Tomb Raider: Ascension

Directed by: Stephen Reynolds

Starring: Anna Tyrie, Philip Goldacre, Peter Wear, Jamie Duncombe, Ava Hunt, Hugh Hemmings

Synopsis: Tomb Raider: Ascension is a fan-flick origins tale of how Lara Croft developed into the gun-toting, globe-trotting tomb raider we know so well. Following the disappearance of her father four years previously, Lara returns to Croft Manor when her uncle arranges an in-absentia funeral. On her return she’s hit with a few hard truths about her father and embarks on a quest to recover the Ascension stone, a Mayan artefact brought back to England and lost in a mine following a disastrous cave-in...



Review:

Anyone who’s seen the excellent “Batman: Dead End” fan movie, or the more recent “The Hunt for Gollum” will be aware that fan-flicks are not always to be sniffed at. Tomb Raider: Ascension definitely falls into this category.

Tomb Raider: Ascension is an excellent “Origins” tale, which has been crafted with care. There are big nods to Tomb Raider lore, such as the fates of Lara’s parents. We find out more about Lara’s predilection for short pants and are given a logical reason why she carries two guns instead of one.

The story has obviously been tailored to fit the budget but it is well written and the exposition scenes (such as when Lara and Winston are discussing the Mayan calendar – soon to be subject of a Roland Emerich movie) is really compelling, and the clues discovered are well plotted.

As an origins tale, Tomb Raider: Ascension has a lot in common with Casino Royale. Like Bond, our heroine is rough around the edges and untested. She’s also suffering from a psychological condition following her plane-crash in the Himalayas when she was seventeen (the same crash in which her mother died/disappeared). Throughout the story we slowly see the Lara Croft we know and love slowly take shape.

What was refreshing for me was the fact that all the sets were solid, non-cgi affairs. The exteriors were excellent (especially Croft Manor) and the cave-system Lara explores at the end was very well lit (for the most part you believe that the only light-source is provided by Lara’s glowsticks).

The cast was excellent across the board. Hugh Hemmings was great as the grandfatherly Winston, Peter Wear as the evil mastermind of an uncle, Ava Hunt as Lara’s mother and Philip Goldacre as Lord Croft, Lara’s father (soooo much better than John Voigt).

Special mention to Jamie Duncombe who played Zax, the guy who convinces Lara that two guns are better than one. He also did a good job behind the camera, handling the fight co-ordination.As for Anna Tyrie, she epitomises the character of Lara Croft, both in the flashbacks to when she’s seventeen, through to the cave-crawling and action scenes at the end.

Stephen Reynolds has accomplished a lot with very little. He keeps the dialogue scenes tight and manages a bit of flare when it comes to the action. I thought the opening scene on the plane was very accomplished and drew me into watching the whole movie in one sitting. I look forward to seeing what he manages to achieve next.

Verdict:

The end of the credits states that this movie “is an independent, non-profit, artistic expression created purely for fun.” However on any level, this is a very well made film and is one that Eidos, the creators of Tomb Raider, should consider adopting as a proper “Origins” of Lara Croft.

7 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)

The film is currently available for free at www.tombraiderascension.com