Colin Farrell points the way to the Chinese Theater's premiere of 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.'
Sherry Lansing and 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life' actor Gerard Butler
Angelina Jolie as a focus of attention and Djimon Hounsou at Monday's Chinese Theater preem
Call them the lips that launched a franchise.
Angelina Jolie -- she of the mega-sensuous pout -- was the focus of attention at Monday's "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" Chinese Theater preem.
"This is the first time a single female has handled the lead in a big, $100 million-plus action movie," said producer
Larry Gordon. "I worked with
Arnold,
Sly,
Bruce and whoever. Angelina is as good an action lead as they are."
Par execs were stressing two points: The pic is an improvement over the first "Lara Croft" movie, and it stands out from the summer's other action films because the stunts are not computer-generated.
Regarding the pic's limited use of CGI, director
Jan De Bont said: "Movies today, you don't know what's real and what's not. Those are real lips." Par topper Sherry Lansing said she saw the film as "more in the vein of Indiana Jones."
And while Jolie was reaping praise, the Chinese theater's sound system was not. Just as at the "Charlie's Angels 2" preem, there were multiple aud complaints about muddy sound, mostly from those seated on the theater's sides.
One "Croft" guest said: "I was grateful when they were in China and there were subtitles."
Among those at the nearby open-air after-party were Par's
Sherry Lansing,
Jonathan Dolgen,
Rob Friedman and
John Goldwyn; producer
Lloyd Levin; stars
Gerard Butler and
Djimon Hounsou; plus guests
Oliver Stone and his "Alexander" star
Colin Farrell (Jolie co-stars);
Rosario Dawson,
George Schlatter,
Lou Pitt,
David Spade,
Jeff Robinov,
Linda Thompson,
Howard Weitzman and
Jim Sheridan.
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