ANGELINA JOLIE'S 2003 ACTION SEQUEL RETURNS TO BBC TONIGHT — BUT MORE THAN 20 YEARS LATER, VIEWERS STILL CAN'T AGREE ON WHETHER IT DESERVED A SECOND CHANCE! The Hollywood star returned as one of cinema's most iconic heroines in a globe-trotting adventure packed with dangerous missions and spectacular action. Yet the follow-up never quite escaped the shadow of its hugely popular predecessor. Some fans consider it an underrated gem, while others believe it failed to capture what made the original so memorable. And one striking difference between the two films may explain why opinions remain so divided.

Fans remain split on whether the 2003 sequel lives up to the action and adventure of the original 2001 film.

An individual dressed in formal attire stands within the interior of an airplane, addressing a gathering of people seated in chairs. The cabin is illuminated by overhead lighting, creating a formal atmosphere.

The film has divided fans(Image: Unknown)

When a timeless blockbuster like this graces cinema screens, it’s unmissable viewing, boasting legendary action set-pieces and one of Tinseltown’s most celebrated stars.

Bursting onto the scene in 2003, this action franchise took the world by storm, though when the follow-up arrived, audiences found themselves divided.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is a thrilling adventure romp inspired by Core Design’s beloved Tomb Raider video game franchise. Angelina Jolie reprises her role as the fearless Lara Croft, tackling another death-defying mission, this time set against the backdrop of a Greek island.

The narrative follows Croft as she races to protect the legendary Pandora’s box following a powerful earthquake that reveals the hidden Luna Temple.

Supporting her are stellar turns from Gerard Butler, Ciarán Hinds, Chris Barrie, Noah Taylor, Til Schweiger, Djimon Hounsou, and Simon Yam. Indeed, the palpable “chemistry” between Jolie and Butler sparked considerable acclaim for the follow-up instalment, reports Wales Online.

An individual, dressed in tactical attire, is positioned in a crouched stance amidst dense vegetation. The individual is holding a firearm, indicating a state of readiness or engagement in a potentially perilous situation. The environment appears rugged and wild, suggesting that the individual may be in a natural or wilderness setting.

Angelina Jolie returned to the role(Image: Unknown)

A Rotten Tomatoes reviewer said: “A polished B-movie, perfect for exercising. The 4K presentation and high production values made it enjoyable, and the special effects still look impressive more than two decades later.”

Another fan added: “The Cradle of Life has long been labelled a failure, but that reputation feels harsher than the film deserves. While the screenplay has structural issues and uneven dialogue, the movie succeeds where it matters most: delivering a confident, globe-trotting action adventure led by an undeniable star performance.

“Angelina Jolie fully owns the role of Lara Croft, bringing physicality, charisma, and authority that make the character feel authentic rather than gimmicky.”

However, others contend the sequel fell short of what was a groundbreaking female-fronted action flick. One disheartened viewer said: “This movie sucked horribly; it had some good special effects and Angelina in her prime to look at( but that’s it).”

An individual is riding a motorcycle along a rugged, mountainous road, with a backdrop of grassy hills and scattered rocks. The rider is dressed in a beige jacket, beige pants, and brown boots, and is wearing sunglasses. The motorcycle is primarily black with some white accents.

The film is on BBC tonight(Image: Unknown)

They’re not the only ones holding this view, with another underwhelmed watcher commenting: “The plot is forgettable despite Angelina Jolie and Gerald Butler having good chemistry.”

Someone even said: “It does improve itself over the first one but it still fails short in every way possible.”

Box office figures reflected the film’s struggles, earning considerably less than its forerunner at $160.1 million versus Tomb Raider’s $275 million haul. That said, numerous critics maintained it surpassed the original in terms of action set-pieces and Jolie’s commanding lead turn.

The original film hit cinemas two years earlier, but following this sequel’s debut, Jolie’s involvement in the franchise concluded before the story was rebooted in 2018. The 2018 reboot was titled ‘Tomb Raider’ and starred Geneva Robertson-Dworet as Lara Croft, and while the film matched the 2001 release’s box office takings, it appears to have made less of a cultural splash.

For anyone who’s missed it, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is scheduled to broadcast on BBC3 this evening, Thursday 5th October, at 8:15pm.