Review of 8-Bit Recommendation - Tomb Raider

In our current climate, video games are absolutely raging. In just the past month, we’ve had a groundbreaking VR sequel to one of the greatest games of all time (Half-Life: Alyx), two remakes of the most beloved and spelling-error-filled games of all time (Resident Evil 3 and Final Fantasy VII), another Animal Crossing that somehow became the best-selling game in Britain at the time, and Doom: Eternal, which already has journalists labelling it one of the greatest games they have ever played. So I thought, let’s play into that, with my opinions about the best and worst video game movies I’ve ever watched. Starting with…

This movie followed the footsteps of the 2001 and 2003 Tomb Raider movies with Angelina Jolie, both of which are barely passable and have cult followings purely for the strong focus on Angelina Jolie’s breasts. At some point in 2013, a video game reboot of the previously Indiana Jones-style Tomb Raider games was released, which provided a tone more akin to The Revenant than Raiders of the Lost Ark. Someone decided that would be a cool movie, and 5 years later in 2018, we get a film reboot. Cool.

From polygonal badass, to Angelina Jolie, to an actual character with depth. Such evolution.

So this movie, starring undeserving Academy Award-winning actress Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl, Ex Machina) as Lara Croft, a British woman who stumbles on her father’s clues about a possible archaeological goldmine, and so tries to get there before a shady organisation known as Pandorum exploits this lost world for the worst. From there, there’s grit, action, and a ton of fun to be had in this solidly enjoyable action thriller, which is also the best video game movie of all time.

Roar Uthaug, Daniel Wu and Alicia Vikander on set.

When I saw this, what surprised me most was the action quality. Previous video game movies had been utterly phoned in terms of action, with the reprehensible Resident Evil machine-gun editing style, the Amiga-style CGI of Mortal Kombat and the unforgiveable lighting/cheesiness of Doom all providing an IB-level textbook on how not to shoot action. But Tomb Raider, directed by Norweigan newcomer Roar Uthaug who previously gave us the excellent disaster movie The Wave, actually gives a crap about comprehension, understanding, and just being good in terms of fighting. The action is staged really well, it’s entertaining, and it’s not cut up in editing like the victims of Leatherface who were then given a few extra swings from the Doom Slayer.

One of many stunningly shot action scenes from this movie.

As per usual, the plot is not trying to be Oscar-worthy, but thankfully, it’s trying to have energy and give Laura some actual character and grit, instead of just being a sexy angel with a penchant for brutal murder. The screenplay, from future Captain Marvel scribe Geneva Robertson-Dworet, has momentum and dialogue that sounds genuinely realistic, not just a cliché book. In terms of characterisation, that’s the weak spot of Tomb Raider, with the Raider herself Alicia Vikander getting all of the attention she needs, but others such as Daniel Wu’s alcoholic boat captain, Nick Frost’s store clerk and Kristen Scott Thomas and Derek Jacobi’s businesspeople (doing what has become known as the “Jeremy Irons” in just putting on a suit, saying some lines for about two minutes of screentime and walking off) are rendered one-dimensional. Walton Goggins is acceptable as the film’s villain, but not outstanding, and just serves the films needs rather than expanding upon it. But regardless, Tomb Raider is still really watchable and entertaining.

To sum up, Tomb Raider is the meeting of National Treasure and The Revenant, with an awesome lead performance, some great action and a general sense of enjoyment throughout. It’s not Oscar-calibre, but it’s certainly the most enjoyable video game movie out there, excepting the movies that make you piss yourself laughing like DOA: Dead or Alive.

This movie is a great success.

What video game movie do you think should be made next? Let me know down in the comments, and I will let you know, I think that there should be a DMC: Devil May Cry movie, because that would be fricking awesome. Make of that what you will.