Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA, UK, Germany, Japan 2001
Director: Simon West
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Daniel Craig, Chris Barrie, Robert Phillips
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 15 June 2001
Running Time: 1 hour 39 minutes

The Movie Review

Lara Croft, one heroine character from video game who is a phenomenon. A figure that keeps gamers playing Tomb Raider for a long time. A hot brunette who is highly athletic and smart. Lara Croft has been in all over the place around the world, now we get to see her performs in theater.

On May 15th, the Earth is about to go through an extremely rare occurrence, that is the initial phase of a planetary alignment that occurs only every five thousand years, that will end with a solar eclipse. A sophisticated cult called the Illuminati is aware of this phenomenon and will use it to achieve their arguably wicked ambition, only they need to obtain a special clock first that is eventually owned by Lara as a treasure that was belonged to her father Lord Richard Croft (Jon Voight).


LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER
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On the other hand on that same date, Lara (Angelina Jolie) is still mourning over her father's death that was also lost on May 15th several years back. She then has a dream of her conversation with her father about the planetary alignment. Realized what she has is an unusual clock that also serves as a key. The clock will lead Lara to find the magical triangle that's separated in half and put in secret places in Cambodia and Siberia. Once the magical triangle is united, it will give the possessor the power to control the time. Now Lara has to race with the members of the Illuminati to find the missing triangle, the Triangle of Light.

Action moves that Angelina shows as Lara Croft is 99% correct, the way she jumps, runs, shoots but she doesn't have to walk that way too all the time right? The way Jolie walks is like "Hey look at me, I'm burly", it's so awkward and funny. Angelina Jolie smiles too much and exaggerates everything, but maybe that's what the movie needs to enliven the character, besides.. this is a movie not a game. Regrettably her English accent is on and off, sometimes British and sometimes American.

Even though this film is based on a game, it doesn't need to be comical. Not all audiences around the world are gamers, and even if they are, not all of them play Tomb Raider. From the hackneyed jokes and over-the-top acting of Jolie, it looks as if this film were intended for kiddies only. The rest of the cast are just so weak, of course this film is solely about Lara Croft, but that doesn't mean that other roles are not important. The entire cast is also comical.

From a logical point of view, doesn't it seem weird if a kick-ass tomb raider like Lara Croft does not know what is hidden under the stairs on her own house? And how does she finally find it? From a dream. Wow...this movie really abandons commonsense. Imagine this, there are even some sightings of a little spirit that guides Jolie?!

The script tries somewhat too hard in making Lara do some actions, it's awkward. Actions done by Lara are not joined together sensibly, especially the ending part...it's cheesy.

One thing that's very important, as I recall it is highly dangerous to stare directly at the sun eclipsing, it could blind your eyes, but there are two supporting actors who stare it on and on. This scene should come with a warning...

But...the good side is this movie is really a tomb raider movie! All the action and the set in Angkor Wat in Cambodia are all the needed atmosphere to produce a good tomb raider movie. If you know what you're getting into a movie based on a game and don't mind the highly fictional and unrealistic storyline in this movie, then Lara Croft Tomb Raider will certainly amuse you.

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com