So how does everyone feel about the Tomb Raider movies? Do you like them? Why or why not? And while we're on the subject, who do you think should play Lara in the third film?
September 3, 2011
Tomb Raider 30-day Challenge Day 3: Do you like the movies? Why or why not?
UPDATE: This month-long challenge has officially finished, but you're still welcome to post your comments below at any time. We'd love to hear what you think.
So how does everyone feel about the Tomb Raider movies? Do you like them? Why or why not? And while we're on the subject, who do you think should play Lara in the third film?
So how does everyone feel about the Tomb Raider movies? Do you like them? Why or why not? And while we're on the subject, who do you think should play Lara in the third film?
I'll admit I'm not a big fan of the films. I don't dislike Angelina Jolie. I've enjoyed some of her other movies, but very few game-to-movie translations hit the mark. For me, seeing a real person try to be Lara just seems weird.
ReplyDeleteMy ideal Tomb Raider movie would be all CG like the Final Fantasy movies or Avatar. And who knows, with Square Enix at the top of the TR food chain now, maybe that idea's not as far-fetched as it once seemed.
As for TR3 the movie, I'm clueless. None of the names I've heard so far do it for me. I like Olivia Wilde but I don't think she's Lara.
I liked the Angelina movies. It was what got me more into Tomb Raider in the first place. I definitely enjoyed the first movie more than the second. I also liked the references to the Dagger of Xian and other artifacts at the auction in TR1. I liked that they didn't just make it a CG animated movie cause that would be typical, and would be like just one big in game cutscene.
ReplyDeleteAnd Angelina for TR3! Reboots are such a cop out!
If they insist on making another film, being British, I'd love to see a British actress play Lara - but unless they bring in a RADA 'unknown' graduate, there isn't a 'Brit Chick' out there who could fill her boots or any other part of her attire.
ReplyDeleteI like the movies as standalone films, in relation to the games they don't work for me. Angelina is great, but she's American. Being English myself, it annoys me to no end when American actors put on British accents, usually because any flaws are way more noticeable to me. It's really really rare to find a good game-to-film movie though... Like the live-action Tekken film, it was bad. Now they're making a CGI version... If they make a 3rd Tomb Raider, I think that's the way to go, keep it similar to the games in a way that's entertaining :)
ReplyDeleteI liked the movies, but not because I thought they were that great. I just thought they were fun. And I liked the music, which will get me to watch a movie several times over, regardless of the quality.
ReplyDeleteAs for CG vs. live action... I'm on the fence. I appreciate seeing a real person being able to do what Lara can do in game (more or less), and that was one thing I really did appreciate about Angelina Jolie in the movies - she did the majority of her own stunts. However, we have the tech these days to make a really good CG movie. I think Avatar worked so well because it was mo-capped, and there could be a lot of potential for something like that where TR is concerned. But as ryan said above me, it does run the risk of feeling like one big cutscene if it's done completely CG. I'd be willing to give it a chance, though.
As for who ought to portray Lara in a new movie, same here, Stella - I'm clueless. For all that I pay attention to movies, I'm mostly doing it via the soundtracks, so I'm not as informed about actresses as I might otherwise be!
Well, I like the movies. The first one is very good, the second not that much mas still cool. The stories are not game related but I think it's better that way: an original story that is tomb raider. The manor part of the first movie can relate a lot with the games. And the inclusion of a water scene in the second one is also a connection to the games. I find that Angelina Jolie is really good, she portrays Lara's personality in a very good way.
ReplyDeleteAbout the potential actress... I know the odds of Angelina returning are small, but I would love to see her again, simply because I made my mind about it: the "real" Lara Croft is Angelina Jolie, and I always associate them. If not Lara, maybe Megan Fox, because she looks like Angelina. In the end, Angelina rules!
Yes..and No...Just Lara in real life?-The role of Lara Croft does not belong to anyone.Lara is designed to be perfect-in the real world nobody is perfect.:D
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with TRtbn21.
ReplyDeleteI loved the movies, I think they bring out a new facet of Lara and her skills (like the parashute over hong kong scene in the Cradle of Life, that left me awed), but I couldn't decide, if it were up to me, to make a CG or Live Action movie, though both would be great.
As for the actress, I have three sugestions: Angelina is great, I love her movies, bot there are parts she can't quite nail down. As for Olivia Wilde, she misses the toughness in lara. Now, Megan Fox would be a nice choice! xD
I like Angelina and I thought she made a great Lara. Sadly she was let down by the material and the necessity for the American screen writers to give her a Daddy figure in the first movie and to make her politically correct in the second. Even worse this bowdlerisation of Lara's character for US audiences (which Angie, bless her - who "got" Lara - fought against) has left a ghastly legacy even today in the "reboots" of Core's wonderful character. So the movies are quite fun but toxic in their influence and I dread what the team that brought us Cowboys and Aliens will do next to poor old Lara.
