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Printer-Friendly ModeEvil franchise finally extinct
September 24, 2007 —
Having seen the previous two films in the Resident Evil film franchise, I sort of knew what to expect going into the cinema. Something bearable to view, but not much to remember.
Mind you, I'm not an avid Resident Evil gamer, but I've played a couple of the games and, to some degree or another, get the general formula. I don't think any one of the films has truly captured that formula, which is a shame because it's a pretty decent one. Each film has its moments, however, even if sporadically interspersed.
The third film, entitled Resident Evil: Extinction, jumps several years into the future after Resident Evil: Apocalypse (the second installment). The entire planet has now been affected by the T-virus created by the Umbrella Corporation, turning most of the planet into a desert wasteland. There are a few survivors scattered about who are on the move - as that is the only way to avoid the infected. Alice (Milla Jovovich) is one such survivor. She is now on her own, constantly traveling to avoid the Umbrella Corporation, who have been cloning her in the attempt to find a cure for the T-virus.
The opening sequence is very similar to the first film's opening - only Alice dies. So, we know it's not really Alice, but rather one of the clones. Our introduction to the actual Alice is her being drawn into a trap by some contrite evil humans bent on raping her or eating her. Maybe both. It wasn't all that clear. After she kills one of them with a single kick to the head, however, they decide to feed her to the infected dogs they apparently have locked up - very Jabba the Hut rancor style. The entirety of these two sequences is rather pointless. Why would they go to such lengths just to kill an Alice clone for her blood? Why and how do these savage humans have infected dogs locked up in their basement-pit?
The film then transitions to a caravan of survivors making their way across the barren landscape. I couldn't help but think of Road Warrior, but it actually sort of worked. Most of the caravan plot turned out to be effective - humans banding together for the sake of survival in an apocalyptic future. Most of the characterization of the caravan company was believable too - except the character of L.J, played by Mike Epps.
Why is it that in every zombie movie of the last decade or so there is that one guy that gets bit and is so selfish he doesn't tell anyone to the obvious later downfall of one of the leading sub-characters? In Resident Evil: Extinction, L.J. serves this purpose. I don't understand why this same path is continually tread when 28 Days Later has already shown there are new directions to go.
Ignoring the smaller plot holes and inadequate character decisions Resident Evil: Extinction delivers how the first film did without pushing it so far beyond as the second - cool action, gross deaths and some classic moments that capture the feel of the game.
The best moments in the film are in the dark rooms of a hotel and the creepy, bloodstained hallways of the Umbrella Corporation's facilities. Plus, Jovovich is scantily clad at moments as usual, though you have to question how in the barren desert her flawless makeup still shimmers - maybe it's her superhuman abilities?
All in all, the film delivers some good action (albeit a tad over the top here and there), some bad acting, a few scares, a bunch of cliches, some spookiness and just a tad too little inanity, which allowed the hour and a half departure to feel like only a minute waste of my time and money.