RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION

US, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Ali Larter, Eiain Glen, Ashanti, Christopher Egan, Spencer Locke, Linden Ashby, Mike Epps.
Directed by Russell Mulcahy.

This is the popular third in the film series which has computer game origins. The first dealt with infections and destruction. The second dealt with the consequences and destruction of the world: Apocalypse. The third takes up the theme with a devastated US (Las Vegas is just disappearing ruins in the desert sands), people turned into the undead, Dr Frankenstein-like scientists experimenting with clone warriors who are tested for skills in evading capture and then thrown out as rubbish when they fail. They are played by the heroine, Alice (Milla Jovovich).

The real Alice is loose but evading capture as well as avoiding humans because she brings destruction with her (and she is tracked by satellite by an Artificial Intelligence little girl). She encounters a group in the desert trying to survive and find a haven. She defends them but they have to take a helicopter used by the scientists and flee to Alaska for safety.

Her friend Carlos, from the previous film, is prepared to sacrifice himself and Alice enters the lab to fight it out with the mad doctor (Iain Glenn) who has become hyper-infected. Lots of action and effects and a film buff’s catalogue of references to Dawn of the Dead, 28 Days Later, Mad Max 2, A-I, Kill Bill…

Australian director takes over the reins and brings some experience in action films like Razorback, Highlander, Ricochet.

1.The popularity of the series? Characters, situations, infection, the Living Dead, destruction of the world, a new chapter?

2.The visuals, the picture of the world, the desert, the destroyed Las Vegas, the compound, the laboratories, the Undead outside? The musical score?

3.The special effects, the zombies, their attacks, the defence? The wires? The violence? The influence of such films as Mad Max 2, Dawn of the Dead, Twenty-Eight? Days Later, Artificial Intelligence, Kill Bill?

4.The opening, Alice and the clones, awaking, the test, her being destroyed? The other clones? Her being used? The experiments? Doctor Isaacs and his attitude? The other members of the staff? The little girl, her information, satellite tracking of Alice? Alice as real or a clone? As a leader, dangerous for others to be about, the contact with the girl at the end? The visuals at the end of the many clones? And their potential for being an army?

5.The group in the desert, Claire and her leadership, Carlos and the past relationship with Alice? The travel through the desert, saving the remnant? The depots, the oil, the food and its distribution? The constant dangers? The attacks from the Undead?

6.The Undead and the groups, the attacks, the compound, their behaviour, the nature of the infection and its being passed on? Devouring others?

7.The political background, Doctor Isaacs and his Doctor Frankenstein attitude in the laboratory? His decisions, the consequences? His own infection? Becoming monstrous, the tentacles, destroying the politician? The confrontation with Alice? His death?

8.Claire, a character, Mike, Carlos, their help? The children? Carlos and his giving his life for the others?

9.The helicopter, the plan, the truck and Carlos driving and crashing, Claire and the children entering the compound, getting into the helicopter, saved?

10.Alice in herself, alone, her trek through the desert, not wanting others to be destroyed, on the bike, tracked by satellite, the attacks, her being with the group? Her final skills?

11.Her vindication – and the series of clones to combat the Undead?