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Lara at the Movies - The Movie Theatre by MichaelP

total rating: 8.70

Gameplay & Puzzles

 Enemies,Objects & Secrets Atmosphere, Sound & Cameras Lighting & Textures
Blue43 9 8 9 9
Brigidsgirl 9 10 10 10
CC 10 9 9 8
Ceamonks890 8 8 9 9
Deekman 10 10 10 10
Dimpfelmoser 10 8 8 8
DJ Full 8 8 8 7
Drakan 8 9 8 8
eRIC 10 9 9 9
eTux 10 8 9 8
G.Croft 8 7 8 10
Gerty 8 8 9 9
gfd 8 8 7 7
Jay 9 8 10 9
JesseG 9 8 9 8
JoeTheCrazyGamer 8 8 6 9
Jorge22 10 10 10 10
Kristina 10 9 9 10
Loupar 10 10 10 10
Magnus 7 7 7 8
manarch2 10 8 10 9
Mman 8 9 8 8
Pedros 7 7 7 6
Phil 10 10 10 10
QRS 10 9 10 8
Ravenwen 10 9 9 9
Ryan 9 9 9 8
Scottie 8 8 9 9
Shandroid 8 8 8 8
Staticon 8 8 9 8
Sutekh 9 8 9 7
Torry 8 8 9 9
Treeble 10 9 10 9
tuxraider 9 7 5 5
uvavoo 10 9 10 10
Whistle 9 10 9 10
Yoav 10 8 9 9
category averages
(37 reviews)		 8.97 8.49 8.76 8.59
 
release date: 25-Jun-2004
# of downloads: 149

average rating: 8.70
review count: 37
 
review this level

file size: 301.83 MB
file type: TR4
class: nc
 


author profile(s):
 email(s):
michael@mprager.de

Reviewer's comments
"

If anyone is confused (I was): all "Lara at the Movies" levels are in one package, and this level is the entry, which gives you access to all the other levels. The download links on the various "Laras at the Movies" entries on trle.net all lead to the same zip file, but the reviews and walk-throughs are separate.

My short summary of the entire level set is that it's old (20 years old by now) and visually very simple, but you can have some fun. Some of the levels are pretty good. Having some patience to play through the not so good entrance section is worth it.

I have to say this entrance level isn't very attractive. It starts with a boring 2 minute sequence, then you arrive at a very blocking looking theater entrance. Then you need to hunt some keys, before you finally open the doors that lead to the movie sub-levels. When you return from one of the levels, you need to pass a challenge before you return to the entrance and can play another level. In contrast to the simplistic gameplay before, these challenges were rather good. I especially liked the push puzzle. The swimming one was very simple but interesting.

" - tuxraider (28-Dec-2023)
"Now that my movie adventure is at its end, it's time to review the hub level that brings it all together. The flow of gameplay is nice and straightforward: after completing the initial task, Lara can enter any of the 6 cinemas, and at the end of each one she must complete another challenge before starting the next one. These post-cinema challenges vary in difficulty; the ones I found the most engaging where the door puzzle, the pushing block puzzle, and the flipmap vase puzzle. A few minor complaints: the fixed camera in the green slope challenge made it hard to see, and the underwater challenge had a rather vague indication of how to turn off the fan. The final puzzle is the culmination of this adventure, in order to solve it the player will need information from all 6 Cinema Stars. I had to stare at them for a little while and break out a notepad, but it felt satisfying to solve once everything clicked (and once I realized the ceiling could be grabbed). Most of the challenge areas are wallpapered and structurally simple, but the strongest visuals are showcased in the satisfying introductory and final cutscenes. It also leaves a mystery...did Lara's cinematic adventures make her wind up in a different theater from the one she entered? Either way, it was a fun journey overall. 51 minutes. The whole adventure took me 16 hours 40 minutes." - JesseG (13-Sep-2021)
"A great hub level and some interesting secrets, a great way to merge the Movie levels into one big TRLE download great Job. 31/40" - JoeTheCrazyGamer (22-Jun-2020)
"Serving as the main hub for this incredibly long adventure, we are brought into the level through a mapped-out camerashot showing off the deserted albeit lived in streets surrounding the movie theater itself(with a subtle, creepy atmospheric tune playing in the background), that serves to solidify general immersion into the game proper and make us aware that something isn't quite right, before we eventually take control of Lara herself and explore this mysteriously unoccupied place to our hearts' content. General gameplay is surprisingly varied throughout our return trips from each movie 'world'(including key hunts, monkey swinging, a maze and even a couple of cleverly-designed puzzles among other things). What I found an especially nice touch at the end of the original visit, was being given the choice of which collection of films to tackle first. And while I approached this series of reviews in numerical order, it was appreciated to have other options open. Objects fit about as well as expected(with effective use of lighting & texturing to properly convey a sense of place). Enemies on the other hand, merely consist of what I presume to be guard dogs left behind by the lax security to deal with any trespassers on the premises(and whilst they do make sense within the context of the environment you're in, let's just say they're not going to contribute to the overall challenge). In conclusion, a very entertaining detour level between said movie worlds that offers a quick breather, before you get back to business." - Ceamonks890 (22-Jul-2017)
