Today’s quick review: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) spends her time retrieving treasures from ruins around the globe. On the eve of a rare planetary alignment, Lara finds a clock left by her father (Jon Voight) that holds the key to unlocking a powerful artifact. But the clock draws the attention of Manfred Powell (Iain Glen), a man who will stop at nothing to obtain the clock and the artifact it protects.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is an action adventure movie based on the Tomb Raider video game series. Tomb Raider takes the familiar concept of an adventurer-archaeologist and dials up the action and the fantasy. Angelina Jolie leads as Lara Croft, an unflappable adventurer who’s handy with pistols. She’s joined by John Voight as her missing father Richard, Iain Glen as her new nemesis, and Daniel Craig as rival treasure hunter Alex West.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is an unabashed action movie with few pretentions. The action scenes are crude but effective. There are few impressive stunts, but the action’s variety and creativity make up for what it lacks in mastery. Bullets fly, statues come to life, and Lara sails through it all with implausible, enjoyable poise. The presentation style is typical for the early 2000s: flashy and conspicuously aware of what moments are meant to be cool.
The rest of the film is a mixed bag. Lara and her supporting cast are shallow cutouts, colorful enough to be interesting but not real enough to be moving. Tomb Raider does manage to set up its story well, with a plot that’s the right length and clear relationships between its characters. The logic of the plot is loose, and there are only snatches of drama or comedy, but the whole package makes a pleasing enough popcorn watch.
Give Lara Croft: Tomb Raider a try if you’re an action fan who doesn’t mind a few rough edges. Tomb Raider is not a groundbreaking movie, and anyone who goes in expecting to be impressed will be disappointed. But those willing to forgive its quicks will find it to be a light, entertaining watch. For more credible adventure, check out the Indiana Jones series.
5.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for simple, enjoyable action.