Lara Croft Tomb Raider (2001)

Angelina Jolie IS Lara Croft, but is Simon West's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) the ultimate adaptation of the classic computer game? Join us and find out, as we pull apart this Hollywood blockbuster.

On this track we cover:

- The problems with plot and writing
- Simon West's direction
- Angelina Jolie's.... talents.
- Comparisons to Indiana Jones and other adventure films
- The Illuminati

DOWNLOAD

Download the mp3 file here. Link.

Subscribe to the commentary podcast in iTunes. Link.

STATS

Participants: David Bjerre and Dennis Rosenfeld.
Day of recording: April 4th, 2013.
Version: Bluray or NTSC DVD.
Movie runtime: 1:40:32.

SCREENSHOTS

Angeline Jolie tries to stop Simon West before it's too late.

THIS is flirting, Simon.

The actors try to fix the script in a last minute rewrite.

The triangle of unpossible plotting is offered up to the gods.

Space view from Neptune. You can see the plot holes from here.

Bad guy takes a nap. It's not like the fate of the world is on the line... Oh, wait.

No one rides the big pole as well as Angelina.

The boys are out in the cold.

Lara raises the triangle triumphantly. No, we don't know why either.

Father and daughter meet face to face. And then stop speaking for 7 years.

An illustration of cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr.'s strobe technique.

ARTICLES

Cinefex No. 87, October 2001, article by Joe Fordham
American Cinematographer, June 2001, article by Jay Holben
Premiere, June 2001, Tomb With a View, article by Christine Spines

LITERATURE

They Cast No Shadows, by Brian Desborough.

AUDIO/VIDEO

Bluray extras.
The Clangers: The Intruder (Episode 1x05, 28th December 1969). Link.

LINKS

IMDb. Link.
Wiki. Link.

Alien vs. Predator (2004)

"Whoever wins... We lose." 

It's easy to imagine why Fox thought it was a good idea to combine their two big monster franchises, the Aliens and the Predators. It's a little more unclear, why anyone would think Paul W.S. Anderson was the guy who could pull it off.

In this new commentary we dive into the 2004 movie Alien vs. Predator. Written and directed by Anderson, starring Sanaa Lathan and Lance Henriksen.

On this track we cover:

- How this relates to the other films in the franchises
- The comic book influence
- The utter lack of logic and research
- Alternative possibilities for the story and the film
- And why Sebastian is the most wrongest character since like forever
- We also trash the Americans, the British, the Italians, and the Scots (sorry, group hug)

DOWNLOAD

Download the mp3 file here. Link.

Subscribe to the commentary podcast in iTunes. Link.

STATS

Participants: David Bjerre and Dennis Rosenfeld.
Day of recording: February 16th, 2012.
Version: Extended Cut - Bluray or NTSC DVD
Movie runtime: 01.48.40

SCREENSHOTS

The satellite actually zooms in on the wrong island.

Beautiful combination of models and CGI.

Model snowmobiles.

The satellite image clearely shows that the pyramid is NOT under the whaling station.

The magical pyramid. Live foreground element and model pyramid.

He's a looker this one, but don't trust a word he says.

Heeeeeere's Johnny!

You?! I thought this was my movie.

History, the Paul Anderson way.

A horde of angry moviegoers demand their money back.

LITERATURE

Aliens vs. Predator, screenplay by Peter Biggs
Aliens vs. Predator: Omnibus, vol. 1 & 2 (Dark Horse)
Cinefex No. 99, October 2004, article by Jody Duncan

AUDIO/VIDEO

DVD special features.

LINKS

IMDb. Links.

Wikipedia. Link.

Differences between theatrical and unrated version. Link.

Peter Brigg's script. Link.