Rating: 
Summary: Loved it
Review: More action. More great travels and another adventure. It seems Lara Croft is even more sexed up in this film, but she hasn't lost her touch or her composure even in the face of danger. That's my girl.I suppose it does help that she has an equally sexy and adventurous boyfriend to help her out, although he wasn't always rooting for the good side. The sequel packed more stunts and punch to its plot, but the first one gave her more grace. Either way, Croft still dives right in to her adventures head first while the rest of us are left chattering and arguing away her amazing feats. Maybe we're the ones missing out.
Rating: 
Summary: DISAPPOINTING SEQUEL
Review: Angelina Jolie reprises her role as the adventuring hero Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, The Cradle of Life. While the first movie was long on action and short on plot, they effectively do a 180 degree reversal in this sequel. The plot involves the race between Lara and a dealer of WMDs (how convenient) to find the Cradle of Life where hidden is the literal Pandora's Box. Opening the box will unleash a weapon far more powerful than anything man can create. The dealer wants it to sell to the highest bidder and Lara wants it to keep it hidden. Unfortunately much of the action of the first is lost, primarily due to the sub plot involving Lara and an old flame, a mercenary she rescues from prison to help her on the quest. Not sure why they insist on giving Lara a love interest in every movie as it only serves to slow things down and kill the male fantasy. More importantly, in both movies she's now found herself rescued by her male partner. Isn't SHE supposed to be the hero here? I think it really cheapens the character. Anyway, the fact is Cradle of Life is just plain boring. I found myself nodding off on a few occasions. The Tomb Raider movies have been able to capture none of the fun and adventuring spirit of the video games, let alone Indiana Jones movies that they were modeled after. You have exotic locales and secret tombs and such, but it all comes off very flat. I think for the franchise to survive they really need a new director.
Rating: 
Summary: Action around the World
Review: Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) returns in another action packed adventure. The action starts off in Santorini, Greece, where a lost city is discovered submerged under the sea. Lara gets her hands on a orb which will lead to the discovery of Pandora's Box. She is attacked by a Chinese group called the Shay Ling and loses the precious Orb. The Orb is a shining globe which when decoded will show the map of where Pandora's Box is hidden. Lara is enlisted by M16 to snatch back the Orb before it falls int o the wrong hands of the enemy who is intent on unleashing the evils withing Pandor'a Box. The adventure continues across the continents to China and then Africa. I enjoyed the first film but felt that this particular film lacked the excitment of the first. Angelina does a good jobn with her English accent. Some of the "horror" scenes particularly through the jungle of woods in Africa were laughable and unbelievable but this is a fantasy film. Watch this film if you have nothing better to do. Lealing
Rating:
Summary: Jolie- fest 2
Review: A lightweight storyline here and really just a Angelina Jolie viewing film. Still she looks good in that silver body suit. And the movie isn't all that bad either.
Could have been better if a more solid storyline was given funds.
Rating:
Summary: Which way is up?
Review: This movie was pretty good and did strike me as having a far better script than the first. The only thing I didn't like was the end. Anticlimatic and dull compared to the rest of the film, to say the least. I loved everything about the scene with the shadow demons.. then you get all hyped up to finally see the 'cradle of life' and.. it's a disappointment. Except for the lack of any sense of direction. This movie is fun and one of the better action films. And I don't consider Angelina to be a sell out. She does what seems fun to her. Who cares if it is Oscar material or not. This looks like it must have been so much fun to make. Original Sin was also a great part and character for her. I would have enjoyed playing both parts. Academy Awards and prestige are not everything.
Rating: 
Summary: This is how the press release *should* read:
Review: Sellout Angelina Jolie, who decided to appear in `Tomb Raider', `Gone in Sixty Seconds' AND `Original Sin' right after receiving an Academy Award, reprises her role as Lara Croft: Bra Model, celebrated by prepubescent video game nerds everywhere, and one of the most masturbated-to heroines ever to hit the big screen. Facing more dull and hackneyed challenges than ever before, the insipid tomb raider travels a bunch of unconvincing locations on a sleep-inducing "adventure" that supposedly takes her to Hong Kong, Kenya, Tanzania, Greece and the Great Wall of China, but is unable to evoke a true feeling of the locale, not to mention to stimulate the viewer's sense of wonder. Demonstrating preposterous physical prowess and revealing her stupidity as never before, Lara proves that she will stop at nothing in her search for an idiotic McGuffin known as `The Cradle of Life' ... especially when it means she could save the world from the most unspeakable evil ever known, possibly Jerry Bruckheimer.
