Resident Evil (Sony)
Available Now on VHS/DVD
Review by Sparrow
Now
there have been slews of movies that are based on video games dating
back to the beginning of the Nintendo franchise. Some have been good.
Most have been downright awful though. Resident Evil, while looking
pretty, leans more to the latter.
Corporation makes secret weapon within a top-secret high-tech underground
facility. It gets loose. Building becomes infected (basically becoming
zombies). Corporation then sends in a team to investigate what happens.
Added in are characters that are constantly recovering memories to add
intrigue...but all in all, the plot is just stale.
The key to these movies, which most directors have real trouble with,
is to get people that aren't into the whole video game experience to
shell out money to see these films too. Resident Evil failed big time
on this matter. Depressingly, I am by no means a fan of the Resident
Evil game series (having only played it once), so I just couldn't get
into it at all. This is one of those movies where, I'm guessing, that
you have to be a fan of the series it is based on to fully enjoy the
experience.
Ignoring the fact the game exists doesn't really help matters at all
when watching. With extremely sub-par acting from Michelle Rodriguez,
who attempts to portray a Special Forces unit, but ends up coming across
as a steroid induced bitch that no one could possibly like. The same
unlikeability comes forth from all other supporting actors like Eric
Mabius (remember him as the Crow in Part III and you'll get an idea
on how bad he is in this), and James Purefoy.
The only saving grace is of course Milla Jovovich. Milla has a presence
that few can define or clearly understand. No matter what part she plays,
she tends to be mesmerizing, whether it is a hippie, Joan of arc, or
pure perfection personified. But alas, even she can not save this movie.
On a final note, for a movie that is supposed to be based upon a video
game (which usually is faster paced), Resident Evil is remarkably slow
with little action. It's like the director keeps on pushing the damn
pause button.
Rating: 2/7
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