Search - Resident Evil - Apocalypse (Special Edition) on DVD

Jason C. (JJC) from NEWARK, NJ
Reviewed on 12/14/2007...

A little over two years ago, sci-fi director Paul W.S. Anderson ("Event Horizon") was given the task to write and direct a feature film adaptation of the neo-classic, Zombie video game "Resident Evil." It was long-rumored that legendary Zombie-film director George A. Romero (The "Dead" Trilogy) would be at the helm, much to fans' joy. However, Romero's script was turned down and the studio went with Anderson, who previously done a somewhat decent film adaptation to another neo-classic video game, "Mortal Kombat."

Many genre fans, as well as die hard fans of the game, were not too pleased with the choice of Anderson. With four films to his credit, none of them were widely respected by critics or film goers. With the exception of "Mortal Kombat" (which received a three plus-fold profit of its production budget), all his films flopped. However, Anderson does have his loyals but not nearly as much as he has haters. I for one, think Paul W.S. Anderson is a fine genre director and he has my uttermost respect; especially since we don't have enough R-rated sci-fi these days. "Resident Evil" was a mediocre hit, making a slight profit but turned in mixed reviews, for purists thought Anderson strayed away from the game and concentrated more on telling the introduction story. But that was the smart way to handle this material. Anderson set up "Resident Evil" perfectly...giving us elements of the game but telling the solid story of a viral outbreak, known as the T-Virus, in the Umbrella Corporation's underground facility, The Hive, and not bringing it to the surface. That story they waited for, in "Resident Evil: Apocalypse"...and man was it worth the wait.

Anderson stepped down as director of "Apocalypse,", so he can work on yet another eagerly anticipated adaptation of a video game, comic book/popular fan boy wet dream film, "Alien vs. Predator." The directing duty is taken over by popular second unit director Alexander Witt. Anderson's screenplay is tight and well-done, giving the video game purists exactly what they wanted for the first film, the outbreak of the virus in Raccoon City.

We pick up were the first one left us, even going back a few days before Alice (Milla Jovovich) wakes up at the end of the first film, explaining what exactly happened. The T-Virus has spread around Raccoon City and certain V.I.P's are immediately evacuated, including Dr. Ashford (Jared Harris), a valuable scientist of the Umbrella Corporation, and his daughter Angie (Sophie Vavasseur), whose evacuation is unsuccessful when the evac car crashes and Angie seeks refuge somewhere in the city. We also are introduced to Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), a tough 'n sexy recently demoted member of Umbrella Corp's elite Special Tactics and Services (S.T.A.R.S.), with no respect for the rules. Umbrella then contains the city via a surrounding wall (reminiscent of "Escape from New York") and sets up a gate where residents are checked for the virus, and once the virus hits the gate, Major Cain (Thomas Kretschmann) seals Raccoon City, with hundreds of uninfected residents still inside, including Jill, Sgt. Peyton Wells, another member of S.T.A.R.S, Teri (Sandrine Holt), a TV reporter and in a distant part of the city, a whole S.T.A.R.S. team, led by Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr), all expendable and vulnerable to Zombie feeding.

Alice awakes and discovers that the virus is exposed to the public and puts herself in kick- ass mode. But our beloved Alice has changed, she is now a genetically enhanced super-being with impressive strength, maneuvers and tactics. This shows itself when Alice saves Jill, Peyton and Teri in a church from three mutated Zombies known as Lickers; what a killer scene. Meanwhile, Dr. Ashford contacts the small group (now led by Alice), and makes a deal that the team rescues his daughter in exchange for safe passage out of the city, all of which unbeknownst to Major Cain. Ashford also contacts Olivera and his team, for the same deal. It's not before long when Olivera and crew meet up with Alice and crew and work as a team, but there's another problem that lurks in Raccoon City...yes you guessed it...you know him and you love him, Nemesis. Nemesis, is an Umbrella Corporation Bioweapons experiment. He is an 8-foot tall concoction of an infected human, biomaterials, T-Cell technology and military grade metals. He is computer controlled by Umbrella operatives for combat missions. This guy is hardcore, wait till you see him in action.

So there's the story in a nutshell, I'll stop right here.

Let me flat out say it, "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" rocks and rolls! Like "The Empire Strikes Back", "X2", and "Spider-Man 2", "RE2" succeeds and surpasses its predecessor. Anderson wrote a very good script, faithful to the video game. For a first shot at the big time, Alexander Witt turns in a nice achievement and proves himself an action director. Milla Jovovich is sexy as ever and a balls to the wall heroine that will be remembered in years to come. Sienna Guillory gives Milla strong support as the tough and equally sexy Jill Valentine. Oded Fehr (Ardeth Bey in "The Mummy" films) heroes it up, especially his entrance scene when he flies out of a chopper with guns blazin' and Nemesis...you gotta see this guy! The film is tightly edited and the set designs definitely do the video games justice. And lets not forget, the sufficient amount of gritty gore and violence.

Hands down the best film adapted from a video game to date.

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

The best zombie movie since Dawn of the Dead

Pieter Dams | 01/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you felt the first "Resident Evil" movie didn't quite capture the atmosphere of the original game, you can sleep a little easier now. "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" has EVERYTHING: from dark, creepy graveyards, a gothic cathedral and classic lorries in an "Escape from New York"- style deserted city to a cigarette smoking Jill Valentine and half naked hooker zombies.

Although this sequel clearly had a much bigger budget than the original film, director Alexander Witt has kept it credible and didn't use digital technology to bombard your senses and keep your mind of the lack of a decent storyline. Rather than making you feel like you're watching a computer- made movie where nothing seems real, the special effects help create a desolate and panicky atmosphere with credible characters who struggle to survive in a city that's infested with their undead compatriots, partially decayed K-9s and other creepy lifeforms. The scene where one survivor has to go up against a class of elementary school zombies is just terrifying.

Unlike the director of the "Dawn of the Dead" remake, Witt and producer/ script writer Paul W.S. Anderson have opted not to follow in the footsteps of the fast- moving "28 Days Later" zombies, but has clearly been inspired not only by George Romero's view of walking corpses, but also by his opinion of our western society. The real evil in this movie is not the zombies or even the killer mutant Nemesis (who looks and sounds like he has just stepped out of the original game and into this movie), but a Big Brother- style multinational that puts itself above the law and has no respect whatsoever for morale, decency or anything human.

Even if you've never played the video game, didn't like the first "Resident Evil" movie or don't care for a lot of high tech military action in a horror film, I'd still highly recommend you take the time to watch this one. If you liked both the 1978 version of "Dawn of the Dead" and "Aliens", you're going to love "Resident Evil: Apocalypse". Besides, if internationally acclaimed Milla Jovovich agreed to add it to her résumé of, among others, "the Fifth Element", "the Messenger: the Story of Jean of Arc" and "the Million Dollar Hotel", it has to be good!"

Ok, lets pull out the facts and get it all on the table

S. J. Chase | Glens falls, NY | 01/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"first, an action horror movie is a great concept. to put resident evil as one, and even better concept. now some people didn't like the first because it didn't have much to do with the first game. that was the point of paul anderson, he was trying to breate a prelude to the story, there is nothing wrong with that except when he was making the film he didn't know that resident evil 0 was being made. oh well, what can you do. the movie is still a good movie.

the motive was to figure out what happened and now that they were stuck, they had to get out. the wasn't slow anywhere, it was a good fast paste movie for not having a lot of action in it.

now the second movie, a tab bit less story, but still had a story to keep it motivated and not to be dull (slow moving or to drag the story out) at any parts. some parts seem redone in other movies, like the graveyard scene with the dead coming out of the graves. well is resident evil 3 the game this happenes, and what is the movie based on? can anyone help me here... THE GAME! that's right! so not only is it a great action sequence, but also taking from the game as well for the fans. this is how you make good action movies and people will not relize that this is one. has there been a good action movie lately without a bunch of CG effects in it that makes it look cartoonish? this movie uses alittle, but it mostly stunts, and that is how most of them should be.

people don't like this movie because they usually don't like action movies about defeating the bad guy. these movies serve there purpose, i like action movies, but you should see my collection, i own 13 going on 30, why, because i likes the plot and the story was good and held up well, i also own the wedding singer and other comedies. good will hunting all the way to the terminator for God sakes! the point of the is i don't select movies by action or whatever, i judge on how they are put together.

resident evil 1 and 2 are put together good, and give you a rush of action and quick story telling enough to make a good movie, but someparts you might now want to be eating spagetti for dinner, try some tums or gingerale.

if you get upset at some people for saying it is a bad movie just remember they probably never watched it. and also rememnber, resident evil made 200 million dollars and the second film made just about that. these movies are here to stay for at least a third and they already set the date for it for 2006, so start getting excited! resident evil: afterlife is the name for it now, but it could change at anytime. resedent evil apocolypse had 3 names before it was finished.

ok, i hoped this helped and made more knowledge for you. by the way i played all the games too and beat them all. if people say bad things, whatever they just hate themselves and there lives and have nothing to live for or benefit other people. have fun with life, but don't do stupid things. buying used movies from amazon.com makes me feel better. if you don't like the movie then you don't, but it doesn't mean it's stupid. over 400 million dollars gross for 2 movies says something, hey people like them, you don't? don't watch 'em and shut up."