The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

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"A New Evil Awakens..."

―Tagline^[src]

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Production credits
Director	Rob Cohen
Producer	Sean Daniels James Jacks Stephen Sommers Bob Ducsay
Writer	Alfred Gough Miles Millar
Music	Randy Edelman
Acting credits
Starring	Brendan Fraser Maria Bello John Hannah Luke Ford Jet Li Michelle Yeoh Isabella Leong Anthony Wong Russell Wong Jessey Meng Liam Cunningham Albert Kwan
Distribution
Distributor	Universal Studios
Release date	August 1st 2008
Rating	PG-13
Preceeded by	The Mummy Returns
Followed by	The Mummy: Rise of the Aztec

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is an adventure film released in 2008. Produced by Universal Pictures, it is the third installment of the studios’ remake Mummy franchise.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 2.1 Yang's Troops 2.2 Others 2.3 Uncredited 3 Trivia 4 Appearances 4.1 Mentioned Characters 4.2 Creatures 4.3 Locations 4.4 Artifacts

[edit] Plot

Emperor Han was a tyrannical Chinese warlord with mastery over the five elements as well as shape-shifting abilities, and his army of thousands had conquered much of the land under heaven; such was the threat posed by Han that attempted assassinations were set by his enemies, three such men sneaked into his chambers with their weapons ready, only to be instantly slain by the Emperor, who had been awake the entire time and had anticipated an attack. He used this assault as an excuse to declare war against the city of Chu.

As Han conquered many and forced his surviving enemies to build a Great Wall around China to protect his lands, before burying them beneath it at task’s end, the evil warlord realized that his ambitions outweighed his life-span; he would never be able to accomplish his goals in the years of mortals. He became obsessed with finding a way to cheat death, and the rumors of his wish spread across the land until a discovery was made at last. There was a powerful sorcerer who possessed the secret to immortality, and Han sent out his trusted general and only genuine ‘friend’ Ming Guo to hire this mystic's services.

However, upon arriving Ming discovered that the sorcerer was dead, and that only his daughter, Zi Yuan, remained. Upon returning, Ming introduced Yuan to Han, who was also taken by her beauty. He gave her permission to retrieve the source of the secret he so sought, and secretly commanded Guo that no man was to touch her. She lead the general to a library, where Yuan retrieved the sacred Oracle Bones, constructed ages ago, which contained ancient secrets from the Dawn of Time. But during the previous few days of researching, Ming and Yuan had grown attracted to each other, and risked the wrath of the Emperor by eventually making love one night. Unfortunately, a spy of Han spotted the affair, and raced off to tell his Emperor.

Upon returning with the Bones, Yuan went before the Emperor, and read an incantation which was written in Sanskrit: a language the Emperor did not understand. Therefore, the true meaning of the words were unknown to Han, allowing Yuan to deceive the Emperor into thinking that she was granting him immortality. In actuality, she was casting an enchantment on Han and all his soldiers, a punishment which would activate if the Emperor were to ever cross her or her beloved Ming.

As he believed that he was now invincible, the Emperor brought Yuan to a balcony, and below in the courtyard was Ming Guo, captured. He was tied to four horses by different limbs, and Han claimed that if Yuan became his queen then he would spare Guo’s life. She did not fall for his bluff however, and the Emperor coldly gave the order. Ming was then ripped to pieces by the horses. Enraged at the Emperor’s cruelty, Yuan attacked him, only to then be stabbed in the side by the Emperor's personal dragon dagger.

Upon doing so the curse that Yuan had spoken earlier went into action, and Han began to weep mud. Soon he was covered in a coating of brown muddy earth and caught fire, the intense heat burning the Emperor alive and hardening the mud until it became stone. Emperor Han had been imprisoned within a hollow statue of Terra Cotta, his burnt and ruined body trapped within the sculpture for all time.

As this happened, the same curse began to transform the Emperor’s great army, until all of his soldiers had become imprisoned in hollow statues like him. The wounded Yuan fled with the Oracle Bones, never to be seen again for the ensuing thousands of years.

The film then flashes forward to A.D. 1946, to retired adventurer and MI6 Agent Rick O'Connell. He suffered a disappointing attempt to learn fly fishing, and eventually returned home to the family mansion, where he recalled his days as a Corporal of the French Foreign Legion. Meanwhile, his wife Evelyn is doing a reading of the sequel to her bestselling novel The Mummy, entitled The Mummy Returns. The two books are in fact accounts of her and her husband’s former experiences, but disguised as adventure tales. When asked if the main characters, rugged hero Dash and plucky damsel Scarlet O’Keefe, are based on her husband and herself, Evelyn replies, “I can honestly say she’s a completely different person.”

