1/2
USA 2018
Opening March 15, 2018
Directed by: Roar Uthuag
Writing credits: Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Alastair Siddons
Principal actors: Alicia Vikander, Daniel Wu, Walton Goggins, Dominic West, Kristin Scott Thomas
This is the year for strong female role models. This new Lara Croft is not your typical sex-symbol character, but a tough, kick-ass kind of girl who is also vulnerable and intelligent. Here, Alicia Vikander definitely plays a strong role model for young women to look up to.
Seven years ago, Lara's father disappeared and, rather than accept his wealth, she has decided to get a job and make things work. The opening sequences are witty, risk taking, and funny. We see her sparring at a gym or playing the fox in a bicycle chase through London. She is unfortunately marmalized (beat up) and taken to the police station, where she calls for help from a friend of her father's. Before long she is on a quest to find out what happened to her father, despite the fact that she was told to burn all of his files. He knew of a company that sought access to dangerous objects from the tomb of a Japanese queen from long ago.
The first two thirds of the film are great fun until Lara lands on the island and then it feels like the original video has come alive again. It is a perfect film for those game players, and the new female heroine surpasses the original Lara Croft, Angelina Jolie, as a role model. ()