"This is the glue that holds the Lara at the Movies levels together. For me, it's always tricky to review hub levels, but this has more gameplay and thus, more entertaining than others. You get a wealth of gameplay ideas here, including a vase puzzle, jump sequence, monkeyswing puzzle and a maze. Textures were nicely applied, if rather plain. Overall the entire set took me 16 hours and 40 minutes and it was time well spent. I probably enjoyed Star Wars, Stargate, Blood From the Mummy's Tomb and Alien Resurrection the most, but each level is worth playing. Many thanks to the team for bringing us a milestone in custom level history. Well done!" - Ryan (29-Sep-2016)
"Entrance halls should and shouldn't be like this - you get entertained while waiting for display but getting out may be a trouble. This is more than a proper hub - apart from intro and outro each break between movie chapters provides a different challenge, including 2D platformer sections. New players may wonder what makes these bits so different, but games really did look like this few brickstone ages ago. Each such challenge exists in two variants: basic for progress and complex for secret, a very nice concept... the point is one of them is missing a secret so if you don't know in advance you keep looking. The secret content itself seems ordinary but if you take a closer look, Michael follows his host instincts - you don't need much light and won't die in the hub, but medikits and flares are precautiously provided as exactly what you might miss in particular adventures. After going through all the cinemas we read their respective artifacts for information needed in the final escape puzzle, and while the project is missing Batman, it seems Michael is the Riddler... the task looks like a gateway to hell rather than to freedom but I'm a proud player who both passed and failed it. More precisely: with the clues I managed to produce a map exactly like in the walkthru, but then I somehow failed to follow my own map and better not to go into details of that... Anyway just before I get out, the lounge is also a comfy place to sit for a while, cool down after all the adventures and summarize the whole series. I think the arrangement of some levels should differ. For example: The Hound of the Baskervilles feels like a sequel to Blair Witch Project, so the two should get into one cinema. This would also make all spare colors leave the Hitchcock group, granting these movies their own greyscale chapter. 12 Monkeys and Jurassic Park, as a vision of dark future, should go together as well as the Alien which also had 12 xenomorphs onboard the Auriga. The rest of sorting appears fine. But if I was to recommend you the cinema order to follow, it would be 5-4-1-6-3-2, not because of ups and downs each community project has, but because of tension handling: Scott for initial immersion, Titia for keeping you in, Thierry when you're ready for deeper isolation, Emoo when you can take tricky puzzles, eTux to strenghten the thrill, Debbie to combine it with challenge, GMac for adding beast to challenge, Codo for space beast challenge, Cowboy to introduce treasure hunt, Psiko to mark it with a hit point, RaiderX to power it with puzzles, eventually Josep for strong conclusion. After an hour of thinking I find this pattern the best possible but it might be your favourite will differ as the chapters may relate to each other in multiple ways and you can always switch the order as you replay, which is possibly the most important feature of the series. In any case and order, it all compiles into a great adventure, unprecedented, unfollowed and predominantly unforgettable." - DJ Full (20-May-2016)
"Level serving as liaison to all movie theaters. The poussable part is a little time to understand and putting. The timerun for the secret is very good." - Drakan (10-Oct-2014)
"This is the hub level that leads to all the other levels in the pack, and leads back. Visually it does the job; it's mostly quite cramped and relatively simple, but it pulls off the movie theatre feel (a peek into the actual theatres and not just getting warped at the entrance would have been nice though). To be fair though, making it too complex would have probably made making it a fully polished hub level extremely difficult (more than it was already).
This level is initially the intro the project (including a nice movie at the start), with some tasks to accomplish before you open the Cinema entrances and start on the actual movies. However, every time you finish the levels in a Cinema you get warped to an area with a puzzle to solve for one of six stars (that provide the solution to escape when put together). I can't say I'd miss them too much if they weren't there, but the puzzles are enjoyable enough, and not so difficult and long that they get in the way of the Cinemas themselves. There are also some nice ideas like seeing into certain areas from the outside. The final puzzle can be solved reasonably with all six stars (which I did), although you'll probably need to employ some trial and error to get a feel where things are (it helps to know right away that you can monkey swing too). The ending felt slightly anticlimactic after the puzzle, and, while it wraps things up, something like all the movie villains coming into the real world for a last attempt to kill Lara would have brought the premise together a bit more. It does it's job though.
