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 Lara Croft - Tomb Raider
& The Cradle of Life
Commentary On The Movies
By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D.,
November 9, 2009
Time really flies.
It has been forever since I watched this pair of
action/adventure/science fiction & archaeology gone bad movies. It's
been almost a decade since these hit the silver screen, and the
public perception of archaeology has never been the same.
In a strange twist,
though, the Lara Croft character, has done much for women's
participation in archaeology. Though frankly, some of the most
amazing archaeologists were women, going back almost a century.
In fact, one is nothing short of my personal hero, and a national
heroine of Peru! Her name was Dr. Maria Reiche,
who almost single handedly studied and preserved the Nazca Lines for
almost 60 years - a woman who lived in near poverty, to remain close
to her beloved discoveries. I encourage you to read about a
real archaeologist at
nazcamystery.com
In 2001 Lara was brought to
life by actress Angelina Jolie for the first film "Tomb Raider", loosely based
on the video game of the same name The film follows Lara's quest for an
artifact, left to her by her father, and her race through Angkor Wat and Siberia
to find the Triangle of Light, said to give its owner the power of God. For the
film, Jolie, amazingly performed all her own stunts.
According to Variety Magazine:
"Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" has the distinction of being a major motion picture
that's far less imaginative, and quite a bit more stupid, than the interactive
game it's based on.
Then to compound matters, Jolie reprised the role in The Cradle of Life (2003),
in which MI6 hires Lara to find Pandora's Box. She releases Terry Sheridan, a
friend imprisoned in Kazakhstan, who provides a romantic interest rare in the
series. The film implies that Lara had served with the Royal Marines, a detail
hinted at in the first film, which shows her at the centre of a small military
unit.
Currently, a third film is in production, by Producer Dan Lin, whom has stated
in interviews that the movie will be an origins story. A new actress will be
taking the role as the character, to play a younger more inexperienced Lara,
meaning Angelina Jolie will not be returning (unless as perhaps her own
mother?).
 In short, both films
are fun romps through unusual settings. Except it's all crap!
None of the main scenes are
real places, though Angkor Wat is real and was filmed in the first movie.
Angkor Wat lies in Cambodia, a massive extinct civilization that existed at
about the same time as the Maya, and credit must be paid to the producers for
having gone the extra mile in securing unique locations where even James Bond
has never tread. One of the wonders of the world, ancient Angkor Wat has not
been used in a Western feature film since Richard Brooks shot part of "Lord Jim"
there in 1964. But none of the other major sites - inside the Angkor
structure, or the Siberian "dead zone" are real. Neither is the sought
after artifact, or that fabulous time-machine under the arctic ice. Though
being pulled by dogs through an Ice Tunnel does look like fun! Almost nothing
from the second film is real either.
More disturbingly, though, is
the profound impact of such movies. Archaeology is a real science,
practiced by countless women and men around the world. It is back-breaking
field work, and unbelievable long days and nights of meticulous study and
research. Yet along comes Lady Lara, like Indiana Jones, destroying
whatever irreplaceable site or object to gain the one mystical prize, for no
other reason that her personal greed. This is the message of Tomb Raider:
that the means justify the ends, and nothing - not science, not history, not
future generations - nothing matters except getting your shinny bauble.
The truth is, that there are
mysteries out there. Mysteries of our history, of cultures long past, of
human disasters and rebuilding. There are odd finds that defy simple
categorization. But the approach represented by the Lara Crofts, in
fiction, in film, and in reality, leave little or no understanding behind.
All they leave are plundered sites devoid of content, and their stolen shiny
baubles for sale for pennies on eBay.
At times, exploring the past is
a real adventure! But after the trek, comes the study, and if you're lucky, the
eventual understand and insight! The real role to be played is not Tomb
Raider, but rather Tomb Preserver, just like Maria Reiche - who
stood her ground against generations of Tomb Raiders!
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