Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
Tomb Raider is an action-adventure thriller from Director Roar Uthaug and stars Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, and Walton Goggins. It follows the rise of Lara Croft a fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, who must push herself beyond her limits when she discovers the island where her father, Lord Richard Croft disappeared.
Under The Lens: Gritty Realism and De-sexualization
Gritty Realism: Tomb Raider does its best to bring a fresh coat of paint to the franchise, it has taken it’s aesthetic mostly from the rebooted video game series. We see less science fiction and more realistic Indiana Jones-style set pieces and villains. While the picture does its best to make the viewer think the story is supernatural in nature, its actually a very straight forward thriller with a decent mystery at its core.
De-sexualization: One thing that has plagued the game series for years was it’s overt sexualizing of Lara Croft, dressed in a tube top, and with thigh-high short shorts, she was designed to be alluring to the younger male who was buying the game. This trend continued in the original movies with Angelina Jolie wearing the same outfit and showcasing some tame nudity in the first motion picture. Alicia Vikander is a very beautiful woman, and Tomb Raider does not seek to not showcase her as such, but the focus is on her as a character and her skills, with her looks being a secondary verses primary aspect. Her clothing is more functional and fits the picture’s location and the aforementioned Tomb Raiding!
Highlights
Walter Goggins was a good villain who showcased the banality of evil, he just wants to hurry up and get home, if that means committing horrible acts? He will do it.
The action is lifted from the gameplay in many areas and looks spectacular.
The narrative has a good mystery at its core, and keeps one guessing about what is really going on.
Something to think about
Do you think Lara Croft was more believable in this picture vs the ones that came before?
Conclusion
Overall Tomb Raider is an enjoyable action-adventure that packs thrills with a touching story about a daughter trying to save her father. Its as much a coming of age tale as it is a thriller, and Vikander shows us the emotion Croft feels as well as giving us insane stunts and action. Tomb Raider may well end the video game curse, as it gives us a fun, well made and touching origin story.
