What we flagged
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Our take
The third adventure moves the action to China, where a cursed emperor and his stone army rise for another world-domination plot. It is back to the lighter, jokey tone, with huge CGI battles, a shape-shifting monster, and even some yetis, so the frights are more spectacle than horror. Violence is constant but bloodless, and the insults run a touch saltier than you might remember, with a couple of stronger name-calling moments. Romance stays at kissing and there is a little drinking. We put this at 13 because the battles stay loud and constant, even when the tone stays jokey.
Uplifting themes
The family pulls together again, and there is a thread about a son and father learning to trust and respect each other. Loyalty and teamwork win out. It is light, but the family-first message is easy to pick up The parents stay brave and devoted, and the now-grown son steps up as his own kind of hero. A few allies are noble, the villains clearly are not. There is a decent mix to talk through, even if nobody is especially deep The backdrop borrows from Han-dynasty history, the terracotta army, and Chinese myth, which can spark curiosity about the real past. It is heavily fictionalised, so the history is best used as a prompt for a few questions afterward
Story (may spoil tone)
Archaeologist Rick O'Connell travels to China, pitting him against an emperor from the 2,000-year-old Han dynasty who's returned from the dead to pursue a quest for world domination. This time, O'Connell enlists the help of his wife and son to quash the so-called 'Dragon Emperor' and his abuse of supernatural power.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Battle is the main event, with sword fights, gunfire, martial arts, and…
Battle is the main event, with sword fights, gunfire, martial arts, and a huge undead army clash at the climax. It is loud and near-constant but firmly fantasy, and blood barely registers. Many fall without the camera dwelling on injuries
Language Coarse language is light overall but a bit saltier than the first two,…
Coarse language is light overall but a bit saltier than the first two, with a couple of son of a b-word and b-word insults thrown at the villains alongside hell and damn. It lands in the heat of battle. Most of it will pass younger viewers by
Sex / nudity Romance is gentle and married-couple affectionate, with kissing and a b…
Romance is gentle and married-couple affectionate, with kissing and a bit of flirty teasing between the younger pair. One throwaway line nods to past experience with the opposite sex. Nothing is shown beyond that
Frightening Scares come from the undead emperor, a three-headed shape-shifting beas…
Scares come from the undead emperor, a three-headed shape-shifting beast, and reanimated stone soldiers. The comic, adventurous tone keeps it from turning truly disturbing. The monster scenes and dark finale may still unsettle the youngest viewers
Gore / death / weapons Swords, guns, and the odd impaling run through the battles, and the dea…
Swords, guns, and the odd impaling run through the battles, and the dead rise as crumbling soldiers and mummies. Deaths are everywhere but staged cleanly, with almost no blood or wounds on show. It stays spooky instead of gruesome
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- The emperor wants to live and rule forever. Why do stories so often make that the villain's goal?
- This film leans on fantasy versions of real Chinese history. What was invented, and what was real?
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The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
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