Stars: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius, James Purefoy, Martin Cremes, and Colin Salmon
Writer: Paul W.S. Anderson
Based On A Story By: Alan McElroy and Paul W.S. Anderson
Based On The Videogame By: Capcom
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Feature length: 101 minutes
Chapter Stops: 28
Languages: English and French Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles: English Captions and Closed
Captions and French Language Subtitles
Extra Features: Cast and Filmmaker’s Commentary, Featurettes, Music Video, Filmographies, Production Notes, and Theatrical Trailers
Packaging: Amaray Keep Case
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 2002/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical Distributor: Screen Gems
Home Video Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
The history of movies based on videogames has been pretty dismal at best with the notable exception of Paul W.S. Anderson’s big screen adaptation of the first “Mortal Kombat” feature film for New Line Cinema. No surprise that he would be tapped to direct the big screen adaptation of the popular Capcom arcade hit “Resident Evil.” The film is a prequel to the original game bringing together elements such as the zombie Dobermans and the “Licker” and a host of flesh eating zombies into a sci-fi action horror film complete with a musical soundtrack from hell supervised by none other than Marilyn Manson.
As far as films based on videogames are “Resident Evil” is one of the best if not the best one. The best way to approach “Resident Evil” is to keep in mind that this is a film based on a videogame and is really operating under the rules that a videogame creates so the action is swift and elements will not really make complete sense, but for a pre-summer popcorn flick, “Resident Evil” is not bad.
There is a bit of satire in the idea of the “Umbrella Corporation,” a soulless company that secretly specializes in biological warfare becoming the host for the living dead that is never played up enough. Perhaps a script that focused more on bringing this clever aspect of the story would have made the film better. Anderson cuts between elements of action and serious horror, but never clearly decides what audience the film is intended for. The majority of the audiences who play the game are under 18, but while Anderson keeps the visceral terror high so that we do see the monsters in action, the film is not horrific and gory enough to satisfy zombie film fans, which regardless of whether or not the filmmakers think this should be considered a zombie film, by default because of the nature and elements inherent to the film does make “Resident Evil” a part of that sub genre of horror films. So if you are going to go for the “R” rating on a zombie flick than go all the way. The outcome of the film is actually less brutal than the arcade counterpart. In one scene a person is grabbed and seemingly torn to pieces by tons of zombies. Now if we never see this character again then I would say, “Great. We don’t need to see the guy get torn apart. The screams, shock, and music are effective enough.” However later we a zombie version of the guy walking around and all I can think is if this guy was not overwhelmed by twenty or so zombies then maybe there would be something left to walk around, but it wasn’t one of two, it was a bunch of them and so the terror is now diluted.
The film does reference a room filled with the body parts of early victims that suddenly is empty, but with no zombies in the area and no blood to suggest they have been moved, the question is left unanswered and feels more like a continuity error than anything mysterious. The zombies themselves are not nearly as fierce as George A. Romero’s classic counterparts, but no one makes a zombie film like George Romero so if you should ever read this Mr. Romero, show the new generation of filmmakers out there how to make a frightening zombie film by directing a fourth film in your “Dead” series please!
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
presents “Resident Evil” on DVD-Video as a “Special Edition” complete
with an anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio that preserves the
theatrical exhibition image. The transfer was down converted from a high
definition master, but the image quality is somewhat uneven with some visible
grain clearly apparent in much of the film’s darker scenes, which is a problem
since much of “Resident Evil” takes place underground within “The Hive.”
That is not to say that there are not moments where the picture is truly
magnificent because there is, but it is not consistent. I would say this is a
good candidate for Columbia TriStar’s “Superbit” series of films on DVD
were it not that a more deluxe two disc edition is in the works for an as yet
unannounced future release date. In fact there are references to deleted scenes
as well as an alternate ending and other commentaries on the feature length
commentary track, so I guess we’ll get to see and hear them whenever the
deluxe version is released to DVD.
The English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack is great with some awesome use the 6 channels to create a true
three-dimensional home theater experience mixing the dialogue, sound effects and
score to a maximum effect. A French Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack is supplied along with English Captions and Closed Captions as well
as French Language Subtitles encoded on to the DVD as options. I really wish an
English DTS Soundtrack were included too, but maybe in the deluxe version.
Actresses Milla Jovovich and Michelle
Rodriguez participate in a lively feature length audio commentary track with
Producer Jeremy Bolt and Writer and Director Paul W.S. Anderson. Jovovich and
Rodriguez have a great time goofing a bit on each other’s characters as well
as commenting on the production in Germany and various anecdotes. Bolt and
Anderson are more serious, but in a way that is relaxed enough to keep the
Actresses focused and still have fun. At one point Jovovich comments, “We’re
going to watch the whole thing?” and contrary to how it sounds, I’m sure she
was joking (I hope).
There are a few cameos and references
made in the film such as the film’s opening narration and the uncredited
scientist whose blue eyes we see near the end are none other than longtime
Anderson film Actor Jason Isaacs and the scene I referenced above where one of
the team members is overwhelmed and seemingly torn apart by something like
twenty zombies is a direct homage to Romero’s own “Day Of The Dead.” I am
not sure if this casting choice was intentional, but the casting of the military
team leader known simply as “One” as played by Colin Salmon has an uncanny
resemblance to Actor Ken Foree, who played the African American SWAT team member
of the group of survivors who find temporarily solace within a fortified
shopping mall as portrayed in George A. Romero’s “Dawn Of The Dead.”
The menus feature full motion animation
to look like a readout of “The Hive” with animated transitions that feature
music and sound bytes from the film as well as a full motion scene to a
character themed standard interactive still frame menu, which is easy to
navigate as well. The image of “Milla” appears in the audio choices while
“Michelle” appears in the caption and subtitle choice menu. The scene
selection menu features vials of the “virus” and the “Red Queen”
oversees the special features menu. Colin Salmon appears in the trailers menu.
Overall I found the attention to detail and care involved in rendering these DVD
interactive menus to be a refreshing change of pace to some of the bland menus
that are encoded on some DVD releases from various distributors.
The special features include a
27-minute behind-the-scenes featurette with cast and crew interviews from the
set, an 11-minute “Scoring Resident Evil” featurette with interviews by non
other than Marilyn Manson and Marco Beltram as well as Writer and Director Paul
W.S. Anderson. A 30-second CD soundtrack spot follows. There is a 3-½ minute
costume design featurette, a 4-minute production design featurette, and a creepy
reel of zombie makeup tests too.
The music video for “Slipknot’s”
“My Plague” is included and is basically a filmed live performance video
with scenes from “Resident Evil” cut within it. Cast and Director
filmographies wrap up the extra features along with anamorphic widescreen
(1.85:1) theatrical trailers for “Resident Evil,” “Final Fantasy: The
Spirits Within,” “XXX,” “Men In Black II,” “Spider-man,” and
“Formula 51” and all of trailers are presented with full English Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. There is an insert with production notes within the
DVD keep case as well.
Overall this is a pretty good DVD release from Columbia TriStar and definitely worth checking out regardless of what may follow. “Resident Evil: Special Edition” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.
© Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.