Some male 'Tomb Raider' critics say the movie's star isn't curvy enough — and people aren't having it

• Initial criticisms of the new "Tomb Raider" movie include comments on star Alicia Vikander.
• Some male critics have said Lara Croft's lack of curves is a drawback in the movie.
• They compare her to the 1996 video game character and Angelina Jolie.
• But people are dragging the critics on Twitter for being sexist.
• Vikander's version of Croft is also based on a modern iteration of the video game.

The 2018 "Tomb Raider" reboot premieres Friday, but published reviews from critics are already drawing ire from people who see no need to bring star Alicia Vikander's body into the conversation.

Fringe critics have mentioned the way Vikander's slender physique differs from both the original 1996 video game version of Lara Croft and Angelina Jolie's portrayal of the titular tomb raider in 2001.

TJ Kirk, a YouTuber and podcast host who uses the moniker "Amazing Atheist Guy," tweeted a swear-word-laden criticism of Vikander's breast size as it relates to Croft's character.

The reaction to Kirk's tweet was swift and to the point.

But another voiced added to the criticism of Vikander's body

When reviews for "Tomb Raider" were first published on Wednesday, one critic immediately caught people's attention.

Philly Voice contributor Jerome Maida rated the movie with a C+, and cited Vikander's appearance as part of the issue. As Maida sees it, Vikander had try and fill Jolie's shoes in order for the movie to hope to be successful.

Though as of Thursday morning the review appears to have been updated to remove the paragraph in question, INSIDER was able to view a cached version of the web page. 

Here's the excerpt from the review people took issue with:

"Vikander's appearance is also markedly different than Jolie's. She never comes across as having an ounce of sex appeal and, at times, looks like she could be 16. Toss in the lack of curves and Warner Brothers could have decided to gender bend and make a film titled 'Luke Croft' – and it would have come across the same way. They would not have had to change the script at all. Such interchangeability is not exactly empowering for women."

Both Maida and Kirk didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's requests for comment.

People on Twitter once again vocally opposed this characterization of Vikander.

As many people pointed out, Lara Croft's appearance in the video games has changed over the years. The first iteration was released in 1996, when digital renderings were very unrealistic.

But the new "Tomb Raider" movie reboot is based on a modern version of the game released in 2013 — not the original 1996 nor Angelina Jolie's character iteration.

This doesn't mean Hollywood's portrayal of Lara Croft doesn't have  history of being problematic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Jolie and Vikander wore padded bras while filming the "Tomb Raider" movies. Vikander also underwent rigorous training and added 12 pounds of muscle to her body in the course of her physical preparation for the role.

Regardless of costume choices, the recent outcry makes it clear that many people don't believe how an actress's body appears should be a mitigating factor in a movie critic's opinion of a film.

"Tomb Raider" arrives in theaters on Friday. You can watch the movie trailer here.

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