DVD 100 mins IMDB
PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider
Paramount (2001)
In Collection
#183

Seen It:
Yes
Adventure, Action
USA  /  English

Chris Barrie Hillary
Daniel Craig Alex West
Iain Glen Manfred Powell
Angelina Jolie Lara Croft
Leslie Phillips Wilson
Gerard Butler Terry Sheridan
Djimon Hounsou Kosa
Noah Taylor Bryce
Jon Voight Lord Richard Croft
Julian Rhind-Tutt Mr. Pimms

Director Simon West
Producer Stuart Baird; Lawrence Gordon
Writer Simon West; Sara B. Cooper
Cinematography Peter Menzies Jr.
Musician Graeme Revell

Like the video game series it's based on, Tomb Raider is best enjoyed for its physical strategies, since even casual scrutiny of story details will induce a headache. It's more concerned with puzzles than plot, populated with characters that don't have personalities so much as attitudes. It's silly and somber at the same time, but as a franchise vehicle for Angelina Jolie in the title role of relic hunter Lara Croft, this is packaged entertainment at its most agreeable, ambitious in scope and scale, and filled with the kind of globetrotting adventure that could make Jolie the best thing that's happened to action movies since Indiana Jones. Could being the operative word here, because Tomb Raider can't match any of Steven Spielberg's celebrated joyrides, but the ingredients are there for an exquisitely cinematic meal.

Perhaps to distance himself from Lara Croft's video game origins, director Simon West takes things a bit too seriously; Tomb Raider handles its plot (involving a planetary alignment, the nefarious Illuminati, and coveted relics that hold the key to controlling the flow of time) with all the gravity of a championship chess match... minus the tension. If the movie had lightened up and been truly suspenseful (instead of being suffused with been-there, done-that familiarity), it would have been an instant popcorn classic. As it is, however, this is an elegantly mounted adventure featuring exotic locations (in Cambodia and Iceland) and an exotic star born for her role. Even without her padded bra, Jolie would be the living embodiment of Lara Croft, and that's enough to bode well for inevitable sequels. --Jeff Shannon

Edition Details
Distributor Paramount
Edition Special Collector's Edition
Barcode 0097363367543
Region Region 1
Release Date 11/13/2001
Packaging Keep Case
Screen Ratio Theatrical Widescreen (2.35:1)
Subtitles English
Audio Tracks Dolby Digital 5.1 [English]
Dolby Digital Surround [English]
Dolby Digital Surround [French]
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
No. of Disks/Tapes 1

Features
Digging into Tomb Raider - In-depth Cast & Crew Interviews, Featuring Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Director Simon West and More Crafting Lara Croft - Angelina Jolie's Physical Training for the Role The Stunts of Tomb Raider Visual Effects of Tomb Raider - 8 Amazing Sequences Are You Game? - A Look at the Tomb Raider Video Game Phenomenon Commentary By Director Simon West 4 Deleted Scenes Alternate Main Title Sequence U2 Music Video, "Elevation" Tomb Raider Mix Interactive Menus Scene Selection DVD-ROM Features: Tomb Raider Timeline Tomb Raider Chronicles Game Demo Web Site Archive Access to the Online Experience
Personal Details
Purchase Price $9.98
Links Amazon US
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider at Movie Collector Connect
IMDB