Why didn't anyone tell me about this?

Seriously! A new Tomb Raider movie and you keep it to yourself? Greedy bastards

Yes, it is a new Tomb Raider movie. But then things get weird.

It's a fan film made with a £10,000 budget.

Okay. That's not as bad as it sounds.

Angelina Jolie is not in it.

Okay. That IS as bad as it sounds.

September 12th 2008! This is the date that Tomb Raider Chronicles first announced it as being available online. This means you have managed to keep this from me for ten months. I already hate all of you, this just adds more fuel to the fire.

Stephen Reynolds has sent word that Tomb Raider Ascension, a 'fan produced' motion picture based on the woes of Lara Croft, is now available to watch on the film's official web site. Don't let the 'fan film' moniker fool you either, Tomb Raider Ascension is a finely crafted adventure with stunning cinematography accompanied by more than respectable performances from the cast.

It is basically a prequel leading into the first Tomb Raider movie although it has definitely left room for more sequels to itself. The lead actress is no Angelina Jolie but let's face it, who is? Quality wise it's comparable to a made for TV movie. It's not obviously amateur hour. Unfortunately in full screen format, not widescreen and only 60 minutes long. It's a little weak in the CGI (as in none) and other special effects are pretty much absent, gun shots are just standard blanks, not punched up as we are used to in movies and TV. Better that Starship Troopers 2 but how hard is that!

It's worth watching if you are a Tomb Raider fan or if you appreciate decent quality "fan produced" films.

There is an official web site but it's a little sparse right now. I guess they are trying not to get sued.