DVD
REVIEW: RESIDENT EVIL EXTINCTION
12/29/07
FILM REVIEW:
Resident Evil is one of the most successful franchises
developed by Capcom. In 1998, Capcom introduced the first
game to the world and its popularity was instantly, gamers
around the world delight themselves with this
Survivor-Horror game. The idea was simple based on those old
zombie movies, the main characters have to solve puzzles,
find items, and survived the ever hungry zombies. With the
new developing console systems at that time game looked
outstanding. Since that time the franchise have released a
total of 13 games. In 2002 the franchise took the Hollywood
challenge releasing its first movie, with such a success in
the box office the sequel was released in 2004 with Resident
Evil 2: Apocalypse, which had its basis in the third game.
the movies were not as bad as previous films based in video
games (Remember super Mario Brothers?) . They kept loyal to
the original story and characters. Unfortunately, a third
movie was released in 2007; Resident Evil: Extinction took a
different approach to the story that will make fans of the
series love it or hate it.
The top-secret underground Umbrella Corporation unleashed a
microorganism known as the T-Virus that turns living human
beings into flesh eating cannibal zombies. The Corporation
tried to cover up its mistake but couldn't. The virus
started spreading from one place to another. Within six
months it spread nation wide and still growing throughout
the world. In a world where the undead exceeds the living, a
scientist who's trying to develop a serum to domesticate
them, and a woman who is out hiding from the Umbrella
Corporation, that unleashed the Tyrant virus also known as
T-virus. Alice (Milla Jovovich) in search for food and
gasoline discovers evidence that there might be one place
virus-free, Alaska. Always on the move and looking around
the premises as she goes from one place to another she runs
across an old comrade by the name of Carlos Olivera (Oded
Fehr). Carlos is with a group of convoys that survived in
other places. In the group there is Claire Redfield (Ali
Larter), L.J. (Mike Epps), Nurse Betty (Ashanti), and many
others. In order to make it out alive all they have to do is
get through the zombies, birds, and the corporation in
Fabulous Las Vegas.
Writer Paul W.S. Anderson returned once more and took on a
challenge of making this movie another hit in the box
office, sadly, story wise it is a big let down; do not get
me wrong it is not a bad movie, it will keep you entertain.
The problem with this movie is the script itself since it
does not follows a Resident Evil plot; It tried to do too
much. The stage is too big, Alice new powers raised many
questions and goes out of character; I have not played a
resident evil game where the main character has powers.
Director Russell Mulcahy does an outstanding job working
with what he had, making sure every aspect of it have
quality material. It must have taken a lot of work and
cooperation from his crew trying to get every move, angle,
and stunt. Special effect wise it is the best yet, the
zombies, monsters, underground facilities and of course the
Destroyed Las Vegas looked awesome and impressive.
The entire cast in the movie did a great job. They all got a
chance to demonstrate their acting skills. Even Ashanti, who
only had a good 15-minute in the movie, did a good job
portraying Nurse Betty. Milla
Jovovich shows that she can be a badass in this movie like
any other female heroes (ex The Matrix, Planet Terror, etc).
Mike Epps performance was good but I wish the director would
have exploited more of his comedy skills in the movie while
he was playing L.J. Oded Fehr did an awesome job playing his
character too, he fulfilled his part until the end.
The movie has all the ingredients of a good Resident Game
and movie, unfortunately the recipe was written wrong. It
was said that George Romero was hired to write the script,
since the game is based on his movies, but it was shut down
because it did not relate too much the game, well Paul W.S.
Anderson,s neither. The action scenes will keep the audience
on the edge of their, and the ending will let them wanting
to know what will happen next, however, for a Resident Evil
fan it is hard to say it's worth the money, since it is not
a full adaptation of the game. I recommend this movie to
people who does not know much about the game, but enjoyed
the first two movies, and to fans to judge it by themselves.
Although the ending is left open I hope this is the last
resident evil movie, and concentrate more in the upcoming
games.
VIDEO:
2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
AUDIO:
English
5.1 French 5.1 Spanish 5.1 (Dolby Surround).
Subtitles - English Spanish
French - Optional
SPECIAL FEATURES: The
DVD is well presented it looks attractive to the eye. Also I
recommend to watch the special features, which are very good
and instructive, before the movie specially the first two
options in Beyond Raccon City: Unearthing Resident Evil:
Extinction that way you understand it better and see their
vision. And for fans of the series it has a teaser for the
next CGI movie which looks awesome with characters from the
second game.
Audio Commentary with director
Russell Mulcahy, writer / Producer Paul W.S. Anderson and
producer Jeremy Bolt.
Deleted Scenes: 11 deleted
scenes that did not make it to the movie. Out of these I
think 3 could have added to explained a little more, and
some of them had the comical remarks from Mike Epps that
could be added. (8:29)
Beyond Raccon City:
Unearthing Resident Evil: Extinction : it is about 31 minutes
that takes you to the whole production of the movie from
pre-production to shooting to the end. Here producer, actors
and director give you their vision, intentions, special
effects, make ups, and conditions in which this movie was
filmed. It is the best feature of the DVD
Resident Evil: Degeneration:
A teaser for what seems is going to be the best resident
evil movie yet. Fortunately it is a CGI movie that seems to
follow more the game.
Previews:
previews of fifteen upcoming movies and 2 video games.
RATING BREAK DOWN:
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Review
By Milo
milo@smartcine.com
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