Tomb Raider

Alicia Vikander gives a fairly conventional adventure more weight than it would have with a less convincing lead. Her Lara Croft does not feel like an invulnerable superhero or a figure designed simply to pose: she runs, falls, gets hurt, hesitates, improvises and makes the effort visible. That physical vulnerability is probably what worked best for me in this version.

The film goes for a more grounded tone than the previous adaptations. There is less glamour and more survival, dirt, endurance and danger. That choice brings the character closer to the modern video-game reboot and helps the action sequences feel more tense, because Lara never seems able to solve everything without paying some kind of price.

Vikander is very well cast. She has enough physical presence to make the action believable, but also enough fragility to keep the character from becoming a machine. Whenever the film stays close to her, it works better; whenever it drifts too far into generic adventure-movie machinery, it loses personality.

The first half worked especially well for me because the pace remains brisk and the film knows how to combine character setup, searching, action and adventure without getting bogged down. Roar Uthaug clearly wants to build a more human Lara before turning her into an icon, and I find that much more interesting than simply copying the classic image from the games.

The problem is that the story eventually moves into much more familiar territory. Archaeological searching, danger, mystery and villainy all recall countless other adventure films. None of it is badly executed, but very little is surprising. It feels like a competent adventure using familiar pieces in a fairly functional way.

Walton Goggins has enough presence to bring some menace, although the character is not developed with much depth. That is one of the film's broader weaknesses: most of the supporting characters mainly exist to push Lara toward the next stage of the adventure. They work, but they are not especially memorable.

There are also moments when the video-game logic becomes too visible. Some obstacles, chases and situations almost feel designed like levels that have to be completed, which can be entertaining if you accept the game, but it slightly reduces the sense of cinematic spontaneity.

Even so, the action is handled well. There is movement, a variety of settings and generally clear staging. Not everything is spectacular, but it is effective enough to hold attention. In a film like this, that matters.

I also like that the movie does not depend entirely on Lara Croft's iconic appeal. It tries to build a protagonist with motivation, fear and adaptability. It does not always go as deep as it could, but there is at least a clear attempt to make her more than a collection of heroic poses.

I would not call it a great adventure film either. It lacks a stronger personality of its own, a more memorable villain and a screenplay capable of truly surprising us. But I do not think it is a failed adaptation. For much of its running time, it is entertaining, moves well and knows how to use its lead.

For me, that is the key: it works as entertainment without needing to be overrated. It does not reinvent the genre or leave behind unforgettable scenes, but Alicia Vikander holds the whole thing together and gives Lara a convincing mix of strength and vulnerability. A solid, physical and enjoyable adventure, with a lead who is better than the film around her.