Interview with Brendan Fraser on his latest film, Journey to the Center Of The Earth. Fraser stars in the film, loosely based on the Jules Verne book, and was also a producer on the film.

Jet Li, one of the better martial artists in the world.

This, of course, came in the newest Mummy flick, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, where Mummy veteran Rock O’Connell is forced to fight the ancient martial arts master in the usual battle of good versus evil.

All fictional - but it’s still Jet Li. And Fraser was more than a little nervous about the pairing, saying that the western cast had to train for months on end just to be able to keep up with Li’s moves.

Not everybody was, of course. Luke Ford, who plays O’Connell’s son in the movie, loved getting to pair off against Li, and was quite happy to tell other people that he helped beat Jet Li.

Great, Ford. Now, let’s see you do it in an unscripted battle in a back alley somewhere. Don’t expect much help from Fraser.

Fraser plays George, a dim-witted jungle dweller who was raised by the animals after being stranded as a child (an obvious enough play on Tarzan). George is clumsy and constantly swinging into rather painful objects, but he takes these mishaps in stride and keeps on going, blissfully happy.

But all that changes when a beautiful woman enters his life, a woman who brings two poachers in disguise with her. one of the poachers shoots George and, in an attempt to save him, the woman whisks him off to the big city - where, naturally, George gets into plenty of trouble.

But the antics don’t last long as George must eventually try and rescue his ape friend - who can speak, no less - from the poachers, who are looking to take advantage of his linguistic talents. What follows is a light-hearted romp through forest and city alike that, naturally, ends well enough.

George in the Jungle proved popular enough among the kids that it spawned a sequel, though Fraser wasn’t around for the second iteration.

Well, maybe not that luscious. But still. The idea seems ridiculous.

Yet apparently it’s true. Fraser is balding on top and wears a piece to keep the growing spot on the top of his head from becoming known. And you can’t blame the guy: it’s not easy for a bald man (not a baldING man, anyway) to get leading roles in action flicks, the kind of which Fraser is used to.

Maybe he should just shave what he’s got left and go completely slick bald? That’s worked for a lot of guys. Look at Vin Diesel, Lawrence Fishburne and Samuel L. Jackson. Hasn’t hurt their careers at all.

Somehow, though, it doesn’t seem likely that he’s going to shave it all off any time soon. He’s made his image with a full head of hair. That can’t change now.

Can it?

O’Connell is an adventurer and general plunderer of tombs and archaeological sites, always on the lookout for adventure and treasure. Much of the time he’s forced into action, however, often to save somebody he loves or to keep his own skin intact. Quick on his feet and smart as a whip, O’Connell often gets through his troubles with a pair of pistols.

The Mummy and its sequels all focus heavily on the supernatural, with a variety of formerly mummified baddies coming back to life to wreak havoc on the Earth. Originally steeped in Egyptian lore in a post First World War world, the series’ newest entry (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) will take place just before the Second World War and shift countries to China. And Fraser, of course, returns as O’Connell.

Hugh Wilson’s Blast From the Past, starring Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone, is a critically acclaimed romantic comedy. 

When Adam Webber (Brendan Fraser, The Mummy) is accidentally trapped inside a bomb shelter with his parents, for 35 years, he is raised in isolation.  When he finally leaves the shelter after 3 decades, he meets, and falls in love with, the urbane Eve (Alicia Silverstone, Clueless).  Veteran actor Christopher Walken (Pulp Fiction) rounds out the film’s cast. 

The film, directed by Hugh Wilson, has been called “funny and entertaining”, by noted film critic Roger Ebert.  The starring players of the film, Fraser and Silverstone, have been praised for their work in the film as well.  Jim Wilson, of KTV1 St. Louis has said “Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstonemake movie magic!”  Blast From the Past is published by New Line Cinema, and is currently available on DVD.

The Mummy star, Brendan Fraser, has recently ended his marriage of nine years to his wife, Afton Smith.  Fraser, and his wife, publicly announced their divorce at the very end of 2007. 

Afton Smith, Fraser’s wife, is an actor herself, appearing alongside her husband Brendan in 1997’s Gerorge of the Jungle.  A spokesman for Fraser has indicated that the divorce was amicable.  “They continue to maintain a close and caring friendship,” he said.  Fraser’s divorce will surely afftect their three sons.  Fraser’s sons are Griffin (5), Fletcher (3), and Leland (1). 

There is no word yet as to who will get custody of the children in the divorce.  The divorce hasn’t slowed Brendan’s career, he will soon appear in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the third installment of the blockbuster film series.  He is also currently filming the live-action G.I. Joe.