A Disappointing Discovery: Rethinking The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
I approached The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor with anticipation, hoping for an exciting adventure. However, the experience left me with a lingering sense of disappointment and unease. It felt like I was promised gold, but received something far less valuable.
Cultural Sensitivities and Historical Interpretation
My reservations stem from how the film handles Chinese history. Perhaps it’s ingrained national pride, or the influence of my upbringing, but I’ve always struggled to enjoy foreign films that freely alter or misrepresent Chinese historical events. I feel that there are some things that should not be changed for entertainment.
A significant divide exists between Eastern and Western perspectives on history. The West’s seeming indifference to historical accuracy is a core reason why many find certain aspects of their culture difficult to fully embrace.
The Reverence for History
Historical Distortion for Entertainment
How can one tolerate the slander and misrepresentation of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor, in this film? Depicting the “Dragon Emperor” as a demon feels like an attack on our cultural identity and beliefs.
His magnificent legacy is degraded into a grotesque “three-headed monster.” It makes me question the judgment of the film industry’s censorship process: How was something that flies so much in the face of history allowed to pass through?
Qin Emperor, Han Emperor, Tang Emperor, Song Emperor – these are monumental figures who shaped the course of history, figures we barely have enough time to properly revere.
Yet, foreigners exploit and mock their stories, all while seeking to profit from our own pockets. It reflects a deeply unsettling mindset.
Qin Shi Huang’s accomplishments have been praised and confirmed by countless insightful minds throughout history.
To foreign directors: If you lack understanding of Chinese history, please refrain from altering or distorting it for entertainment.
Even if you irreverently tamper with figures considered sacred in Western cultures, like Jesus, the founder of Christianity, it’s possible their audience might be forgiving.
However, such a lack of respect and a willingness to distort history is simply unacceptable in this context! Was this perhaps an early misstep in the Mummy series, and I think the director knows it?
Questionable Historical Accuracy: Where’s the Research?
That this film is even touted as a work of art is baffling, especially considering the elementary inaccuracies. I’m puzzled as to how the director managed to complete the project. Did Qin Shi Huang even refer to himself as “朕 (zhèn)” during his reign? And were “rocket launchers” genuinely present on battlefields in 1946?
In my opinion, the fabrications and inaccuracies were limitless.
After enduring this movie, my emotions can be effectively put into a single sentence:
Not watching brings only a moment’s regret; watching brings a lifetime’s worth!