Meanwhile, in China, an archeological dig was progressing at the base of the massive Colossus, a giant statue of the Dragon Emperor. Heading this dig is the now-eighteen Alex O'Connell, son of Rick and Evelyn, who has in fact dropped out of school without his parents’ knowledge to seek fame and fortune. His excavation is funded by professor Roger Wilson, an old friend of Alex’s father, who eagerly anticipates their goal: to find the legendary tomb of the Emperor Han and his massive Terra-Cotta Army. As Wilson arrives at the site for a check up, the diggers finally discover the tomb’s entrance.

Wilson and O’Connell venture into the chamber, braving multiple booby traps which claim the lives of three diggers. After solving a puzzling contraption, Alex unlocks the concealed room which houses the vast army and their dead leader, perched on a chariot with horse statues. As Alex examines the incredible find, a mysterious assassin skilled in martial arts attacks, subduing Wilson and engages Alex in combat. He manages to injure the assailant, in the process discovering the person is in fact a beautiful Chinese girl. At that moment Wilson reawakens and fires his gun at the girl, who flees.

Back at the O’Connell mansion, Rick and Evy are visited by Foreign Office agent Benjamin Fry, who has come to offer the O’Connells one final assignment: to act as custodians for an ancient relic on its way to the Shanghai Museum (under Roger Wilson) in China, and to keep the object safe during the journey. The artifact-in-question is the mythical Eye of Shangri-la, a jewel that legend stated could reveal the location of the long-lost paradise of Shangri-La. Leaping at the opportunity to have some excitement in their lives again, the O’Connell’s accept, stating that their cover story could be that they were going to visit Evelyn’s brother, Jonathan Carnahan who owns a nightclub in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, at a military testing ground, the misguided General Yang and his lover, Colonel Choi, intend to steal the Eye and use the drops of Eternal Life water within to revive Emperor Han. Yang believed that China had become weak with corruption, and viewed the Emperor as their only hope of returning China to its former glory. To Yang and his faithful troops, the Emperor was a messiah-figure.

Back at the Chinese museum in Shanghai, where the remains of Emperor Han are displayed, Evelyn and Rick congratulate Alex on his discovery and Wilson arrives to admire his latest find. After an argument between him and his father, Alex leaves and bumps into the woman from the tomb, who introduces herself as Lin. Back in the main hall of the museum, Rick, Evelyn and Wilson are admiring the tomb of Han, when suddenly General Yang enters, followed by his lover Choi. Yang reveals that Rick and Evelyn's work is not over yet, and Wilson reveals Yang as an old friend, before turning his pistol on Rick and Evelyn. Wilson reveals that Yang had financed Alex's expedition, with enough money to bribe off the Foreign Offices. Rick looks aghast at the revelation of Yang's plan: to resurrect an army of mummies. Yang seizes the Eye of Shangri-La, and forces Evelyn to read the ancient Chinese inscription upon its rim. Evelyn stutters that Chinese is not her main language, but she is bullied into reading it anyway, and the inscription on the Eye apparently says Only those of pure heart may open the Eye of Shangri-La. Yang smiles at Choi as he realizes that they need Evelyn's blood, and Choi smirks as she seizes a dagger and attempts to slice Evelyn's finger. She eventually succeeds, and as Evelyn's blood falls upon the Eye, it opens up, becoming golden serpents which slither away from Yang's hand onto the museum floor. The Eye glows and the Emperor begins to awake. However... at this moment Lin and Alex attack, sending the room into chaos and sending the events into motion which will resurrect Emperor Han. Evelyn viciously attacks Choi, sending her into a pile of debris, and Alex turns his pistol upon Wilson, who stutters about their friendship. Just then, Lin seizes her dagger and kills the body of the Emperor in his tomb, but it turns out to be a decoy... and the real Emperor is frozen as a terracotta statue on horseback! With a rumble, both the horses and the Emperor are resurrected, and Yang bows before the Emperor, saying he can grant him immortality. The Emperor declares that if Yang lies, that he would burn. Both Yang and the Emperor race out of the museum on horseback and chariot. Before they depart, Wilson begs Han to take him with them, but the Emperor carelessly kills him by decapitating him with a fireball.

A massive chase through Shanghai ensues, as the Emperor and Yang flee to the military outpost, and Rick, Alex, Lin and Evelyn meet up with Jonathan Carnahan in order to successfully pursue the Emperor, as he had knocked out a portion of Jonathan's car during his escape, and this leads to Lin and Alex going ahead in pursuit of Emperor Han, and Rick, Evelyn and Jonathan pursuing the Emperor and Yang in their vehicle. The O'Connells separate, with Alex and Lin heading towards the Emperor and Yang, and Rick and Jonathan attempt to distract the Emperor by shooting rockets at him and Yang. In retaliation, Yang and the Emperor attack, even while Lin and Alex attempt to assassinate the Emperor once more, and all this failed assassination attempt ensues is a massive explosion of fireworks in the middle of Shanghai, thus ruining the Chinese New Year for millions of civilians.

