Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!
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, French, and Portuguese Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Spanish Language Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles: English Captions and Closed Captions and French, Portuguese and Spanish Language Subtitles
Extra Features: Cast and Filmmaker’s Commentary, Visual Effects Commentary Featurettes, Filmographies, Alternate Ending With Director’s Introduction, “Resident Evil: Apocalypse” Fangoria Clip, and Theatrical Trailers
Packaging: Amaray Keep Case
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 2002/DVD Release: 2004
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. So it was no surprise that he was 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 human 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” was 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 developing 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, it does make “Resident Evil” a part of that sub genre of horror pictures. 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 anyway.
Columbia
TriStar Home Entertainment presents “Resident Evil” on DVD-Video for the
third time now as a “Deluxe Edition” just in time for the theatrical release
of the sequel “Resident Evil: Apocalypse,” which opens Friday, September 10,
2004. “Resident Evil” is presented 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. The transfer appears to be the same one used for the “Special
Edition” DVD released in 2002
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. French and Portuguese Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtracks are supplied along with a Spanish Language Dolby Surround Soundtrack. English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as French, Portuguese, and Spanish Language Subtitles are also encoded on to the DVD as options. Unfortunately the DTS Soundtrack found on the “Superbit” DVD release is not included on this DVD, which is a shame because I think a two-disc set with the extra value materials on the second DVD would have yielded a better overall product.
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.”
Exclusive to this DVD release is an additional audio commentary track with Director Paul W.S. Anderson and Visual Effects Supervisor Richard Yuricich, which to my pleasant surprise was equally entertaining and definitely more informative than the other commentary while never growing dull.
The
special features include a 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. There is a 3-½
minute costume design featurette, a 4-minute production design featurette, and a
creepy reel of zombie makeup tests too. In addition there are behind-the-scenes
effects examinations of the “Creature” (5:18), “Elevator Scene” (1:08),
“Laser Dicing Scene” (5:05), “Train” (2:20), “Zombie Dogs” (3:54),
and “Human Zombies” (4:30). All of these featurettes can also be viewed as
one reel.
Separate from these mini-documentaries are some storyboard to completed scene comparisons (6:25), the alternate ending with opening video introduction by Paul W.S. Anderson (3:19) and a clip from “Resident Evil: Apocalypse” (3:35). The clip is presented in a letterboxed (2.35:1) aspect ratio while the alternate ending is a disappointment because Anderson’s comments flow over into the scene and I am not sure if his descriptions of what happens meant that the alternate ending was never completed or that we are only seeing a portion of what should have been the entire alternate closing sequence.
Anamorphic
widescreen (1.85:1) theatrical trailers for “Resident Evil” (2:17),
“Resident Evil: Apocalypse” (1:24), and “Hellboy” (1:26) are presented
with full English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. A trailer for “Stephen
King Presents Kingdom Hospital” (1:07) is also included. The trailer for
“Resident Evil: Apocalypse” is the same teaser that has played in theaters
and presented on DVD for nearly a year now. A Hollywood Movie Money ticket for
“Resident Evil: Apocalypse” is included within the keep case too.
If you already have the “Special Edition” I don’t see much of a reason to trade up for this version, but if you have not yet added it to your collection, “Resident Evil: Deluxe Edition” is available on DVD-Video now at retailers on and offline from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2004 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!