Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)

Director:

Jan de Bont

Writers (WGA):

Dean Georgaris (screenplay)
Steven E. de Souza (story) ...

Release Date:

25 July 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Thriller

Plot:

Lara Croft is on a quest to save Pandoras box.

Plot Keywords:

Busty Heroine | Spin Off From Video Game | Acid | Female Archaeologist | Motorcycle

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Angelina Jolie	...	Lara Croft
Gerard Butler	...	Terry Sheridan
Ciarán Hinds	...	Jonathan Reiss
Chris Barrie	...	Hillary (as Christopher Barrie)
Noah Taylor	...	Bryce
Djimon Hounsou	...	Kosa
Til Schweiger	...	Sean
Simon Yam	...	Chen Lo
Terence Yin	...	Xien
Daniel Caltagirone	...	Nicholas Petraki
Fabiano Martell	...	Jimmy Petraki
Jonathan Coyne	...	Gus Petraki
Robert Cavanah	...	MI6 Agent Stevens
Ronan Vibert	...	MI6 Agent Calloway
Lenny Juma	...	Village Leader

Also Known As:

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Die Wiege des Lebens (Germany)
Tomb Raider 2 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for action violence and some sensuality.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA | UK | Germany | Japan | Netherlands

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Ireland:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39956) | New Zealand:M | UK:12 (video rating) (2003) | UK:12A (original rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Just as in the first film, there are several scenes in which the live-action Lara mimics the computer game version, in particular a scene in which she climbs around a pagoda and pole-vaults to a helicopter. She also takes a nasty fall as the animated Lara was prone to do.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Terry and Lara are on the ship, and Terry steps into the room when Lara is looking out the window and we see that the top bunk has white and red patterned sheets. Terry goes to put a gun under Lara's pillow but finds she's already put two there. THe next time we see it, the top bunk is made up like Lara's, with a white sheet and a khaki blanket.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jimmy Petraki: They found another one. There's going to be no treasure left by the time she gets here.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Abgefahren (2004)

Soundtrack:

You're Nice

quite a ride

Here you have it! A summer film that doesn't spend its budget in too many costume changes or with CGI effects that are designed to tell us that more is better. I enjoyed one good villain, and this film's might not be the best, but at least one understands why the scientist is so evil, and what he is exactly planning.

The film has plenty of action to satisfy an audience that wants to see a clear story, exciting stunts, beautiful and exotic locales, and one heroine that kicks... Angeline makes excellent use of her strong and fascinating personality. She's a complicated heroine and has no qualms about showing us a strong female role. She is also fantastic to look at while she engages in a few demanding exercises.

There are a few terrific moments in just about every possible place. You'll be shocked in the ocean, a few minutes into the film. You will certainly love gliding through the skies of Hong Kong, and you will have fun in some of the most terrific fights of the year (and these don't go on for 5 minutes...)

Much better than the original, and by the way I should say that this is NOT necessarily a sequel.