By Cynthia Ayala

“Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she discovers the island where her father disappeared.” —IMDB

Oh, video game adaptations, always such a challenge, and yet, this adaptation does the game justice while also not being a complete copy and utilizing the material they have before him to weave out a film that can spin out a series.

Tomb Raider is an exciting film that follows Lara Croft on her very first adventure. Young and naïve, Lara begins the film with very little in her pocket, refusing to accept her inheritance on the note of her fathers “death,” she takes random jobs and lives paycheck to paycheck, remembering her father. However, then, with the company at risk, if she does not accept her inheritance =, she stumbles onto a clue and a mystery connected to her father’s disappearance.

The story uses the concept of the first game while also tying it to the second game, creating a more realistic story that strays away from the fantastical element of the game, creating an action-packed and grounded story. The fantastical is gone, which might upset fans of the game, but for a film that is trying to reach a mass audience, the realistic way of the film that focuses more on defining Lara Croft as a character for the film; a character viewers around the world can understand.

Tomb Raider is a film that is action-packed and fast-paced. It moves quickly, while not losing the character development in the film. Lara starts off the film naïve, but by the end, she is stronger for the loss, stronger for the way the events open her eyes. Let’s not forget Alicia Vikander’s performance. Her performance is incredibly different from Angelia Jolie, who was already playing an experienced adventurer. She is a young woman who has not begun to discover her calling in her life, the adventure that drove her father heart, has yet to capture hers. Vikander brings the character to life wonderfully, highlighting everything that makes her strong and vulnerable. Vikander commands the screen with her elegance and spunk, capturing the essence of Lara Croft, Tomb Raider.

The film moves quickly, it focuses on the story, on building a backstory and leaving an open-ended ending that leaves room for a sequel. It is entertaining and uses elements of Rise of the Tomb Raider to give this film an extra edge that works well for a franchise. (★★★☆ | B+)

—Film Credits—

Directed by Roar Uthaug

Screenplay by Geneva Robertson-Dworet & Alastair Siddons

Story by Evan Daugherty & Geneva Robertson-Dworet

Based on Tomb Raider by Crystal Dynamics

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu & Kristin Scott Thomas

Rating | Length | Genre: PG-13 | 1h 58min | Action, Adventure, Drama 

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures