Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is set to air on BBC3 tonight, Thursday October 5, at 8:15pm, reviving debate over whether the 2003 sequel lives up to its acclaimed predecessor.
The film, based on the original Tomb Raider video game series by Core Design, sees Angelina Jolie reprise her role as Lara Croft. In this instalment, Croft embarks on a mission to protect the mythical Pandora's box after a powerful earthquake unearths the Luna Temple on a Greek island.
Cast and Critical Reception
Jolie is joined by Gerard Butler, Ciarán Hinds, Chris Barrie, Noah Taylor, Til Schweiger, Djimon Hounsou, and Simon Yam. Her on-screen chemistry with Butler drew considerable praise for the sequel, according to Wales Online.
Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes reflect the split among fans. One review reads: "A polished B-movie, perfect for exercising. The 4K presentation and high production values made it enjoyable, and the special effects still look impressive more than two decades later."
Another viewer added: "The Cradle of Life has long been labelled a failure, but that reputation feels harsher than the film deserves. While the screenplay has structural issues and uneven dialogue, the movie succeeds where it matters most: delivering a confident, globe-trotting action adventure led by an undeniable star performance. Angelina Jolie fully owns the role of Lara Croft, bringing physicality, charisma, and authority that make the character feel authentic rather than gimmicky."
Mixed Fan Opinions
Others argue the sequel failed to follow up an iconic female-led action film. One disgruntled viewer said: "This movie sucked horribly; it had some good special effects and Angelina in her prime to look at( but that's it)."
Another unimpressed viewer shared: "The plot is forgettable despite Angelina Jolie and Gerald Butler having good chemistry." One person even said: "It does improve itself over the first one but it still fails short in every way possible."
Box Office and Legacy
The film grossed $160.1 million at the box office, considerably less than the original's $275 million. Despite this, many critics maintained it surpassed the original in terms of action sequences and Jolie's leading performance.
Following the sequel's debut, Jolie's involvement in the franchise came to a close. The story was revisited in 2018 with a film titled 'Tomb Raider', starring Geneva Robertson-Dworet as Lara Croft, which matched the box office takings of the 2001 release but appears to have made less of a cultural impact.
