Brendan Fraser at Australian Premiere of Mummy 3

Editorial

Though critics haven't been particularly kind to the third instalment of The Mummy franchise, Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor, that hasn't stopped it sailing towards the $100 million mark in the US. And Australian fans of its hunk-a-riffic star, Brendan Fraser, will be pleased to hear that the man himself will be attending the film's Sydney premiere on Wednesday, August 27.

Accompanying Fraser at the screening will be the film's young star, and Australia's very own, Luke Ford (The Black Balloon).

In the first two Mummy films, Fraser's adventurer Rick O'Connell and his partner Evie (played by Rachel Weisz; she's been replaced by Maria Bello in The Dragon Emperor outing) faced off against Egyptian mummy and all-round bad guy Imhotep.

This latest adventure, however, is set 13 years after the second film finished, and the focus has shifted to the Orient. Rick and Evie have retired but, when they get a distress message from their son, Alex (Ford), after he disrupts the tomb of China's first ever Emperor, the O'Connell's kick back into action to face off against the ancient ruler (played by Jet Li) and his terracotta army.

Director Rob Cohen said he regards this film as "a reboot, a new page. We're not destroying the original machine, but we are doing some modifications".

Fans wanting to witness Fraser and Ford walk the red carpet should head down to Sydney's George St Cinemas on the evening of the 27th for a peek at their heroes. And if they get there a few hours earlier they can catch a 3.30 screening of Fraser in Journey To The Centre Of The Earth. Which is nice.

Rod Yates