out-of-this-world sensory with a great story and script.

Rating: 9/10 (17 March 2002)

the day was young and the sun was shining on this early january day. it was that same day that i visited the official site and noticed the big R in the lower left-hand corner of the teaser poster. just when you thought that movie-makers were a bunch of money-hungry snobs, along comes someone named Paul Anderson III. that big R i saw spelt everything out for me right then and there. this movie would be true to the game instead of widening the target audience to include 12-year old kiddies (who shouldn't being playing the game in the first place). and it was!! Paul has fully redeemed himself from the days of the PG-13 rated Mortal Kombat.
Let me get into the movie, and just to let you know early on, i don't reveal spoilers. so you're safe :)
people tend to go to movies with the hopes of seeing something that resembles our reality in the closest possible way. you'll hear things like, "that can't be plausible" or "that would never happen." i loved everything about this movie. the set design was great, the make-up and costumes were great, and even the script.....was great!! i mean, nothing is perfect, and if you go to the movies hoping for a perfect script, then you'll probably disappointed every time.
the actors/actresses seemed to be limited. that's ok, there's only so far a budget can run. Milla Jovovich portrays her character, Alice, very well. i mean, how would you feel if you woke up one day and found out you could run up a wall and death-kick a ghoulish canine between the eyes? i mean, it was obvious to her that no one around her was going to be able to help her with her memory, so she didn't waste time talking. so that would have to explain the limited dialogue. i don't know what all this critique is about Michelle Rodriguez's character, Rain. i think she did a fantastic job! she wasn't going to be a member of S.T.A.R.S., and then have to stop every now and then to fix her make-up. she's part of an elite fighting force!! of course she's gonna act all gung-ho! Eric Mabius's character, Matt, was given little time to develop his role, but just remember his part gets much bigger in the sequel (yes, there is definitely going to be a sequel and Paul is coming back to direct it).
i don't wanna say much more because i want you to only know as much as the trailer shows you. i can tell you this, though. don't expect all action. this movie has significant horror values. it is also cerebral in the aspect that it makes you ask a lot of questions without having to answer them. for instance, one might ask how you get a 20 million ton laboratory 2000 feet underground? but you can easily relate Umbrella, the owner of the whole thing, to something like the CIA and understand that they pretty much have the ability to do anything they want and within their power to keep something secret.
to end this, i would like to include the most important aspect. the reason we all go to the movies: sheer entertainment. this movie has it to the highest degree. it is definitely a movie worth nine bucks to see. do not wait until video, or you will miss out on the great sound and visuals a movie theater has the ability to provide. take my advice.