Moral-Flexibility.Net

“Resident Evil: Apocalypse” (2004) directed by Alexander Witt.
(MF Title: “Alice in zombieland…again”)
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Oded Fehr, Thomas Kretschmann and Sophie Vavasseur.
Zombie Film Rating:

Overview: Following the incident in the first film, the Umbrella Corporation has decided to re-enter the “Hive”, and in the process they release the T-Virus (and assorted nasty infected thingys) into Racoon City proper where things rapidly get out of hand.

Like all evil corporate entities they move quickly and quietly. Evacuating their staff and sealing the city, allowing only those that are uninfected to leave. When it becomes obvious that the infection has reached explosive levels the city is locked down, and those inside left to fend for themselves. With escape or infection being the only two options, a small band of survivors make a deal with a scientist on the outside to rescue his daughter, in exchange for their evacuation.

Their timeline is moved forward when it’s discovered that the Umbrella Corporation has plans to cover up this mishap, forever.

Summary: Kinda picking up where the first film left off, we witness a small group of Umbrella Corporation goons re-openning the hive, and promptly getting over run by the living dead inside (did no one consider “asking” what was inside? Where is the army of corporate goons?), and as a consequence the T-Virus infected bad-things inside the hive run rampant throughout Racoon City, infecting the citizenry at will and causing pandamonium.

The city struggles to come to grips with what appears to be an epic crime wave that the police are almost helpless to deal with, while the Umbrella Corporation quietly evacuates key personnel and throws a cordon up around the city, leaving one exit from the city, at which citizens are checked to ensure they are free from infection.

We are introduced to a number of two dimensional characters almost immediately (lets see, there’s “This is my big break” TV personality, “Honor above all else” Corporate security goon, “Suspended for overzealous law enforcement” female cop, and of course “Genetically enhanced for reasons that are never made clear” Alice.)

Naturally the Umbrella Corporation locks the city down when it appears obvious that the infection may escape, leaving friend, foe and bystander trapped inside to fend for themselves (including the characters described above). Also trapped within the city is the daughter of an Umbrella Uber-Scientist, and he interupts the characters running around the city with a simple offer. Find his daughter, and he’ll get them out of the city.

The characters run around, eventually locate the scientists daughter, battle the evil “nemesis”, give a corporate super-goon some just punishment, and escape the city moments before a nuclear blast.

Alice is recaptured by the Umbrella Corporation after the helicopter crashes outside the city, and is rescued by her 2D compatriots in the nick of time. What adventures will face them next? Who cares….

Critique: Yeah… you already know how I feel about this movie. It’s not really a zombie movie, it’s science fiction with zombie set dressing. I was a little disappointed. What bothered me more was the need by the writers to promote Alice (now she was head of security for the hive? Did I miss that in the first movie?), and then the Umbrella Corporation genetically enhances her for no good reason (Um, she escaped the hive, and she’s an employee…how about a vacation? Nope…genetic experiments).

Fine… setting this aside for the moment, I felt the movie was over the top. The characters were walking talking cliches, the corporation can’t make up its mind if this is a horrible accident, or an excellent proving ground for their experiments, and the entire world buys the cover story despite the hundreds of people that escaped the city before the lock down….

There were some good moments, but they were hard to hear over the grinding of my teeth. I am glad I missed this one in the theatres. I am hoping that the movie improves with age, and the next viewing doesn’t seem so horrific.

If you’re a zombie movie fan, maybe give this one a try…. but be warned, it’s shiny but entirely lacking in substance (maybe I’d have enjoyed it more if I’d played the damn video games!)