Anthony's Film Review - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

The action may be there, but nothing else maintained my interest...

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life is a bad movie, though it's not because it's based on a video game franchise and all game-based movies suck. I'm willing to give movies based on anything a chance. There's always a way to make something work if one is creative enough. Theoretically, a Tomb Raider movie could work. It has the elements of what you want in an action movie: a kick-butt hero, an equally powerful villain, a thrilling plot, fighting, explosions, etc. It's not like a Tomb Raider movie seems like a very strange idea.

At the same time, there has to be originality. There has to be something about a new action movie, or any kind of movie for that matter, that makes it stand out among the rest already made. When I was watching this second Tomb Raider movie in the summer of 2003, I spent the whole time wondering if there was ANYTHING that could make this action movie unique. The plot was banal. The characters were stock action characters, and that includes Angelina Jolie's role as the title character and Gerard Butler as a supporting character. Even the action was just okay despite being relatively explosive.

The plot, if you're curious, involves Lara finding a magical artifact called the Cradle of Life. Basically, it's Pandora's Box. If this artifact were to fall into the wrong hands, that could, well, spell disaster for the whole world. The journey throughout the movie involves going from one location to another to find another clue or piece to the puzzle that would lead Lara to the Cradle of Life. Now, from the way I'm describing this, does the story sound anywhere close to something new and refreshing? You could probably name at least ten action movies that sound just like this one.

I sometimes wonder if this movie could be made better. Well, it's hard for me to say. It's not like this movie has bad action, and even if you were to try developing the characters more, they still would feel like cardboard action movie characters. The more I think about it, the more I believe that this movie could not be improved at all from how it is. In other words, there never was enough great material for this movie to begin with. It's a waste of time for the people trying to make it and for the audience trying to watch it.

Just trust me when I say that the movie will likely bore you. It did for me. If you like an action movie that is completely mindless, then go ahead. But if you want more than that, you'll be disappointed. In conclusion, skip this movie. You're better off watching other action movies that have plots and characters you could care a lot about. Or better yet, play any of the Tomb Raider games and assume the role of Lara Croft yourself.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life, visit the Internet Movie Database.