"Afterlife" is a guilty pleasure, but far from a good film

Rating: 5/10 (11 September 2010)

** out of (****)
Are you tired of all the post conversion three dimensional films? How they are so artificial and rather than being in 3-D, it's like 2.5D. Are you tired of the filmed 3-D movies that sacrifice CGI and high production values for filmed 3-D? Are you fed up with filmmakers using cheap 3-D cameras and the product being mediocre? Don't you just hate it when films take themselves too seriously and you just want to sit back and enjoy a fun popcorn flick? If the answers to all the questions is a "no", you've come to the right place. Make no mistake, Resident Evil: Afterlife was filmed in 3-D and is no post conversion money grab. Moreover, the 3-D cameras that Paul W.S. Anderson used for Afterlife, were the exact same cameras James Cameron used for his action packed extravaganza "Avatar". While the 3-D may add a plethora of money to the budget, is this a cheap film? Fortunately, it is not. The production values are quite solid and the images on screen look so crystal clear and the film has such a nice gritty atmosphere. To add to the fun factor, the third dimensions is highly gimmicky as numerous things come flying at your face. But the question is, is the film itself satisfactory or does the 3-D make the film?
To answer the thesis statement, it's unfortunately a yes. Without the 3-D, it would feel like another paint-by-numbers action flick but instead is ten times more stylized. Come to think of it, it is a pretty forgettable and generic outing. Also, the script and characters don't help matters. Albeit, no one can protest about the plot because there simply was none. Afterlife showcases expositions, 3-D, women with weaponry, and highly stylized action set pieces. It certainly is no "Godfather" so make sure before going in, you do acknowledge that. Now, what did I expect while seeing the fourth installment in the highly iconic franchise? I just expected impressive 3-D, awe-inspiring action set pieces, and just an overall fun time. Unfortunately, I have to say that the movie met my expectations because it's the truth. The inner, highly judgmental movie reviewer wanted to loathe this movie to the deep core and simply view it to add it in my bottom ten of 2010 list, but, it delivered surprisingly.
The 3D: 10/10. Words can't describe the epicness of Afterlife's third dimension. The 3D is so fascinating because it actually feels like you're trapped in the movie. I can definitely tell these were the same 3D cameras James Cameron used for "Avatar" and that's the biggest complement a 3D movie can have. I'm a sucker for gimmicky 3-D and it truly delivered in that aspect. Although, there are some scenes that use the more subtle technique, but those scenes are probably only twenty five percent of the movie. Listen to me carefully, only view the film in 3D! It's a huge waste of money not to see it in 3D. Trust me.
The Action: 7/10. Had the action been like the first and last ten minutes for the whole movie, my score would have easily been a "10". However, most of the action, while still solid, is pretty much generic. Also, while the occasional moments of fantastic action occurred, they were blatant rip-offs of The Matrix (the knife throw scene, the glass shooting scene, the dodging bullets scene, the "run-on-the-wall-and-do-a-flip" sequence, and many more). Still, the action was good.
Cinematography: 10/10. Easily a "10". The movie has a mammoth budget of sixty billion dollars and it clearly shows. The visuals are so enriching and have so much depth. This film was shot in several different locations.
Pacing: 7/10. The pacing was pretty good. Some nice breather scenes and when the action graced the silver screen, the word "epic" came to my mind.
Overall, "Afterlife" is a fun action extravaganza. The cinematography, the 3-D, and the action pieces are all worth the price of a matinée. It's just an enjoyable popcorn flick. However, the script and character development aren't anything to write home about, which makes it hard for this guilty pleasure to warrant a recommendation. Either a matinée or rental will suffice.