![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() It looked beautiful and the CGI was detailed and perhaps it is a case of the ‘uncanny valley’, but I could see some disconnect between the actress and her surroundings that just made it all look a bit fake and unconvincing. It reminded me of how much better practical effects are, and how they give an added depth and gravitas to the action that a CGI backdrop can’t. Another area that weakened the film was its reliance on CGI some of the action sequences were clearly filmed on a green screen and it showed. It might be a case of nostalgia clouding my judgment, but Raiders of the Lost Ark has that unique ‘X-Factor’ and chemistry amongst his heroes and villains that Tomb Raider lacks. Some of my thoughts about the film might be influenced by the fact I’d just rewatched Raiders of the Lost Ark a few days prior, and I was struck by how superior that film is. The film needed a bit more personality even the threat of Himiko was just a familiar retread of the oft-used ‘zombie virus’ storyline. Equally, the villainous Vogel ( Walton Goggins) was quite formulaic in terms of his attitude and performance. Dominic West does a great job as Richard Croft, although the plot trajectory of his character was completely predictable and lacked any real innovation. She might not be as renowned as Angelina Jolie was, but she does a brilliant job at making the character her own. She feels much more rounded and emotionally raw as a character, as evidenced by the scene where she first takes someone else’s life and the father-daughter dynamic that lies at the heart of the adventure. Vikander makes for a charming Lara Croft and does a great job at establishing this more feral, physically-demanding take on the character. It would have been great to see more examples of this throughout the film, but with all the preoccupation on establishing an origin story for the character, we’re given scant opportunities to see her in her most recognisable form: a tomb raider. Evoking memories of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at times, I really enjoyed the various trap set-pieces within the tomb, especially the sequence where the floor begins to fall away and Lara must solve a puzzle to prevent it from killing them all. The momentum of the film stalls slightly in the second act once Lara reaches the island of Yamatai and it isn’t until she eventually sets out on the path of explore the lost tomb in the third act that it really picks up again. Clearly shot on location in Hoxton, the bike chase sequence through the streets was genuinely thrilling and much more exciting than some of the CGI-laden action sequences that followed later although I guess since the film is called Tomb Raider and not “Bike Courier”, it makes sense that events would call Lara away from England. Director Roar Uthaug does such a good job at establishing the character and her life in London that I was somewhat disappointed that the film didn’t stay there. Vikander’s Croft begins the film as a teenager in denial over her father’s presumed death, and the initial twenty minutes of the film are surprisingly engaging as it showcases her skills as a bike courier. As a result, this latest movie also reboots the story and takes a lot of inspiration from 2013’s Tomb Raider and its 2015 sequel Rise of the Tomb Raider, stripping away the glamour and campiness of the original films (and games) to focus on a grittier origin story for the character.Īlicia Vikander takes over the iconic role of Lara Croft and moves the character away from her sex symbol positioning almost immediately as a brutal MMA sparring sequence introduces her to the audience. However, the emergence of the Uncharted series offered gamers a fresh take on the ‘tomb raiding’ experience and developers Crystal Dynamics opted to reboot the franchise from the roots up creating a more grounded and realistic take on the property than previous instalments. ![]() The stakes couldn’t be higher as Lara must rely on her sharp mind, blind faith and stubborn spirit to venture into the unknown.Įver since her videogame debut in 1996, Lara Croft has been the ‘first lady’ of gaming with the Tomb Raider franchise spawning multiple sequels and two blockbuster movies in the early 2000’s starring Angelina Jolie. Hoping to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance, Croft embarks on a perilous journey to his last-known destination - a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. Synopsis: Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished years earlier. Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu & Kristin Scott Thomas ![]()
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