Right
up front, I have to say I liked LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF
LIFE ($30), which is saying an awful lot for a movie sequel based upon
a video game. When they created the video game character of Lara Croft,
obviously someone was thinking that it would be cool if they stuck a
really hot babe in Indiana Jones type adventures, and then outfitted her
with all the marvelous weapons and other toys one would find in a James
Bond movie. Angelina Jolie is ideally cast as the video game action
heroine- looking very much like her digital counterpart and she brings
just the right combination of sensuality and toughness to the role. Not to
mention that Jolie looks absolutely fabulous during the film’s numerous
action and stunt sequences.
The
plot of LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE is grounded in a
bit more reality than its predecessor, although not by too much. This time
out, the British Secret Service comes seeking the unique skills of the
adventuress/archeologist, when it is learned that a bio-terrorist has
stolen an ancient artifact, which is actually a map to the location of the
ultimate biological weapon- Pandora’s Box and the unstoppable plague
contained within. What follows is a trek around the globe, first to track
down the map, then a race to actual location where Pandora’s Box has
been hidden and remains undisturbed by man. The cast of LARA CROFT TOMB
RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE also features Gerard Butler, Ciarán Hinds,
Christopher Barrie, Noah Taylor, Djimon Hounsou, Til Schweiger and Simon
Yam.
Paramount
Home Entertainment has made LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE
available on DVD in a 2.35:1 wide screen presentation that features the
anamorphic enhancement for 16:9 displays. Not surprisingly, LARA CROFT
TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE looks absolutely terrific- sporting an
image that is very crisp and highly defined. Colors tend to be highly
saturated and favor the warmer end of the spectrum. Flesh tones are very
appealing and remain fairly natural looking in relation to all the vibrant
hues around them. Blacks appear pretty accurate, while the whites are
clean and contrast is generally very good. Shadow detail is also very
good, plus the picture produces a nice sense of depth. The film element
used for the transfer is virtually pristine and produces only a mild grain
structure in places. Digital compression artifacts are never a problem.
LARA
CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE comes with a great sounding
Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The sound design takes the aggressive vein
that is typical of the action movie genre, which is probably why I loved
every moment of it. All of the channels are highly active, with sound
effects panning around the soundstage in a very convincing manner. Of
course, surround junkies are certain to love the nicely deployed rear
channels. Dialogue reproduction is very good, with the voices having a
warm, natural timbre and excellent intelligibility. Fidelity is excellent
for both the film’s sound effects and Alan Silvestri’s fine musical
score. The bass channel is deep, percussive and certain to give one’s
subwoofer a good workout. A French 5.1 channel track is also provided on
the DVD, as are English subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as a nice complement of supplements. Director Jan
De Bont is on hand for a very solid running audio commentary that gives
one a good deal of technical detail on the movie’s production. There are
also seven deleted/alternate versions of scenes provided on the DVD, these
scenes prove to be interesting, but obviously were removed for pacing or
structural reasons. In the featurette section one will find the following:
Training runs eight minutes and looks at Angelina Jolie’s
preparation for this highly physical role, one in which she did many of
her own stunts. Vehicles and Weapons offers a four-minute
look at the film’s modified hardware. Stunts clocks in at
roughly eleven minutes and looks at the film’s revved up action. Visual
Effects spends eleven minutes showing how a number of the
sequences were achieved through practical and CGI effects. Scoring
spends four minutes with compose Alan Silvestri and features a glimpse
into an actual recording session. Other supplements include Gerard
Butler’s Screen Test, as well as music videos for Did My
Time by Korn and Heart Go Faster by The Davey
Brothers.
LARA
CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE is an enjoyable action movie
based upon the popular video game character. Paramount really has done a
great job with the DVD, producing terrific looking and sounding
presentation, as well as some solid supplements. If you are an action fan,
Tomb Raider game player, or just enjoy looking at Angelina Jolie, you can’t
go wrong in picking up a copy of LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF
LIFE on DVD.
