Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

August 5, 2003

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Gerard Butler, Noah Taylor, Ciarán Hinds, Djimon Hounsou, Til Schweiger, Christopher Barrie

Director: Jan De Bont

Official Website: http://www.tombraidermovie.com/

Angelina Jolie returns as Lara Croft in this entertaining and energetic sequel to the blockbuster hit 3 or 4 years ago. In many ways it ressembles the first installement, but it has enough interesting new scenes to make this one worthwhile.

There is no way Angelina Jolie kicking ass can be a bad thing, and naturally her performance makes this movie. Although her presence and beauty are reasons she is important, but also the fact she does most of her own stunts and it was a few years ago she won an Oscar in Girl Interrupted. This real side to the movie reasonates in all scenes where unconvincing special effects were kept to a minimum and human emotion an important factor throughout.

On the other side, I don't think the movie really aimed that high overall. Nothing about either Lara Croft films has the script of a top 10 blockbuster. Also, Jolie overshadows the rest of the cast, who look like any other villian/sidekick seen in your pick of James Bond films. Where special effects are used, they simply aren't that great.

But overall, it's one of the better action films among the many released this summer. After seeing The Matrix, The Hulk, Charlie's Angels, and T3 within the last 2 months, I'm getting a little tired of action flicks, and shouldn't most people be tired as well? Anybody who released an action flick in August (S.W.A.T.) must have not been thinking ahead. Anyways, if you're still in the mood for an action flick in the veins of a female James Bond film, this one is sure to please your appetite.

In short:
Comedy: A few witty comments, else none
Violence/language: Non-bloody High energy fight/chase scenes, no language
Nudity/sex: Some love making, no nudity : (
High Points: Angelina Jolie, action sequences cool and believable
Low Points: A few cheesy special effects, lack of strong supporting cast.

Rating: B