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Amazon.co.uk Review
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life may be an improvement on its 2001 predecessor, but its appeal is mostly aimed at fans of the video games that inspired both movies. That pretty much leaves you with some fun but familiar action sequences, and the ever-alluring sight of Angelina Jolie (reprising her title role) as she swims, swings, kicks, shoots, flies, jet-skis, motorcycles, and free-falls her way toward saving the world, this time by making sure that a grimacing villain (Ciaran Hinds) doesn't open Pandora's Box (yes, the actual mythological object) and unleash a deadly plague that will "weed out" the global population. Exotic locations add to Jolie's own coolly erotic appeal, but we're left wondering if this franchise has anywhere else to go. --Jeff Shannon
Special Features
- Commentary by director Jan De Bont
- Deleted/alternate scenes (with optional Jan De Bont commentary)
- Featurettes: Training, Stunts, Scoring, Vehicles and Weapons, Visual Effects
- Gerard Butler’s screen test
- Music video – Korn - Did My Time
- Music video – The Davey Brothers - Heart Go Faster
- Original theatrical website archive
DVD Technical Information:
- Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
- Subtitles: English
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life didn't match the box office success of the original Tomb Raider, but it is easily a much better film. Basically, Cradle of Life is just a lot more fun than the first movie. Since the audience doesn't have to be told exactly who Lara Croft is, director Jan de Bont can get right into the action immediately with a classic Lara Croft entrance. Once the foot is on the pedal, there's no letting up on the gas until the very end, as this film is just packed with incredible action, one exotic locale after another, and - most importantly - Angela Jolie. Sure, the premise of the story (a real life Pandora's Box that contains the deadliest weapon known to man) is a little less than believable, but this is an action movie, not a PBS documentary. There's also a surprising amount of depth to the character of Lara Croft in this movie, and that only adds to the film's strengths.
An earthquake off the coast of Greece leads Lara to the long-lost Lunar Temple of Alexander the Great and an artifact that points the way to Pandora's Box - which is suddenly something quite more than the stuff of mythology. Ancient armies had been decimated by the mysteriously evil powers lurking within Pandora's Box, and it must be found before it falls into the wrong hands of the impeccably nasty Jonathan Reiss (Ciaran Hinds), who plans to sell its secrets to as many terrorists as he can. Unfortunately, the all-important clue falls into the hands of a notorious Chinese gang, and Lara - for once - needs help finding the club's secret hideout. She asks for and gets Terry Sheridan (Gerard Butler), a man who betrayed his country as well as Lara herself. The dynamic duo make a most memorable entry into China, where more elaborate action scenes quickly ensue. Lara's quest, however, will then take her to Hong Kong and, eventually, the heart of Africa where Pandora's Box reportedly lies. As you might expect, some romantic tension arises between Lara and Sheridan along the way. Even though we see more of the female side of Lara in this film, she knows what she has to do when the time comes.
This film boasts some amazing special effects and an almost endless supply of stunts (many of which Angelina did herself). CGI is used in a couple of places, especially the final setting with its Guardian Shadows protecting the location of the box; these scenes lack realism, but the CGI effects themselves are quite good. The DVD features a number of featurettes all about the making of the film, along with deleted/alternate scenes (including an alternate ending), a director's commentary, a superfluous screen test with Gerard Butler, and two music videos (and I would encourage Angelina fans to watch the Korn video).
I really don't know what else you could ask for in a summer box office action film. Cradle of Life takes all of the components of the first film and improves upon them by leaps and bounds, goes out of its way to present stunts the viewer hasn't seen countless times before, adds depth to its main character, and features Angelina Jolie in all her glory.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is one of those films that really doesn't live down to its reputation as one of the worst blockbusters of recent years. True it does boast the usually reliable Daniel Craig's worst performance and least convincing accent, but approached without any expectations as an undemanding action movie it fills the spot between better films even if Stuart Baird's slick uncredited editing can't entirely hide the fact that Angeline Jolie is very obviously doubled by a man in some stunts. Be warned that there are minor censor cuts on the UK DVD.
Conventional wisdom has it that the original was so bad it put the audience off the sequel, but the genuinely dull Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life manages to do a perfectly good job of putting off audiences on its own. To call the plot derivative is far too kind: it might as well be called Raiders of the Lost Orb so closely does it follow the Lucasberger's plot arc (pun intended), but it's unforgivably action-lite, with Jan de Bont botching most of the few setpieces it does have. Jolie gives the picture more than it deserves but she can't compensate for Gerard Butler, who goes beyond his usual enthusiastically bland performance to deliver an enthusiastically gormless one, or the industrial strength bad acting from Ciaran Hinds, whose bland villain leaves the heavy duty emoting to his double-chin, while Simon Yam shows once again that it takes Johnny To's direction to get the best out of him. Nice title sequence but not much else going for it.
