Resident Evil
Review
by : Rachel Russell
Starring:
Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius
Directed by: Paul Anderson
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I was reminded while watching Resident Evil how poorly video
games translate into motion pictures (see Kyle
DuVall's Spit Take on this issue). I am not a fan of this
genre, but I attended a free screening this week (the film
opens Friday, March 15 here in Indianapolis). The film stars
Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element), who besides looking stylish
and beautiful, as she always does, adds nothing but a few
well-executed karate chops to a bad movie.
The movie
focuses on an underground research facility "the hive" in
Raccoon City. You won't know this until after the film fumbles
through a confusing opening sequence, which actually fooled
me into thinking the movie would be decent. The hive is operated
by the Umbrella Corporation and a supercomputer "The Red Queen".
The research conducted there is inhumane, involving destructive
genetic and viral research. When greed gets out-of-hand an
Umbrella employee steals the T-virus, releasing it in their
wake to destroy the entire facility, to make millions for
its applications on the public market. The Red Queen has only
one programed response for this action; shut the facility
off from the outside world to contain the virus. A seek and
repair unit is sent to access the situation, picking up Milla
and her hubby (both Umbrella employees) on their way. Their
loosely explained mission is to contain the virus in three
hours, the amount of time before the facility seals itself
off from the outside world.
When the
team arrives they discover the virus has leaked and everyone
working there is dead, or mostly dead. This is where gruesome
mishaps, fighting and flesh-eating zombies come into play,
and if you're like me you might get a great laugh out of this.
Writer Paul W.S. Anderson tries to emulate believable zombies,
like one might find in Night of the Living Dead, unfortunately
he fails miserably. Mr. Anderson has brought us other movies,
Event Horizon and Mortal Combat, which both have more to offer
than his current feature, which really offers nothing more
than a few pretty faces and one cool laser show. This film
proves the fact that not even impressive visual effects can
mend a sub-par feature.
It's
truly a pity that there are so many independent film makers
who can't get funding to produce, and somehow this film makes
it onto the big screen.
Overall:
If you're going to spend money on Resident Evil buy the video
game. I give this film ½ banana...the laser show was nice.
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