Rating:
Summary: Could Be Better
Review: The huge success of the Indiana Jones movies proves there's a market for good action/adventure films. So why put out something with the obvious weaknesses of THE CRADLE OF LIFE? Are the movie moguls just misreading their audience, or are they simply willing to settle for less? A really well done Lara Croft flik could be a blockbuster. Instead, we get stuff like THE CRADLE OF LIFE, wherein they rely on action to make up for the lack of a good story and they rely on sex appeal to cover for under-developed characters. It's disappointing. The good news is that this Lara Croft movie is better than the first one. What story there is (and it's pretty flimsy) hangs together better, Jolie continues to look stunning, and the action sequences are fun, with some impressive stunt work. But action sequences are almost all there is. And fortunately, I was watching the DVD, not trying to follow it all in a theater. At times, the action comes so thick and fast that it's hard to tell exactly what happened without going back and watching it over frame by frame. I do feel they're improving, though, so if they keep making them, maybe they'll get it right eventually. Lara Croft II isn't a terrible movie, it's just that it leaves a lot to be desired. A good action flik could be huge, but instead Hollywood is content to toss out a mediocrity. It was mildly enjoyable to watch once. Personally, I wouldn't buy it, though. It takes something more to be worth repeat performances.
Rating: 
Summary: LCTR The Cradle of Life - An enormously entertaining film!
Review: While most seem to be either a real big fan of the Lara Croft Tomb Raider movies or someone who despises them, I'll take up the role of a big fan. Just as in the first movie, Angelina Jolie's rendition of Lara Croft is absolutely wonderful. This second film, in what is undoubtedly going to be many, is another great action flick that is enjoyable entertainment from the beginning to the end. While I only have a vague, passing familiarity with the video games, I can say, without a doubt, that this and the first movie make an enormously enjoyable leap from the pc screen to the silver screen. Angelina Jolie's performance as Lara Croft, to include her impeccable British accent, is nothing less than stunning. I find it absolutely wonderful to see such a beautiful and agile actress take on the "James Bond" type role and handle it with such seeming ease. While these films won't win her any Oscars, they will indelibly mark her among the tops in action film stars. Gerard Butler's performance as Terry Sheridan makes another great performance by him after his leading role in "Attila." Director, Jan de Bont deserves a great amount of praise for his direction of this box office smash, something of which he's quite familiar with having other directing credits to include "Speed" and "Twister." The score for this film greatly enhances the entire theatrical experience of the film. The Premise: Tomb Raider, Lara Croft finds herself on another mission to the save the world as she discovers an orb, which is the map to the Pandora's Box. Unfortunately for her, another tomb raider shows up when she discovers it and steals it from her, nearly killing her in the process. This other tomb raider happens to be working for Dr. Jonathan Reiss (Ciaran Hinds) who happens to be the worlds leading manufacturer of biological weapons. Lara is soon visited by the British secret service, MI-6 and she finds herself on a mission to save the world, sanctioned by the Queen herself. All she needs now is a little help from an old "friend" in Terry Sheridan (Gerard Butler), who happens to be a former SAS Major, turned mercenary and who is now stuck in a Russian prison. The British government agrees to secure his freedom to help her. What follows from there is nothing less than another outstanding Lara Croft Tomb Raider action film that is highly enjoyable and I most certainly look forward to future endeavors in this film series. {ssintrepid} Special Features: - Commentary by director Jan de Bont
- Deleted/Alternate scenes
- Featurettes:
*Training
*Vehicles and Weapons
*Stunts
*Visual Effects
*Scoring
- Gerard Butler's Screen Test
-Music Videos:
*Korn "Did My Time"
*The Davey Brothers "Heart Go Faster"
-Original Theatrical Web Site Archive
Rating:
Summary: I found tomb raider 2 to be a big disappointment
Review: I hate the plot - it's poorly executed & doesn't hang together well enough. I also found her butler & geek friend to look too different from the previous movie to actually work - they feel like completely different characters. Overall I also found Lara to be kind of unattractive in this movie (either too chunky or too arrogant looking at all the wrong times). On the upside I do like the relationship between her & her jail gent - it really works, and feels good (even the ending). I also like the realistic & semi-realistic toys (although they do date the movie). Overall though the movie's a big disappointment over the first one, but heck, that's showbiz - can't win 'em all.
