RESIDENT EVIL
directed by Paul Anderson; (2002)
Review by
Film Rating:
Here's a case of going in with low expectations and being blown away.
This is a true horror film . . . not a "B" horror flick, not a lame suspense flick, not a parody . . . but
an actual scary movie. You don't have to be a fan of the game to enjoy this one.
The audience is kept in suspense from start to finish, and there is no predicting how or when each
character will meet his or her demise (or if s/he will actually live through the situation, for
that matter). Michelle Rodriguez, whom I was impressed with in the film Girlfight,
delivers an equally bad-ass performance here. Milla Jovovich plays the uninformed but tough
heroine, whose vanished memories hold the key to survival.
The sets, the music, the pacing, and the direction were all amazing. However,
I was disappointed with the CG animal effects. There was a "boss monster" which I felt could
have been entirely cut from the movie, and only the gamers might have missed it. Fortunately,
it played a minor part. The movie maintains its sense of gravity, and I left the theater
feeling . . . well . . . chilled!
