A subject that moves forward but steps back in mind, body and soul.

Rating: 2/10 (14 September 2010)

The problem I find with this fourth instalment of the Resident Evil franchise is that it seems to have by-passed any form of depth, while not expecting too much in the way of a story at least, this Afterlife addition has solely concentrated on its 3D gimmick to sell its point.
There seems to be a trend of the visual over any hardcore narrative. What we have here is 3D overdrive enhancing the form and actions of Ms. Milla Jovovich, and it's as basic as that.
The characters are the average one-dimensional throwaways that are placed on screen as walking clichés, adding too, that when it comes to any threat from this franchise's walking dead themselves they are no longer required to project tension or threat. These poor souls, too, no longer require top billing and it is they who are reliant on this latest technology rather than the 3-D needing the horror of the undead to keep the gravy train rolling.
This, again, is not about the old days of walking dead horror but Alice's new image as 3D dolly bird and her quest to do slow-mo action and the old chestnut of bullet-time once again raises its ugly head. With this latest fad comes old ideas to exploit and it's all so tiring.
All this and the nondescript script, too, that makes the fourth instalment a seemingly pointless exercise in the life of Alice and her wonderland. Her part in the franchise of the new technology of three-dimensional theatre is ever evident when the visual dimension supersedes the dimension of the three fundamental traits that make a good film: script, plot and narrative.