“It’s a blockbuster fantasy
and I’ve never done one of those before, but the essence of Lara
has turned out to be remarkably similar to some other roles I’ve played. She’s alone, focused on justice, is a little crazy in many ways, bold
definitely, loves her freedom and is very sexual”
Angelina Jolie
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“I looked at classic quest movies and big epics like Dr Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia, watched every documentary on ancient civilisations and read every book on mysticism, sacred geometry, alchemic artefacts, religious rites, astrology and planet-alignment theories that I could find. The story evolved from all these strands, and I wrote the last screenplay draft in May 2000.”
The plot West conjured up involves a secret organisation called the Illuminati who are searching for an ancient clock that is the key to opening both time and space. With the clock as their guide, the Illuminati must find two halves of a mystical triangle which, if combined, will stop time, bring their evil ancestors back to life and change the fate of mankind forever. When Lara Croft finds the clock hidden in Croft Manor (her late father, Lord Croft, acquired it during one of his many archaeological digs), it sets her on the most dangerous quest of her career.
Lara does Iceland in one of
Tomb Raider's many spectacular action scenes.
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“It was an exciting challenge, reinventing the fantasy adventure genre for an audience consisting of people who know nothing about the game combined with the ardent game-players themselves,” notes West. “In many ways, I envisioned Lara Croft as a female James Bond for the new millennium and I did set certain rules for the movie: above ground, everything is pretty much plausible, but when the characters go underground into the tombs, the gloves are off and almost anything can happen.”
Despite reports that various actresses from Sandra Bullock to Denise Richards were in the running to play Lara, West only ever wanted Angelina Jolie for the pivotal role. “It was a one-horse race,” he says. “If Angelina didn’t do it, I couldn’t think of anyone else who would be suitable. All of her performances have been a heady combination of gorgeously voluptuous womanhood but with brains, wit and good humour. Those were precisely the attributes Lara had to have, and Angelina completely embodied them.
“It’s something to savour when you can tell your own daughter how you feel about her on film”
Jon Voight (below)
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“I firmly believed only Angelina would be able to act her way out of tight dramatic corners while never losing Lara’s sexual appeal or winning qualities. I also instinctively knew she would satisfy the demands of the game’s fans and their preconceived ideas of what Lara looked like. I was ecstatic when she accepted the challenge.”
Playing Lara Croft was “the hardest job I’ve ever done: she is very clear about herself and her goals and overly capable in an almost beyond-human way,” says the Oscar-winning star of Girl, Interrupted. “It’s so hard to stay in a positive, healthy, clear and brave state of mind all the time. It’s much easier to internalise and remain dark, which is what I’ve been used to playing up until now.
Jon Voight, Angelina Jolie's father, who plays Lara's father, Lord Croft, in the film. |
“The strange thing is, when I accepted the part, I thought it was going to be a major departure from everything else I’ve done in the past. OK, its a blockbuster fantasy and I’ve never done one of those before, but the essence of Lara has turned out to be remarkably similar to some other roles I’ve played. She’s alone, focused on justice, is a little crazy in many ways, bold definitely, loves her freedom and is very sexual. Those are traits I adore in people in general and themes I’ve explored in movies before.
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