Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

**Lara Croft: Tomb Raider captures the spirit of the games and casts the perfect actress as its lead. It's not a perfect film, but one it's still of the better video game adaptations ever made.**

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider had high expectations to overcome with legions of die-hard video game fans wanting to see everything they dreamed of on the big screen. With a perfect lead actress and a director known for wild action films, Tomb Raider was brought to life in one of the most faithful video game adaptations ever made (for better or worse). This movie brought the 2000s-era Tomb Raider games to life with all the style and camp of the decade - Matrix glasses, grunge rock, mediocre computer effects, and over-the-top action. While it wasn't a mind-blowing epic, it was a fun ride that captured some of the Indians Jones meets James Bond style of the games. Angelina Jolie was born to play this role and nailed the look and strength of Lara Croft and looked like she had a blast doing it too. Throw in Daniel Craig before he was Bond and every video game movie's villain, Ian Glen, and you got yourself a ridiculous 2000s action flick that nails the Tomb Raider spirit of that time. With the same vibe and effects of the Resident Evil movie franchise, Tomb Raider has flaws, but it's still a lot of fun. Don't take it too seriously and you will have a good time.

Angelina Jolie brings loads of energy and attitude to this action-packed CGI fest. She's the eponymous daughter of a titled archaeologist who lives at (and regularly wrecks) her family's Buckinghamshire manor house. She's at an auction where an ancient gizmo sells for way over the odds. She manages to procure said bejewelled object and next thing her house is being attacked and the piece is stolen. She now has to use all of her wits and considerable ninja skills to track it down and that involves following it's trail to an ancient site that's long been hidden in China's icy wastes. It's all very formulaic, yes, but with Daniel Craig and Iain Glen adding to the duplicity and even the odd appearance from her motivational dad (Jon Voight) it brings the video game to life quite enthusiastically. Jolie proves to be quite a charismatic lead and the visual effects do their job adequately mingling the "Stargate" with the "Mummy" quite impressively. Nope, it will never trouble a BAFTA jury but as a piece of adventure cinema it's perfectly watchable with a lively soundtrack and a constantly moving storyline.