The Angelina Jolie Blockbuster Better Than The Reboot
When people think of the early days of the Tomb Raider franchise, it comes with understandably mixed feelings. On the one hand, Lara Croft was one of the earliest major female protagonists in games, but on the other hand, the way she was marketed at the time was heavily oversexualized. That latter detail is likely what led to the more down to Earth 2018 Tomb Raider movie, but I feel they overcorrected on making Lara relatable to the point that honestly, the Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider movies wound up being much better.
Angelina Jolie Is Lara Croft
I am not going to claim Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider movies were cinematic masterpieces, but for trying to emulate the fun, action heavy tone of the games, they did quite a good job. And one thing everyone could agree on–even at the time they were released–is that Angelina Jolie simply is Lara Croft. It is hard to imagine any other actress even now who could both look the part and exude the confidence that Lara was known for.
I do understand why the creators behind the Tomb Raider franchise wanted to dial Lara back to someone more relatable. It was definitely a bit of a dissonance hearing people call Lara a role model for young girls while she simultaneously had absurd body proportions and would venture into snow-covered mountains in shorts and a tank top, but I feel like they overdid it and turned her into a boring character. Angelina Jolie’s depiction of Lara in the Tomb Raider movies was a perfect balance.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
In 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, we saw a Lara who did have some sex appeal, but not to an over-the-top degree. The true focus of her character was her personality. Angelina Jolie’s take on the Tomb Raider protagonist showed her being confident, sardonic, and adventure-loving. Those are all great qualities for an action movie lead, and made Lara feel like a female mix between Indiana Jones and James Bond.
2018’s Tomb Raider
The modern Lara Croft, in both the games and the 2018 movie, is too human. She’s a young college girl who just loves archaeology and gets pulled into perilous situations against her will. When she is forced to kill someone for the first time, she literally starts sobbing.
That is certainly how a real person would react, but it is so far at odds with Lara’s classic character. While Tomb Raider’s original marketing oversexualized Lara, the games did not victimize her. Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider movies got that right and showed her enjoying her adventure.
A Much Needed Female Power Fantasy
This was a criticism of the rebooted Tomb Raider games that 2018’s Tomb Raider was based off of as well. The new story turns Lara into a woman to be pitied for what she has to endure, with much of the game’s marketing even calling her a “survivor”.
There is certainly strength in being a survivor, but why take a female character who is already depicted as strong and turn her story into one about trauma? Angelina Jolie’s version of the Tomb Raider story was a fun power fantasy, which too few female characters get to have.
More Tomb Raider, But Better
I absolutely hope we get more Tomb Raider movies soon, but I think the next director needs to remember it’s an action franchise. It is so much more enjoyable to watch Lara Croft confidently take down dinosaurs and robots while making a sarcastic joke about it than to see her survive being a victim. Angelina Jolie made archaeology look fun with her take on being a cocky billionaire, and that is why her Tomb Raider movies have endured over the new one.
