Lara Croft searches for her missing father on an uncharted
​island that may be the resting place of an ancient power.

ACTION

Tomb Raider (2018)

Directed by Roar Uthaug

Written by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Alastair Siddons

Starring Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins,
​Daniel Wu, Kristin Scott Thomas, Derek Jacobi, Nick Frost

Reboot of 2001's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Based on the video game by Square Enix

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Connor Eyzaguirre

March 20, 2018

8/10

I've never played the Tomb Raider games, nor have I seen the original two films starring Angelina Jolie. So, going into this movie with no prior knowledge and zero interest in the franchise, I was highly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Tomb Raider is an exciting, action-packed adventure film that digs its heels into a realistic approach to the character of Lara Croft. Even though it blatantly rips off the Indiana Jones series and the Uncharted game series, it's still a fun watch.

Alicia Vikander takes the reins of iconic video game character Lara Croft, delivering a strong lead performance that makes Lara a grounded, layered protagonist. Dominic West shines as her missing father Richard Croft, while Walton Goggins steals the show as the sadistic villain Mathias Vogel. I must also praise Nick Frost's all too brief appearance as quirky pawnbroker Max. I wish he'd been in the film more. Overall, the performances were superb and way stronger than I expected for a video game movie. With recent busts like Assassin's Creed, Warcraft, and that god-awful Ratchet & Clank movie, I really hope that Tomb Raider is the one to finally break the video game curse. After all, it was way better than anything that's come before it.

Tomb Raider lacks in originality, but it shines in its action sequences, its performances, and its ability to entertain. It doesn't take itself too seriously, yet it maintains an air of realism that separates it from its video game movie counterparts. You don't have to be a lifelong fan of the games to enjoy the film, and that's a very important factor that most adaptations tend to ignore. The ending sets it up for a sequel, which I hope it gets. I'd like to see where this franchise goes next.