Disheveled and dispirited, the O'Connells realize that the Emperor whom they are up against is superhuman, with powers over elements such as earth, water, fire and metal. He can command statues via telepathy and can deter rockets with one flick of his hand. He seems all but invincible... until Lin reminds the O'Connells that the only way to kill him properly is to stab him in the heart with a sacred Dagger. Lin also tells Rick and Alex that in order to prevent the Emperor from discovering the path to Shangri-La, they will have to attempt a highly dangerous climb over the Himalayas and discover the Gateway to Shangri-La. Rick reluctantly agrees and hires Mr Mcguire to fly them to India.

Once in the Himalayas, the O'Connells have to battle against cold and mist and other perils. After a journey of two days, (during which Mcguire notices Yang and the Emperor emerge from their plane and proceed up the mountains) Rick, Jonathan, Evelyn, Alex and Lin reach the famous Gateway, where they station themselves for battle. Finally, Yang and the Emperor arrive, with the Emperor telling Yang 'Clear a path to the Golden Tower: Prove yourself to me!' A battle erupts, wherein Yang's forces are dispatched by Rick and Alex. Even so, Yang overpowers the O'Connells, and all seems lost... until Lin calls upon three Yeti for assistance. The Yeti quickly overcome Yang's troops, and even defeat Yang himself. However, the Emperor ascends the steps of the Tower, knocking Yang aside. Rick and Alex attempt to stop the Emperor, but he overpowers them with fireballs and icicles. Eventually, Jonathan sets off an explosive, and Yang stabs Rick, fatally wounding him, just as a massive avalanche erupts. Therefore, just as Jonathan has realized the Emperor is using a diamond to see the Path to Shangri-La, the avalanche sweeps everything away, burying the O'Connells beneath piles of snow. Fortunately the Yeti dig them out and it is only then that Evelyn realizes that Rick is mortally injured, and so they take him to Shangri-La. The O'Connells arrive at Shangri-La and, to their surprise, meet Zi Yuan, thought to have been dead long ago. It is revealed that she knew of the Yeti's existence, and called upon their help when fleeing from Emperor Han, and she drank from the Pool of Eternal Life to save her. She recognizes Lin, of course, and takes Rick to her chamber.

Back at Shangri-La, Jonathan admires the beauty of the oasis and muses about a possible casino, and then Rick is healed, thanks to the waters. Shortly afterwards, Zi Yuan tells Lin she will need to sacrifice their immortality, but amazingly, Lin agrees. Shortly after, the Emperor and Yang attack Shangri-La, and the Emperor notices both Zi Yuan and Lin, and remarks 'General Ming's daughter: your child will be mine!' He steps into the waters and regains his healthy human form, appearing as he did in his twenties, and then majestically emerges from the Pool as a triple-headed dragon. He roars and snatches Lin, kidnapping her as he flies off to the military training ground by the Great Wall of China, with Yang astride his back. The O'Connells give chase, and soon they reemerge in China. Alex goes off immediately to rescue Lin, succeeding in doing so, and Yang reunites with a grateful Choi, who hands him his hat and together, both the lovers salute the Emperor, who majestically turns into his healthy human form. The Emperor announces his plan for world conquest, 'crushing every hope of freedom,' and simultaneously Zi Yuan goes under the Wall to resurrect General Ming and all other enemies of the Emperor in a last-ditch attempt to duke it out with the Emperor. The Emperor hears the explosion of earth which heralds the resurrection, and realizes, as he sees the resurrection, that Zi Yuan is here. He rallies his troops for battle, (having successfully resurrected his Terracotta Army) and charges into battle. Yang and Choi reluctantly follow. The Emperor fights valiantly before meeting Zi Yuan, whom he impales with his sword and throws her off a cliff.

The O'Connells have teamed up with Lin's father, General Ming, who recognizes the name Zi Yuan. A battle commences between the terra-cotta army and the undead army of Zi Yuan, commanded on one side by Han and on the opposition by General Ming. Choi realizes that the O'Connells are determined to stop the Emperor, as she has seen the Emperor return to the chamber beneath the Wall to entomb Ming and his armies again. However, the Emperor is thwarted in the attempt to retomb Ming via Alex O'Connell, who attempts to kill the Emperor, but then he is blocked by the Emperor's beast form. Rick appears and manages to half-stab the Emperor. Choi and her lover General Yang rush to the defence of the Emperor but are both presumably killed by a bomb.

