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Set against several backdrops of Shanghai night clubs, English Manors, lush green havens, temples amongst snow-capped mountains…hardly the kind of settings to be associated with bringing back a dusty ancient dead.

Having grown up into an adventure seeker like his father, Alex O’Connell discovers and through a series of backstabbing Hi-jinx, awakens the powerful, 5-element controlling, shape-shifting (go figure based on the title), kick-ass, backstabbing, power obsessed, clay warrior raising, (takes deep breath) Emperor Shih Huang Ti (though it is not mentioned that it was him as far as I recall)

Jet Li fans, you won’t see much of his kung fu action here. Rachel Weisz fans (like me) will be a little disappointed there is not much chemistry between Rick and Evelyn O’ Connell as there used to be.

Michelle Yeoh does pretty okay for a 2,000 year old sorceress (she really could have done better) and her daughter is a very looking Lin, played by 19-year old sweet looking, hottie Isabella Leong.

Isabella Leong as Lin

Oh I did love all the subtle English jokes though there were less quips comparatively to the previous versions of “The Mummy“.To mind overpowered by the forces of logic and rationale however, the conversation switches between Mandarin and English would be something to joke about.

Who did I find the real hero of the show? The Yeti’s! (WARNING SPOILER!!! HIGHLIGHT OVER TO READ: These creatures were the beasts that brought Michelle Yeoh to a pool of eternal life to give her immortality, saved the cast from a avalanche and also trashed the soldiers without much use of guns)

I give it to them for their costumes though. I absolutely loved the designs, the cuts and the accessories adorning the cast. From the oriental inspired silk material….

Nice gowns :D

….right down to Alex O’Connell’s cool aviator shades (the only part of the show where he was drool worthy)

My final take: A very Indiana Jones-y like movie offering a fusion of East meets West with the whole family backpacking along for the ride. Would love to hear YOUR take on it when it officially opens in cinemas on 1st August 2008.

*Thanks to United International Pictures for the preview