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Lara Croft - Tomb Raider

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider

List Price: $12.99
Your Price: $10.39
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lara Croft Tomb Raider - A great action flick!
Review: Oddly enough, if I were writing reviews when I first went and saw this film at the theater when it was first released, I probably would've given it only a three or four star review and slightly panned it, especially since the producers felt it necessary to "overly endow" Angelina Jolie. There are times in the movie where one might get the impression she may get "knocked" out.

Not unlike other films though, this one kind of grows on you and can be appreciated for what it is, a great action film couched a reasonably well thought out plot. One of the most important aspects to the success or lack thereof in this film was the leading role of Lara Croft. The decision to cast the ever beautiful Angelina Jolie was right on target. I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever watched any of her previous movies, but I can say that she performs quite exceptionally in the role of the female "Indiana Jones/James Bond" type superhero. The fact that she spent several months preparing for this film and performed the majority of the stunts makes this movie that much more appreciable, especially considering the effort she put into it. Her reactions, facial movements and overall style of acting certainly adds a good "flavor" to the movie as well.

Of particular note is the style in which this film was produced. Given that it is based on a video game and previous efforts to project video games onto the silver screen have come off as "campy" and lame, the producers made an outstanding decision to put this film in a "serious" light, with a mostly workable plot. Given that I've only had a passing familiarity with the video games themselves, I don't really wish to comment on that particular aspect.

Of the many great action films I've watched over the years, I'd rate this one pretty high as it definitely exceeds expectations and leaves you wishing for more, which brings to mind the pending release of the second Tomb Raider movie. Hopefully this movie will stand up to or exceed the popularity of this first Tomb Raider film!

The premise:

Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, Tomb Raider performs exceptionally well; from A to Z she immersed herself in this role, including an extremely believable British accent. The film begins with a great main title and opening sequence where Lara Croft if "battling" Simon, a machine that is well bent towards killing her. This of course, is but the first of many outstanding action sequences for the Tomb Raider.

From there we're brought into the real plot which is Lara Croft, prompted by dreams and letters from the grave starts to piece together clues about her missing and presumed dead, father. This brings her into the hunt for an ancient and powerful device while at the same time dealing with another person who is seeking this device for not so altruistic purposes.

I highly recommend this film to any and all that are fans of great action sequences/films that "actually" contain a reasonably decent plot. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

This one is definitely full of some great Special Features that are definitely worth the time to explore.

Digging Into Tomb Raider
Crafting Lara Croft
The Stunts of Tomb Raider
Visual Effects of Tomb Raider
Are you Game?
Commentary by Director Simon West
4 Deleted Scenes
Alternate Main Title Sequences
U2 Music Video, "Elevation" Tomb Raider Mix

DVD-ROM Features
Tomb Raider Timeline
Tomb Raider Chronicles Game Demo
Web Site Archive

Access To the Online Experience

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The worst movie I have ever seen, bar none
Review: I have only one thing to say about this movie: It stunk on ice. Character development? None. Plot? Almost non-existent. Special effects and action? Snooze-fest 2001.

Do yourself a favor. Don't rent it, don't buy it. I wouldn't even steal it given the opportunity.

I just hope that they learned their lessons from this one, and the sequal will be better.

But I'm not holding my breath.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: HUH????
Review: How can anyone like this movie, especially if your a fan of the video game series. I know i am late on the review, but since the sequel is coming out this summer, i thought i would put my two cents in. First off, i went to see this in the movie theatre, thinking this was gonna be a great, especially when i heard Angelina was playing Lara Croft, but boy was i wrong, i think everyone in the theatre dozed off, including myself. It was dark, and air conditioned in that theatre and since the movie was boring, i guess everyone thought "what a great place to take a nap". There was very little action, and when there was action, you thought to yourself, who cares. A very weak plot, if i remembered what it was about, i would explain it too. I am very skeptikal about going to see this sequel to the first one, i will be very aware of what critics are saying this time around. I am not being duped again.So in one word to describe this movie "BORING!"

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Loved Angelina, but not the film
Review: I have to confess that I liked a number of moments in this film, despite the fact that it is without any question overall a pretty bad film. I could compile a long list of absurdies connected with it. For instance, while I know that part of the point of the movie is to promulgate the legend of Lara Croft, sex goddess, is there really any excuse for her wearing a thin duster that she never closes over a very tight-fitting shirt while sled dogging in Siberia? The overall list of silly moments in this film could be expanded far beyond the amount of space that isalloted any reviewer. Most of the sexual tittilation seems more appropriately targeted at adolescents than grown ups, but, then, that is true of the Tomb Raider games as well.

So after these negative comments, why do I still find things to enjoy? Well, for one thing, some of the fight scenes are, if not believable, at least quite inventive and fun in their over-the-top silliness. For another, Angela Jolie is never short of absolutely marvelous to behold. Had the movie merely consisted of her strolling down a sidewalk, with those beautiful lips and other unquestionably enhanced features, the movie would have been salvaged from complete disaster. If the movie fails, it isn't her fault. Although the idea of bringing any character as supranaturally athletic as Lara Croft to screen is daunting, Angelina performs far better than could possible have been anticipated. If she struts and poses a bit more than one might like, she still managed to carry off the role with some aplomb.

