Don't worry Mr Romero, your still the best

Rating: Null/10 (13 April 2002)

Before I submit my opinions on this movie let me say... I have only played Resident Evil 2 of all the video games, but I loved it, and my savaging of the movie may in some parts be unfair because I base this review on expectations arrising from the game, and other things.
Now Im a huge fan of George Romero, he is the grand-daddy of zombie, and he always will be, his movies envoke a sense of claustrophobia, terror and realism (ironic I know, but if zombies did take over the earth I picture it like he does) that few other directors can accomplish, with perhaps exceptions of Dario Argento and early Wes Craven. So naturally when I found out he WASN'T directing this movie (I don't know the full story why, or if he ever was - it might have been a rumour I don't know)anyway needless to say I was dissapointed, I thought this would be perfect filler until the rumoured "Twillight" ends his Dead trilogy, so yeah, maybe I am biased before even watching this movie, but Im also going to give my view of the movie from the other perspective - as a regular movie rather than as something I had expectations for.
Firstly, as far as this movie goes, the plot was very over the top, the characters two dimensional and the dialog was well, limited, the special effects were fantastic, I wont give away any specifics because I want this review to be spoiler free, but suffice to say it employs very good use of CGI effects and a lot of splatter, enough to keep all but the real die hard gorehounds happy. However, basically this movie can be summed up as Mission Impossible with Zombies, the zombies playing very much second fiddle for the first part of the movie. To be perfectly honest the whole thing seemed to me to just be a very lengthy trailer for the sequel, but perhaps thats a good thing, because its got me wanting to see the sequel, and I hated the original... I think because the way its all set up the sequel will probably be closer to what I was expecting of this movie. I very much expected this movie to have the same creepy feeling as the game, confused and lost wandering around unravelling piece by piece the mystery and all the while strange things going on.. which in a way it did, but it didnt play on it. Romero would have given it this creepiness and tension, and that would have been excellent, much better than all the cgi effects, technology on display and tomb raider-esque action.
It could have been so goooooood, with a stronger plot while still basing it on the game, a little of the claustrophobia and nervous energy of Alien 3 (yes people didnt like it much but my god it was incredible for atmosphere), the terror and suspense of Dawn Of The Dead, another fantastic movie at keeping you hooked... would the zombies learn how to do things, could they survive forever, could they escape etc, and Day of the Dead, which might not have been the superior movie but it got the atmosphere just right like alien 3, and even a little extra blade 2 style ass kicking for good measure. And thats exactly what I expected, Romero to move with and be influenced by the times and to direct a tense, frightening gore packed action cracker But, alas, it was not to be, and we got that Mission Impossible with Zombies thing I talked about earlier. Still, lets hope they manage to Blade 2 the sequel and make the second film the movie the first should have been, oh and George, buddy, if your reading, give em a hint if your not too busy completing the 4th installment of your masterpiece :)
4/10