Shes clever, shes tough, shes British . . . AND shes the star of one of the most popular video games ever. Lara Croft is the main character in Tomb Raider. The game has millions of fans, but now Lara faces her most difficult job. Can Tomb Raider move successfully from the computer to the big screen?
Other popular video games have failed. Super Mario Brothers, Mortal Kombat and Wing Commander were big hits as video games . . . and big mistakes as movies. What about Tomb Raider? The game arrived in 1996. It was clearly special. In it, Lara Croft is a British adventurer many people think that she is a female Indiana Jones. But will the film of the game be as successful as Indiana Jones?
The Indiana Jones films were so successful because of Harrison Ford. He was excellent as the adventurer. First, the makers of Tomb Raider had to find the right actress. It wasnt easy. Theres a lot of action in the story. Lara shoots, she runs, fights . . . and she looks great in shorts! But the film-makers said that they wanted a good actress not just somebody who looks good. Some famous names were discussed Catherine Zeta-Jones and Denise Richards. But finally the film-makers chose Angelina Jolie.
Most fans of the game think that Jolie is a good Lara Croft. The star is certainly sexy, and she is a good actress she has an Oscar to prove it! (Best Supporting Actress 2000 for Girl, Interrupted) What about all the running and fighting? Jolie did lots and lots of exercise to be ready for the film. And she had to learn all about guns.
There was another small problem Lara Crofts British voice. American Jolie had a voice teacher to help with her British accent. But the film-makers arent worried if her accent isnt perfect. Jolie also went to manners school to prepare herself for the film!
The film starts where the Tomb Raider II video game finished. Like Indiana Jones, Lara is looking for old treasure in strange places. She is looking for the Clock of Ages and the search takes her to Antarctica and Asia. The film will have something extra for fans of the game. Players can look for clues in the film and then follow them in the game.
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Š Copyright 2001 Pearson Education Ltd
Photograph of Angelina Jolie Š Copyright Rufus F. Folkks/CORBIS
Published 18/04/2001
Tomb Raider on Film
