Tomb Raider Tries Hard But Lacks The Thrills And Excitement Of It's Source Material

      As 2018 gets off the ground in terms of its release of high profile movies, one studio is hoping that their noble effort to reboot a classic video game movie franchise for the big screen would be a win with audiences as well as channel the kind of box office success Angelina Jolies 2001 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider received upon its initial release. The 2018 reboot comes 15 years after the last attempt at bringing Lara Croft to the big screen with Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life. While the Angelina Jolie films were nothing groundbreaking in regards to storytelling nor capturing the spirit of the video games, they were entertaining as mindless summer popcorn blockbusters. With the new Tomb Raider, the expectations and hope placed upon it is that the new film would go further than thee Angelina Jolie films did and bring back the soul of the games while delivering a compelling storyline for audiences. With the release of the latest installment in the popular Tomb Raider franchise, it can be said that the newest Raider film is an admirable effort to re-establish the iconic character for audiences but ultimately falls short of it's potential.

       To put it in blunt terms, Tomb Raider is a letdown when one looks at the lost potential with the latest reboot. Besides Alicia Vikander proving to be a worthy casting choice for the new film as well as being more than qualified to take on the physically demanding part of Lara Croft, her performance ultimately doesn't save the rest of the movie, which is surprisingly dry and lacking true excitement and thrills. It also doesn't help that Vikander's Lara Croft doesn't feel like the Croft we've grown to love and worship from the classic games, despite the known fact that this is an earlier Croft before becoming the professional female version of Indiana Jones. The plot for Tomb Raider centers around a Lara Croft, a fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, finding herself being pushed beyond her limits when she uncovers the island that lays key to her fathers disappearance. The character of Lara Croft in the gaming world was viewed both as a step forward for women, but also received criticism for representing a sexist character tailor created for the male demographic in the gaming community, wearing short shorts and a T-shirt covering her enlarged chest. The character of Lara Croft can essentially be seen as a balance between James Bond and Indiana Jones as she borrows heavily from both but more so Bond with the wealthy Scottish background, British education, and a cavalier attitude towards sex. The characters adventurous side with her going on missions to find lost artifacts or doomsday devices definitely mirrors that of Indiana Jones as her adventures are just as daring and life-threatening yet thrilling. The premise for Tomb Raider however closely mirrors that of the 2013 rebooted game, which basically reconstructed the origins of Lara Croft for a newer generation of game players. The problem with the new Tomb Raider is not that the film closely mirrors the 2013 rebooted game, but that the film as well as it's story is not fleshed out very well nor is truly as exciting as it could've been. Alicia Vikander delivers a strong performance as Lara Croft, but her character doesn't feel like the iconic character that audiences and video gamers grew up playing and loving. This Lara is more vulnerable, less tough, less intimidating, and less cunning than the Croft that's in the games and pales in comparison to the Lara Croft portrayed in a superior form by Angelina Jolie.

      The screenplay written by Geneva Robertson Dworet and Alastair Siddons never truly allows the opportunity for Alicia Vikander's Lara Croft to morph into the action heroine figure, that's made her iconic with audiences. The father and daughter subplot in the film is more fleshed out than the one shown in the 2001 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider film, but somehow that smaller subplot conveyed more emotion and feelings between the characters and the audience than the father and daughter subplot shown in the newest Raider film (Perhaps Jon Voight whose also Angelina Jolie's father in real life playing the fictional father of her character added a touch of sentimentality to the film). Regardless of what made that subplot work, it was more effective and powerful than the relationship in the newer film. On a technical aspect, Tomb Raider is well shot with strong Cinematography and Art-Set Decoration, that gives the audience the feeling that they are in the jungle being apart of this characters journey. The films grittier look helps to give it a more grounded approach compared to the Jolie versions with this Croft coming across as being more human than the past one on film. The film moves at a brisk pace although it feels too quick as there isn't much time to flesh out characters the way the filmmakers could've done. There's no denying that this film desperately wants to be looked upon as the Batman Begins style reboot of the Croft character but somehow the film as a whole falls flat as it never truly feels like it's exciting. As far as the films look goes, it gets a strong A for effort as the movie feels like a video game brought to life on the big screen, it's just too bad the films story couldn't be as inspiring as it's visual aspect. The performances from the main cast are convincing with Vikander proving that she's the right choice for the part and possesses strong acting abilities with Dominic West turning in a strong performance as Lara's father Lord Richard Croft and Walton Goggins as the films main antagonist Mathias Vogel.