Back under the Wall, the Emperor and Rick duke it out. Lin has just witnessed her mother, Zi Yuan, perish, and she vows henceforth to stop the Emperor at any cost. Suddenly, General Yang appears, having miraculously survived the bomb, and attacks Evelyn. He is badly burnt from the bomb but he is still alive. Choi also appears, roaming her hand along a pillar, also badly burnt but still alive. General Yang attempts to stop the O'Connells from harming his god, but is forced into retreat by Evelyn, who punches and kicks him viciously until he ducks under some cogs. A terrified General Yang crawls away from the cogs and climbs up above them, and looks around in fear, but then Evelyn leaps at him and kicks him into a gear mechanism. General Yang is crushed like paper. Halfway through his painful death, his beautiful lover Choi runs forwards and sees Yang dying, so she grasps his hand and holds it tight. Yang urges Choi to let go, but Choi wouldn't, and they share a kiss before disappearing into the cog mechanism, which crushes and kills both General Yang and his lover Colonel Choi.

With one foe remaining, Rick and Alex battle the Emperor. He reverts to man form and appears to show some loss for the death of his agents, but Rick challenges him to do battle. The Emperor doesn't understand Rick's English, but he complies, and both Rick and Han fight hand-to-hand before the Emperor gains the upper hand. Alex reawakens (having been knocked out by the Emperor after the failed assassination attempt) and disappears, leaving a clue in the sand for his father, Rick. Rick realizes what Alex means and rushes forward with the dagger which can kill the Emperor. The Emperor realizes his danger and grapples with Rick, forcing the dagger away from his heart. However, Alex appears at this moment, swinging down from above, as shown in his clue, and knocks Han off-balance, and therefore Rick O'Connell is able to plunge the blade of the sacred knife into the Emperor's heart. Han chokes and splutters as fire, the element he had previously been in command of, overwhelms him. He gasps for air and hollers, but the flames envelop him and he finally explodes in a cloud of flame.

Where seven had entered, four returned. Rick O'Connell, Alex O'Connell, Lin Guo and Evelyn O'Connell reemerge back into the sunlight and the living world, where Lin sees her father, General Ming Guo, overcome the Terracotta Army (which crumbles and explodes into sand) and then hail Zi Yuan before disappearing, too, into clouds of sand.

A short epilogue ensues at Imhotep's, the bar upon which Jonathan Carnahan used to host, and which is now hosted by Mr Mcguire. McGuire relishes his opportunity at being famous, Lin and Alex become lovers, and Jonathan departs for Peru, a place where, he claims, mummies are redundant. However, a climatic scrawl relates that shortly after his arrival, mummies were found in Peru.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Trivia

• The idea of the emperor and his army is based on the real-life Qin emperor Qin Shi Huang, who was buried amidst thousands of crafted and fired terra cotta soldiers, called the Terracotta Army, dated at latest to 210 BC.
• In September 2006, director Joe Johnston was originally offered the helm by Universal Pictures, who intended to start filming early in 2007.
• The film was shot in Montreal and China.
• Principal photography started at Mel’s Cite du Cinema in Montreal.
• Chinese cultural advisers aided director Rob Cohen in order to depict the Qin Dynasty language and ceremonies.
• The crew frequently had to halt in and near Shanghai when soldiers marched. The setting of the desert battlefield was actually a training facility for the Chinese army that was leased.
• The visual effects were done by two Los Angeles-based VFX houses.
• The pool of water resembling diamonds took Rhythm and Hues 11 months to complete.
• The award winning A.I software Massive which was used on Lord of the Rings was used to create the undead battle scenes.
• Design company Imaginary Forces created the opening title sequence and end titles. To portray an "accurate and historic China," they turned to calligrapher T.Z. Yuan for ink brush writing.
• John Debney provided additional re-scored material for most of the bigger action sequences.
• Brendan Fraser and John Hannah are the only actors to appear in all three Mummy movies.
• Brendan Fraser, who plays Rick, was born in 1968, and Maria Bello who plays Evelyn, was born in 1967, while Luke Ford, who plays their son Alex, was born in 1981 and is only 13 years younger than Fraser and 14 years younger than Bello.
• After the car chase through Shanghai, Alex O'Connell (Luke Ford) says that he was "willing to go on a little faith" for his actions upon awaking the Emperor. Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) had spoken the same line in the first Mummy.
• Alex leaves a clue in the sand during the climax. Alex did the same thing as a boy in The Mummy Returns.

[edit] Appearances

All appearances are considered first appearances. For character appearances see the "Cast" section.

[edit] Mentioned Characters