As a long-time gamer with over two decades of playing Lara Croft’s adventures under my belt, I must admit that my expectations for “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft” were through the roof. I’ve been following this iconic character since the original games and have witnessed her evolution from a pixelated beauty to a complex and multidimensional heroine.
Netflix’s latest animated series, “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft,” faces a challenging position due to two main factors. Firstly, it finds itself battling within a genre that consistently delivers daring, innovative, and highly creative narratives. Contemporary animations such as “Blue Eye Samurai,” “Scavengers Reign,” and the second season of “Invincible” have set exceptionally high standards with their visionary storytelling and superior production values, making it progressively more difficult for others to meet or surpass them. Secondly, the series, produced by Tasha Huo, must also successfully translate the atmosphere of a well-established video game franchise and its cherished character – Lara Croft – who has captivated millions of fans over two decades within the long-running franchise.
In light of such challenging expectations, it feels almost unavoidable that this 8-episode series might trip or falter at times as it aims to meet those towering standards. As a devoted fan, I’m hopeful it’ll rise above the odds and deliver an exceptional viewing experience!
The narrative of “The Legend of Lara Croft” continues post-Survivor Trilogy (the video games developed by Crystal Dynamics between 2013 and 2018), bridging the gap in Lara Croft’s timeline between the original series and the reboot. The story commences with a flashback, depicting Lara (Hayley Atwell) and her uncle, Roth (Robin Atkin Downes), delving into the heart of the Chilean jungle on a quest for a valuable artifact. Their discovery leads to perilous encounters with locals. Fast forward three years, we learn that Roth met his demise during this expedition, leaving Lara burdened by self-blame. In an attempt to escape her sorrow and guilt, she travels from one country to another, but ultimately knows she must return home. A concerned call from her friend Jonah (Earl Baylon reprising his game role) eventually brings her back to England.
As I embark on a fresh journey, I decide to sell off most of my father’s and uncle’s historical and cultural artifacts in an auction. Unfortunately, during this event, a thief breaks into Croft Manor and makes off with the box that Roth and I discovered in Chile three years ago. Though I give chase, he manages to escape – but not before I get a good look at his face. The stolen artifact is said to contain the power of one of the four legendary gemstones, and it turns out that this is exactly what the mysterious figure is after. With the assistance of my tech-whiz pal Zip (Allen Maldonado), I set out to track down and apprehend the thief, who quickly proves to be a far more dangerous adversary than I had anticipated – thanks in part to some otherworldly abilities he seems to possess. In true Tomb Raider style, my adventure takes me across stunning continents filled with all manner of perilous challenges.
Embracing the franchise’s supernatural undertones just isn’t enough
In a simpler and more conversational manner, we could say: While the story might not always be the standout feature of the “Tomb Raider” video game series, it has often created a captivating, vibrant, and authentic environment to explore. The exploration of hidden sites, legendary beings, and cultural lore is one of the elements that keeps these games exciting and thought-provoking. This aspect is also found in the animated series to some extent.
In “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft,” the storyline generally adheres to a familiar pattern involving quests for artifacts and battling villains, with occasional twists thrown in. However, it doesn’t offer anything significantly unique compared to other stories of its kind. This time around, there’s an integration of mythical creatures and magical elements into the plot, but they appear sporadically and vary between being creatively intriguing and painfully ordinary. These elements lack the impact needed to set the series apart and make it truly iconic. Unfortunately, the early installments hint at the potential for wild exploration of ancient beasts and creatures, but the narrative never fully exploits this possibility in a substantial or innovative manner.
The characterization is dull and surface-deep at best
In a bid to strike a balanced dramatic tone, “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft” fails to find its footing, teetering precariously between being too deep for children and too shallow for adults. Despite the complex backgrounds of Lara and her associates, their representations are surprisingly one-dimensional. The narrative lacks depth and poses little challenge for mature audiences, while simultaneously being overly serious and grim for younger viewers. The series attempts to delve into the repercussions of grief and self-discovery, but these efforts are frequently undermined by melodramatic dialogue and sensationalized plot twists. Lara’s emotional responses in unexpected situations seem out of place, yet they serve as a reflection of her struggle to come to terms with her past. However, the writing often overemphasizes this struggle, which becomes more distracting than insightful. It seems that the writers lacked confidence in the characters and their capacity to express emotions without needing to spell everything out explicitly for the audience.
In essence, a compelling series needs engaging characters for viewers to connect with, or else it lacks the power to truly captivate. However, one aspect where this show truly shines is its striking and understated visuals. The animation is basic yet nostalgic, creating a unique beauty – particularly when depicting ancient structures, caves, or mystifying beings. To an extent, this simplicity and depth extend to the action scenes (though modern techniques are commonly employed), but occasionally there are moments that feel unnecessary, excessive, and even comical in these sequences. These instances aim to portray Lara as incredibly cool, but they can sometimes seem rather foolish instead.
Essentially, the movie “The Legend of Lara Croft” doesn’t quite recreate the excitement and adventurous spirit found in the video games. Although it retains some of the distinctive appearance, feel, and ambiance from the games, it falls short. For a true Tomb Raider experience, I’d recommend playing through the Survivor trilogy or revisiting the original games that built the franchise’s foundation instead.
“Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft” premieres on Netflix on October 10.
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2024-10-10 10:30