I loved Resident Evil (2002). The first film, I mean. It was claustrophobic, action packed, fast paced, with a good storyline and some great performances, particularly from Milla Jovovich. I have watched that movie countless times and I still grin with delight when the creepy little girl says, “you’re all going to die down here”. It was a haunted house set in a mansion, which just happened to have a colossal secret biological warfare laboratory beneath. Like Alien and Event Horizon before it, the tension is what made the film great.
Then in 2004, along came Resident Evil 2: Apocalypse. I was so excited. One of my favourite action/sci-fi films was about to have a cool sequel. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement unparalleled since Edmund Hilary told his friend he was off for a hill walk. It was an awful pile of mess. The plot was non-existent, the tension was notably lacking, the effects bordered on ridiculous and as for the acting…Sienna Guillory should be arrested for crimes against film for playing the painfully annoying Jill Valentine.
So, I brushed myself off and carried on with life as if Apocalypse never happened. Thankfully, so did the filmmakers. Along came Resident Evil 3: Extinction and out goes Guillory, in comes the wonderful Ali Larter. Most famous, I think, for her somewhat schizophrenic role in Heroes and the great Clear Rivers in Final Destination 1 and 2. Larter is magic. She takes over the screen when she’s on it. Extinction was pacy and sprawling, very different to the first film, but maintaining the tension and excitement.
Which brings us to today’s big release. Resident Evil 4: Afterlife, sees the return of the now very powerful Alice (Jovovich) accompanied by the lovely Claire (Larter). The trailers look good, the cast seems right. Will I disappointed or elated. Time will tell. Check out this Resident Evil: Afterlife clip and let me know what you think.
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Oh, did I mention it’s in 3D? Woop! Here’s the full trailer…
Ah now I think you may be a bit hard on number 2. I didn’t find it that bad at all! No worse than number 3 to be honest.
Nice post - you need to do more of these please!