ReplyDeletei liked the films, but I'm a sucker for anything Tomb Raider really haha :L The first one was better than the second IMO though. On the subject of Angelina, I like her :) i thought she portrayed her quite well, and even though she is American, I've heard worse British accents....much worse haha. As for the third film, Angelina has said that she won't do a third movie, so thats out. As for a CGI film, it could work i suppose, but it would have to be done well, with the help of Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix of course. I think if a video game film is going to be made, they need to be made with the people who make the games involved with the project. For example, Valve has said that a Half Life 2 film won't be made unless they are involved with the project. So all i all, i like the films but i think if they make a 3rd they need to make it more faithful to the games :) Here's my blog post about the third movie :D http://harrystombraiderblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/third-tomb-raider-movie.html
ReplyDeleteWell, I liked the first film as a stand alone film. Based off a video game though it was pretty bad. The second one is pretty bad though. But I have no idea who should play lara in the 3rd one.
ReplyDeleteI am not a big fan of the movies. I like Angelina in her other movies but she is not Lara and not British. The movies were neither true to the games, nor did they do a good job as stand-alones. They already kind of reinvented her for the big screen, giving her new companions and a new family background, which they should have done with much more detail. (Especially when it comes to her motivation for what she does and who she is.) So if they indeed reinvent her again, this time along with the reinvention of the game, I hope they get it right. They did a good job with Batman, if they put that much detail and devotion into the two, that would be good. Now when it comes to choosing an actress... I am clueless. I don't know many young actresses, maybe the one from Inception, but she didn't have the Lara looks.
ReplyDeleteI think they should definitely do the TR9 game to tie in with the third movie
ReplyDeleteI LOVE both films! I feel like they executed her likeness well and produced well written and action packed stories. I also cant really see any one other than the fabulous Angelina Jolie ever embodying Lara!
ReplyDeleteI liked both Tomb Raider movies, maybe because of Angelina Jolie in it, but maybe because it was so exciting to see Lara's adventures on big screen.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who should play Lara in third TR movie.
But I agree with the ppl who said that need to be British actress and third TR movie need to be closer to the games.
i enjoyed the movies, but when compared to the games, they just don't seem to get Lara's character right to me. The writing in the movies portrayed Lara as little more than a "good guy" gun-slinger. The depth of knowledge and intelligence that Lara has in the games really didn't shine through in the movies i don't think. i think Lara is a little bit more the counterpart of Indiana Jones than the movies let on.
ReplyDeleteBut much more to the point, i just didn't think the story lines of the movies were nearly as good as many of the stories from the games. i think they should make the movies follow more of the games own plot lines and characters.
--guy
I thought Kate Beckinsale could have been Lara Crofts before Angelina Jolie when I first heard they were talking about making Tomb Raider cause of her look , personality and tough combination of that. First movie thought okay n good wish alot more actions like never ending. ..the second one near the end was totally different that I didn't expected but it's the part of life to choose what have to be done ? ! like the begining . i wish could have little bit better to the story line..know it's not easy..not sure if they were in the hurry before deadline ? if animated like Beowulf . they can use them adding alot of creations, imaginations as no limits.for fun m actions
ReplyDeleteI liked the movies, but they changed her too much for my liking. They were very interesting.
ReplyDeletethe movies are okay, but i think the first one is better, part 2 was just like, "eh, cool i guess" im a TR fan, but i think they added too much romance in part 2. a third one would be cool to see. i hope that they pick someone to look and act like lara. angelina jolie did pretty good, but if they are gonna change the person, pick someone that's worth it, yknow?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said, Stella.
ReplyDeleteand I never even wanted to watch them-
but I did; and really enjoyed them,
much to my chagrin, hehe! But really,
I often felt the TR "vibe" in them.
Of course also the Hollywood ones....
But hey, liked!
(edited for bad spelling)
As fair as Lara is concerned I think that nobody will be happy with a human representation because everyone can see a little bit of them selves in her character. Thats what I love about Tomb Raider, Lara is this amazing female heroine with a amazing body and a femme fatal attitude! Although Angelina has done a outstanding job with portraying her (bare in mind she did all the stunts herself...) I agree with all the pomme's who wrote in. I'm australian and cringe when I see a american trying to play a australian, I feel your pain. I have to say though I agree with Pauly that Kate Beckinsale would have done a sick as job, she's played every type of female heroine who has a sick as body (see her in Underworld costume!) and she's British! Although the Tomb Raider films are enjoyable to watch they aren't as fun as the games! So by all means keep making them but don't expect them to outshine the games! xx
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ostercy all the way. The idea was good but the way the Hollywood bods went about it was all wrong. The plots were as thin as a sheet of tracing paper and some of the acting was more wooden than a Scandinavian forest although I thought Jolie did a good job considering what she had to work with. Maybe if they were to follow some of the plots from the games (Legend, Anniversary & Underworld) then they could be onto a winner.
ReplyDeleteI was actually excited when I first heard about the first movie being made and I thought that (by the looks only) Angelina Jollie does look like Lara (from the first few games, of course).
ReplyDeleteThe accent for me was not a problem, because I'm not British. I found no difference there, then again only a British would know.
