I wanted to see the new Tomb Raider movie starring Alicia Vikander because I am a big fan of the first two films starring Angelina Jolie (always wished for a third) and I enjoyed Vikander’s roles in Ex Machina, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and Jason Bourne. This reboot is about Lara Croft (Vikander) who has a missing father (Dominic West), and while following some clues, has an adventure when she decides to look for him on a remote island. Based on a video game series that began in 1996 (the story more closely follows a 2013 game) and filmed in the UK and South Africa, Tomb Raider is a movie full of action scenes putting the hero’s life at risk. While there were moments of gunfire, the real attention grabber were the stunts pitting Lara against the environment (she is on an island and Vikander did most of her own stunts) and against some baddies (lead by Walton Goggins). The action scenes were filmed extra shaky, and the heart of the film, the attempt to show the beginnings of a strong female action hero faltered. Cliche cinematic moments that definitely should not appear in a Lara Croft film did so, including her being saved or outsmarted by men multiple times- and it is not like she is learning and taking notes from her father, (as an origin story could show). Vikander was good but should have had a chance to explore her dramatic side more, put her own mark on the role, and show us why Lara is special. Director Roar Uthaug last made the Norwegian thriller The Wave in 2015, and Tomb Raider was written by Geneva Robertson-Dworet (first writing credit), and Alastair Siddons whose only other writing credit is Trespass Against Us (2016 crime comedy starring Michael Fassbender). Alicia Vikander was previously in Submergence opposite James McAvoy and Euphoria opposite Eva Green, and stealing scenes was Daniel Wu who was last seen in Geostorm.

Tomb Raider

IMDB

2018, PG, 1h 58m