”Resident Evil” Retribution premiered in cinemas a few weeks ago, and
even though I’m not really a fan of the movies, I decided to watch it. I had
seen the earlier films in the series a few days earlier, to freshen up my
memory of them – but it just made it all more obvious that they are full of plot
holes. Two years ago, my friends and I dressed up in our cosplays for the
premiere of “Resident Evil” Afterlife. Though, this time with Retribution, we
did not really bother. It was partly because we were not the same gang that
went to see Afterlife, but also because it simply felt unnecessary.
The premiere of Afterlife. |
I’m not going to complain “too much” about Retribution – after all, it
was better than Extinction and Afterlife (which, sadly, makes it top three).
The thing about the movies it that they are so very different from the universe
in the games, even though the beloved characters and scenes are freely copied.
How they have managed to create Majinis, Executioners and Las Plagas from the T-virus
is another story. I will be honest – I have actually liked the first movie
since the first time I saw it on a borrowed VHS many years ago. As a Zombie-movie,
it is quite okay (one of the few ones that have actually kept the traditional
versions), and it is so much different from the story of the now 16 years old
game. It is with the second part, Apocalypse, the first problems arise. Jill
Valentine has been suspended from her job at the Raccoon City Police Department
after the death of her partner, Leon S. Kennedy. Sure, it is up to Paul W.S
Anderson if he wants to kill the classic characters – but Leon still looks very
healthy in Retribution.
During yesterday's
press conference, Captain Henderson
noted that Officer Valentine had been suffering from post-trau-
matic stress disorder due to the recent death of her partner, Leon
Kennedy.
– Newspaper clip from Jill’s wall in Apocalypse.
noted that Officer Valentine had been suffering from post-trau-
matic stress disorder due to the recent death of her partner, Leon
Kennedy.
– Newspaper clip from Jill’s wall in Apocalypse.
Johann Urb as Leon in Retribution. |
If I liked the new movie? When one looks away from the videogame series
I have loved almost my whole life, it is okay. It contains action, Executioners
as skinny as the ones in Afterlife (I guess it is due to the fact that they are
created with the T-virus instead of Uroboros – a whole new “diet”) and a story
that makes one think. A little. At least. What I mean is that I like the games
way too much to be able to fully accept the movies – it is partly because of
that reason that I have decided to write “Resident Evil” in quotation marks as
soon as the movies are mentioned. I you happen to mention to a fan of the videogames
(who probably does not like the movies) that you began playing the games after
have seen Paul W.S Anderson’s interpretations of the series, you may very much
regret it. After all, I have used about 500 words (up until now) to explain why
I not exactly jump up and down with joy when a new “Resident Evil”-movie is
announced.
I may have been mistaken, but one of the lines in the latest movie at
least gave me a little hope. One of the characters (I do not remember exactly,
excuse me for that) said “Next floor: mens’ wear, sportswear” (or something
like that), which I see as a “salutation” to Stephani Danelle Perry’s Resident
Evil-novel Underworld, which is the fourth in her series, as well as the second
that is not based upon a specific game. In this book, the character named John
Andrews (who also happens to be a personal favourite) "First floor, shoes,
meanswear, Umbrella assholes." followed by ’John said, not particularly
bothered that he didn't get a laugh.' Since I have the book at my parents’, I
had to ask a friend what he says exactly. Thanks for helping me, Lara!
Through the use of the fans’ of the videogames favorite characters and
memorable scenes, the creator of the movies might think he pleases them. For
me, this falls flat when said characters are not portrayed right (a Claire
without a ponytail and vests, for instance) and Alice steals the spotlight in
those scenes. No, Paul W.S Anderson – redo and make it right. If that is even
possible.
Lastly, I would like to mention a game that a friend of mine suggested –
a drinking game where one drinks whenever a “facepalm” is an appropriate reaction.
“You would be completely wasted after the second or third movie.”