Today’s quick review: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life. When Jonathan Reiss (Ciaran Hinds), a purveyor of biological weapons, gets his hands on the map to Pandora’s Box, treasure hunter Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) recruits the help of Terry Sheridan (Gerard Butler), a shady mercenary and old flame, to recover it. The duo must stop Reiss before he can decode the map, locate the box, and unleash a catastrophic plague on the Earth.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is an action adventure movie. The Cradle of Life offers the same appeal as the original Tomb Raider: ancient tombs, armed thugs, an unflappable heroine, and a touch of fantasy. The movie is an action flick at heart. The plot is a straightforward race against time, and the only character development of note revolves around Lara’s relationship with Terry, her untrustworthy double.
The Cradle of Life has a slightly different vibe from the first film. The Cradle of Life relies less on supernatural threats and more on human ones, making it more of a spy adventure than pure fantasy. The shift in focus yields a more credible but less distinctive adventure for Lara. The stunts are capable and reasonably creative, and while there’s little in the movie that’s groundbreaking, it makes for a fun ride all the same.
Try Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life when you’re in the mood for popcorn action. Though not as unique as the original movie, The Cradle of Life is still a satisfying watch for action fans looking for something light. For a grittier take on the same premise, check out the Tomb Raider remake. For more iconic adventure in a similar mold, check out the Indiana Jones series. For a more modest fantasy adventure, try the Librarian series.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for plain, honest action.