RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE
US, 2004, 98 minutes, Colour.
Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Thomas Kretschmann, Sophie Vavasseur, Jared Harris, Mike Epps, Sandrine Holt, Iain Glen.
Directed by Alexander Witt.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse was written by Paul W.S. Anderson who wrote and directed the original Resident Evil, an adaptation of a computer game. This film seems to be very much indebted to Dawn of the Dead as well as Twenty- Eight Days Later, most of the action consisting of infected semi-humans tracking down, pursuing and destroying the remnant humans.
The film also continues the main storyline with Milla Jovovich reappearing as Alice. She and a young girl are infected with a particular virus which has transformed the inhabitants of a city. The Umbrella Corporation, the company making the virus, want to recapture the people who have not been transformed and do further experiments, especially making them biological weapons.
The film is mainly action rather than characterisation – with some touches of sentiment. Milla Jovovich this time is matched by Sienna Guillory as a tough agent.
1.The popularity of this kind of film? Computer games story? Action?
2.The locations, the re-creation of a futuristic city? The action at night, in the dark? The conventional locations? Transformed by the virus-infected creatures? The special effects for the pursuits, destruction, battles, the monster creature? The helicopter, explosions? All the ingredients from the computer game? The musical score?
3.The title – and the adding of Apocalypse? The dire end of society? Doom and destruction? The possibilities of survival?
4.The continuity with the original film? The filling in of background from the first film? The Umbrella Corporation and its officials? Ruthless? The virus, its spreading? Their trying to take Doctor Ashford and finding him? The technological means for tracking and surveillance? His daughter and their wanting her? Alice escaping and their tracking her down?
5.The warriors, Jill, her being helped by L.J., Terri and her camera, filming? The action sequences, destruction of the monsters? Split-second timing? Escapes?
6.The monsters themselves, the zombie attitudes, behaviour? The creation of the monster, Nemesis? The police, the guards?
7.Doctor Ashford, his capture, the blackmail, Angie and her being saved by Alice and Jill, L.J. with the comic touches? Terri and the other members of the team and their being destroyed? The children in the school and Terri’s death? Alice and her blunt assessment of the truth? Explaining how companions would turn and have to be shot within hours?
8.Major Cain, his ruthlessness, tracking down Jill and Alice? Creating Nemesis? Getting them to confront each other? The helicopter, Doctor Ashford? Their escape, his being kicked out of the helicopter, his being destroyed – especially by Doctor Ashford?
9.Jill, Alice, the female heroines? Alice and her being taken, her being studied in the laboratory, her being purified, her memories coming back? Her escape, being rescued by Jill and the group? The irony of Doctor Isaacs and his ruthlessness? Alice’s attack on him? His reprogramming Alice as a weapon – and letting her go? A suitable ending for this kind of film?
