``Tomb Raider” Open on 29: By Jolie… For Jolie’s Fans…

- Oh! Jolie, Oh! Lara: Jolie has transformed to Lara Croft, a heroine in a computer game. Although Sandra Block and Catherine Zeta Jones were mentioned for the role of Lara, Jolie looks as if Lara came straight out of the game. Simon West director of the movie even said that ``Lara, not being played by Jolie, cannot be imagined.`` Jolie, with long braid, tight T-shirt, short pants, and guns on both thighs looks like Lara. Most of all, when Jolie runs, heaving her `D-cup size` bosom, she is Lara herself. On top of these, Joile’s thick and attractive lips are `extra` bonus. Since it is `Rated PG-13`, there are no bloody murder or provocative scenes. However, a scene in which Jolie takes shower and the exposure of her side breast are `obstinately` added.

- Although Lara is in the film, where is Tomb Raider?: The movie’s story line is simple. Lara finds a watch in the relics which her late father Croft (Jon Voight, Jolie`s real-life dad) had hidden. This watch is the key to conquer the universe and time. If one finds and matches the two halves of an ancient artifact that`s been buried in different parts of the world, one can have the power to control time. Lara ventures on preventing the evil gang `Illuminity` from attaining the watch.

Since the film is heavily focused on Lara, the movie itself is absurd and loose. Lara speaks Cambodian in Cambodia and speaks the Eskimo language in Ice Land. She also fluently translates an ancient language. Even when people wear heavy winter clothing in an extremely cold weather, Lara shows off her slander body wearing a thin French coat on top of a tight T-shirt. Although the U.S. press, including New York Times, criticized the film, it ranked the first in box office after its release on 15th.

- Movie Vs. Game: Every movie based on the game has failed so far. Hence, people are interested in seeing how the `Tomb Raider` will change hereafter and whether it will succeed. Since it was sold in market first in 1996, 20 million `Tomb Raider` games were sold worldwide. Lara has featured as a model on the covers of the numerous magazines and commercial ads, and was appointed to the cyber science ambassador by the British government. This movie is similar to the game except the scenario. Not only the character of Lara, but also the instruments and scenes were all adopted to the movie.

- Park Sang-Woo, a game commentator, said at the cinema preview of `Tomb Raider` that ``because there are many familiar scenes in the movie, it feels as if someone is playing the game. I felt close to it. If people who know how to play the game watch the movie, they would like it.``

Kang Sue-Jean sjkang@donga.com