Lara Croft ventures to an underwater temple in search of the mythological Pandora's Box but, after securing it, it is promptly stolen by the villainous leader of a Chinese crime syndicate. Lara must recover the box before the syndicate's evil mastermind uses it to construct a weapon of catastrophic capabilities.
Jolie remains more magazine cover than actress (or movie star), and the franchise she supports is more Nintendo after-school time killer than rousing adventure cycle.
– Michael Atkinson,
Village Voice,
29 Jul 2003
rotten:
The direction is so workmanlike, so dispassionately competent, that it seems De Bont may be as resigned to his career's downward plummet as those of us who admired his debut film, the thrilling Speed, are puzzled by it.
– Scott Foundas,
L.A. Weekly,
30 Jul 2003
rotten:
Scenery can't save this blindingly dull sequel.
– Peter Travers,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jul 2003
fresh:
This Indiana Jones knockoff goes down smoothly enough, and Jolie isn't bad at all.
– J. R. Jones,
Chicago Reader,
12 Apr 2010
rotten:
The less welcome news is that most of the same shortcomings that cramped the first installment are still dogging the sequel, which delivers on action but dawdles through downtime.