Lara Croft Tomb Raider 2: Cradle of Life
I seem to recall basically liking the first Lara Croft movie. Not anything earth shattering, just big fun with guns and tombs but nothing to write home about, and the closest thing I can get to Indiana Jones until the DVDs come out this November. I also assumed that after all the press about how Lara’s character gets some deeper development in this film, that perhaps this movie would be at least watchable. I was right on both counts.
The stunts and action sequences are definitely bigger, louder, faster, as we want from a sequel. The promised character development did flesh her out from one dimension to two (three if you include the breasts) but I really don’t expect that much from a sequel to a video game-to-movie adaptation, now, do I? I already know that the whole notion of “facts” and “science” and “history” will pretty much go out the window in service of the story, and I am always prepared for that when I go to movies like these, as well should you be. This movie not only does that, but it’s incredibly ecologically sloppy as well (busting through coral reefs and just making a mess of things).
The one thing I want from a movie like Tomb Raider 2 is, well, tomb-raiding. Not so much - instead it was an international arms race in the guise of mythological time bomb, kind of. It was a nice bonus that the artifact in question was a weapon of mass destruction the likes of which makes all the nukes in the world look like Black Cats, and of course, the race against evil, blah blah blah. Directed by Jan de Bont (The Bus That Couldn’t Slow Down and Speed 2), the actual elaborate action sequences work pretty well. So what’s the problem? I just don’t care, for one minute.
Croft is so rich, stubborn, and overconfident that she overcomes all her obstacles with pursed lips and her never-empty purse. No obstacles, despite the high, high stakes, and therefore, we don’t care. And I haven’t seen evil henchmen with aim this bad since Star Wars (a.k.a. #4: A New Hope)! Her kick ass technological assists (deus ex micromachina, suggested my companion) are cooler than anything Bond could even wet dream about. So everything is easy for her.
The whole movie is gratuitous, in whatever it does. Excessive shooting, jumping, flying, freaking, whatever. Yes, Angelina looks good. Yes, those are some cool stunts and devices. Dear god what is that music??? The worst part is, after some great practical stunts and effects, some truly cool shadow monster thingies, and a lot of embarrassing product placement, the movie runs out of money, and they shoot the climactic scene on a left over original Star Trek cave set painted silver with some strobe lights tucked into the wall. Sigh. But what really, did I expect? Something about like this. It’s disposable, but it still gets the job done.
MPAA Rating PG-13
Release date 7/25/03
Time in minutes 13
Director Jan de Bont
Studio Paramount Pictures
