Tomb Raider (2018)
Last Watch Date - August 2, 2026
Total Times Watched - Once
Comments
Something triggered a memory in my mind the other day of the Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider movie. Then I found out there was another one. AND a reboot based on the newer game(s). Huh, go figure. I have a buddy who said those new games are really good. I have the 2013 one but never played for more than a few minutes. Funnily enough, I also played the original Tomb Raider (at the time) and also for a few minutes.. but that was because of the horrendous controls. I was like 14 or 15 and loved those big ol' cones, but who can struggle through those old PS1 cameras and controls for a few pixels of pleasure?!
Anywho, I didn't have access to the Jolie TR movies, BUT I DID HAVE THIS! When I think of Tomb Raider as a whole, I don't really think of story. In fact, I don't even know the story of the original. Does it have one? I remember a dinosaur being in it at one point. Wtf is that about? Oh yeah, back to this one. It does have a story. It's not a GOOD story, but it's there! This movie is sort of like The Mummy if Rachel Weisz were the main character and could leap-dash 50 feet across chasms or be impaled on rancid jungle bits and have zero negative effects. There's not much here really, but it's fine for an adventure movie.
Similar complaints in the adventure movie trope silliness: the relationships are so paper thin and superficial. This dude is going to risk being murdered to help her? He literally just met her and she got him into this mess. Her dad is going to be any semblance of normal after 7 years alone in the wilderness of a Japanese island? I hate the father-daughter stuff in these movies because it's so over-the-top cheesy. No difference here, except McNulty looks like Jim Caviezel trying to play an older Jesus.
Lara uses a bow instead of guns. When there are readily available big ass guns. She chooses a bow. People are shooting at her and SHE CHOOSES A BOW. What the french, toast?
My biggest issue with this movie is not those things, though. They make it a more .. action-y adventure after all! No, my problem is with the pacing! They don't hit the action until almost an hour in. And for what? Building some sort of shoddy backstory? So she's training to fight (and sucks at it). She's broke and a courier because she won't sign her dad's death certificate. Because THEN it's too real! But he has been missing for 7 years. Hey, who wouldn't give up .. billions? for the sake of pretending their parent is alive somewhere. I'd much rather struggle and be a courier in a hovel! None of that was necessary. They could've started it at the "here is a gift from your father in the case of his death" and it would've been a much snappier story. I think they spent too much time in the slave camp too.
Maybe this makes more sense in a video game where you can explore some other stuff. Or just being the main character and controlling her actions may be more fulfilling than watching this. I don't know. I'm being a bit nitpicky really.
Recommended?
Hmm, probably not. It's fine but there are much more memorable/interesting adventure movies.