     Tomb Raider isn't a terrible movie by any means, but it's also not the theater experience that fans of the game are expecting and quite frankly, deserve much better. What makes the Tomb Raider games so remarkable as a franchise is not that they exciting, but also how how much story the games carry. The film had it been in the hands of more passionate storytellers could've been the female Raiders Of The Lost Ark as the character of Croft proves that she can be Indiana Jones equal if given the right story to put on film. As far as video game movies go, Tomb Raider is not among the worst but it's also not the best (That title still belongs to Paul Anderson's 1995 Mortal Kombat), it falls somewhere in the middle as the film itself is average and never truly captures the excitement nor thrills of it's source material. What separates the Jolie films from this one is those felt like they had a sense of fun and adventure to them whereas this one feels like it never truly has fun with it's story. Tomb Raider lacks what Jolies films both had regardless of those movies faults and that's heart. Those movies not only were fun but had thrilling set-pieces, Tomb Raider is too much grounded in reality for it to really leave an impact with the audience.

      If one is going into this movie wanting a halfway decent way to kill nearly two hours then this movie is for you. If one is looking for an exciting film that does justice to it's main character and delivers genuine thrills, then the chances are you will either be very pleased with the film or extremely disappointed as many fans appear to be split on the final outcome. Choosing between Angelina Jolie's performance and Alicia Vikanders as Croft, one has to pick Jolie as her character felt more like the true Lara Croft despite Vikander demonstrating strong emotional range. Despite the new film in the popular Tomb Raider franchise receiving a thumbs down, one does acknowledge the strong effort by the cast and crew to deliver a worthy reboot of the classic game and character, it's too bad the script couldn't have been stronger. Perhaps someday we will receive a movie based on a popular video game that does it's source material justice while breathing new life to it's story, this unfortunately is not that film.

                                                                                                        Final Verdict: Thumbs Down

                                                                                                           

Annihilation Is Mysterious, Confusing, Exciting, and Ultimately Satisfying

The 2018 movie season has taken off and got off to a strong start with the release of blockbuster hits such as Black Panther and Ready Player One. Whereas those films are dazzling audiences on an epic and broad scope, there are the quieter film's being released this year leaving audiences impressed in a smaller yet effective way. Annihilation with Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac, lacks the marketing and hype that the bigger and more well known film's in 2018 have, but those who have seen it have praised its storytelling and ambitious yet dark tone to it. Annihilation is a mysterious, dark, thought-provoking, and entertaining Sci-Fi thriller, that is both thrilling psychologically and intriguing to watch despite the movie being a bit confusing at times.

        To state that Annihilation is not a film for everybody would be an understatement, the film despite being well executed with it's acting, directing, and scriptwriting is slow-paced allowing the suspense and mystery behind the story to constantly build with the films visuals adding to the films appeal (No I'm not referring to Natalie Portman). Directed by newcomer Alex Garland, whose involvement in the cult classic reboot of Dredd and 2015's impressive Sci-Fi thriller titled Ex Machina, Garland demonstrates again with Annihilation his ability to draw the audience into a story revolving around world's that are mysterious, intriguing, and desirable along with his skill in slowly building up the tension in the story, while making us become engaged in the characters and plot. In terms of setting up dark atmospheres, Garland demonstrates great skill as he allows the audience to settle into the scenarios his films present and become connected with the characters while anxiously awaiting what comes next. The plot for Annihilation centers around a young biologist played by Natalie Portman, signing up for a dangerous and secret expedition, that takes her into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply in order to find out what happened to her husband played by Oscar Isaac, who disappeared during a mission inside Area X, a swampland across the Florida coastline that ended up becoming struck by a meteor. The swamp has now become a sinister and mysterious place, that has blocked all contact with the outside world due to this phenomenon. During her expedition, the character of Lena played by Natalie Portman uncovers hot mutated landscapes and creatures, that threaten everything that humanity has come to know about science and evolution while threatening both her life and sanity. The film's story is broken up into different chapters with the characters exploration such as Area X, The Shimmer, and The Lighthouse. With it's storyline, Annihilation boasts impressive yet trippy visuals to accompany it's Sci-Fi story with themes that are bold and unique. The film covers themes such as genetic manipulation, illness, disease, and human experimentation with the stories end message saying that genetic manipulation can result in unexpected issues. When the audience thinks that all the questions regarding the film's story has been answered, the film opens up even more making its plot mysterious yet intriguing.

