Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Mutual Films, 2001)
By Rebekah Martin, Staff Writer

The words were not actually printed on the promotional billboard I'd been passing for months before Lara Croft: Tomb Raider finally opened, but they might as well have been 10 feet high right under the huge image of our heroine: "Angelina Jolie IS Lara Croft".

Truth in advertising. If you are not a Jolie fan already (which I am) or a gamester immersed in Lara's world (which I am not), the rest of this movie will not be worth your time and money. If, however, you LIVE for playing "Tomb Raider", and are writing a thesis on the varieties and meanings of Jolie's tattoos, butter yourself some popcorn, and settle on in.

Like the game it's based on, the emphasis here is on impact: bangs, bruises, and stop action camera effects. With the exception of the relationship between Lara and her mysteriously missing father, Sir Richard Croft, played by Jolie's real life father, Jon Voight, the relationships were as rudimentary as they would be to set up the game action. It was pretty much a parade of one character after another from the computer game.

Particularly wasted was Daniel Craig as Lara's sometimes rival, sometimes flame, Alex West.

The chaotic opening sequence, which apparently mirrors the game, almost sent me headed for the dramamine (R). However, once that homage d'playstation was through, director Simon West showed a beautifully detailed eye for properly grand environs of Croft Manor, lush jungle of the temple search, and vast sub-Arctic expanses of the last leg of the quest. The money shows on the screen, Mutual Films didn't stint on a single production value.

I enjoyed this film while I was watching it, but half and hour later, I wanted something more substantial to sink my teeth into - rather like I feel after feasting on a package of Hostess Twinkies (R). I know I'm going to regret it later, but it tastes so good going down . . .

Got milk?