Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

Having apparently learned nothing from the first Tomb Raider movie, this sequel finds videogame-spawned archeologist/adventuress Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) making yet another fundamentally stupid mistake with yet another dangerous antediluvian object that could bring about the end of the world. In 2001 she had half of an ancient-treasure time machine in the third reel, and if she'd just destroyed it, the threat--and the movie--would have been over. This time around she recovers a golden orb that projects a map to the hiding place of Pandora's Box--yes, the nasty one of Greek myth--which terrorists want to use to make biological weapons. So what does she do? Follows the map to Africa, leading the baddies straight to the very object she's supposedly trying to protect. But even for people who happily check their brains at the door for summer blockbusters regardless of their originality, this follow-up is bound to disappoint. Burdened by dull, repetitive stunts, overcooked action scenes that lack energy or imagination, and fights with all the kick boringly choreographed right out of them, plot is the least of this flick's problems. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: Available in both widescreen and full screen editions, DVD extras include audio commentary by director Jan de Bont, seven deleted/alternate scenes with optional commentary--including an alternate ending (12 min.), featurettes on “Training” (9 min.), “Vehicles and Weapons” (4 min.), “Stunts” (11 min.), “Visual Effects” (11 min.), and “Scoring” (5 min.); costar Gerard Butler's screen test (4 min.); the music videos “Did My Time” by Korn and “Heart Go Faster” by The Davey Brothers; trailers; and DVD-ROM features. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a somewhat underwhelming summer blockbuster.] (R. Blackwelder)