“THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR” is a terrific action film, Sharon and I just catching it on Saturday.   As with earlier “MUMMY” movies, the armourer did a great job.   If you find yourself getting upset when you’re watching a movie or reading a book and the gun stuff is so jam packed with errors that the suspension of disbelief is lost, rejoice.   Aside from a story line which incorporates everything but the kitchen sink, Brendan Frasier’s skillful blending of comedy with action hero daring do and the solid performances of everyone else in the film as well, not only are firearms generally used correctly (okay, semi-autos don’t click when they’re empty and even Browning High Powers don’t hold as many shots as those used in the film did), weapons run out of ammo, have to be reloaded and are correctly identified, guns like the P-38, the Soviet PPS Model 1943 and American Thompson submachineguns and a Colt “Peacemaker.”   When the merits of the Tommygun are being discussed, the differences in capacity between drums and standard magazines are even included.   As with the earlier “MUMMY” movies, the firearms themselves are an eclectic mix and look as period-authentic as one could hope for.   All these firearms are used in an imaginative variety of battle scenes.   

Exciting and cinematically innovative chase scenes, cliff hangers, ancient legends and characters, for which the word “colorful” is way too bland a word, fill the screen.   The chemistry between Frazier and Maria Bello works especially well.   If you want almost two hours of fast moving entertainment (that won’t offend your firearms sensibilities), see this installment.   Pun intended, I hope this doesn’t wrap up “THE MUMMY.”

On a much more serious note, music pioneer Isaac Hayes passed away on Sunday, found dead beside a treadmill at age sixty-five.   Albeit that Hayes’ work is credited with pioneering rap music – which a great many of us could get along without – Hayes not only co-wrote “Soul Man” and acted in a variety of   films and television shows (he played an old prison friend of the “Jim Rockford” character in “THE ROCKFORD FILES,” for example), he was a consummate musician and arranger and the recipient of an Academy Award for the theme from “SHAFT,” a second nomination for the film’s score, and two Grammy Awards.   He was a man who started with absolutely nothing and literally dragged himself up to a position where he was a composer and performer known to virtually everyone.   “They say that cat Hayes was a – “    People will be talking about Isaac Hayes for a long time and his talent will be sorely missed.