Great action zombie movie.....

Rating: 7/10 (31 July 2002)

As a fan of the Resi Evil games, I was really looking forward to the movie, and I wasn't disappointed.
I read a real mixed bag of reviews before I saw the movie, and can't really understand how anyone can criticise a movie that ultimately stays faithful to its videogame origin, but without the cheesiness that most other videogame/movie crossover end up being. If you're looking for something with intelligence and real substance, you shouldn't be watching a zombie movie.....
The story, obviously, is very true to the videogames, but there are also many subtle camera shots and angles that bring back memories of playing the games, such as one moment when the lovely Milla shoots an ex-security guard. He falls back to the ground, slumped against the wall. As she notices the gun in his pouch, the camera angle changes to above both Milla and the inanimate zombie looking down from above, and you just know that as soon as she touches the gun, he'll grab her! (He doesn't, incidently.....!) It also has the claustrophobic feel of a classic zombie movie, with the constantly increasing flow of relentless walking dead refusing to stop trying to munch their way through the cast.
The soundtrack is pretty pumping and does carry the movie, though, to be honest, I think it would have been more atmospheric with no music, just the audio and effects, like the Romero movies of old. Movie companies seem to think they're neccessary for some reason. Not neccessarily a criticism, just a personal preference. Mind you, these zombies are rather more aggressive looking that Romero's....!
All in all, a very entertaining movie, doing exactly what it says on the tin. Not really sure what else people expected....!
And it's left it very nicely open for Mr Nemesis to take main stage.....!