Unimpressive

Rating: Null/10 (4 December 2004)

A virus is purposely leaked in a subterranean complex known as the "Hive." A computer, called the Red Queen, shuts off the complex and kills everyone in it. The virus brings the dead back to life as flesh-eating zombies lying in wait as a group of military police and one other break in to shut the computer down and restore order if possible. The plot of this film is very complex and muddled. Throw in some unrealistic action scenes, bad dialog, and some poor actors and you have the heart of Resident Evil. I have totally no familiarity with the video game, and I think this movie travels very little from the mindset of that venue. The film definitely has a nice look to it. The special effects are good as well, but the action driven plot moves way too quickly for the viewer to internalize the story and get to know the characters. The most interesting characters die very quickly and soon we are left with cliché-drawn actors that flip up walls and use leg kicks to the zombie's heads. The "witty" reparte between characters is so hackneyed and ridiculous that we get lines like "when I get out of here I am going to get laid." The line is said by a woman having had her hand bitten into and just hearing that anyone that even had a scratch from the dead would turn into the same. Michelle Rodriguez played this role with NO conviction at all. Milla Jovovitch gives her typically blank face performance as the female lead bouncing up walls and performing one "kick-ass" stunt after another. Ho...Hum. Director Paul Anderson does have some flair for directing and some scenes are particularly well choreographed (the scene with the laser I thought was quite innovative). If you are out looking for a film with lots of action, lots of blood, and lots of special effects like giant mutated dogs and some creature with a big tongue, not to mention the hordes of dead, and have little need of a coherent plot, decent acting, and sparkling, crisp dialog - not to mention some good old-fashioned common sense - then I recommend Resident Evil.