Top 24 Quotes & Sayings by Jan de Bont

When I heard about the first Tomb Raider, I was very interested and I would have liked to have directed that. When I was approached for the second film, I was delighted.

We're surrounded by violence, and we see so much of it on TV, especially the news programs. We almost become numb. And that forces filmmakers to try to outdo themselves... They say, 'Look what I can do,' and it becomes like a showoff thing. To me, that's ridiculous. Filmmaking isn't a contest!

Being in an area of the planet where scientists believe mankind started is quite amazing.

This film, Tomb Raider 2, is a big challenge. It's quite exhausting.

I think what makes a good action film is a story that gets you involved. Just action, by itself, is not going to work.

Technology is a major tool in exploring and challenging your creativity, but it can also overtake your creativity... My mind goes very fast, and I can see all kinds of images that would be spectacular on the screen. But they would cost so much money, and would they really make the story that much better?

I think the audience would like to see movies that are stunning to watch. I really think they'd like to see spectacles.

We are creating a fabulous franchise with an incredible female action hero.

In regards to The Haunting, people compared it to the old movie, which is unfair. We didn't have the rights to the movie. I couldn't duplicate a single thing because that would have been legal infringement.

Angelina wanted to make sure that any fighting in the movie would be comparable to any male actor. Everything from stick fighting to horse riding was real to her.

I really believe action will always be there and will never disappear.

The quality of CGI, audiences are now so used to it. They don't know what is CGI and what is real.

I think there are a lot more relationship scenes in my movies that people tend to overlook. A lot of scenes really feel real and are about the characters.

The bad guys are not typical; they are not just bad, they are interesting. They might be good or bad.

One of the most amazing locations I've ever been is the top of the volcano in Tanzania, Africa. It's an actual volcano where you really have this lava every day.

As a director, you try to find what is creative.

Lara Croft is such a strong individual, she's very driven, she doesn't need a man, she's speaks her own mind, and that she's in control of her own life. It's a lot of what women want and have.

Using my imagination and creativity is exciting to me.

I worked on movies with a lot of violence when I was a cinematographer, and it always bothered me. It's a personal thing. I wouldn't want my kids to see it. I certainly believe that freedom of expression shouldn't be taken away, but I also believe you can make movies that are thrilling and exciting without too much violence.

Summer movies are spectacles; that's what you pay 10 dollars to see. You want to get teased by effects sometimes. I think that will never stop.

We're all complex human beings, and if some of that complexity shows through, I think it's advantageous for the movie.

I had a very strong-willed mother, who I totally adored. She was always in control of her life.

It's always an enormous pressure when you do a sequel. The demands are so high, and it's expensive.

The bad guys are not typical, they are not just bad, they are interesting. They might be good or bad.