Right
up front, I have to say I liked LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF
LIFE ($30), which is saying an awful lot for a movie sequel based upon
a video game. When they created the video game character of Lara Croft,
obviously someone was thinking that it would be cool if they stuck a
really hot babe in Indiana Jones type adventures, and then outfitted her
with all the marvelous weapons and other toys one would find in a James
Bond movie. Angelina Jolie is ideally cast as the video game action
heroine- looking very much like her digital counterpart and she brings
just the right combination of sensuality and toughness to the role. Not to
mention that Jolie looks absolutely fabulous during the film’s numerous
action and stunt sequences.
The
plot of LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE is grounded in a
bit more reality than its predecessor, although not by too much. This time
out, the British Secret Service comes seeking the unique skills of the
adventuress/archeologist, when it is learned that a bio-terrorist has
stolen an ancient artifact, which is actually a map to the location of the
ultimate biological weapon- Pandora’s Box and the unstoppable plague
contained within. What follows is a trek around the globe, first to track
down the map, then a race to actual location where Pandora’s Box has
been hidden and remains undisturbed by man. The cast of LARA CROFT TOMB
RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE also features Gerard Butler, Ciarán Hinds,
Christopher Barrie, Noah Taylor, Djimon Hounsou, Til Schweiger and Simon
Yam.
Paramount
Home Entertainment has made LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE
available on DVD in a 2.35:1 wide screen presentation that features the
anamorphic enhancement for 16:9 displays. Not surprisingly, LARA CROFT
TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE looks absolutely terrific- sporting an
image that is very crisp and highly defined. Colors tend to be highly
saturated and favor the warmer end of the spectrum. Flesh tones are very
appealing and remain fairly natural looking in relation to all the vibrant
hues around them. Blacks appear pretty accurate, while the whites are
clean and contrast is generally very good. Shadow detail is also very
good, plus the picture produces a nice sense of depth. The film element
used for the transfer is virtually pristine and produces only a mild grain
structure in places. Digital compression artifacts are never a problem.
LARA
CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE comes with a great sounding
Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The sound design takes the aggressive vein
that is typical of the action movie genre, which is probably why I loved
every moment of it. All of the channels are highly active, with sound
effects panning around the soundstage in a very convincing manner. Of
course, surround junkies are certain to love the nicely deployed rear
channels. Dialogue reproduction is very good, with the voices having a
warm, natural timbre and excellent intelligibility. Fidelity is excellent
for both the film’s sound effects and Alan Silvestri’s fine musical
score. The bass channel is deep, percussive and certain to give one’s
subwoofer a good workout. A French 5.1 channel track is also provided on
the DVD, as are English subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as a nice complement of supplements. Director Jan
De Bont is on hand for a very solid running audio commentary that gives
one a good deal of technical detail on the movie’s production. There are
also seven deleted/alternate versions of scenes provided on the DVD, these
scenes prove to be interesting, but obviously were removed for pacing or
structural reasons. In the featurette section one will find the following:
Training runs eight minutes and looks at Angelina Jolie’s
preparation for this highly physical role, one in which she did many of
her own stunts. Vehicles and Weapons offers a four-minute
look at the film’s modified hardware. Stunts clocks in at
roughly eleven minutes and looks at the film’s revved up action. Visual
Effects spends eleven minutes showing how a number of the
sequences were achieved through practical and CGI effects. Scoring
spends four minutes with compose Alan Silvestri and features a glimpse
into an actual recording session. Other supplements include Gerard
Butler’s Screen Test, as well as music videos for Did My
Time by Korn and Heart Go Faster by The Davey
Brothers.
LARA
CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE is an enjoyable action movie
based upon the popular video game character. Paramount really has done a
great job with the DVD, producing terrific looking and sounding
presentation, as well as some solid supplements. If you are an action fan,
Tomb Raider game player, or just enjoy looking at Angelina Jolie, you can’t
go wrong in picking up a copy of LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF
LIFE on DVD.