I loved the few references to the games but I despised that they had to change some of the fundamental things like cutting Winston, and not using the usual Lara costume, etc. Why do they always do that??
As movies they were not great but not bad. They were fun!
If they do another one I'll see it.
I wish they would make a movie with the 3rd game's style of cutscenes. That Lara looked very nice and nostalgic. But probably, they won't do a such thing :(
ReplyDeleteI really disliked the films.
ReplyDeleteThe worst thing was how publicly Angelina (who I like, and who was well-cast) said she didn't play the games, like it didn't matter.
I was also disappointed by the music, which was a pop/hip-hop soundtrack. So much of the games' sense of place and atmosphere were down to their classical soundtracks.
Those are fan complaints though. On a purely "film" level, I just don't think they were that good. The plots didn't really make sense, and they were quite tedious to watch.
I agree, a third film in CGI would be great!
I love the movies. I grew up with them. I think I was like 6 when I went to go see the first movie in theaters. I like how they actually filmed in Cambodia. That's great. The second movie sucked - just kidding I loved it. I'm a great fan of Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, and Gerard Butler.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the movies. When I was first exposed to them, I was younger, so I wasn't as critical as some might be. Now, when I watch them, I still enjoy them, but I agree with those who said a CG movie would be better. Angelina Jolie is one of my favorite actresses - an meeting her someday is on my bucket list - but a good TR movie would have to be with someone who is *actually* the Lara we know.
ReplyDeleteI do think the producers did a good job with Lara as a character. She was witty and strong, noble and still all-around BA. I think that was nailed. The story was interesting too, and I feel like they took from the games a bit. IE - the bell that they ring in the first movie that opens the frozen doorway. In TR2, I'm pretty sure there was a bell you had to shoot to open a doorway into the Ice Palace....or one of the levels underneath Barkhang.
Overall, the movies are good. I have a poster signed by Angelina, Jon Voight, Noah Taylor and Daniel Craig above my bed. :)
I thought the 2nd movie was fun to watch, but what struck me in both movies was the distinct lack of "hold your breath" Lara Croft moves - swinging, climbing, and jumping. In the games those things take my breath away... but they were missing (or at least the emotional impact was) in the films.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of this, I've often hoped the new wave of Tomb Raider games would get even more involved with these moves: choosing toe holds and finger holds, etc. at a closer view. - Don
While I found TR1 badly scripted, I absolutely loved TR2! Lara Croft was basically the female James Bond.
ReplyDeleteAngelina did a great job and they should follow the same pattern for TR3!
Movies: The thought of Angelina Jolie bringing MY favorite heroine to life made me squeal with delight. Then I saw the movies. Not only did they change the characters (Hilary/Winston)/(Bryce/Zip), but the changed the story of her background and added elements with her father that I did not care for. I was not expecting them to turn one of the games into a movie, but AT LEAST keep the characters we know and love the same. It was a huge disappointment for me. Paramount dropped a ball on each of these. *sigh* Besides casting Angie, I will thank them for bringing on (relatively unknown) hotties Gerard Butler and Daniel Craig.
ReplyDeleteLara: I absolutely love Angie. She is amazingly beautiful, talented and happens to be my favorite actress. I thought she did an excellent job as Lara and for what the script called for. As for future installments, IF they're not going to bring Angie back (HIGHLY unlikely), Id say grab an unknown actress. Someone they can mold to be our future Lara. With the highly anticipated new game coming in 2012, I am hoping they take care of the fans and give us a new “Lara” we can love and respect.
Very much helpful topic sir,i like that and i want to say that i am totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting such a creative weblog
I hated the movies, both as movies and as adaptations, I thought the writing was awful, everything I liked about Lara had been changed in favor of all my most hated actionmovie clichés, and the "feel" of the games was gone: where was the feel of exploring a dusty tomb and hearing growling in the dark, and not knowing if something would come charging out at you? Where were the deathtraps? Lara herself acted more like a caricature, the writers seemed to think "she sometimes blows kisses or winks, so let´s have her do that at random times in the movie", Lara is known for her large chest, so let´s have the actress wear a padded bra, she´s British, so let´s give her a stereotypically British oneliners like "Fascinating".
ReplyDeleteI feel like I SHOULD like them just because I've been a fan of Lara since I was a very small child, but I'm just not that fond of them. If you can detach your personal gaming experience from them, then it's just as good as any other adventure movie. But I feel like if they were going to adapt the games into movies, I would have enjoyed them a lot more if they had translated the plots from the first 2 games into their theatrical adaptations.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the films a lot :) I don't like that they don't follow the games continuity however eg: Richard Croft killed by Natla in games, he was killed by the Illuminati in the films.
ReplyDeleteI've never even seen the films, but I don't think I'd like them. The only thing I know of them is the snapshots of film that I've seen in the Game Tap retrospective of the Tomb Raider series before Survivor (What I call Tomb Raider [2013]) was released, and I didn't like Angelina Jolie's look.
ReplyDelete