And now for some final stuff on LATM as a whole (unrelated to the scoring here). It's easily one of the best projects in TRLE history, but I do think the cohesiveness could have been tweaked in a few ways, such as fixing the difficulty curve that's currently all over the place. While that's a general potential issue with making a project involving multiple people, I still wonder if things could have been evened out a bit, and going from a relatively simple level to a one that requires esoteric techniques and perfect movements feels somewhat unpolished at times. It also felt like inventory should have been reset between movies, as you obviously weren't intended to have the massive arsenal you've built up in some, but maybe that wasn't possible. Those were the only problems I had with the project in general though." - Mman (02-Feb-2012)
"There are ideas who quickly fall into oblivion. And there are ideas who are not realizable, all the same what one tries. And there are ideas from which one believes as a player that they are impossible to be realise. Though I have learnt in the meantime, that is nearly for everything possible in the CL-Universe, but still today I am astonished at the fact that there is really such a project. Now it is not in such a way that LatM is absolutely unknown to me, because I have played this level package already about 5 years ago. But at that time I have played it just for the fun of it without bother myself about how much work must be behind. Now, in the meantime, I can roughly imagine, how big the amount of work must have been. This already starts with letting look the different level in such a way that they are more or less similar to the suitable movie. Above all the black-and-white-movies might have been a big challenge. And then still comes that somebody must co- ordinate the whole project. And it needs a common superstructure because to jump simply thus from movie to movie would be dull. So much to my general thoughts about this mammoth's project.
The Movie Theatre: This level is the common superstructure which holds together everything. Where, otherwise, one goes if one wants to relax and wants to see a movie. Or in this case several movies. However, this also means that Michael the one is who has pulled the short straw. Because who pulls the short straw, is always the loser. No question, his level is basically most important in the whole project, because how should one be able to see various movies without a cinema? But on the other hand can Michael not furnish proof that he can recreate a movie. And more attention is given as a rule to a movie than to a ordinary cinema. But, at least, this cinema looks very good. Above all the Flyby at the level beginning is a right feast for the eyes. The same one is valid for the Flyby at the level end. And as an addition there were a few more interesting duties." - Scottie (05-Jul-2011)
"This hub level for the wonderful Lara at the Movies series is not just a level where you have to go to the different warp triggers and get to the real levels; no, this is something completely different. As a "normal" hub level, this is split into few parts, in fact seven. The first part is quite classic exploration gameplay; you have to find several keys and open the doors to be able to enter the various cinemas. It all starts with a wonderful cutscene, a bit too long in my opinion, but with great audio. Lara shoots few dogs, gets into the roofs. The following parts are different, you arrive at a side passage of the theatre and have to do more challenging tasks to get the movie stars at the end and to the hub room with the cinemas. The second part was a little block puzzle, a bit irritating at first without the help of the walkthrough, but still a great task. Part three is a very tight timed run that even gets more tight when going for a secret, with very accurate jumps needed, a very hard task. The next (fourth) part was my personal favourite, with a nice trigger puzzle that opens and closes doors. Parts five and six were different fixed camera mazes, not too hard, maybe the perfect-to-time jumps in part five were a little challenge. The last part however was a little puzzle, you had to raise and lower some one click high ledges to get some vases to the trigger tiles, I liked the general idea, but I had to climb up and down quite often so it was a bit boring after some minutes. Nearly all parts had interesting secrets to find in it, the end of the series also was very well done with a nice fire puzzle, somehow it didn't work so well for me, but I at least could see the brilliantly done end cutscene, with Lara climbing a horse and galloping to the horizon. I can highly recommend this series, which had a very strong hub level. Hopefully the next community series that is in planning will be as much as good. Kudos to all builders - they have done a great job!" - manarch2 (05-Mar-2011)
"This is the hub level that connects the different movie theaters together and without it there wouldn't be any movie theaters so it is of course the most important level of the series. Besides that, the level is also played in increments between the movies and it could have been just a regular hub for accessing the theaters. Instead it is a real level on it's own with tasks and many things to do in between switching theaters. The game play isn't as easy as one might think at first. I expected this to be a walk in the park but it sure wasn't. One has to find several keys in order to progress in the beginning to even get access to the first movie theater and also fight of a bunch of guard dogs. In between the different theaters is a challenging (and if that wasn't enough, it's time too) jumping and climbing sequence, which took me many attempts to complete, even with the walk-through at hand, but it sure felt good when finally done. The following door puzzle was quite challenging also and it took me a long time to figure out the map and where the trigger tiles caused what door to open. The green jump pit was fun and very interesting because of the fixed camera angle, but it wasn't really hard after all and the side view 2D underwater maze brought back memories of the old days of gaming and was a very nice touch in my opinion. Towards the end there is a big and hard final puzzle and it ends with a beautiful cut scene where we can watch Lara mounting a horse and riding into the sunset. It has been a wonderful series and I wanted to thank Michael Prager and the all the other builders for putting this together. Final overall stats of the whole series: 22 hours of net game play and 67 secrets found. What an adventure!" - Blue43 (02-Dec-2010)
