mind-numbing entertainment

Rating: Null/10 (15 October 2004)

SPOILERS
In 2002, the original "Resident Evil" was released to mixed criticism. Whilst some watched the film and enjoyed it for it's violence and gore, some watched it and hated it because they thought it dull or because it wasn't close enough to the computer game. That first film did leave a blatant path open for a sequel however and two years later we've been given more of the same.
Carrying on almost straight after the original, "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" deals with the Umbrella Corporation accidentally infecting the whole of Racoon City with The T Virus. Within hours people are running for their lives as former friends and loved ones try to rip them limb from limb. With Racoon City quarantined and sealed off, Alice (Milla Jovovich reprising her role from the original), Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory) and others all work together to escape and to survive attacks from the un-dead and from an old friend of Alice's.
A lot of people will chastise "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" for being unfaithful to the games. Whilst personally being a relative newcomer to the games, it's apparent that certain major characters are treated lightly in this film and never given the chance to shine. Unlike the abysmal "Street Fighter" (1994), Paul Anderson's script has not compromised itself by keeping all of the main characters alive and well. Willing to kill off one or two of the less well known roles, Anderson has also missed a few out altogether (leaving the opportunity to introduce them in the, blatantly planned for, third film).
Another large criticism of this film seems to be this feeling that it is dull. This is an amazing accusation since from the first moment we have death and destruction on a large scale. We are given fight scenes between Alice and Nemesis, we are given un-dead dogs running wild, we are even given blood thirsty un-dead children. Personally there seems little else Anderson (writer) and Witt (director) could have done.
There is little doubt that this film was ever made as anything more than a continuation of a franchise. With a beginning recapping the first film, and a conclusion which is so blatantly in need of a follow up that "To Be Continued" should have been shown, the creators of this series are playing the money card. The problem though is that it's almost as if people didn't expect this to be the case. "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" was never going to round off nicely and leave us fully satisfied. It's one aim for a conclusion is to make us want to watch it again and to make us want them to hurry up and make number three. On a personal note, both these criteria were admirably satisfied.
To summarise, "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" was never going to be anything but a violent bloodbath blockbuster. It's faced serious criticism, but this was also to be expected. This film might not really have introduced anything new and fresh to it's audience, but it's kept a lot of people entertained. With violence from the start to the finish, it leaves some of the audience bored whilst it leaves others happy. With a third no doubt in the pipeline, those who enjoyed this film (myself included) will wait patiently for the story to continue, whilst those who hated it will groan at the thought of another. Obviously this is just one of those times where a violent no-brainer can't satisfy everyone. Shame.