Resident Evil: Apocalypse

Resident Evil: Apocalypse is the sequel to the surprisingly well-received movie version of the video game. What it lacks in the enclosed-spaces thrills of the first, it makes up for in bullet-spraying action, although there are several times when it just doesn’t make sense.

You’d think they’d hire someone to read over their script and find any holes in plot or logic, wouldn’t you? It’s not so hard. So why, if the the virus just escaped and started mutating the citizens of Raccoon City, are there undead bodies buried in a cemetery, just waiting for our stars to arrive? What, they were buried in the last 8 hours?

Aside from the multiple failings in plot, the above example only one of them, this film is fun and exciting. Maybe it’s what I needed that day, but for whatever reason, I actually quite enjoyed this. Sure it’s overblown, illogical, clichéd… but what Hollywood science fiction surprises these days?

Guillory is great as Jill Valentine, Jovovich passable as Alice, and Fehr does a reasonable job as Olivera. The other cast are pretty much irrelevant in the onslaught of monsters, zombies and gun-toting army guys. The shots and editing are great, only rarely slipping into jump-cut and whip-pan errors. The CGI isn’t awful.

I guess it may help to have grown up playing games like this, as you’d be more willing to accept the obvious – Gee, I wonder when we’ll see Matt again? As it was, I enjoyed this for all its flaws. Go in with a light-hearted attitude and have fun.