Just a Movie Folks...

Rating: Null/10 (14 September 2004)

Maybe SPOILERS are here.. I've just looked through the lengthy reviews and comments from others on IMDb. I religiously check out this site before jumping into the theatre to see a movie. To me, RE was just another movie.
Since I have some limited exposure to the game (I have no idea what you actually do in the game except wander around hopelessly looking for clues or whatever) it may effect my judgment of this film.
As I understand the story, there are a few things going on - some, a continuation of things that happened in the first movie, and other developments which are specific to this newer version. This is my breakdown/summary:
1) T-virus uncontained from first film has apparently migrated out of "the hive" and is now exposing residents of Raccoon City. Of course, this means that the virus will spread to the inhabitants of Raccoon City. In an attempt to stop contamination, the city (aka Toronto, Canada), is sealed. **I love this type of obvious plot development but if I remember correctly, "the hive" mentioned that the T-virus was airborn which was why she locked down the hive in the original movie SO - how would 20 foot walls surrounding dear Toronto. I mean Raccoon City...contain the virus?
2) Nemesis program initiated by Umbrella Corporation. This nemesis is the result of an experiment on one of the first movies survivors. Its only apparent purpose and function is to destroy members of the elite team now trapped in R.C. It seems that there is only one way to stop this Nemesis (sorry Star Trek Fans - it doesn't involve DATA) and that is our Heroine - Alice **Kids - I'm gay. Sorry, but neither Alice nor Jill get any nods up for looks, acting or anything else. As we all know, the true ultimate tough a** female action/horror lead is Sigourney Weaver - who is capable of getting us through some scary situations without the help of partial nudity or short skirts etc. With All that butch attitude from Jill, a gay person might even believe that she and Alice had time to engage in some lesbian action...you know, between jumping motorcycles into churches etc etc.
3)Innocence - Although confined to a wheelchair, the Doctor who created the T-virus has apparently moved into Raccoon City - talk about living close to your job....anyway, his lovely daughter - the template which viewers will remember from the "hive" ("you're all going to die down here...) has become trapped in virus plagued R.C. and wants our key players (Alice. Jill et al) to get his daughter in exchange for their freedom from RC. He knows exactly how to get out of the city. ** Innocence is such a nice touch in an action/horror flick I always say. In RE1, this girl was hated by everyone because she was the representation of an inability to escape the situation whereas now, in RE2, we see that she's not evil, and that her father is not evil but the Umbrella Corporation is evil....folks, with products in "9 out of 10 residential homes" Umbrella has to be overseen by SOME agency.
4) Alice - Left over from the first film, our traitor Alice (willing to give up the security codes for some environmental group seeking to out umbrellas horrible bio-engineering division "for a price") has been experimented with and "modified". Apparently umbrella feels that the future of humanity lies in short skirts and people who can run vertically down the sides of tall buildings. Alice is also the lynchpin of the NEXT RE movie. **I say, forget Alice and lets focus on Jill and getting this whole umbrella Corp thing taken care of. Lets remember though, I bet umbrella has some connections - like George Bush which is why no person living in or outside RC even knows what's going on "Down under".....What would John Kerry say?
Well folks, that's it. I liked the movie overall and I now have this driving urge to go to Toronto to visit. Fans of the game might be disappointed because it is "loosely" based off the game but I enjoyed it nevertheless.