value,” West said at the time. “She’s not just a pretty face with guns, she’s got a lot more going on.”
This version of Croft, while still steeped in the colonialist and imperialist undertones of the character, at least attempted to give her a purpose beyond personal gain. She was a hero, not just an adventurer. And in a world where the legacy of colonialism and exploitation is being reexamined and challenged, this kind of nuance is essential.
As Lara Croft continues to evolve and adapt to the changing cultural landscape, it will be interesting to see how she continues to be reinterpreted. Perhaps one day, she will truly become a symbol of British scientific excellence, not just because of her origins, but because of the values and ideals she represents. But until then, she remains a complex and controversial figure, a relic of a bygone era struggling to find her place in the modern world.