In closing, I would like to ask, when will we see an end to movies based on computer games? So far, we have had to witness a long list of terrible movies based on otherwise decent computer games. I played Tomb Raider when it first came out, and a couple of its sequels, and I have to admit they were pretty good games. But with absolutely terrible movies based on Super Mario Brothers, Wing Commander, Mortal Kombat, and others, you have to wish for filmmakers to decide not to make any further cinematic adaptations. Actually, TOMB RAIDER is actually one of the better film versions of a game, and that ought in itself to stand as a warning to Hollywood.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Worth Seeing again.
Review: I loved the action in this moivie. No one could make a better Tomb Raider than Angelina Jolie. I mean there was action and some funny parts in this movie. I can't wait for Tomb Raider and the Cradle of Life to come out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: High and fast fantasy
Review: A high and fast fantasy with plenty of schwung. Angelina Jolie is a pleasure to watch in action and also in repose, altho this last does not occur often.
I noted two minor peculiarities: The microwave oven Lara uses does not apparently have a timer and the food explodes! The gang of "coolies" employed to pull down the wall of the temple could have been replaced by a single easily portable cable winch (pull force 2500 kgs) operated by one man.
Otherwise good fun, well worth viewing more than once.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: At Least She Got Game
Review: The movie version of the popular Tomb Raider video game is fine for what it is and nothing more. As someone who has only a passing familiarty with the game itself, I can honestly say that, my expectations were not all that high. After all, many of the films that have been based on a video game, haven't been all that great. The only exception to the rule, in my opinion, is the first Mortal Kombat movie.

Adventure seeker Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) must confront a secret out of her father, Lord Richard Croft's (Jolie's real life Dad Jon Voight) past, before it's too late A group known as the Illuminati, are bent on controling a powerful artifact called the Triangle, and thus domminating the world. The Triangle has to power to bend time and manipulate the very fabric of space. Lara must find the Triangle and defeat this secert society within a week's time or all is lost.

I must say that Jolie really impressed me here. Not only is she made to look like the spitting image of her game counterpart, but she handles the physicality of role nicely as well. She seems quite comfortable as Lara Croft. Having said that though, the film still seemed to be lacking any real sense of the fun factor, of let's say Raiders Of The Lost Ark, for example. In my opinion, most films like this, need not take things as serious as Tomb Raider does. The only thing that it serves is to make it less watchable. I guess director Simon West and the producers were counting on the stunts and effects to carry the day. It is clear that Jolie is the role, but the others in the film are too serious to run with it. I am not saying that it need be over the top, by any means, but the characters are one demensional and have no spark.

The DVD is packed with bonus material. There are no less than 5 featurettes, each one covering different aspects of the film, from the inception, to Jolie's training, through its video game origins These are very well produced and are interesting to watch. The commentary track is just ok. It's kind of dry and West repeats some stuff heard in the documentaries. There are 4 deleted scenes, that save for the first one, were wisely cut from the film. An altenate main title sequence and the musical band U2's video for "Elevation" top off the main extras. However, there's also a handful of DVD-ROM material to look for as well. As an extra bonus, there's also a not so hidden interview father/daughter moment, for you to find too. Happy hunting

I recommend this DVD for folks who know the game, want to see Jolie in action and the making of featurettes but not much else

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great movie
Review: I really liked this film. I liked it so much I went to se eit in the movies twice. TWICE! And I had to sit thee with ... 12 year old boys and was about to get into a debate with them on the veracity of Ms. Jolie's...eeeeeehhhhhhhh..........endowments. She is a beautiful woman. Beautiful in not simply an exotic way, but a naturally exotic way. She also seems like an actress who is comfortable with what is going on around her. I've seen her in a couple of movies and she seems very comfortable with the sihft from romance to thriller to action hero. The plot is a little convoluted in the sense that it goes really far out on a limb about the Illuminati and the alignment of planets. That was a little hard to believe. That a society could exist for only one moment in time. If maybe this happened every 50 years, that might've been more believable and the time traveling was handled nicely as more or reality altering than true going back.
The action scenes are great particuliarly the aerial fight when theives break into her mansion. I have to admit that I haven't seen anythign like that in quite some time, it was amazing and one of my all time favorite action scenes for teh amoutn of stuff going on, as well as the inventiveness of it.
There wre points where the soundtrack was annoying loud and brash but it does really work well with the film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I think Angelina Jolie was perfect for this movie
Review: To be completely honest, Angelina Jolie was the best part of this movie. It would have been nothing without her. But she is so intriguing to watch and so she made the movie. I gave it four stars because it was what it was. It was a great interpretation of the video game. She is the epidemy of Lara Croft. It is what it is.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Tomb Raider Review
Review: This movie was pretty good but it was a little too short! I can't wait till Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life comes out in July! I would definitely give more than 1 star! That is just stupid! It was one of the most decent action films I've seen in years! It is better than Congo, Dante's Peak, The Lost Boys and Lost In Space! I don't care what you'll think but I loved it!


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