"I really liked the movie theater level. It was a great first and in-between levels that linked all the movie levels together. The jumping sequence in the basement was fun and unexpected as well! Very nice." - Shandroid (27-Oct-2008)
"I've just recently finished replaying "Lara at the Movies" for yet one more time, and decided to finally review the rest of the levels, starting off with the 'Movie Theater' which is the backbone of the project. The 'Movie Theater' is essentially a series of intervals that connect the levels which are groupped in themes, but they are not just simple levels; each one of them is a masterfully organized puzzle (involving, among others, pushblocks, timed jumps, mazes of all sorts and many more), quite complex and tough most of the times, providing a special challenge that leads to the aquisition of a star, which is necessary for the completion of the adventure. Although it's difficult to judge those individual intervals separately from the whole, puzzle-wise and gameplay-wise at least they are genial and impressive, all fitting perfectly the spirit of the project. Seriously, I would have enjoyed immensely a whole game made this way." - Ravenwen (02-Sep-2007)
"I originally played Lara at the Movies immediately after it was released in June 2004, fully intending to review every level. Unfortunately, I didn't feel up to it, so I just wrote down my times for every level, thinking that I'd write my reviews a few days later. It's now almost two and a half years later, and I've just replayed Lara at the Movies, because I never did get around to writing those reviews. I sure am glad I neglected to review such good levels, though, or playing through them a second time would have been out of the question. The Movie Theatre serves as a hub for all the other levels, and while it wouldn't be a good level on its own, it does a good job at linking the other adventures with each other. Between every cinema, there's a five-minute challenge to be had, before it's off to the next level. These are all rather manageable, and only getting one of the secrets is really challenging (if you've played the level, you know the one I'm talking about). Some of the challenges are fun, others are tedious. The whole adventure ends with a very clever puzzle involving fire tiles and the stars you've picked up, and I was very impressed by how the author had managed to make a puzzle that wasn't actually solvable without having played through all of the levels (unless you use trial and error, but that would take ages). I really wasn't sure how he was going to pull that one off. As I said, it's a very clever puzzle, but I can't help but feel that it was rather anticlimactic after such a long adventure. Something more thrilling would have been nice. Rating this as a stand-alone level is difficult, so take my ratings with a grain of salt. It's all too scattered to be reviewed properly. All in all, I spent ten hours and thirty minutes playing Lara at the Movies the first time, and nine hours and fifty-five minutes the second time around. And seeing as how that's just my net gaming time (my actual playing time far exceeds those numbers), there's no doubt that this is one of the longest adventures out there, and longer than a lot of commercial games released these days. Some minor issues aside, Lara at the Movies was and still is a resounding success." - Magnus (15-Oct-2006)
"It is hard to review this level without mentioning the TREMENDOUS effort Michael must have put in to this project, from the coordination of the whole thing, to the absolutely professional way in which the whole 'product' was put together. For all the world this could quite easily be a commercial release (if only that were possible). I am astounded that Eidos did not think of doing this, it would have been a coups on their part if they had. Back to the level. Well, Michael could have settled for a quite straightforward hub level with easy access to each of the various cinemas. He went for the braver route of having to solve various puzzles in order to progress. I say brave, because some players may be frustrated to have to solve a puzzle first before entering the cinemas, so a bit of a risk. The level opens with a super flyby and an extremely well modelled exterior area before finally ending up at the cinema. Original music accompanies the flyby perfectly. I won't go into great detail about all the various areas, but I would like to mention my favourite area, which is the Attic area. As a builder I can appreciate the time and effort which went into this area (and the graph paper!!) very clever. As a player, I was thwarted over and over again, but it had that 'addictive' appeal about it which made me want to continue well into the late hours. (did I mention that I was not a particularly good player). Again a risky area, because it is based on monkey-swinging everywhere. The area is quite dark, but I could see all textures, so not too dark. Only used flares occasionally. A very nice area. Indeed the variety of the puzzles throughout made the risk that Michael took in putting these obstacles before the player wanting just to enter the Cinemas, worthwhile. A gamble, but it payed off in my opinion. In conclusion, a well put together hub level, with great puzzles, good, workmanlike graphics, and admired all the more because Michael did not take the easy way out. Well done that man!" - uvavoo (02-Apr-2006)