Conventional wisdom has it that the original was so bad it put the audience off the sequel, but the genuinely dull Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life manages to do a perfectly good job of putting off audiences on its own. To call the plot derivative is far too kind: it might as well be called Raiders of the Lost Orb so closely does it follow the Lucasberger's plot arc (pun intended), but it's unforgivably action-lite, with Jan de Bont botching most of the few setpieces it does have. Jolie gives the picture more than it deserves but she can't compensate for Gerard Butler, who goes beyond his usual enthusiastically bland performance to deliver an enthusiastically gormless one, or the industrial strength bad acting from Ciaran Hinds, whose bland villain leaves the heavy duty emoting to his double-chin, while Simon Yam shows once again that it takes Johnny To's direction to get the best out of him. Nice title sequence but not much else going for it.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I'm not ashamed to admit I am a Lara fan: I've loved the games since theyfirst came out and trembled with excitement when the movies hit ourscreens. Sad? Probably. But jolly good fun though.
Tomb Raider 1 wasa let down - I conceede to that. It was a thin plot with little actionand it failed to reflect the integrity and depth of the Tomb Raidergames.
I actually prefer this sequel which runs at over 2 hours. It's moreaction packed, has a much more interesting and complex storyline and Jolieis more impressive as Croft second time round. The story moves along at acracking pace and the set pieces are far superior to the firstmovie.
Okay, so I did chuckle a bit when Lara punched the (ratherpoorly CGI'd )shark underwater, but that was the only low point and I wasprepared to overlook that in light of the rest of the movie which waspretty cool.
No, it has nothing at all to do with Gerard Butler being in it - how couldyou even suggest that!?
Seriously though, this is a good movie to just sit back and be entertainedby. It's undemanding escapism and quite simply 2 hours of thigh slappingfun.
Tomb Raider 1 wasa let down - I conceede to that. It was a thin plot with little actionand it failed to reflect the integrity and depth of the Tomb Raidergames.
I actually prefer this sequel which runs at over 2 hours. It's moreaction packed, has a much more interesting and complex storyline and Jolieis more impressive as Croft second time round. The story moves along at acracking pace and the set pieces are far superior to the firstmovie.
Okay, so I did chuckle a bit when Lara punched the (ratherpoorly CGI'd )shark underwater, but that was the only low point and I wasprepared to overlook that in light of the rest of the movie which waspretty cool.
No, it has nothing at all to do with Gerard Butler being in it - how couldyou even suggest that!?
Seriously though, this is a good movie to just sit back and be entertainedby. It's undemanding escapism and quite simply 2 hours of thigh slappingfun.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
tomb raider dvd
this dvd is a great watch in blueray, would highly recommend buying this, although i did have to change the settings to uk, which does not take long and loved watching it.
Published 3 months ago by anniegeturgun
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
This is a great film alot better then the first one and by far more action. Angelina Jolie is out standing through out and she is of the first action females to do her own stunts... Read more
Published 11 months ago by GForce6911
lara croft 1 and 2
super smashing great what more can i say apart from quick delivery sent to different address as requested brill A++++++++++++
Published on 3 Mar 2009 by Mr. Robert E. Drew
I thought it was great, everything you want in a action movie
I know theres more to movies than a pretty face but that said Angelina in this is just so incredibly gorgeous you end up glued to the screen. Everything she does she looks amazing. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2008 by P. M. Dalton
drivel
Culture is dumbing down.
The age of Controlled Culture is dead. Anyone with a web connection has a voice. Read more
The age of Controlled Culture is dead. Anyone with a web connection has a voice. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2008 by Mr. M. A. Reed
Complete drivel
The whole film reaks of over confidence, a prime example of when a sequal is really bad. To start with, Lara has become irritating. Read more
Published on 10 July 2008 by Mr. J. E. ROUSE
Bilge
Saw this on the TV recently - what an utter waste of space. No redeeming qualities whatsoever. Avoid.
Published on 8 Jun 2008 by Simon Fitzpatrick
Average at its best
The best thing about this film is Angelina Jolie, who as we know now can be a fine actress (see A Mighty Heart) as well as looking stunning. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2008 by S J Buck
Tomb Raider 1 & 2
Two great movies for the price of one they are both very good first one is better but 2nd is great 2 so it's a 10/10 get this dvd you will love it if you love the games!
Published on 30 Mar 2007 by Maria
A fantastic film! (And I'm a girlie!)
Well, what can I say? I'm a great film lover, but can often be found yawning while being made to watch the more 'actiony' type films that my hubby prefers. Read more
Published on 17 May 2006 by Sue Lewendon
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