Caffeinated Clint
Maria Bello is the new er, Rachel Weisz
The dazzling and multitalented Maria Bello (“The Cooler”, “Coyote Ugly”, “A History of Violence”) will replace Rachel ‘Not enough Money in the world to coax me back to that’ Weisz for “The Mummy 3”, says Variety.
Weisz takes on the role of Evelyn Carnahan O’Connell, the role Weisz (pre-“Constant Gardener” Oscar Win) played in the first two “Mummy” films. Interestingly enough, Bello looks very little like her predecessor… but I suppose it’s nothing a bottle of brown hair-dye – and some memory wiping chips for the audience – can’t fix. Either way, she’s a good choice – a good actress with an even better set of legs. And, um, being “The Mummy 3” that’s what really matters, right?
I’ve read the script, and I can’t say I’m in love with it. It’s pretty bloody Vanilla. In many respects, it had ‘direct to DVD sequel’ written all over it. I’m guessing when Brendan Fraser signed on to reprise his role as adventurer Rick O’Connell, they polished it a little more to his liking, but still, I’m pretty positive the guts of the story hasn’t changed – and that’s the main problem. It just isn’t that intriguing. Again, nothing a few special effects can’t fix.. .right? Er, yeah. We’ll see.
Scripted by “Smallville” creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, this one brings the O’Connells and their full-grown son (played by Aussie actor Luke Ford) to the forbidden tombs of China and the Himalayas, where they battle a shape-shifting mummy, a former Chinese emperor (Jet Li) cursed by a wizard (Michelle Yeoh).
I think I was actually a bigger fan of “The Scorpion King” – the spin-off from “The Mummy” movies, starring The Rock – than I was its parent film, and subsequent sequel. Granted, I’m a fan of Chuck Russell’s work, but I still think it was a much more solid popcorn-funnish flickeroo. There are some great moments in both “Mummy” movies, don’t get me wrong, but they’re not hole-in-ones that’s for sure.