"The hub level for all the movie levels and it is very well done and you really get the movie feeling strolling arround the corridors waiting for the next movie to screen. The puzzles are hard and very well done. I also like the different ways Michael has done the puzzles after you return from the movies. Especially the block puzzle and the part where you see everything from the "side" so to speak! Excellent stuff. The textures and lighting is great but not as good as the rest. All of the secrets are hard to find and it is tough test to get them all. I'm also very impressed of how complex this level must have been to build. Just imagine all the level jumps LOL! Top stuff Michael. I really hope for a sequel, as there are tons of more movies out there for Lara to visit!" - QRS (08-Dec-2005)
"I loved the intro to these levels; it was very well done and helped get you in the mood for some serious raiding. I didn't, however, like the 'monkey swing puzzle' right at the very start because I just found it far to difficult and confusing and almost threw in the towel because of it. I don't think such a potentially difficult situation should be put right at the start of a set of levels as it may put people off. I loved the timed jump sequence though, even though it was a real tough challenge (but not too tough like the previous one). The door puzzle was quite a bit of fun as well. I didn't like the camera angle on the swimming bit because I found it very confusing. The final puzzle was very tough to work out but that's because of two things really. Firstly, the puzzle is pretty much an original. Secondly, the stars that give you the clues make you dizzy when you try to examine them (apart from the 6th, which can be examined when it's 'static'). The theatre itself was rather nice and I liked the unusual addition of sleeping guard dogs. The final cut scene must rank in the top 3 best ever and is a proper 'true' ending, not just a black screen then the load menu. Well I've finally completed the entire TRLE Gold project and a proud day it is for little old me! There were plenty of highs though: the scares in Blair Witch, Psycho, Hounds of the Baskervilles and Alien Resurrection (AR). The ocean and beach of Treasure Island were very well done, as were the general graphics of Stargate and AR, not to mention the black and white aspect of both Psycho and Rebecca. The enemies in Star Wars (SW) and AR. The pod race in SW and the giant boat in Pirates of the Caribbean. Lastly, the Alien Queen in AR and the Rancor in SW are both worth a big mention. There were, of course, some down points, such as the horrible fixed cameras in both AR and Blood from the Mummy's Tomb, or the general maze-like feel and periods of boredom from SW. The endless back-and-forthing in Twelve Monkeys and the slight feel of 'what now' in Jurassic Park. When all's said and done though, this series was generally of very high quality and, as a whole, felt just epic. I can't wait for the next collaboration! I finally completed this series in about 28 hours and found 36 secrets. A very big thank you to all who were involved!" - gfd (06-Mar-2005)
"I found some bits of the theatre portions to almost be too tricky, but had a lot of fun playing them (for the most part). The atmosphere and objects in the theatre were totally cool, nice to only have dogs jumping out, although I did expect some sort of 'boss' at the end (just the whole set up story I guess made me think I'd have to kill a bunch of mobsters in the end). Lara riding off into the sunset was way cool." - Brigidsgirl (11-Feb-2005)
"Hard to review this one, since, as an interlude hub level, you go through it bit by bit. This is mainly a puzzle level, with some enemies (dogs), some tricky jumps and one of the best timed-run I've ever been through. The puzzles are absolutely great, various and difficult. The type that have you actually take notes and draw maps, which is rather unusual when it comes to Tomb Raider (actually, it was the first time ever I had to do that). A special mention to the final ordeal, which is one of the most clever things I've ever saw, although quite simple when you finally understand how it works. For me, one of those eurêka moments that I do appreciate a lot." - Sutekh (06-Feb-2005)
"What a perfect way to tie together such diversity! And it all felt so familiar. The Leow's Metropolitan Theater in Brooklyn was once a huge beautiful single screen theater. In the early evolving days of 'the multiplex' The Metro was converted into in a four screen multi. After several years it closed down. The Movie Theater reminded me hugely of that theater. Only because I worked for several years in a performing arts center and I've had some pretty good access to a few of New York's larger venues with stage and screen over the years. All the strange passages and weird ways and sublevels in and around the theater are so much like wandering though the real thing. This was such a wonderful showcase for everybody involved. I tip my hat to you all. And in 2002 The Leows Metropolitan re-opened fully restored as the new home and campus of the Brooklyn Taberbacle." - Deekman (03-Jan-2005)
"The hub of the whole 'Gold' project is the cinema. It opens with an excellent flyby accompanied by the music of dhama and leaves you in the foyer of the cinema. The game is afoot! :-) Running about and exploring this empty cinema solving puzzles and opening a plethora of gates is really good fun. A few guard dogs caught me by surprise but in the end I got the cinema gates open and entered the first film. At the end of each feature we find ourselves back in another part of the theatre facing a puzzle to allow us back to the main area for the next film. I loved the block puzzle at the end of the cinema 1 feature. The timed jumps at the end of cinema 2 - all I can say is I never knew how mean and sadistic Michael could be. It took me nearly as long to complete this short sequence as it took to play the whole of the preceding film level. And I thought the Indiana Jones level was hard! The door puzzle at the end of cinema 3 is devious but do-able requiring thought as opposed to hammering the hell out of the keyboard - I liked it. Another highlight is the jump pit after cinema 4. It took a short while to find the route but was still an eminently do-able puzzle. The labyrinth swim at the exit of cinema 5 caught me by surprise - I finished it in seconds. Splendid. I thoroughly enjoyed the vase puzzle at the end of cinema 6. That final puzzle at the exit though. This only confirmed for me how devious Mike can be :). It was only thanks to Dutchy and his walkthrough that I finally escaped the picture-house. Overall the Gold project has been one of the best and most memorable raiding experiences I have had in a long time. Congratulations and thanks to everyone involved. So many highlights - I may have to play again sometime if I get the chance." - Staticon (23-Dec-2004)
