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FINAL CHAPTER
IN TOMB RAIDER TRILOGY
Copyright 2004 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ February 16th 2004 ]
Lara
Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life producer
Lloyd Levin has said international returns were
more than respectable enough to ensure a final
chapter in the Tomb Raider motion picture trilogy
despite domestic indifference, according to an
article in the Official Playstation Magazine (U.S)
this coming March 2004.
The original
Simon West helmed movie, Lara Croft Tomb Raider
- based on the best selling videogame developed
by Core Design and published by Eidos plc - was
released by Viacom owned Paramount Pictures in
June 2001 after securing the otions from Eidos
for a reported £1m. Pic has coined $251,600,000
in worldwide revenue and remains the highest-grossing
female-driven motion picture to date. Although
critically mauled, Hollywood superstar Angelina
Jolie - who reportedly signed a three pic deal
- said she would consider a second movie if the
screenplay faired better than the first.
This
was marginally achieved in 2003 with the Jan de
Bont helmed sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The
Cradle Of Life which saw the former Oscar winner
resume her role as British videogame aristocrat
Lara Croft. However, the mediocre box office performance
dampened further by a second wave of criticism
cast doubt over whether Jolie would return to
complete the trilogy.
Paramount
Pictures cited Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel
Of Darkness as possible cause for the disapointing
returns from Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle
Of Life at the U.S. box office in July 2003. The
motion picture netted just 21.7 million and ranked
no higher than fourth. A promotional dispute between
Paramount Pictures and Regal Entertainment Group
hampered matters further and resulted in Lara
Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life being pulled
from 47 theatre complexes across the continental
U.S.
The success
of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life
on DVD and home video may well prove pivotal in
tipping the scales in favour of a concluding motion
picture to a very mediocre series to date. It
would be dubious to suggest Paramount Pictures
has aquisitioned a new breed of consumer through
the adaptation of the Tomb Raider adventure series,
but the existing hardcore Tomb Raider fan-base
- who still harbour fond memories of speed-boat
racing through the flooded streets of Venice -
should continue to support and lobby for a third
pic to complete the trilogy.
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