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Tomb Raider (2018)
Tomb Raider (2018)
2018 | Action, Adventure
Better than Expected
Was surprised by this was expecting it to be a complete dross. But went by quickly enough brilliant cast. Big fan of the Nick Frost and Jaime Winstone cameos. I don't think Alicia Vikander is better than Angeline Jolie. But all in all great action flick which I'm sure will start a franchise
  
Tomb Raider (2018)
Tomb Raider (2018)
2018 | Action, Adventure
Not a bad start to this series
I have a confession to make, I have not seen the Angelina Jolie Lara Croft films, nor am I all that familiar with the video games that have spawned these movies, so it is with a fresh perspective that I judge how good (or bad) this film is.

And you know what? It's pretty good.

Starring Alicia Vikander, TOMB RAIDER is the origin story of how Lara Croft becomes a...ahem...Tomb Raider. This is the first starring role in a big "tent pole" film for her and she holds the center of the story quite well. Best known as the Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress in THE DANISH GIRL (which I feel was a consolation prize for her from the Academy as a way of apologizing for not even nominating her for her Oscar-worthy performance in EX MACHINA), TOMB RAIDER transforms Ms. Vikander into a viable action star. Her Lara Croft is not a "super-hero" who is impervious to pain, rather, she is a real person (a tough one, I'll admit) but when she gets hurt, she feels it.

Doing everything but twirling his mustache is Walton Goggins as Mathias Vogel a rival Tomb Raider looking to raid the same tomb.

Why are they looking for this tomb? Does it matter? Nope. The fun is in the journey - and what fun there is. Norwegian Director Roar Uthaug (THE WAVE) keeps the action moving swiftly, jumping from one clue to another and one stunt to another, rarely slowing down for the audience to think - and that's a good thing, because as I'm thinking about this film a day later, I'm beginning to punch some pretty big holes in the plot. But...that doesn't matter because watching Croft/Vikander get herself out of trouble is entertaining.

Also shining in this film is Daniel Wu as Lu Ren, who's father, Lu Ren, disappeared chasing the same tomb as Croft's father (Dominic West). Ren and Crofft team up to race Vogel to the tomb.

Along for the ride in smaller-ish roles - in what appears to be the first film of a series - are such stalwarts as Nick Frost (uncredited), Jaime Winstone, Derek Jacobi and Kristen ScottThomas. All of whom must have been promised larger roles in later films in this series.

A solid start to the series. I, for one, will look forward to the next tomb that Lara Croft raids.

Letter Grade B+

7 1/2 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
  
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Larry Eisner (2082 KP) Jul 18, 2018

Agreed entirely with your review. Excellent as well to read.