"Start in the theatre and you rather gently get into the scenario of the 'Movies' with a little mini level to open up the screen 1. Often you finish a level with relief after a timed run or some other nervous tension creator then you are back in the theatre and confronted by dogs etc and another puzzle. Each one is different the solution approach is also changed. Rather than go into each puzzle and create a spoiler just take it from me the author knows how to create puzzles. After the last film you have to exit the cinema by a very evil & cunning puzzle and away into the sunset you ride (or was it dawn?). It must have been difficult to link each film section but this has been very well done." - Whistle (09-Dec-2004)
"The Movie Theatre is the all connecting level but it's also a level on its own. Having separated sequences of 10 to 20 minutes each every time you finish a cinema you will be going back to the Movie Theatre to find there's a new different and usually challenging puzzle for you to solve in order to get the Walk Of Fame star and eventually the Movie Stars which altogether work for the most unique puzzle I've ever seen. You'll be going through tight timed runs involving sloped blocks and monkey swings a unique side camera view of a swimming room and also of a jumping sequence a pushable vases puzzle with flipping rooms... The opening flyby of the game is also worth a mention pity Lara couldn't explore that part of the city and the final cutscene was also brilliantly done. 6 secrets. 11/04" - Treeble (13-Nov-2004)
"Here is the most difficult level of the TRLE'04 project: I mean the most difficult to rate because the gameplay is not continuous and the settings are always the same. Even with these problems is very funny to play: there are great puzzles and challenges in this level; the secrets and the enemies (dogs) are perfectly hidden. All the game is supported by this level and it deserves a good rating. The movie theatre gives two perfect flybys that show the start and the end of the adventure (great Lara riding the horse....). I've loved the whole game: Lara At The Movies is between the rest of the Tomb Raider games. Congratulations and thank you all for this beautiful adventure." - Loupar (08-Nov-2004)
"Movie Theatre is not only the central pillar that support the whole game but also as we can expect from the author provides a lot of different and fun puzzles to solve. The difficulty is just fine the puzzles and tasks to perform are far from being simple but they are not too much difficult either. The placement and use of the enemies is very good. In the beginning you can see those dogs quietly sleeping behind doors but they jump on you when you don't expect it! The music at the beginning is beautiful and the flybys are impressive. Very well done!" - eRIC (01-Nov-2004)
"This is basically an echo of the review submitted by Jorge22. My 4-10 rating is based not so much on the technical merits of the Movie Theatre levels that serve as the glue that holds together the Lara at the Movies project but on the basis of the immense amount of time and creative energy that went into the compilation of the Lara Gold 2004 CD. I've enjoyed this production free of charge for the past two and a half months and Michael deserves a huge round of applause for spearheading the project. Bravo and thank you from the bottom of my heart." - Phil (18-Oct-2004)
"This beautiful movie theatre is the beginning the end and in-between-movies level of the TRLE Gold 04. It must be a rather ungrateful task to make a level that way - in-between. But I think Michael did a good job with various puzzles and jumps and traps to be able to move on in the whole game. Well maybe except from that devious last monkey swing 'puzzle' - grrrr! ;-) Enemies are guard dogs that often attack from behind! A great flyby to start with and a great - and appropriate - flyby to end the game." - G.Croft (09-Sep-2004)
"Just install the damn thing get some Popcorn hit New Game lean back and enjoy the initial flyby. Me I already watched it twice (first at the first HH Meeting and the second time during beta testing) so I went to the kitchen brewed myself a fresh mug of coffee did the dishes cleaned out the cat's loo and returned just in time for the climax. Ok so maybe you usually don't encounter that many obstacles if you want to attend a film screening but then again it has never been so easy to locate the crowbar. Halfway through the Gold Project I was determined to award this with a 10 for gameplay cause I think we have to take the overall concept into consideration and that is pretty ingenious in my view and it works a treat with all the different films. I also liked the various tasks and puzzles that you have to do in between the double features. Always fun and never too frustrating until well until I came to the final part. I couldn't read what was written on the stars and as I had no forum access at the time I had to do it by trial and error which was indeed very irritating. But that was a month or so ago and now I'm willing to concede that it was probably the fault of my computer or something and the frustration has finally subsided. Atmosphere- and texture wise it is no match for most of the levels you work your way through in between but hey by definition it has to be a Multiplex right and Multiplexes are never very atmospheric so I let it pass this time. I wondered briefly for what reason you get an underwater maze in a cinema but doubtlessly it is written somewhere that this cinema is haunted. Right?! Yeah? Of course that explains it then. It ends as it starts with one awe inspiring flyby; so much more fascinating as I hadn't seen this one before." - Dimpfelmoser (01-Sep-2004)
