Fans have mixed views about the film (Image: Unknown)
When a classic film of this calibre arrives on screens, it’s not to be missed, featuring legendary action sequences and one of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars.
Arriving in 2003, this action franchise took audiences by storm, though when the second instalment appeared, fans found themselves divided over its merits.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is an epic adventure film inspired by the original Tomb Raider video game franchise from Core Design. Angelina Jolie returns as the titular character Lara Croft, facing another extraordinary mission, though this time on a Greek island.
The storyline follows Croft as she undertakes a mission to recover the legendary Pandora’s box following a powerful earthquake that revealed the Luna Temple.
Joining her on screen are highly acclaimed performances from Gerard Butler, Ciarán Hinds, Chris Barrie, Noah Taylor, Til Schweiger, Djimon Hounsou, and Simon Yam. Indeed, it is Jolie’s “chemistry” with Butler on screen that sparked numerous favourable reviews for the follow-up.
The film was released in 2003 (Image: Paramount Pictures)
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One review on Rotten Tomatoes says: “A polished B-movie, perfect for exercising. The 4K presentation and high production values made it enjoyable, and the special effects still look impressive more than two decades later.”
Another viewer added: “The Cradle of Life has long been labelled a failure, but that reputation feels harsher than the film deserves. While the screenplay has structural issues and uneven dialogue, the movie succeeds where it matters most: delivering a confident, globe-trotting action adventure led by an undeniable star performance.
“Angelina Jolie fully owns the role of Lara Croft, bringing physicality, charisma, and authority that make the character feel authentic rather than gimmicky.”
The character was reprised for a sequel (Image: Paramount Pictures)
Meanwhile, others say the sequel fell short in following up what was a landmark female-led action picture. One disappointed viewer said: “This movie sucked horribly; it had some good special effects and Angelina in her prime to look at( but that’s it).”
They aren’t the only ones holding this view, with another unimpressed viewer stating: “The plot is forgettable despite Angelina Jolie and Gerald Butler having good chemistry.”
One person even said: “It does improve itself over the first one but it still fails short in every way possible.”
The film struggled at the box office, achieving considerably less success than its predecessor, taking $160.1 million compared to Tom Raider’s $275 million. Though numerous critics maintained it surpassed the original regarding action sequences and Jolie’s commanding performance.
The original film had hit cinemas two years earlier, yet following this sequel’s debut, Jolie’s involvement in the franchise drew to a close before the story was eventually revived in 2018. The 2018 instalment was entitled ‘Tomb Raider’ and starred Geneva Robertson-Dworet as Lara Croft, going on to match the box office takings of the 2001 release, though it appears to have left a lesser mark on popular culture.
For those who are yet to catch it, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is due to be broadcast on BBC3 tonight, Thursday October 5, at 8:15pm.
