Tomb Raider (2018)

A reboot of the TR licence inspired by the events of the 2013 video game, that was itself a reboot of the franchise. It has a younger, less experienced Lara (Alicia Vikander) setting out on her first real adventure, in search of her missing father (Dominic West). It attempts to make her more relatable than the upper-class lass with the bottomless bank-balance that we had before, but the 'working girl' scenes that open the film are genuinely awful. Thereafter it's as bland and workmanlike as the reboot of the game was. In fact, it's measurably worse because the game at least had a level of interactivity to detract from the uninspired storytelling and prosaic personality of its leading lady.

1½ colourful stones out of 5

The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

'Two sisters contend for the affection of King Henry VIII.'

I stole that from IMDB because I’m too uninspired to write anything new. I’m not the ideal target audience for the film, but I gave it a chance anyhow; I’m always pleased to be turned around and have expectations shattered.

The first half hour was really good with interesting camera-work that had me convinced I'd see it through to the end. Then it got repetitive, the same shots were used over and over, the awful golden colour cast offended my eyes, the atmosphere fell into the usual period drama gloom and I got bored.

1 insubstantial character study out of 5