The wait is over. Was it worthwhile? If you like Indiana Jones with a female lead and fewer jokes, you won't be disappointed.Nigel Bell There's been so much anticipation and hype surrounding the release of Tomb Raider that it was almost certain to be savaged by the critics. How do you top a computer game which has taken the world by storm and a heroine whose natural home is on a PC? There's nothing in this film version which hasn't been seen in the cinema before.  | | What do you mean I've failed my test? |
20 years ago this would be mind blowing. But after Indiana Jones, Lara Croft is a pale female imitation. You have the frantic action opening sequence, endless chases (which still manage to keep you gasping as Lara just manages to escape), the obligatory British villain and ultimate victory. Indeed there is one sequence where Lara has to fight a series of stone statues which come to life which takes you back to the days of Ray Harryhausen and his special effects from films like Sinbad and Jason and the Argonauts. Admittedly modern technology makes this look far superior but you do get the feeling of deja vu. Even the story borrows from elsewhere (and it took five writers to come up with this). It concerns the search for two halves of a triangle which will give the user the power to travel through time.  | | The name's Bond..err..Indiana...sorry Lara |
It's not a new premise. What I kept thinking about was that ill-fated Anglo-American Dr Who film Enemy Within starring Paul McGann. This also featured a race against time to stop time being altered. As for the performances; Angelina Jolie certainly looks the part as Lara. Just as well. Her dialogue is extremely limited. Indeed one of my colleagues described her as having the acting attributes of Roger Moore only with big lips! Elsewhere, there are plenty of British actors to look out for. Red Dwarf's Chris Barrie plays Lara's butler, there's a cameo from a very doddery looking Leslie Phillips and Daniel Craig of Our Friends In The North fame, turns up as Lara's love interest with, for some reason, an American accent.  | | Ok daughter - time for bed |
Much talk has been made of Jon Voight (Jolie's real life dad) as Lara's father. It's a nice touch although Mr Voight's screen time is limited. For what this film sets out to achieve - an action adventure movie - it succeeds. It'll also succeed at the box office. Just as well really. The lead actors have allegedly been signed up for three Lara movies - so there'll be plenty more chance of seeing Angelina strutting her stuff. 
| 
