News

[Interview]’Tomb Raider’ Director Roar Uthaug

Published

6 years ago

March 3, 2018

Tomb Raider is a reboot of the Tomb Raider film series, based on the 2013 video game of the same name. Played by Academy Award-winner Alicia Vikander, replacing Angelina Jolie, the new version of Lara Croft is a heroine who is much more hard candy than eye candy.

Like the 2013 game, this Tomb Raider film promises to be edgier and grittier than the previous incarnations. Tomb Raider represents a makeover for the Tomb Raider film series, and this is embodied in Vikander’s portrayal of Lara Croft, which is defined by functionality and precision.

The opportunity to re-imagine the Tomb Raider film series is what attracted Norwegian filmmaker Roar Uthaug to the project. Making his Hollywood feature directing debut with Tomb Raider, Uthaug, who is best known for his 2015 film The Wave, was most excited about the challenge of translating the Lara Croft Uthaug loved so much in the video game universe to the big screen.

DG: How would you describe your history with the Tomb Raider video game series, and why did you want to direct this reboot film?

RU: I’ve always loved the Tomb Raider games. The video game series has been around for over twenty years, and I’ve been playing the games since the first game was released. Growing up in Norway, my friends and I used to play Tomb Raider all the time. Lara Croft has always been an iconic character who has a lot of interesting dimensions to her. She revolutionized the role of the video game hero, and she’s the ultimate video game heroine. When I saw the reboot that had been done with the last game, the 2013 game, I was very excited about the direction the series was going on. When I got the call regarding the possibility of directing a new film, I was very interested.

DG: Did you have any creative input in terms of how Lara Croft would be portrayed in the film, or were you bound by what had been created for the video game?

RU: We were all in agreement in that we wanted to make a Tomb Raider film that was gritty and more grounded in reality than all of the previous versions. What I loved about the video game reboot is that it showed Lara Croft as being very human. She bleeds. She feels pain. She’s human. When she kills people in the game, it registers with her on an emotional level. These were the elements that I wanted to bring into the film.

DG: As this is an origin film, what do we learn about Lara Croft’s history, her life, in this film?

RU: When we’re introduced to her in the film, she’s living an ordinary life in East London, where she works as a bike courier. The conflict in the film comes from the mystery surrounding her father, who disappeared seven years earlier. Nobody knows what happened to him, and this is what leads her onto her adventure.

DG: What did Alicia Vikander bring to the role of Lara Croft that’s unique from other actresses who might have been chosen for this role?

RU: We’re both Scandinavian, so there was an instant bond between us, and I’ve followed her entire career, from before she found success in Hollywood. When we started thinking of actresses who could play Lara Croft, she was one of the first names that we thought of. Alicia has all of the elements needed to play Lara Croft. She has that ability to make an emotional connection with the audience and the character, and she was able to handle all of the physical scenes as well. She got into amazing shape for this film.

DG: How did you and Alicia create a 2018 version of Lara Croft?

RU: Alicia trained extremely hard for a month, and she developed, physically, into someone who looked like a female action hero. Her trainer pushed her extremely hard, and Alicia pushed herself very hard. It was mostly jumping and running. I knew Alicia could capture Lara Croft emotionally, and to witness her physical transformation was amazing.

DG: What do you think sets this film apart from the previous Tomb Raider films?

RU: Everything that happens in this film is grounded in character. This makes the film more exciting for the audience because they feel like they’re with Lara Croft, emotionally, as she goes through all of the action scenes in the film. This film is all about letting the audience connect with Lara. Then we bring in the big action scenes, which are more effective because we’ve gotten to know Lara Croft so well.

Tomb Raider arrives in theaters on March 16.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

11 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

14 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.