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: 100 minutes
Chapter
Stops: 28
Languages:
English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, and Portuguese
Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case Within A Cardboard Slipcase
Sound:
English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and 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 now as a part of the “Superbit” collection complete with an anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio that preserves the theatrical exhibition image. This transfer was also down converted from a high definition master, but it benefits the “Superbit” method of using almost the entire space of the dual layered DVD for optimum picture and video quality. When I reviewed the “Special Edition” DVD earlier this year, I made mention that “Resident Evil” would be a great candidate for the “Superbit” collection of films on DVD and I stick by my recommendation. I think the transfer is a definite improvement over the previous release with more solid detail in both the foreground and background images and the computer-generated effects look sharper too. There is still a noticeable amount of grain in certain scenes, but it appears far less here than on the “Special Edition.” The big plus on the “Superbit” DVD release of “Resident Evil” is the English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Soundtrack that just simply kicks ass. The sound effects and score just jump out at the viewer with the DTS Soundtrack and as a result the film delivers a few more jolts on the small screen that the previous DVD did not deliver. “Resident Evil: Superbit” is a great sound demo DVD to educate another just how important the quality of a film’s Soundtrack is to the overall movie presentation. 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, but the DTS Soundtrack is definitely the way to go if you are going to watch this film with your home theater sound system cranked up high. English Captions and Closed Captions as well as French, Spanish, and Portuguese Language Subtitles are encoded on to the DVD as options.
The menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate, which is a standard for practically all of the films in the “Superbit” collection with the exception of “Panic Room: Superbit.” Though no official announcement has appeared at the time of writing this DVD review, Director Paul W. Anderson did mention that a “Deluxe Edition” of “Resident Evil” would be coming to DVD, but with a sequel in development and the release of the “Superbit” and the earlier “Special Edition” now available, it could be a while until a “Deluxe Edition” appears. So for those who value the best picture and sound quality on their films over extra features that they may never watch more than once, “Resident Evil: Superbit” is for you. Personally for the DTS soundtrack alone, I think this is worth in extra investment.
“Resident
Evil: Superbit” is available on DVD-Video now from Columbia TriStar Home
Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.