Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Simon West

Writers (WGA):

Sara B. Cooper (story) and
Mike Werb (story) ...

Release Date:

15 June 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

Who Is Lara Croft?

Plot:

Video game adventurer Lara Croft comes to life in a movie where she races against time and villains to recover powerful ancient artifacts.

Plot Keywords:

Lara Croft | Illuminati | Tomb | Planetary Alignment | Time

Awards:

3 wins & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 10	6:15 PM	SHOW
Fri. Nov. 20	3:15 PM	SHOW

Cast

Angelina Jolie	...	Lara Croft
Jon Voight	...	Lord Richard Croft
Iain Glen	...	Manfred Powell
Noah Taylor	...	Bryce
Daniel Craig	...	Alex West
Richard Johnson	...	Distinguished Gentleman
Chris Barrie	...	Hillary (as Christopher Barrie)
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Mr. Pimms
Leslie Phillips	...	Wilson
Robert Phillips	...	Julius, Assault Team Leader
Rachel Appleton	...	Young Lara
Henry Wyndham	...	Boothby's Auctioneer
David Cheung	...	Head Laborer (as David Y. Cheung)
David K.S. Tse	...	Head Laborer
Ozzie Yue	...	Aged Buddhist Monk

Also Known As:

Tomb Raider (USA) (short title)
Tomb Raider: The Achilles Shield (USA) (working title)
Tomb Raider: The Adventures of Lara Croft (USA) (working title)
Tomb Raider: The Movie (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for action violence and some sensuality.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK | Germany | USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Iceland:12 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) (cut) | Singapore:PG (cut) | New Zealand:M | UK:15 (uncut version) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 (censored version) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38350)

Filming Locations:

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Lara's pistols are 9mm Heckler and Koch USP MATCH.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Manfred Powell uses an Ericsson mobile phone without opening the "flip" mouthpiece. One cannot make/receive voice calls on that model unless the flip is opened.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[after an extended action sequence with a training robot which then attempts to revive itself and sneak up on her]
Lara Croft: Stop!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Diet (#3.9)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Lila

If you don't expect more than pointless action, you will get your money's worth. *** (out of four)

LORA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER / (2001) *** (out of four)

By Blake French:

At last, here is a successful screen adaptation from a video game. "Lora Croft: Tomb Raider" takes the plot seriously, and has a lot of fun with it. Unlike the silly "Wing Commander" and incompetent "Mortal Combat," this movie soars with its physical potential. The movie experienced many production complications, therefore I excepted it to symbolize the three tedious years of filmmaking, the director who bailed out, the sexual harassment charges filed, and the 11 screenwriters who couldn't satisfy Paramount Pictures, the bill, and Eidos Interactive, the company that owns the video game. "Lora Croft: Tomb Raider" manages to pull past its problematic filmmaking process and provide audiences with what is expected from this action packed extravaganza.

Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie portrays Lora Croft, who is a cross between Indiana Jones and James Bond. The role of Croft was not an easy accomplishment, even for Jolie. She endured great physical hardships during the shooting, including injuries to her knee, foot, and shoulder. It's a good thing that Jolie did the film, however, she's probably the only actress with the capabilities and physical appearance to handle such a role. Elizabeth Hurley, Sandra Bullock, Denise Richards, Ashley Judd, and Jennifer Love Hewitt were also among the actresses considered for the role. Any of those fine performers would have brought their own charm and delight to the role, but Croft feels perfect for Jolie.

The disposable premise is not just a clothesline for various action sequences. It stands alone as a needlessly complicated plot contraption concocted out of desperation and deadlines. I am glad the actors took it so seriously; this material begs for parody. Lora Croft discovers a key-based clock unidentifiable even by an antique dealer. Meanwhile, a ruthless member of a powerful society named Manfred Powell (Iain Glen) is waiting for a planetary alignment that occurs once every 5,000 years. This event will give the holder of two separated pieces of a magical stone the power over time itself. Croft and Powell learn that the key will unlock the whereabouts of those missing halves.

The rest of the plot follows the villains and heroes on their journey around the planet, searching for the various artifacts and precious instruments. The film will not disappoint action fans. Suspend disbelief and follow the film's absurd concepts, then the fast-paced action sequences, eye-popping special effects, and convincing sets will satisfy. The outcome of almost every single scene is as obvious as it is predictable, but that doesn't mean we enjoy the scenes any less. There are some exciting action sequences in "Lora Croft: Tomb Raider," although it's easy to become lost in the action; the frequent cuts and camera tricks often interrupt the flow of the action.

"Lora Croft: Tomb Raider" is a fun summer thrill ride. It's not a smart, savvy film, but compared to movies like "The Mummy Returns" it's a wake up call in the midst of a starving summer movie season. If you don't expect more than pointless action, you will get your money's worth.