Such a frustrating disappointment

Sadly Over-hyped

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

I saw this first in a theatre in 2002. It is a fast-paced, high octane zombie flick filled with brisk action sequences. Revisited it recently on a DVD. Seen all its sequels in theatre. The plot - A virus has been released inside a secret underground lab, turning its workers into zombies, a military task force is deployed to take care of the problem. The lab is filled with traps n packed with flesh-eating creatures n ferocious dogs. The film actually does an efficient job of recreating the ambiance of the video game. The initial office building chaos is great and there's a bit of nastiness involving an elevator scene. The film is famous for its laser defence system scene, the zombified dogs, awesome fight scene with the zombie doberman dogs n different creatures. It is also an adventure film in which the lead characters, especially Milla Jovovich always move forward without looking back. Another known face, Michelle Rodriguez is at her sexiest when wielding a weapon. Paul W.S. Anderson famous for action/horror/sci-fi films did a fine job with the direction.

Let me start off by saying 2 things: 1. I have played all the "core" Resident Evil games (1-6). 2. I like the 6 movies more than the 6 games.Review for if you've played the game(s): The first Resident Evil movie starts off in the mansion much like the first game, but doesn't stay there long. Alice (the protagonist) (NOT in the games!) wakes up with no memory and ends up going below the mansion to a place called "The Hive" (Umbrella Corp's secret facility). Her and a group of Umbrella spec-ops are tasked with containing/killing a leaked virus before the infection spreads across the city above (and the rest of the world). There are of course zombies and "lickers" (from the games), but also an "enemy" called "The Red Queen" who is the security AI that locked down "The Hive" to contain the disease. In the end, Alice (and one other member) escapes to find Umbrella scientists waiting for them back in the mansion. Alice is taken to a lab in Raccoon City and her friend is put into the "Nemesis Program".Review for if you HAVEN'T played the game(s): A girl named Alice wakes up with no memory in a fake mansion above a secret government facility. In this facility, a virus is spread and the facility is locked down by the AI running the place. Alice and some spec-ops agents must kill/contain the infected in order to prevent the spreading of disease to the city above (and the rest of the world). FINAL VERDICT: If you're into action movies, zombies, bad-ass girls or all of the above, you'll like this movie. If you are a HUGE fan of the Resident Evil video games (especially the first one), you may not.

The video game adaptation sparks a franchise that has soldiered for five sequels. The first film begins with the hive of the Umbrella Corp under a lockdown as a virus spreads through the facility. Alice (Milla Jovovich) wakes up with a blurry memory inside a mansion. She encounters Matt (Eric Mabius) who claims to be part of the police force when they are captured by a military team. The leader of the team is One (Colin Salmon) who is taking them from the mansion deep underground to stop the evil rogue AI, the Red Queen, beneath Raccoon City. Alice also has memories of being married to Spence (James Purefoy). She teams up with Rain (Michelle Rodriguez) after most of the team is eliminated by a laser beam hallway. The movie turns into a typical zombie movie from that point on with cheap special effects and over the top action common for a movie directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Audiences have been spoiled with zombie gore since this film was released and this is nowhere near one of the top in this subgenre of horror. The special effects are pretty flimsy and dated too. Check out more of this review and others at swilliky.com

Films based on computer games have long been the bane of modern cinema and RESIDENT EVIL does little to change the pattern they have fallen into over the years. This is an almost plot less action epic with a few zombies and monsters thrown in as an afterthought; a well-executed exercise in suspense, fear, and frights which goes through the motions without ever being engaging. Every cliché in the book is present here, from the actions of the zombies to the situations our characters find themselves in and the finale, amongst other things. In fact the best bit of the film is the very beginning, the prologue showing the complex spiralling out of control with death and destruction as a result; the feeling of helplessness and despair is overpowering and hard-hitting; personally I connected this with the real-life reactions of victims of disasters such as the World Trade Center bombing and thus found it very powerful stuff.From then on the tired formula follows a bunch of marines infiltrating a spookily deserted base (more than a few nods to ALIENS here) and finding themselves picked off one by one by a number of menaces: genetic mutations, the living dead, a malevolent super computer, and skinless dogs. Having never played the game I can't comment on the connection, although I guess that the "feel" is spot on. The film's biggest loss is the gaping hole left by the departure of George Romero, who would have undoubtedly made this something special. Flashy workman Paul W. S. Anderson has little of Romero's skill and expertise in the genre and we're left only wondering what it would have been like with gory George on board.Technically the film is very good, excellent use being made of the budget and some interesting actors giving edgy performances. Lead Milla Jovovich manages to make her character smart AND sexy whilst the supporting male actors give subdued but solid turns. The only turn-off is Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Vasquez from ALIENS again, except without the likability; her character fails to engage on any level, making her plight (she finds herself the victim of a zombie bite) rather uninteresting. On the plus side, special effects are very good indeed (zombies have never looked better), whether makeup or solid CGI work (especially the skinless dogs, which provide a worthwhile menace; unfortunately the genetic mutation which turns up later on looks exactly like what it is, a pretty but hollow computer pattern). The script, however, is pretty shallow and the twists and surprises telegraphed a mile off.This is a film of two halves; the first builds up the suspense whilst the latter provides the payoff, namely the action. I prefer the former, with its gradually building intrigue and growing horror, scenes of genuine nastiness, excellent use of lighting, and a dark, brooding atmosphere. The action is all right but ruined by a loud, irritating and out-of-place soundtrack incorporating the likes of Marilyn Manson. I remember being annoyed when UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: THE RETURN used a similar technique. I don't want to be blown out of my chair by several decibels when watching a film, and such intrusive noise only dispels the realism and takes you out of it. Without the music this would have been a lot better. Thankfully, there are some scenes of gore to take your mind off the flaws, with some nasty laser dissections copied from Canadian indie hit CUBE and some zombie-munching fun, although hardcore gore lovers will be disappointed by the lack of intestine-munching. As a fun, brainless popcorn flick this delivers, but there isn't much to stay in your mind afterwards and it has little re-watchability value. Not bad but could have been a heck of a lot better.