"Well I liked Michael's previous levels but I don't understand what this is. First flyby was excellent - you see the rainy atmosphere surrounds the city and the camera closes to the gate of the cinema. But when you see inside of the building you don't see the cinema. Before every cinema are doors but they look like in the prison. I don't understand it. In the place where you find first place are a lot of pipes but they are not lighted - in the room is a dark but pipes are bright - it looks strange. Puzzles after parts of the movies were on the middle-level. The best of this level was for last puzzle with Movie Stars. Everything would be better if the graphic side was better because those textures are not like in the cinema." - Pedros (10-Aug-2004)
"This is the linking level for the TRLE Gold project from which you access all the others in turn. It must have been a difficult remit and I must say I think Michael has made a very good job of it. Following a superb flyby of a rainy night in the city we see Lara standing in the foyer of the theatre and a very impressive looking place it is too. At least now we know that Lara does occasionally take a break. Initially after some searching for keys (mostly guarded by dogs) you manage to open all the cinema doors and enter whichever film takes your fancy returning to the theatre after each section and gaining a 'movie star' each time. Back from cinema 1 you are faced with a really good block puzzle. After cinema 2 there is a jumping sliding general bouncing about pillar run for a timed door that I enjoyed a lot. On return from cinema 3 there is a door puzzle and after cinema 4 a really inventive sliding and jumping routine made challenging by the camera angle. The swimming through tunnels sequence after cinema 5 was probably the least challenging but visually most stunning set piece and the vase puzzle after cinema 6 was novel and took a bit of working out. The grand finale star puzzle was fiendishly tricky to work out and for a while I thought I would never make my exit from the theatre but the reward was a most beautiful end scene. I shan't spoil the surprise but it's something I've always wanted to see Lara do and I have no idea just how it was accomplished. Very clever indeed." - Jay (28-Jul-2004)
"This is indeed hard to rate as it is cut into small pieces. It is the level that connects everything together and if you read some of Michaels reviews you know a bit what he likes in a game well he sure showed us in this level. Some of the tasks are pretty simple and some are hard to do like the timed one as that took me the best part of the day. Visual they look great though. As you stay in the theater all the time (apart from the ending) there isn't much more to see than the theater. The puzzles however to get your hands on all the keys to unlock all the doors is well done. The connecting parts are very cleverly constructed. The main goal once you start to first see the movies is to collect Stars and secrets and that was in some parts pretty hard. I did only get 42 out of the 70 and missed two in this level so this means this whole project is on my list for replay. The ending you just have to see for yourself though. 16-07-2004. For every person who participated in this grand adventure my thanks as I think it is a complete different ball game to make a level on your own than making this adventure come to life. My thanks to you as well Michael to be the motor behind it all" - Gerty (26-Jul-2004)
"It's always there always present from the beginning until the end and yet it may pass unnoticed among the remnant levels. As a good director Michael allowed every other author to shine while retreating to a somewhat darker corner all for the sake of the global movie. Good honest textures in this cinema with so much to offer right from the very start (I liked the rain outside which could be seen from the inside) until the moment when Lara goes of on a horse into the sunset like a good cowgirl and then the credits roll to the sound of a well chosen 'Pistolero' tune. In between cinemas Michael entertained us with all kinds of tomb raiding puzzles from water puzzles to jumping and grabbing from pushing and pulling vases to opening/closing doors and... the last 'horrid' puzzle to open the way out. Brilliant? Maybe so but somewhat on the Myst side - I'm glad there was a walkthrough available! ;) To cut it short I must give the whole set of tens to Michael for the idea for a perfect directing work and for a final product (free of charge!) which I'm sure will remain in TR history - and video games history if some author is clever enough to notice - for as long as someone still remembers a pixel lady named Lara Croft. Michael congratulations!" - Jorge22 (26-Jul-2004)
"The Movie Theatre itself contained puzzle elements as you initially entered the theatre (I have never had so much trouble in my life getting a ticket to see a movie) and between the sessions in the various cinemas. I would have preferred paying for my entry in the time honoured fashion. Perhaps to locate a token and use of a vending machine would have been more appropriate. Most of these intermissions were nicely thought out and executed. The timed door over a water area with sloped offset blocks was a particularly nice challenge. The final puzzle to exit the cinema was far too cryptic. I had to resurrect the slide rule and logarithm tables to work my way out of there. The final cut scene shows Lara riding off into the sunset on her trusty horse. Horse? I don't get it? There was not a western on show at all. Perhaps Hendrik Kunze's 'The Quick and the Dead' should have been substituted for one of the lesser offerings. However all in all this is a great achievement in the annals of raiding history. Sure it could have been finessed a little more tweaked here and there and one or two mediocre offerings left out (in relation to the magnificence of the others) but all accolades to Michael and Crew. Nice job and one I would not have missed." - Torry (24-Jul-2004)
