Search - Resident Evil: Apocalypse [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

Jason C. (JJC) from NEWARK, NJ
Reviewed on 8/28/2008...

In 2000, sci-fi director Paul W.S. Anderson ("Event Horizon") was given the task to write and direct a feature film adaptation of the neo-classic, Zombie video game "Resident Evil." It was long-rumored that legendary Zombie-film director George A. Romero (The "Dead" Trilogy) would be at the helm, much to fans' joy. However, Romero's script was turned down and the studio went with Anderson, who previously done a somewhat decent film adaptation to another neo-classic video game, "Mortal Kombat."

Many genre fans, as well as die hard fans of the game, were not too pleased with the choice of Anderson. With four films to his credit, none of them were widely respected by critics or film goers. With the exception of "Mortal Kombat" (which received a three plus-fold profit of its production budget), all his films flopped. However, Anderson does have his loyals but not nearly as much as he has haters. I for one, think Paul W.S. Anderson is a fine genre director and he has my uttermost respect; especially since we don't have enough R-rated sci-fi these days. "Resident Evil" was a mediocre hit, making a slight profit but turned in mixed reviews, for purists thought Anderson strayed away from the game and concentrated more on telling the introduction story. But that was the smart way to handle this material. Anderson set up "Resident Evil" perfectly...giving us elements of the game but telling the solid story of a viral outbreak, known as the T-Virus, in the Umbrella Corporation's underground facility, The Hive, and not bringing it to the surface. That story they waited for, in "Resident Evil: Apocalypse"...and man was it worth the wait.

Anderson stepped down as director of "Apocalypse,", so he can work on yet another eagerly anticipated adaptation of a video game, comic book/popular fan boy wet dream film, "Alien vs. Predator." The directing duty is taken over by popular second unit director Alexander Witt. Anderson's screenplay is tight and well-done, giving the video game purists exactly what they wanted for the first film, the outbreak of the virus in Raccoon City.

We pick up were the first one left us, even going back a few days before Alice (Milla Jovovich) wakes up at the end of the first film, explaining what exactly happened. The T-Virus has spread around Raccoon City and certain V.I.P's are immediately evacuated, including Dr. Ashford (Jared Harris), a valuable scientist of the Umbrella Corporation, and his daughter Angie (Sophie Vavasseur), whose evacuation is unsuccessful when the evac car crashes and Angie seeks refuge somewhere in the city. We also are introduced to Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), a tough 'n sexy recently demoted member of Umbrella Corp's elite Special Tactics and Services (S.T.A.R.S.), with no respect for the rules. Umbrella then contains the city via a surrounding wall (reminiscent of "Escape from New York") and sets up a gate where residents are checked for the virus, and once the virus hits the gate, Major Cain (Thomas Kretschmann) seals Raccoon City, with hundreds of uninfected residents still inside, including Jill, Sgt. Peyton Wells, another member of S.T.A.R.S, Teri (Sandrine Holt), a TV reporter and in a distant part of the city, a whole S.T.A.R.S. team, led by Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr), all expendable and vulnerable to Zombie feeding.

Alice awakes and discovers that the virus is exposed to the public and puts herself in kick- ass mode. But our beloved Alice has changed, she is now a genetically enhanced super-being with impressive strength, maneuvers and tactics. This shows itself when Alice saves Jill, Peyton and Teri in a church from three mutated Zombies known as Lickers; what a killer scene. Meanwhile, Dr. Ashford contacts the small group (now led by Alice), and makes a deal that the team rescues his daughter in exchange for safe passage out of the city, all of which unbeknownst to Major Cain. Ashford also contacts Olivera and his team, for the same deal. It's not before long when Olivera and crew meet up with Alice and crew and work as a team, but there's another problem that lurks in Raccoon City...yes you guessed it...you know him and you love him, Nemesis. Nemesis, is an Umbrella Corporation Bioweapons experiment. He is an 8-foot tall concoction of an infected human, biomaterials, T-Cell technology and military grade metals. He is computer controlled by Umbrella operatives for combat missions. This guy is hardcore, wait till you see him in action.

So there's the story in a nutshell, I'll stop right here.

Let me flat out say it, "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" rocks and rolls! Like "The Empire Strikes Back", "X2", and "Spider-Man 2", "RE2" succeeds and surpasses its predecessor. Anderson wrote a very good script, faithful to the video game. For a first shot at the big time, Alexander Witt turns in a nice achievement and proves himself an action director. Milla Jovovich is sexy as ever and a balls to the wall heroine that will be remembered in years to come. Sienna Guillory gives Milla strong support as the tough and equally sexy Jill Valentine. Oded Fehr (Ardeth Bey in "The Mummy" films) heroes it up, especially his entrance scene when he flies out of a chopper with guns blazin' and Nemesis...you gotta see this guy! The film is tightly edited and the set designs definitely do the video games justice. And lets not forget, the sufficient amount of gritty gore and violence.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Boxset Contains SPECIAL Edition...NOT DELUXE (New One)

KiWiSouP | Minneapolis, MN USA | 08/29/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"this contains the old version of the movie with the red cover, not the newer and better deluxe version with the green cover."

Great zombie movies, no more and no less.

J. Williams | New York, NY | 06/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I feel that both of these films are somewhat underrated. They were hurt by critics who sort of missed the point and by video gamers who expected them to be carbon-copies of the games. They are, simply, very good zombie movies - lots of campy fun, great action, and even some genuine scares. They're just fun to watch, and one of the big reasons for that is Milla - who looks great and is just perfect for this role, simultaneously strong and vulnerable. (An earlier review said these were among her first films - in fact, she has been acting since 1991, when she famously appeared nude at age 14 in "Return to the Blue Lagoon". She is a veteran actress with nearly 20 films to her credit.)

It is true that these films don't do much that's new with the genre - if that's what you're looking for, see "28 Days Later" instead. But the Resident Evil films do the traditional zombie genre as well as any film has recently, with great special effects (these were big-budget films), good acting and a lot of action."

IF Apocalypse is like this count me In

paul mason | Barrie On | 10/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After eagerly awaiting for the sequel due to the open ending of RESIDENT EVIL, and being teased by realistic "ad" trailers I was ready to see Apocalypse.
This movie did not disappoint, in fact I may boldly state it is the best action/horror movie I have yet watched. Mila Jovanavich is again compelling to watch in the lead role as the sole survivor from the first movie. (Well technically she isn't the SOLE survivor, but don't want to provide more spoiler than neccessary to whet Amazonians appetite.
She had already been through hell surviving the HIVE, the awakens to discover the whole of Raccoon City fallen prey to the virus. Quickly she joins a small, determined group of humans who make a deal with an Umbrella scientist to be able to leave the quarantined city in return for rescuing his daughter.
The action in this movie is intense, yet being a Resident Evil movie there are some genuinely creepy scenes as well. Although APOCALYPSE is heavy on action and special effects there are characters here as well including Jill Valentine from the video game.
In fact I barely played Resident Evil so my memory was foggy, but friends confirmed that as the little I remembered led me to suspect this movie stayed really true to the game. One criticism I have heard is that it lacks the story that the first had, to which I reply hey it's a video game adaptation movie not Shakespeare. In other words this movie delivered exactly what I expected and much more, the fact that it was filmed obviously in Toronto, where I grew up was just that much more of a bonus."