The first game in the Tomb Raider series is undoubtedly the best. Although designed to run under DOS and SVGA graphics the design of the levels retains a beauty and originality rare among games. (True devotees using a PC can download a progam called GLIDOS, which allows high resolution graphics in the game, and patches to allow the game to run under XP) The soundtrack, including the trademark theme, is also wonderfully atmospheric. Lara Croft was the first third person perspective videogame character to make a mark in the gaming world. Control of the character is relatively straight forward, and the game itself quite exploration rather than action orientated. In hindsight, the puzzle standards of pulling levers or pushing moveable blocks, have become a bit tired to today's players but there's still plenty here to challenge the intellect, and more than enough action at times to quicken the pulse. Lara's first adventure sees her explore the Andes, the Classical World, Egypt and finally Atlantis. Perhaps the plot is a bit derivative from Indiana Jones (after all Indy did Atlantis in videogames three years before Lara)but hey I'd rather Lara than some old smart alec with a whip anyday...
Reviews
3 Reviews
Enemy at the Gates
(2001)
Solid but slightly disappointing
12 October 2002
As war movies go, Enemy at the Gates looked promising: a great cast, solid directing and visual effects. However, at least for this viewer, the acting seemed wooden, which I can only put down to an at times forced script. Perhaps the not so subtle political commentary about Stalin's regime and the almost obligatory love story come triangle irked me as cliche. 'Titanic' on the Volga, or 'Pearl Harbor' for the proletariat?
Sleeping Dogs
(1977)
Solid if not spectacular
18 June 2002
Based on the novel Smith's Dream by academic C. K. Stead, Sleeping Dogs is set in a totalitarian New Zealand. Smith moves to the country to escape trouble but is framed by the state as a terrorist.The rest of the film involves his attempts to avoid arrest and his eventual fate.
Released in 1977, the film possessed a poignancy for New Zealanders, who at the time viewed the then Muldoon National Government with some suspicion. A scene involving riot police in an Auckland street was a chilling portent of events during the 1981 Springbok rugby tour to New Zealand, and indeed on its release in the USA, some Americans confused the film's images with media reports of the tour protests.
Notable for Sam Neill's role as Smith, the movie started a late 1970s revival in the New Zealand film industry, including movies such as The Scarecrow, Skin Deep, and Smash Palace.
Released in 1977, the film possessed a poignancy for New Zealanders, who at the time viewed the then Muldoon National Government with some suspicion. A scene involving riot police in an Auckland street was a chilling portent of events during the 1981 Springbok rugby tour to New Zealand, and indeed on its release in the USA, some Americans confused the film's images with media reports of the tour protests.
Notable for Sam Neill's role as Smith, the movie started a late 1970s revival in the New Zealand film industry, including movies such as The Scarecrow, Skin Deep, and Smash Palace.
Tell Your Friends