Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life
#51
DVD Talk Legend
Closing line of the review in today's NY Daily News:
"How could something so expensive, so loud and so frenetic simultaneously be so mind-numbingly boring?"
"How could something so expensive, so loud and so frenetic simultaneously be so mind-numbingly boring?"
#52
DVD Talk Legend
Since when will reviews matter in a movie like this anyway? It's based on a video game, nothing much to expect.
This is a thread more or less made for the few people that feel a second outing was worth the trip.
This is a thread more or less made for the few people that feel a second outing was worth the trip.
#53
DVD Talk Legend
Saw it. Thought it was a lot better than the first one and worth the matinee price. I'm a geeky horndog, true, but this one had more of the feel of a traditional adventure than a video game based movie.
I will definitely buy the DVD.
Keep your expectations modest and this one won't disappoint. Of course I doubt many of you will bother seeing this one after the problematic first one.
I will definitely buy the DVD.
Keep your expectations modest and this one won't disappoint. Of course I doubt many of you will bother seeing this one after the problematic first one.
#54
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23% = Rotten (Rottentomatoes.com)
My local paper gives it 1 out of 5 stars and lambasts it worse than I have ever seen in a review. All this doesn't mean it is awful but it does make me a bit skeptical.
I'll wait for the DVD...
My local paper gives it 1 out of 5 stars and lambasts it worse than I have ever seen in a review. All this doesn't mean it is awful but it does make me a bit skeptical.
I'll wait for the DVD...
#55
DVD Talk Hero
Originally posted by Dr. DVD
Saw it. Thought it was a lot better than the first one and worth the matinee price. I'm a geeky horndog, true, but this one had more of the feel of a traditional adventure than a video game based movie.
I will definitely buy the DVD.
Keep your expectations modest and this one won't disappoint. Of course I doubt many of you will bother seeing this one after the problematic first one.
Saw it. Thought it was a lot better than the first one and worth the matinee price. I'm a geeky horndog, true, but this one had more of the feel of a traditional adventure than a video game based movie.
I will definitely buy the DVD.
Keep your expectations modest and this one won't disappoint. Of course I doubt many of you will bother seeing this one after the problematic first one.

I have been wanting to see this one because, to me, it does look much better than the first one. I'm not expecting Indiana Jones, but I think I can be pretty accepting sometimes. Glad you liked it - hopefully I will make it this weekend. Angelina Jolie is looking so much better now than she has in the past few years - that doesn't hurt either.
#57
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Watched the first one on DVD last night for the first time. It was OK, not my favorite film, but I'm seen much worse. I went into it knowing that it wouldn't be mind blowing or a masterpiece, so that definitely helped. Plus I find Angelina very easy on the eyes. I will most likely go and see the second one, if for nothing more than to see Angelina on the big screen.