      As far as acting goes, Natalie Portman delivers a strong performance as usual creating a sympathetic and likeable character, that experiences unusual circumstances that starts off with her husband falling mysteriously ill, which leads her on an expedition that's bizarre yet becomes engaging for the audience. What makes Annihilation stand out from other big budget Sci-Fi films is not the films most exciting moments, but how it takes advantage of it's quieter moments to advance both the characters and the plot with the visuals enhancing the mystery behind the story. Annihilation is not a film that's meant to be understood completely under one viewing, but was written and directed in a way that allows viewers to exit the theater with much of it's themes still fresh in the mind with the desire to revisit the film later with repeat viewings. The films slow-pacing will surely alienate the most casual moviegoers, but the movies ambitious nature with it's mood and atmosphere will attract those looking for something unique and fresh. Annihilation is a Sci-Fi mystery thriller, that comes with brains and challenges the audience to do some reflecting on the story. Depression and self-destruction are also important themes here with Portman's characters life going into an usual spiral once her husband falls ill. Alex Garland brings the same feeling of energy and imagination to this film that he brought forth with Ex Machina prior with his intent not being to win over everybody in the theater, but to give them an unusual yet striking experience that stays with them. The expedition that Portman's character goes on with the other female scientists are among some of the films strongest scenes with the overall subplot feeling like a more mature version of the 2016 all female Ghostbusters concept except with this film it's aliens that have landed and inhabited a small portion of land that the female team comes across with thrilling results.

      If there's anything Annihilation deserves points for outside of it's overall presentation, it's for being bold and creative with it's plot while incorporating themes that the audience can ponder on long after the credits roll. As a filmmaker however, Garland demonstrates his strengths while slowly mastering his craft. The film's Cinematography steals the show with Rob Hardy creating an atmosphere that's more effective and creepy than most horror movies made in today's market. Annihilation is a haunting and inventive Sci-Fi mystery film, that deserves an audience that's patient enough to take in the movies concepts and themes such as grief, suicide, self-destruction, as well as scientific elements such as the Earth changing with Garlands masterful touch at building up steady paving and moods. Annihilation is certainly not a film for everyone as it requires work to unwrap much of its layers of themes and concepts, but it serves as being one of the first truly great rewards for Cinema audiences in 2018. The film is as well-crafted as Ex Machina and borrows inspiration from John Carpenters The Thing and Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, Annihilation isn't afraid to be different and isn't concerned with becoming a box office success, but rather taking audiences through an experience that'll make them reflect on it long after the credits roll. For that reason, Alex Garland deserves commending as there aren't many filmmakers in today's market that are still brave enough and willing to challenge the audience with top notch storytelling and creepy atmosphere in the place of explosions and mindless special effects. Annihilation does a fine job of separating itself from mainstream science fiction film's and for that reason it deserves to be recognized. One of the strongest films of 2018 thus far.

                                                                                                             Final Verdict: SEE IT

Black Panther Is The First Great Comic Book Film Of 2018

The 2017 superhero movie season has come and gone with nearly every comic book movie matching or exceeding expectations (Sorry Justice League). Logan not only managed to be a satisfying ending to Hugh Jackman's 17-year legacy of playing Wolverine, but it proved to be a triumph for the comic book movie genre with its historical Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination. Wonder Woman exceeded all expectations by becoming the most successful movie of last summer while earning the strongest reviews of any film in the DC universe and becoming a cultural phenomenon for women that directly mirrors the release of Richard Donner's Superman and Tim Burton's Batman. Spiderman Homecoming not only managed to successfully reboot its main character in a way The Amazing Spiderman film's never did, but also successfully introduced the character into the Marvel universe. Thor Ragnarock turned out to be the best installment in the mediocre Thor trilogy up until that point while surprising everyone by performing better than Zack Snyder and Josh Whedon's Justice League. With 2018's comic book movie season looking promising with Avengers Infinity War, The Incredible 2, Ant Man 2, and Aquaman on the way, it was important that Marvel's Black Panther not only meets the expectations placed upon it, but gets audiences excited to watch Infinity War. Now that Black Panther has come out and broke all kinds of box office records (Its the third highest grossing movie of all time domestically behind Avatar and Force Awakens), the movie not only managed to meet the expectations audiences placed upon it, but it also managed to become something special and meaningful for them through its main character and deep themes within its storylines.

