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Tomb Raider: Trailer Highlights

Yesterday Warner Bros. dropped the trailer for Tomb Raider (2018, Roar Uthaug). The latest attempt to adapt a video game property into a film. Based off of the 2011 reboot, where Lara is stranded on an Island and must fight to survive against the natives and an ancient deity. a 180 to the Lara Croft that most audiences are familiar with. As many audiences just know the Angelina Jolie (Mr & Mrs Smith, Salt) version. Also, a video game adaptation is somewhat of a risk. As Hollywood has failed to make a successful one. Both Commercially and Critically. Could Tomb Raider be the film that changes that?

First Thoughts

Yeah, this is a good trailer. It properly shows all of the things that fans are expecting from this film. The action is very similar to the gameplay, the acting seems pretty good and the music choice was actually very fitting. Fans of the Tomb Raider Franchise will definitely enjoy this! For anyone who hasn't seen the trailer yet here is the link to it.



Lara

Alicia Vikander (Man From U.N.C.L.E, Ex-Machina) seems to be doing a pretty good job as Lara Croft. Definitely encapturing the way Lara was in the 2011 reboot. Being more of a B-Level hero who isn't always on top of everything and usually has to scrape her way out of tough situations. For those who aren't familiar with the new games, this will be a complete departure from the Angelina Jolie version of the character. Someone who is usually on top of things and executes their action flawlessly. But I prefer the newer version. Someone who isn't on top of things and is willing to get their hands dirty. So yeah! I Alicia Vikander is doing the character justice!

Action

The film also has Lara using her signature weapons from the game. Her bow and arrow and her pickaxe. And the way she uses it is very much like the gameplay, which is really good! Vikander really sells the action here. Looking like she's struggling, having to claw her way to victory. It really adds more tension to it. It's very similar to how Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Raiders Of The Lost Ark) played Indiana Jones. Whenever he got punched or held down he would always pull a face that showed he was not having fun at all. So that's good since Indiana Jones is one of the inspirations for Lara Croft! But the action looks great and definitely resembles that of the new games!

Trinity/Mathias

This is where the film differs from the games. Whilst Trinity is a part of the new games they didn't show up until Rise Of The Tomb Raider (2015) the sequel to the 2011 game. But I suspect this doesn't make them any less formidable. According to IMDb Walton Goggins (Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight) is playing Mathias Vogel. Which is interesting because Mathias was the antagonist in the first game but was not a part of Trinity. But was the leader of an extremist cult that worshipped an ancient Japanese God. So this is a case of the filmmakers blending the two games together, which I'm perfectly okay with, so long as it's handled well! But anyway, Walton Goggins is a good actor. He's proven to be quite an intimidating antagonist in the past and I imagine 

Richard Croft

Dominic West (The Wire, The Affair) plays Lord Richard Croft. In the reboot, Lord Croft was a disgraced archaeologist, thanks to Trinity, who then ordered his death when they thought he would expose them. So the film seems to have followed a similar storyline. Except it seems they've made Lord Croft a businessman/Secret archaeologist. Kinda like a Tomb Raider Batman! I like the addition of the old camcorder having a message from him. Gives the audience a slight idea of when he died. But it's also a nod to the game as Lord Croft did leave messages for Lara about Trinity. However, the father/daughter dynamic is different from the game. Whilst Lara resented her father for going on adventures and leaving her behind, in this film she seems to more idolise him instead. Not a story-altering change, but I kinda prefer the game dynamic to this.

Ana Miller (SPOILERS)

I saved this part for last because this is where potential spoilers come in for anyone who hasn't played the games. So... Yeah, skip over this part if you haven't played! So, whilst Mathias was the main antagonist in the 2011 game, Ana Miller (Kristin Scott Thomas) was the main antagonist of Rise Of The Tomb Raider. She is a secret Trinity Agent who was tasked with seducing and manipulating Lord Croft. From the look of the film, she seems to have taken control of Croft Holdings. Which would make her quite dangerous! I really Ana from the game. She was a complex and interesting character. struggling between her duty to Trinity and her feelings towards the Croft Family. Although, I'm not sure how she'll fit into this film. Maybe they're just introducing her for the sequel? I'm not sure. It should be interesting to see.

Conclusion

Yeah, this is a good trailer. It highlights the action and the characters quite well. It doesn't give a lot away in terms of story, which is good. But it also looks like it's changed the story from the games, which is good as fans won't know what to expect from it either. But Alicia Vikander looks great as Lara and Walton Goggins is pretty cool as Mathias. I am definitely looking forward to this film!

So that's my Trailer Highlights for Tomb Raider Trailer 2. What did you think of it? Are you excited or sceptical? Please leave a comment down below. And, if you liked what you've read then please follow this blog for more content. Thank you for reading. :)
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