Not having ever played any of the Tomb Raider games (though I did see Patrick playing one of the first ones for a few minutes before it bored me), I can't compare the accuracy of the motion picture to the game's universe. From what I have seen and read though in the media, I didn't see anything in the movie that looked really off. Angelina Jolie, as Lady Lara Croft, is perfect for the role, although there must have been a fair amount of post-production to make sure none of her many tatoos showed onscreen.

We start out in a dark underground place, obviously some sort of ancient construction holding fabulous treasures. Lara stalks down the corrider in her form-fitting black tank-top and shorts, high-caliber handguns strapped to either thigh. Suddenly, a 10-foot tall pile of automated destruction, apparently one of the robotic extras from the Robocop movies, bursts through a stone wall and attacks Lara with machine guns and evil-looking claws. What follows is an orgy of destruction as both combatants destroy the temple trying to kill each other. And just about when the giant robot is going to pulverize Lara as she reaches for the fabled treasure, she spins around and yells "Stop!" The robot freezes, Lara pops out the "Kill Lara" CD and pops in "Lara's Party Mix." She then drags the remains of the robot to the next room, a workshop in her castle.

Welcome to the world of Lara Croft: archeologist, sharpshooter, martial artist, fluent in a variety of languages and with a knack for "acquiring" ancient artifacts. She is heiress to Lord Crofts estate and fortune, living in her mansion near London with Hilary (Chris Barrie), her butler, and Bryce (Noah Taylor), technical and computer expert. It's the 15th of May, the 16th anniversary of Lord Croft's disappearance. Lara is wakened by a faint ticking which she traces to a hidden alcove in the mansion. In the alcove is a wooden crate and in the crate is a clock that just started ticking, counting down to something.

Meanwhile, the Illuminati have called on Manfred Powell (Iain Glen) for a personal status report. It's the first day of the great conjunction, when all the planets in the solar system line up, once every five thousand years. They only have one week before full conjunction and Powell still hasn't found the key, the key that unlocks the barriers hiding the two halves of an ancient triangular artifact, purported to give its owner mastery over time (but not space). Not to worry, Powell is on the case.

In the meantime, Lara and crew discover a small hand-sized relic, emblazoned with the all-seeing eye, hidden in the clock. Well, Lara has no clue so she goes to visit an old friend of her late father who's more of an expert in timepieces. On the way she meets Alex Marrs (Daniel Craig), a fellow "Tomb Raider" who once stole a find from her. Although she displays a certain amount of hostility, it's apparent that Lara and Alex were once an item.

In any case, Lara doesn't get any help from her father's friend, but perhaps another aquaintance can help her, one Manfred Powell, a local barrister with a fascination with the all-seeing eye. But there is no help from the affluent Powell, though he does seem to display a more than casual interest in the artifact.

Later that night, a squad of mercenaries assauly Lara's mansion, expending lots of ammunition and causing extensive damage. Lara has her hands full staying alive, and when it's all over the artifact is gone. Well, that makes her mad, but how is she going to find the artifact. Enter a UPS delivery guy with a message from her late father: a clue which leads her to an old letter that her father left Lara. A mission: to prevent the two halves of the triangle from being found, and a pair of locations giving her the places where she will find Powell and her artifact.

So it's against time, spanning the world in seven days as Lara Croft tries to stop Manfred Powell from retrieving both pieces of the triangle and giving the Illuminati power incarnate. Lots of action, a fair amount of CGI though there was more live-action stunts than I expected, and Angelina Jolie wielding a pair of big guns. What more could you ask for?

Seriously, I think Tomb Raider is a good adventure movie, with it's closest comparison being The Mummy Returns. In general I think The Mummy Returns has the better plot, special effects, and comedy, though the first two are only slightly better than in Tomb Raider. But Tomb Raider has a kick-ass beautiful fem and doesn't overdo the CGI like The Mummy Returns did. Tomb Raider is good enough to go see.