There's no love lost between me and Paul W.S Anderson's Resident Evil movie franchise. As a longtime fan of Capcom's survival horror/ survival action video game franchise, I'll be the first one to tell you that the films have absolutely NOTHING to do with the continuity set in the games its loosely based on. However, what I can tell you right now is that I have developed a huge amount of respect for the Milla Jovovich flicks based on one aspect that continuous to be prevailant with each installment - continuity. The latest film, Resident Evil: Retribution, is the fifth entry to the series, and picks up where things left off. Is it worthy to see Alice back in the big screen? Find out here in this review, and special thanks goes to Columbia Pictures Philippines for the screening!
Movie: Resident Evil: Retribution
Release Date: September 14, 2012
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Sienna Guillory, Li Bingbing, Shawn Roberts,
Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Since it began in 2002, the RE films have continued to pick up steam and relentlessly chug off tales that are really offshoots from the original source material. If you haven't played the games, then maybe it's best to take the movie universe as it is - Alice's story and the world of Bio-Terror that continues to be prevalent with each entry in the franchise. It's not really the best way to immerse yourself in the world of Survival Horror, but it's decent and good B-Movie action that features a female lead, cast, and a director who continue to be steadfast with their feature film presentations. The latest installment is just another box office draw that comes out in the right time after most of the big blockbuster movies of 2012 have hit the big screen. That being said, the time is ripe for Alice's return... but is this the end of her adventure?
After the events of Afterlife, Alice (Milla Jovovich) is captured and brought to an underground Umbrella facility, where she is summarily tortured and forced to undergo interrogation by her brainwashed ally, Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory). Later freed by agent Ada Wong (Li Bingbing) under the orders of Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts), Alice discovers many secrets about the facility that hold echoes from her past, as well as the diabolical machinations Umbrella's rogue supercomputer "The Red Queen" has devised. Working with old friends, new allies, and now enemies as well, Alice will have to escape the cleverly devised base if she wants to get back and put a stop to the Umbrella Corporation once and for all.
Once again, Paul W.S. Anderson continues his adaptation of Capcom's famous survival horror/ survival action video game series by blasting things off in 3D an conventional theaters with another Resident Evil movie. His wife and lead star, Milla Jovovich, is back as the central heroine and former Umbrella employee Alice, struggling to fight off the demons that have constantly plagued her and humanity for the sake of their own dastardly needs. Like all video game movies (save for the first Mortal Kombat that was also directed by Anderson), this film doesn't really cut it as a faithful adaptation to the source. It's fun to watch for brainless action, and does feature some good minds and actors that will entertain for the benefit of the audience looking for an escape from reality once in a while.
Casting wise and in addition to Jovovich's return, RE Retribution brings back Michelle Rodriguez, Oded Fehr, and Colin Salmon as clones of Rain, Carlos Olivera, and James "One" Shade. Afterlife's Luther West also returns, once again played by Boris Kodjoe. The supporting cast is top notch, but Wentworth Miller and Ali Larter, who play siblings Chris and Clair Redfield are nowhere to be found. Instead, it's only Jill Valentine and Albert Wesker who return bringing familiarity to those who know the games. Retribution continues this tradition of carrying over elements from the games and supplanting them in a manner that looks forced and awkward to fans of the franchise, featuring the debut of the film versions of Ada Wong, Leon S. Kennedy (Johann Urb), and Barry Burton (Kevin Durand), the latest Resident Evil fim Some do look convincing and dress the part well, but others are mere caricatures of what the real characterizations should be. Taken in context of this movie alone though, they work well into the plot, but it's all zombie killing and Las Plagas blasting all the way.
Standing alongside its predecessors, Resident Evil: Retribution left more questions than answers and felt lacking in most parts, particularly when it came to bringing things full circle. It's the kind of movie that will bring you up to speed on what's happening if you haven't seen a single RE movie yet, but it's not the best the series has to offer nor is it the worst either. Spoilers out in the open, this is not the final entry into the franchise, and you'll certainly be left hanging come end of the movie. Taking Umbrella, the biohazard monstrosities, and characters aside, the reason why the RE films thrive is all the mindless zombie fighting and monstrosities brought on by the T-Virus and Las Plagas Bio-weapons, so there really isn't much to say about story other than it's Alice against the world, Umbrella, and Biohazard monsters. Go see this one if you've seen them all. Otherwise, you'd best play the video games first, then go watch this one to build comparisons and see what truly made the jump from one form of media to the other.
Rating - 3/5
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