It's an interesting observation that of the summer's two movies based on videogames, the pure-CGI Final Fantasy and the nominally-live action Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, that Angelina Jolie's Croft is the least realistic-looking. It takes only ten seconds into the film -- in which Croft, hanging motionless upside-down on a rope, double-somersaults to the ground (is that even physically possible, let alone necessary?) -- that we're establishing an eye-candy experience that asks for a superhuman level of willing suspension of disbelief.

But perhaps we're looking at this too cinematically. Perhaps the whole point of the movie is not that its events are portrayed realistically, but that they are portrayed around Croft -- strutting, teasing, and in general bringing to life the dream-object of the kind of gamers best represented by The Simpson's "Comic Book Guy." Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is too self-consciously enjoyable, in a summer popcorn-movie way, to compete for "the worst movie ever." But being the end result of a team of eleven screenwriters, it's certainly in there trying.

Jolie herself is very nearly the best special visual effect in the film. The camera ogles her lips, thighs, chest and rear to an extent that they should each qualify for their own screen credit (and, let's face it, that's why we're watching the movie in the first place, isn't it?); and as a nod to those gamers who have spent years in search of the fabled "nude code," viewers are treated to an early perfectly-lensed tease shot just after the James Bond-like action set-piece that begins the movie (not surprisingly, parts of Tomb Raider -- the Cambodian Temple of Dancing Light, and the Siberian Tomb of 10,000 Shadows -- were filmed at the cavernous 007 Stage in Pinewood). Like Bond, the purpose of this set-piece is simply to introduce the character traits of the hero/heroine; but in the case of Tomb Raider, the viewer can't help but feel that while director Simon West is thoroughly pleased with himself and is likely lying back smoking a cigarette, the viewer is left unsatisfied and feeling disappointed and used.

Film Synopsis: Oscar winner Angelina Jolie reinvents the modern action hero in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider." Lara Croft was born into wealth and groomed at the most elite schools. She travels to dangerous and mysterious locales around the globe in search of rare, lost crypts and long-forgotten empires. She speaks numerous languages, is highly trained for combat and answers to no one, obeying only a desire for adventure. But now she must face her greatest challenge yet: to find two halves of an ancient artifact buried in space and time. To possess it means ultimate power for its possessor. But to get there, she must first take on a powerful and dangerous secret society. The fate of mankind rests in the hands of one Lara Croft, a twenty-first century heroine inspired by the most popular interactive video character in history.

Technical

Video:	Widescreen 2.35:1 (Anamorphic)
Audio:	ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 ENGLISH: Dolby Surround 2.0 FRENCH: Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitles:	English, Closed Captions
Chapters:	12

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is presented in a wide 2.35:1 widescreen, and although the image is sharp throughout, viewers with larger screens will notice considerable grain during some of the darker scenes, although we cannot recall if the grain was present during the theatrical run. Colors of the film tend to be muted and lean toward the browns, but when called for, strong colors acquire Technicolor intensity and are well-handled by the transfer.

Audio is strong, and your subwoofer will get a workout, as will your surround speakers (there are a large number of surround effects throughout the film, and rear-channel space is always present).

Supplements

• Crafting Lara Croft (6:47) -- Angeline Jolie's physical training
• Deleted Scenes:
  • Powell Kills Wilson (2:28)
  • Powell and Pimms (1:08)
  • "You might try to kill me" (2:02)
  • Lara and Alex in Venice (1:32)
• Director's Commentary (Simon West)
• The Stunts of Tomb Raider (9:25)
• Making-of featurette: "Digging Into Tomb Raider" (25:25)
• Are You Game? (7:58) -- A look at the Tomb Raider videogame
• Visual Effects:
  • Time Storm Husky (2:36)
  • Droid (3:50)
  • Clock (1:36)
  • Knife (1:30)
  • Stone Monkeys (3:03)
  • Time Storm - Powell (1:25)
  • The Brahman (3:58)
  • Griffins (2:04)
• Alternate Main Title (2:06)
• U2 Music Video: "Elevation" (4:02)

Once the viewer gets beyond the difficult and frustrating Special Features menu, there is about an hour-and-a-half's worth of candy. Key features include "Crafting Lara Croft" is a seven-minute piece on Jolie's physical training for the role; four deleted scenes totalling about seven minutes; a standard 25-minute promotional TV special, "Digging Into Tomb Raider"; eight special-effects breakdowns totalling twenty minutes; and the requisite music video, this time by U2. Director Simon West provides an audio commentary during the main feature, selectable from either the "Special Features" menu or the "Audio" menu.

Easter Eggs: There is one known egg, visible in plain site. Go to the "Special Features" menu, then move down from the "Main Menu" selection. This will highlight a wavy-lines astrological icon that will take you to a two-minute Jon Voight/Angelina Jolie (father and daughter) interview.