Tomb Raider

If I were to mention the name "Lara Croft", some people make think she’s a politician. That would explain why many parents are apathetic about the hit movie "Tomb Raider. The same parents could care less about the video games that entertain their youth for hours, but it may give insight into what the movie is about.

"Die hard" fans of the Tomb Raider game will likely love the movie, but I personally question the role of women acting out violence. Obviously, there are many who disagree evidenced by the hundreds of web sites featuring the tight outfit-wearing heroine shooting a big gun, and tearing up everything in sight.

Lara Croft lines is a big mansion she inherited from her father whose been missing for years. Her butler assists her in hiding the fact that she is secretly a fearless tomb raider with superhuman physical skills and abilities. This comes in handy when she ends up receiving mysterious communication from her father and sets off for Cambodia to save the world.

Of coarse, in order to see the outcome, you have to wade through a lot of violence, gunfire, punches and kicks which can be imitated, mechanical robots and ancient statues that come to life and try to take Miss Croft out. Several people are killed in the film either by gunfire, fatal blows or drowning.

The action may be unsettling and scary for young viewers unless they are like my two year old who climbed from seat to seat, ate all the popcorn, disturbed us the whole movie, and finally went to sleep near the end. The film also tosses in villains with extremely bad attitudes, drinking and smoking, profanity (any is too much because none is needed) and a couple of nude scenes.

The film was undoubtedly expensive to make, having been shot in several different exotic locations. The special effects are excellent but there is no suspense. If there were a positive, it would be the warm loving relationship that exists between a man and his daughter (a plus since I have six daughters).

Do I recommend it for Christians to watch? If you like entertainment with a scene that makes fun of your God and treats Buddha like a strong religious force. But I don’t think watching it will cause you to backslide, though scuba diving may be more fun.

(Resources: screenit.com, christiananswers.net/movies)