The question many movie pundits ask when hearing of another film getting the remake or reboot treatment is always “Why?” When news broke that Oscar winner Alicia Vikander was stepping into the boots of Lara Croft (previously donned by another Oscar winner in Angelina Jolie), the question that was posed by this film talking head was “Why not?!”
This is a franchise worthy of continuation and since female led action films are so rare (there was Atomic Blonde recently and…), those who appreciate such things should be taking to the mountain tops to cheer another Tomb Raider movie with such a vivacious and valiant lead.
The reboot finds us meeting and discovering Croft that is a uniquely 2018 version of the video game vixen that debuted decades prior. She has family money, but she is living in relative squalor due to the fact that she wants to “make it” on her own. Got to salute that gumption, especially given that many in her generation have a reputation for taking things in the other direction. She is working as a bike courier and it is there that filmmakers have illustrated all we need to know about her in a few short frames.
Her father was lost, and presumed dead, after leaving on one of his globe-trotting adventures. Since then, Lara has refused to take the reins to the family business. That could be since she does not believe that her father has gone on to the great adventure in the sky. After living with that uncertainty for seven years, Croft is presented with an opportunity that will allow her to delve deeper into the mystery surrounding his absence and also have her following in his footsteps—literally.
Tomb Raider is a surprisingly refreshing reboot in that it takes avenues that are far from predictable. Audiences, by this point in cinematic history, are so used to certain tropes being utilized and it is terrific to witness a film that does not go to the well all others visit and take many roads hardly taken in its desire to re-introduce us to a character that, truthfully, we already know.
An enormous amount of credit for why this reboot largely works must be placed on the chiseled shoulders of Vikander. Just as Jolie was born to play Croft, so too was the Swedish actress. If you think about it, there must be something about the DNA of this video game character that it draws actresses who have won their profession’s top prize. It is safe to say that both genders find something compelling about this particular character and that is why the game has been so enormously successful and the films garner a huge following in their own right.
What sets the Vikander portrayed Croft apart from Jolie is that she comes across much more grounded. Sure, she still emits that rich girl—old money—aura. It’s just that Vikander’s Croft has us wanting to follow her adventures, even if it is simply delivering packages on her bike through the hazardous (for bike messengers!) streets of London. With Vikander’s Croft so well established before she embarks on her adventure, dare we say that the audience is even more vested in her journey that what we felt with Jolie.
She also has a stunning cast that surrounds her, especially Walton Goggins as our villain and Daniel Wu as the man who unwillingly (and then most willingly) gets drawn in to her desire to get to the truth behind one heck of a vast mystery. Dominic West is also stunning in a mysterious role that plays a huge part in unlocking the familial secret that embodies all things Croft. Lest we forget, Kristin Scott Thomas is also stunning as an old Croft family friend who plays a pivotal role in the clan’s estate.
We are hoping that the film gets a second chapter, and it is looking likely that it will. The reason, as we explained further in our theatrical Tomb Raider review, is that Vikander makes this film—through and through. It has its faults, sure, but it is majorly worth watching due to the fact that the lead breathes life into the entire affair.
In terms of the Tomb Raider Blu-Ray bonus features, Tomb Raider: Uncovered leads the pack. It finds the cast and crew dishing the challenges, the highs and lows of making the film, and even extoling the virtues of the world Croft inhabits. We also get some priceless insight into the universal appeal of the game and its lead character. There is also a fascinating thread throughout this featurette that gets down to the nitty gritty of how all involved approached the challenge of giving audiences a Croft character that befits a new generation.
The next bonus featurette that must be explored after Uncovered has to be Lara Croft: Evolution of an Icon. After hearing about bringing this incarnation of the heroine to the silver screen, some history is in order. This look goes back to the beginning and one gets some impeccable insight to her arrival as video game character and leap to the big screen, both through Jolie and now with Vikander. It is easy to see why each actress was perfect for her generation.
Speaking of Vikander, it could not have been easy tackling everything that was required of her physically to nail the role. Croft Training takes us inside the gym as we get a front row seat to what it took for her to transform into a video game character known for her physical prowess.
The most stunning action sequence in the entire film, and one could argue it is the scene that makes Lara Croft Lara Croft in this film is the rapids. Breaking Down the Rapids is a stunning look at how director Roar Uthaug managed to craft the set piece that sets this rebooted franchise firmly moving forward with one jaw-dropping, stunning and breathtaking sequence that is one for the ages.
Film Grade: B-
Bonus Features: B