Top-notch Saturday night drive-in fare.

Rating: 8/10 (20 March 2002)

I have said many times that games of any kind do not make good movies but I now have to make one exception when I say that. Resident Evil is a great zombie shoot-em-up that doesn't rely entirely on visceral thrills. The plot has enough twists to keep things interesting and the characters are real enough that you care about them. On top of all that Milla Jovanovich is a treat to look at for a couple of hours and makes a convincing heroine.

It is true that there is nothing very original in the movie but what it steals it puts to good use. If I have a complaint it is that the movie uses the same schtick too many times. I'm talking about the trick of having some obvious source of danger that everyone thinks is about to happen NOT happen and instead some other unexpected nastiness happens. Good once, not 4 times.
As long as you don't put it in the Gladiator class and instead expect a thrilling Saturday night Drive in action movie this one is top of the line.