Earlier this morning the first full trailer was unveiled for Tomb Raider, next year’s movie reboot centred on video game icon Lara Croft. The 2-minute preview did a lot to restore confidence in the action adventure after a shoddy poster and sneak peek trailer set the Internet snickering.
Judging by the full trailer, Tomb Raider looks like a solid big-screen take on Square Enix and Crystal Dynamic’s 2013 “origins” game (with some obvious changes). The trailer footage also refreshingly suggests that the film won’t neglect the legacy of the original Eidos-Core games, as well as Angelina Jolie’s take on the daredevil archaeologist in two movie blockbusters from the early Noughties.
The Tomb Raider trailer debuted online along with a behind-the-scenes clip examining star Alicia Vikander’s transformation into the character of Lara Croft. In all her interviews so far (like this one), the Academy Award-winner has demonstrated her grasp of the fledgling Tomb Raider’s spirit, and this clip highlights her physical commitment to the role.
As an aside, stories from the South African set suggest Vikander pushed herself to the limit mentally and physically, flirting with injuries and frustration-triggered tears. But, the actress is a trooper, so here we are.
Anyway, the Making Of clip below includes loads more footage from the film not seen in the trailer. It provides a much better sense of Tomb Raider’s action, stunts and sets. In all cases, the emphasis seems to be on a practical real-world approach as opposed to heavy CGI use. Tiresome “Follow in Daddy’s footsteps” story-line aside, Tomb Raider looks like a lot of grubby fun as this inexperienced Lara Croft discovers who she’s meant to be… and evidently makes her bid for a spot on the UK’s Olympic long jump team.
Tomb Raider is out in March next year. The movie is set for 3D and 3D IMAX release.
Kervyn Cloete
Yeah, after the facepalming fiasco of the first pics and poster, this is slowly winning be back around again. I’m not super hyped yet (this is a video game movie after all, so expectations are tempered accordingly), but I’m no longer staring at in disappointed disbelief either.
Original Heretic
I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot from this movie now that the first trailer has dropped. The hype train has started rolling.
Will THIS be the movie that rescues the notion of “the video game movie”? I think we’re all hoping so.
Admiral Chief
Quite silly actually, you have an amazing story from the game, just make it live action so that those who did not play it can experience it (the first kill, the damn radio tower climb!)
But every ‘director’ taking on a movie like this always ignore the epicnessness of the game. We need more gamer-directors
Kervyn Cloete
The problem with doing a straight adaptation is that there’s no surprise. Half the audience then knows exactly where the story is going, and it thus loses it’s appeal.
Adaptations don’t need to be verbatim copies, but they need to make sure they perfectly recreate the feeling and experience you had when playing the original.
Admiral Chief
That is assuming that half the audience has played the game. Still I get your point, but more often the director will cock it up because he didn’t play the game