Rating:
Summary: Good Sequel
Review: "Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" marks the return of Angelina Jolie to the big screen as video game icon Lara Croft the Tomb Raider for more globetrotting treasure hunting [is a classic] adventure. THE STORY: After the mysterious globe she pursued gets stolen out from under her grasp, Lara Croft embarks on a mission to avenge her loss and protect the all powerful Pandora's Box that the globe leads to from falling into the wrong hands. THE COOL THINGS: If you've followed the video games or the first film you'll be pleased with this sequel. All the cool special FX and action sequences you enjoyed in the first movie and in the video game series returns here for Cradle of Life. The adrenaline is pumped further as Lara Croft gains a partner in the form of a jacked up Aussie ex-con, Terry Sheridan, whom she enlists to help her track down the Chinese syndicate who stole her globe. Like in the first film we get a whirlwind tour of the world as Lara traces down Pandora's Box and The Cradle of Life from China to Africa and everywhere in between. The thing I think that separates this movie from the first one is that the story in "Cradle of Life" was stronger and better developed than the first one. BEST SCENES: 1. The Underwater Temple 2. Fighting the Chinese Syndicate 3. The "Sky-Flying" Scene 4. The Monsters in Africa 5. Battle for Pandora's Box in the Cradle of Life THE DVD EXTRAS: DVD extra fiends will be pleased with this set as, like most new releases, this set comes PACKED with goodies. Here's what you get: 1. Feature Length Commentary by Director Jan De Bont. 2. 6 Deleted Scenes and 1 Alternate Ending with optional Director Commentary track. It was a mixed bag of scenes, some cool, some disposable. The Alternate Ending was cool. 3. Featurettes: 5 featurettes a. "Training" - 9 minute featurette on Angelina Jolie's training for this film including her weight training regimen, Tae Kwan Do lessons, Bo and Eskrima lessons, Jet Ski lessons, Equestrian and shooting lessons b. "Vehicles and Weapons" - 4 ½ minute featurette on the various cool weapons and vehicles used in the film including the Jeep, Lara's hand guns, bayonet, rifle, underwater gun, Armored Vehicle, Jet Ski, and Wrist-Mounted Gun c. "Stunts" - 11 minute featurette on some of the bigger stunts in the film, how they were filmed and their challenges in filming including: the "Upside-Down Rappel" and the "Sky-Flying" scenes. d. "Visual Effects" - 11 ½ minute featurette on how they filmed some of the harder scenes including: the "underwarer" scene which was filmed on stage with "underwater" FX, the "Stealth Plane" crash scene which was almost all CGI, "The Shadow Guardians of the Petrified Forest" scene. e. "Scoring" - 4 ½ minute featurette on the musical score used in the film and the process used in deciding what type of music to use for certain scenes. 4. "Gerard Butier's Screen Test" - Gerard Butier's screen test for his role as Aussie Ex-Con Terry Sheridan. He reads lines from his intro scene at the prison. 4 minutes. 5. "Music Videos" - "Did My Time" by Korn, 4 minutes and "Heart Go Faster" - by The Davey Brothers, 3 ½ minutes 6. Previews: Trailers for "Paycheck," "The Indiana Jones Trilogy Collection DVD set" THE VERDICT: Overall, if you're a fan of the Tomb Raider franchise you'll dig this latest entry into the franchise. Action and FX fiends will also love the multitude of cool sequences in this film. The DVD extras round out a great package making this a worthy addition to your DVD collection if you are so inclined. Highly Recommended FINAL GRADES The Film: 4 stars
The Extras: 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 stars
| 
