Generally, video game adapts don’t make good movies. From Super Mario (God Forbid) to Doom, all have been a huge cash in on Hollywood's part. There’s always an exception to the rule, and while the Resident Evil franchise isn’t it, it’s as close as you can get to a somewhat decentish movie inspired by a video game. Starring Mila Jovovich, this is the 4th movie in the franchise.
Essentially it’s more of the same. Zombies thundering around the place with Alice (Jovovich) doing battle with them as she continues her ongoing dispute (!) with the Umbrella Corporation. As well as that, emergency broadcasts state of an infection free zone and after attempting to pick up a few survivors, Alice and co wander from set piece to set piece trying to find that so called infection free zone. And that’s the story. As I said, more of the same, but this time round there is the added bonus of 3D
Paul W.S. Anderson was quite adamant in proclaiming that Afterlife was shot with the same camera system developed by James Cameron. So in other words, this was shot in 3D, for 3D. While the 3D is quite good and at times the gimmicks do really work, the whole 3D experience is let down not by the actual movie, but by the cinema. The ongoing issue with projector brightness is a major stumbling block for 3D movies on the giant screen, and it really does hamper the Resident Evil experience. The whole image is consistently low contrast and has a very washed out look to it. After a few minutes this proves a terrible distraction on the audience. On a 3D TV, this could well be a far different story but as it stands, the 3D cinema going experience is a major downside for Resident Evil Afterlife. While this might sound unfair on the actual movie, it is part and parcel of the experience. If anything, maybe it’s time THX started a program for 3D cinemas to ensure consistency and visibility. The real fear here though, is that stuff shot in 3D for 3D cannot be projected the way it was intended. And this in turn, will royally piss off the public who are already dubious about 2D to 3D conversions ala Clash of the Titans.
Besides the 3D side of things, the actual movie, is just ok. I found myself nodding off at least 5 times as the movie sauntered along to its inevitable conclusion. A number of reasons are responsible for my urge to nod off. Namely the sporadic pacing of the movie, which is all over the place. It starts and stalls and goes more times than a vintage tank and it is incredibly difficult to get into it. Besides that, the amount of slow motion is just phenomenal. At least 15% of its 97 minute running time must be in slow-mo. And it doesn’t really add anything to the overall experience. Ok, the first or second time, the slow-mo is fine as you gawk at special effects and 3D hurtling everything at your head. But after the 105th time, its incredibly tedious and feels like it’s only there for the sake of it, as if to fatten up the running time. As a matter of fact, the whole movie feels a little disjointed, with no real flow from beginning to end.
As for the cast, well, all things considered they’re the least of the problems here. Jovovich is as she always is in the Resi movies. Solid. As for the rest of the cast, including Prison Breaks Wentworth Miller, they put in an average performance. But then again, you surely don’t expect awards from a movie of this type?
Resident Evil Afterlife might not disappoint fans of the franchise too much as there is plenty of action and gore, but the non stop slow-mo and the actual capability of cinema 3D ultimately let the whole thing down.