      Black Panther is not just the first great comic book movie of 2018, but it's the first great movie of 2018 period. Black Panther is essentially a benchmark for the Marvel universe with the movie being extraordinary in brilliantly executing it's storyline, that's carried by a talented cast of predominantly African American actors. It's true that there has been black superheroes that have been doing before in mainstream cinema such as Meteor Man and Blade, but Black Panther is on a different level than those films combined, and one that will have a huge impact on the comic book genre going forward. Rarely has there been a comic book movie, that not only manages to be a highly entertaining popcorn blockbuster, but also manages to carry with it a serious tone with the themes its story carries such as responsibility, leadership, betrayal, doing the right thing, and defending ones own country. Black Panthers plot centers around T'Challa, the king of Wakanda played by Chadwick Boseman and his rise to the throne in an isolated technologically advanced African nations called Wakanda. T'Challas claim to the throne becomes challenged by a vengeful outsider Killmonger played by Michael B. Jordan, who became a childhood victim due to T'Challa's fathers mistake. Black Panthers storyline despite being creative might come across as being a little similar to the storyline for Disney's The Lion King with both movies bearing key similarities regarding themes of loyalty, betrayal, and taking one's rightful place on the throne, but what Black Panther does so well for its story is presenting the world of Wakanda in a way in which its both visually stunning and emotionally powerful with its arc of a young man assuming the role of becoming a king and having that position challenged. Directed by newcomer Ryan Coogler, who left an impression with audiences previously with Fruitvale Station and Creed, Coogler does a fantastic job of handling the scope of the story while giving it an emotional resonance, that allows audiences to connect with its story and characters.

      As far as acting goes Chadwick Boseman does a great job playing the film's lead hero T'Challa, showing his struggle of becoming the leader he's destined to become. Lupita Nyong 'o shines as Nakia as well as Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi, Martin Freeman does good as usual with Andy Serkis as one of the film's main antagonists Ulysses Klaue. Angela Basset and Forest Whittaker leave strong impressions with the roles they play, but the one true standout in the film that delivers the biggest impact with audiences is Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger. Jordan does a terrific job playing the part of the film's antagonist while creating a villain, that is complexed to the point where the audience questions whether he really is a bad guy or someone whose misunderstood regarding his actions. The latter becomes more evident through flashbacks showing his characters perspective both as a young child and the fatal mistake T'Challas father made that put Killmonger on the path that led him to challenge T'Challa for the throne. Jordan's character becomes more sympathetic near the end when delivering what's hands down the most powerful line in the whole near the end of the film, a quote that's both chilling and powerful with the perfect ounce of emotion Jordan demonstrates when delivering the iconic line. As far as technical aspects go, Black Panther is a stunning film to watch largely thanks to its brilliant Cinematography, that's gorgeous and instantly draws the audience into the world of Wakanda. The film's Art-Set Decoration, Costume Design, and music all work together perfectly making Black Panther not just a well-told story in the Marvel universe, but also a beautiful piece of art with the movies visual qualities matching its emotional core. Whereas audiences may not find full satisfactory with the story, they will find satisfaction with the film's visual look.

       Black Panther has become the breakthrough Hollywood story of 2018 as the film not only matched every expectation placed upon it, but also manages to speak to it's audience with its storylines and themes largely thanks to the stellar direction of Ryan Coogler and it's strong script written by both Joe Robert Cole and Coogler himself. Coogler also manages to make Black Panther feel different from other films in the MCU much like what Patty Jenkins did with Wonder Woman. Both filmmakers acknowledge from the start their films connection to their respective universes, but go off and tell their origin stories in a grand and epic fashion, that shows both filmmakers have a full understanding of their characters while making audiences connect with them. Whereas Jenkins incorporated real life themes into Wonder Woman such as women's inequality in a male dominated environment, Coogler touches upon themes that young men (Predominantly people of color) feel such as hardship, oppression, and the feeling of where ones place is in the world and wanting ones life to be meaningful. The message that Black Panther delivers in the end, is that the world is changing and that it's best to be on the positive side of that change. One of the film's after credit scenes where T'Challa speaks to the United Nations about the importance of working together to make the world better feels as if it's a message that's directed towards the audience specifically. 

 

      Black Panther is easily the first great superhero movie of 2018 as well as being one of the strongest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whereas just being another average popcorn blockbuster, Panther takes the comic book genre and brings it to newer heights while adding more depth with its characters and story that are both so absorbing. Black Panther is a film that's destined to change the comic book genre forever as well as make the audience think about some of the movies themes and while doing so, find empowerment with its main character. One wouldn't be surprised if the film receives a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination much Iike what Logan received at this year's Academy Awards as well as technical noms for Cinematography, Art-Set Decoration, Best Song, and Costume Design. Black Panther is more than just an awesome comic book movie, its a grand achievement for the genre as well as being an empowering experience for large portions of its audience. It's a movie that anyone can sit down and enjoy while appreciating the pure craftsmanship as well as the heart that went into telling the story. Black Panther is a must see.

                                                                                                         Final Verdict: SEE IT