Resident Evil (2002)

RESIDENT EVIL
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2002 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****):  * 1/2

Paul Anderson, the director of such previous sci-fi turkeys as EVENT HORIZON, SOLDIER and MORTAL COMBAT, is back again with another loud, over-the-top picture. Based on a video game that's hopefully more fun than the movie, RESIDENT EVIL is a special effects film that also has some humans in it, although most of them are members of the undead who keep stumbling around looking for their next meal.

The story is set in "The Hive," which is a top secret bio-warfare research facility that is buried a half-mile under Raccoon City. The Umbrella Corporation runs the place with a take-no-prisoners approach to their employees. The computer in charge, the Red Queen, is willing to kill everyone when threatened, as she is in this story. HAL was a sweetheart compared to her.

The movie stars Milla Jovovich, who has many names, one of which is, of course, Alice. Although she doesn't act per se, Jovovich does spend considerable amounts of time looking concerned and confused. You'll be confused as well since the script isn't the most lucid. This is no problem since there are only two ways possible to enjoy RESIDENT EVIL: 1) kick back and watch video game effects on the big screen or 2) just laugh at it all. I recommend the latter.

The hardest part to believe is that a special gas has erased from the mind of a character, played by James Purefoy, the fact that he had recently made mad, passionate love with Milla Jovovich. Me, I'd remember.

RESIDENT EVIL runs 1:40. It is rated R for "strong sci-fi/horror violence, language and sexuality/nudity" and would be acceptable for older teenagers.

The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, March 15, 2002. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC and the Century theaters.

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