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All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
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 out of 4
| *Also starring: | Chris Barrie, Ciaran Hinds, Djimon Hounsou, Andrew Joshi, Til Schweiger, Noah Taylor, Ronan Vibert, Simon Yam, Terence Yin |
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Review by Susan Granger
3 stars out of 4
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Angelina Jolie is back again as the intrepid British archeologist Lara
Croft in this female-propelled version of Indiana Jones-meets-James Bond. The
globe-trotting adventure fantasy begins on the Greek island of Santorini, where
a volcanic eruption allows Croft access to a long-lost orb buried in the
subterranean Luna Temple of Alexander the Great. The orb is a map to the fabled
Pandora's Box which - according to a villainous bioterrorist (Ciaran Hinds) -
contains world-wide destructive powers. Problem is: Chinese mercenaries are
also after the artifact. So it's a race to discover where it's buried. Instead
of working alone, Lara Croft springs a former flame (Gerard Butler) from a
Kazakhstan prison and, together, they're off to China - then Hong Kong - then
Kenya, where she's met by an old friend (Djimon Hounsou) who serves as her
translator.
Director Jon De Bont ("Speed," "Twister") propels the high-speed motion
with some of the summer's most spectacular stunts, particularly an acrobatic
rooftop leap onto a barge, dazzlingly photographed by David Tattersall. While
stunning Angelina Jolie has the convincing physicality, it's too bad
screenwriter Dean Georgaris and his cohorts didn't come up with more of the
caustic humor that lightens both Indiana Jones and James Bond. Whereas both of
these macho men enjoy curvy distractions, grizzled, gnarly Gerard Butler with
his thick Scottish brogue is a curious choice to charm Lady Croft. And the CGI
creatures guarding The Cradle of Life are little more than silly spooks. On the
Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life" is an
action-packed 7, continuing the video game-inspired, popcorn-picture fun.
Copyright © 2003 Susan Granger
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