"This game is the one that connects the entire TRLE Gold project which means it made it possible for us the play an entire adventure based on movies. I am amazed of the work that's involved in this project and have to say that the concept is brilliant. I don't know what encouraged Michael to recruit all those builders but I am so glad he did so. Just the idea of having so many of the great builders out there working for one big project makes you feel excited imagine actually playing something like that it's a feeling that I can't really describe. It's done professionally and can beat every official TR game anytime any day. In fact this is the best TR game I have ever played so far that is because I am hoping we will see another project with more builders involved and ones we haven't had the pleasure of seeing their work in the '04 edition. A few words about what you will see in the many parts of Movie Theatre now. I can't possible list them all but at the beginning there's an impressive flyby that will introduce you to the area with the cinemas starting from the outside which unfortunately we can't visit. Then you see the gates to the cinemas and have to fight a few dogs to proceed. Keys star items stars with important information are a few of the items you'll acquire. There is a block puzzle an area with many doors and triggers challenging jumps a very challenging timed run with a few tricky jumps involved and many other things to keep you busy for weeks along with every movie. I was puzzled as to how to rate Movie Theatre but the concept alone deserves the highest rating. I found six secrets and I am proud to be part of the community that made this game possible. Well done to all of you who participated in this project and of course let's not forget the professional design of the CD booklet excellent work Regina. A big thank you and well done goes to the man that coordinated the whole thing and visualized something as great as this to Michael. I am in awe boss :-)" - Kristina (15-Jul-2004)
"The first level of the great Lara at the Movies project from here you choose which movies (levels) you want to play and you come back here after you finish the level pick up a movie star and choose another one. It's a sophisticated level - wait until you have the all six movie stars to solve the last Puzzle. The level starts with a long impressive flyby that brings you to the Theatre. There you need to find few keys open doors kill dogs and then you can choose your movies to enjoy." - Yoav (11-Jul-2004)
"It is a bit difficult to rate/review Michael's offering for the project since it isn't a monolith level but its various parts are 'scattered' thorough different parts of the TRLE Gold project but it works pretty well anyway and can take up with any other level of the project in quality. The level obviously is finished only when you finish the whole game - as it starts out with some simple key gathering action and you return here for a fun challenging puzzle after each of the 6 cinemas. The tasks vary to mind-boggling door-mazes fun jumps swims movable block puzzles and timed runs with the most difficult puzzle being the exit puzzle which seems quite enigmatic but you get your hints thorough the cinemas so can eventually escape too though it might not be the easiest task despite all the hints. But the ending is worth all the blood and sweat - one of the best for any level I've seen out there so won't spoil it for you :) I would say the usual stuff - i.e. Highly recommended worth a play but if you attempt the gold project (what you definitely should!) you will undoubtedly enjoy this in its full beauty anyway so will just generally recommend you to play the Gold project - Lara at the movies :-) HAPPY RAIDING with this one's guaranteed lol ;-)" - eTux (01-Jul-2004)
"Michael's Cinema is the hub of this Gold project. Lara goes to the movies and manages to get herself locked in. So she has to find a way out. You can go through a curtain and see the exit but it's not possible to get out without knowing the way. And the way out is to go into each cinema and get a movie star - not the leading actor in the film (although that would be cool) - but an actual star with clues written on it. You can choose any cinema you like each time. When you've played each film set you come back to the cinema and have to perform a task to get your star. These tasks have all the hallmarks of Michael's forte very good puzzles and there is a secret in each one. Back at the exit with your stars and now you must work out the way across. I had to draw a grid to do it. Of course as per usual I did this the hard way. I jumped to each safe square. Then Michael told me the ceiling was a monkey swing. Sheesh! If I had only known that my life would have been a lot easier. The opening flyby is a long one accompanied by lovely music the camera scans the area in front of the cinema and hones in on Lara trapped inside. I like Lara's outfit very much and the cinema itself is well done. The crowbar is conveniently left on the counter and then you start to explore the cinema building for keys. The enemies here are guard dogs and they gave me a fright each time they showed up. One time we get up into the attic and have to monkey swing past steam pipes to get a key and come back up here later to get another one. To get up to the attic a glass case has to be pushed out of the way. Coming back each time in my game this glass case still has to be pushed and strangely enough all the doors you open at the start through the curtains are closed again and the pickups miraculously reappear. I'm sure this was an unavoidable hiccup and is really no big deal considering the great work in this whole project. And the final flyby. What can I say. Well actually I can't say anything because I'd ruin it for everyone else. Suffice to say it's brilliant and well in keeping with the theme of this project. In other words Lara rides off into the sunset. I'd like to say what a pleasure it was to beta test and play this long and rewarding project. And my congratulations to all the builders including Michael here on an exceptional effort not to be missed." - CC (01-Jul-2004)