AS video games continue to grow in popularity, Hollywood continues to try and turn them in to successful movies - with very little to show for it so far.

For more than 20 years they have been attempting and failing to re-invent popular game franchises for the big screen.

The now general consensus is that we are living in a “video game movie adaptation curse” and that can only be proven further by recent attempts such as Warcraft, Assassin’s Creed and Hitman: Agent 47 all translating in to equally terrible movies. Next up, was Tomb Raider.

This is not the first time the iconic Lara Croft has been portrayed on the big screen (Angelina Jolie played her in two over the top action flicks in the early 2000s).

However, this film was to be a more grounded and grittier approach to the character, also being based on the 2013 reboot of the video game series.

This time, it is Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) that plays Lara, a fierce and independent woman who, after discovering some clues regarding the disappearance of her adventurer father, goes on an adventure of her own in search of some answers.

After seeing the film, I can sadly confirm the video game movie curse is still yet to be cured, but we are finally seeing some signs of progress.

Tomb Raider is an inconsistent movie, but one which still features a fascinating story, some exciting action scenes and a commanding leading lady in Alicia Vikander.

Vikander is the big take away from the movie. The Academy Award winning actress got into ridiculously good shape for the role and she has an irresistible screen presence where she’s a believable leading lady, but also someone we root for.

Dominic West (The Affair) does just fine as Lord Richard Croft but is mostly left to explain to the audience what is actually going on whilst Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight) tries his hardest on villain duty but there are very few actors who could elevate this kind of script.

It’s the script which is the films biggest downfall. Not only is it dull and heavy on exposition, it features such eye rolling dialogue it can often be painful to listen to.

The more fantasy-based elements too just didn’t work and ended up coming across as dim-witted.

Norwegian director Roar Uthaug (The Wave) in his first big budget blockbuster handles proceedings fairly well.

He keeps everything going at a good momentum throughout, especially during the action set-pieces which he keeps at a break-neck pace. However, it does lead to a highly disappointing finale which is much tamer than what is teased throughout the first two acts.

The film is far too long even at just under two hours, and the film simply lacks heart and emotion. It has got the tone right but despite several attempted comedic interludes it never springs to life or feels anything other than generic.

The energy and soul of the film is non-existent.

What this film succeeds at most though, is being a faithful video game adaptation.

This truly does play out like real life gameplay and it certainly makes for a fun ride, surely gaining full acceptance from the game’s die-hard fan base. As a general action film, it’s fairly mediocre, but as a video game movie, it is one of the finest we have had to date. Level 1 is now complete.

Whether we have a level 2 is yet to be determined but I believe a sequel would be a far superior film, especially now that the franchise has established its story and lead.

As comic book movies continue to surge and dominate, its mind boggling to think that video game movies are still yet to truly excel, but Tomb Raider is an improvement and hopefully a sign of things to come.

Verdict: A hugely entertaining if soulless origin story, Vikander is the Lara we need and the action is fun but the writing lets this one down.

Best Moment: Lara’s life is on the line stuck inside a damaged plane

Rating: 6/10