The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
As he nears death, Qin Shi Huang (Jet Li), the first emperor of China, sends his lackey, General Ming, to find a mysterious sorceress, Zi Yuan, who’s allegedly discovered the secret of immortality.
After he discovers a budding romance between Ming and Yuan, a jealous Huang executes Ming, and, in retaliation, Zi Yuan immolates him and turns his army into the famed Terracotta Army.
Two thousand years later, archaeologist Alex O’Connell discovers the emperor’s tomb, and, after unwittingly awakening his spirit, enlists the aid of his parents, Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn (Maria Bello), Zi Yuan (who really is immortal) and her daughter Lin, to defeat Huang.
This is my favorite of Stephen Sommers series of Mummy films, but it’s a poor imitation of the Indiana Jones series. While the Indy films feature a clearly recognizable evil, these movies don’t have an obvious boogeyman and by the time this film sets up why I should care about Huang, my interest waned.
Additionally, the Indiana Jones films feature well-known archaeological items such as the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail. While the Terracotta Army is impressive, it doesn’t have nearly the same level of cache in the Western world.
Of course, the primary reason this film feels like a lesser version of Indiana Jones is the talent involved. Harrison Ford > Brendan Fraser and Spielberg + Lucas > Stephen Sommers.
If you’re looking for escapist, pulpy entertainment, this’ll do, but it could have been a lot better.
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Chronicling the 500 day relationship of Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon Levitt) and Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) from Tom’s point of view, this is a fun look at the ups and downs of love: the initial burst of excitement, the honeymoon, the passion, the doldrums, the routine, the jealousies, and the heartache. Presented out of chronological order, it juxtaposes funny, charming scenes of initial flirtation with Tom’s depression after the relationship ends, bringing both scenes into sharper focus.
Early in their relationship, Tom tells Summer he believes she’s his true love, but Summer defiantly declares she doesn’t believe such a thing exists.
On day 290, they end their relationship and Tom spends the next several weeks falling into a pit of despair. Months later the erstwhile couple reconnects at a wedding where Tom misreads Summer’s invitation to a party at her place. He thinks she wants to rekindle their relationship and is crushed to learn it’s actually her engagement party.
In a heartbreaking, tender moment, Summer admits Tom was right about true love, but confesses she found it with someone else.
Co-starring the always dependable Clark Gregg as Tom’s boss and the precocious Chloë Grace Moretz as Tom’s painfully honest sister, this sweet film about falling in and out of love works because of the incredible chemistry of its two leads.
Deschanel is funny, flighty, and a little flaky. Undeniably cute, she’s the epitome of everything appealing about hipster culture. And Gordon Levitt, one of the most likable young actors in Hollywood, makes sad sack Tom more sympathetic than he has any right to be.
All three of Marc Webb’s feature films (including the two Andrew Garfield Spider-man films) explore the crevices and cracks in seemingly healthy, loving relationships suggesting failed relationships and lost love are an essential part of our development and even the happiest of endings involves a little heartbreak.