Mountain

Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.
Photo credit: Leah Gallo

Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.
Photo credit: Peter Mountain

Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp in “Sweeney
Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.
Photo credit: Leah Gallo
Various new movie posters have just surfaced for films including “Horton Hears a Who!,” which opens on March 14, 2008.

The Dr. Seuss computer-animated adaptation features a star-studded cast that includes Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Isla Fisher, Dane Cook, Jaime Pressly and Carol Burnett.

Next up, we have a new poster for “The Forbidden Kingdom” with Jet Li and Jackie Chan – yes, in the same film. “The Forbidden Kingdom” is slated to open on April 17, 2008.

We also have the new movie poster for – you’ve got to be kidding me! – “The Hottie and the Nottie” with Paris Hilton, which is scheduled to open on Feb. 8, 2008.

Finally, we have the movie poster for “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” with Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and Mariah Carey. The film, which is written by Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) and Adam Sandler, is slated to open on June 6, 2008.