#58
DVD Talk Hero
There is no snap to this film. I thought the characters were bland and lifeless. The stuntwork left me underwhelmed. The locales were sort of interesting, but shot in a manner that just didn't really connect with me.
I didn't think the direction by de Bont was all that good, nor was the script all that interesting. It gets far too predictable towards the end of the film.
I give it 2 stars, or a grade of C.
I didn't think the direction by de Bont was all that good, nor was the script all that interesting. It gets far too predictable towards the end of the film.
I give it 2 stars, or a grade of C.
#59
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Patman
There is no snap to this film. I thought the characters were bland and lifeless. The stuntwork left me underwhelmed. The locales were sort of interesting, but shot in a manner that just didn't really connect with me.
I didn't think the direction by de Bont was all that good, nor was the script all that interesting. It gets far too predictable towards the end of the film.
I give it 2 stars, or a grade of C.
There is no snap to this film. I thought the characters were bland and lifeless. The stuntwork left me underwhelmed. The locales were sort of interesting, but shot in a manner that just didn't really connect with me.
I didn't think the direction by de Bont was all that good, nor was the script all that interesting. It gets far too predictable towards the end of the film.
I give it 2 stars, or a grade of C.
Like it was any different than the first one?
#60
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Tomb Raider 2: Cradle of Life Reviews
Originally posted by Dr. DVD
the movie is getting reviews that say it is better than the first one, but that still leaves room for improvement.
the movie is getting reviews that say it is better than the first one, but that still leaves room for improvement.
Spoiler:
i was gonna go see pirates of the carribean, if it had only started 6 minutes earlier, but this was still a pretty decent movie.
#63
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Boring kind of sums it up.
The action set pieces are boring, the plot is kind of mundane, and there's even less chemistry between the characters than the first.
Is it better than the first, yes, but only slightly so. It does move pretty quickly, so despite its faults it never becomes very bogged down in one location.
Honestly, its plays a lot like Alias, with constant action, location changes, and a mythological unknow, but without the characters we like or decent dialogue or excitement.
But still...better than the first.
The action set pieces are boring, the plot is kind of mundane, and there's even less chemistry between the characters than the first.
Is it better than the first, yes, but only slightly so. It does move pretty quickly, so despite its faults it never becomes very bogged down in one location.
Honestly, its plays a lot like Alias, with constant action, location changes, and a mythological unknow, but without the characters we like or decent dialogue or excitement.
But still...better than the first.
#64
DVD Talk Legend
Kind of depressing to hear it's boring... that's the worst sin a big summer popcorn flick can commit. I was very upset with the first film, but had my hopes (slightly) up for this one. The concept should be a no-brainer... a female Bruce Wayne meets Indiana Jones, with a dash of 007. I thought there was one great scene in the first movie... where she faces the gigantic statue come alive. That should've been the finale, but instead they went with the lame fight scene. I'll still probably check this out sometime this week.
#66
Definitely way better than the first. I actually thought it was a lot better than most of the other big summer flicks I've seen. It felt a lot like a Bond film (good thing) and was actually pretty violent for it's PG-13 rating. I think DeBont did a great job with this.
#67
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Originally posted by matome
Definitely way better than the first. I actually thought it was a lot better than most of the other big summer flicks I've seen. It felt a lot like a Bond film (good thing) and was actually pretty violent for it's PG-13 rating. I think DeBont did a great job with this.
Definitely way better than the first. I actually thought it was a lot better than most of the other big summer flicks I've seen. It felt a lot like a Bond film (good thing) and was actually pretty violent for it's PG-13 rating. I think DeBont did a great job with this.

Excellent
#68
DVD Talk Legend
Wow, the executives at Paramount are going to be pretty disappointed when they see the box office #'s Monday morning
#69
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Jaymole
Wow, the executives at Paramount are going to be pretty disappointed when they see the box office #'s Monday morning
Wow, the executives at Paramount are going to be pretty disappointed when they see the box office #'s Monday morning
What's a real shame is the big chunks of money the studios sink into these movies. It seems like movies are costing more but making less. Studios need to plan better financially instead of automatically thinking a sequel = $$$.
#70
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Loved the part where she cuts herself to attract the shark and then proceeds to slug it in the nose as it is about to devour her. The shark becomes disoriented and slightly cowers. She then climbs on the shark's back and rides it to safety holding on to its fin.
Lame.
Lame.
Last edited by Jack Straw; 08-03-03 at 07:50 PM.
#73
DVD Talk Legend
The movie is fun for what it is -- a typical big-studio popcorn flick. The action sequences are fast-paced, Angelina is hot, and the plot is relatively straightforward. You need to compare this to Bond films -- does it have an inane storyline, cardboard villains and inane dialogue? Check, check, check. But nobody goes to see a Bond flick expecting anything more, and the same standard should be applied to this flick.
#75
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Now I liked the first Tomb Raider. I did not like this one as much although Angelina looks awesome - definitely #1 on my list of hottest mainstream actresses. I'd probably give it 2 out of 4 stars.