By Jason Apuzzo. THE PITCH: Post-apocalyptic zombie-fighter Milla Jovovich takes her quest for survivors of an apocalyptic viral outbreak to Tokyo, Alaska and ultimately Los Angeles … as she squares off against zombies, and the occasional henchman of the Umbrella Corporation. Extreme 3D mayhem ensues.
THE SKINNY: Surprisingly satisfying genre entertainment from director Paul W. S. Anderson (hubby of Jovovich, btw), who may be working at his best here.
WHAT WORKS:
• Milla Jovovich’s high cheekbones, full lips, and ability to unleash extreme mayhem while sprinting through slow-motion raindrops in a black catsuit.
• Setting the film in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles – and populating the city with thousands of drooling, shambling, flesh-eating zombies. Rarely have I seen a more realistic depiction of what this city is actually like.
• Having one of the film’s primary villains be a former movie executive. Laughed out loud at that one.
• One particular 10-foot tall mega-zombie, who wields a 300 pound axe. The guy comes across a bit like Xerxes from 300. The fight scene involving this dude and Jovovich was easily the best fight scene of any film this summer.
• The 3D in this film looked immersive and natural – because the movie was shot natively in 3D, rather than retrofitted in post-production. My understanding is that this is the first major film since Avatar to be shot 3D-native.
WHAT DOESN’T WORK:
• Having yet another corporation as the villain – although one gets the sense that the film might actually be a big, coded metaphor for the horrors of working at Sony. More on that below.
• The lame, Agent Smith-style villain – who goes by the name ‘Albert Wesker.’ The guy was a total bore, as was his Matrix-style, ‘bullet time’ fight scene at the end of the film. Strictly ho-hum.
• The TV-level casting. Outside of Jovovich, the cast lacks personality.
Milla Jovovich is probably the only serious contender Angelina Jolie has to the title of Queen of the Action Film, with Kate Beckensdale a distant third. Jolie’s appeal in these films is that she always comes across as a bit crazy, a bit insane – which gives her action scenes a cracked sort of credibility. Jovovich, on the other hand, seems to be more of a natural. Originally a Kiev girl, born in the old Soviet Union, Jovovich apparently has a colorful family history of military commanders and Cossacks in her past – and she looks it. You just get the feeling looking at those imperious, high Ukranian cheekbones of hers that her ancestors probably sacked a few Polish villages in their time. That gives her a lot of credibiilty as she’s mowing down zombies, or anybody else in her way. Acting-wise, I don’t think she has Jolie’s depth – but since this is a post-apocalyptic zombie picture, that’s not much of a concern here.
One funny thing about Resident Evil: Afterlife is that the film is constantly taking little pot-shots at Los Angeles and the entertainment industry in general. Although a Big Evil Corporation is the villain here, it’s interesting that its headquarters at the outset of the film is in Tokyo, underneath the Ginza. So one gets the impression that when Jovovich shows up and starts doing her Aeon Flux-routine – absolutely laying waste to the place with guns, ninja stars and samurai swords – that she’s exacting some kind of bizarre, personal vendetta against the Sony Corporation. Plus, one of the film’s main villains is a former movie producer – who is depicted as being the most conniving, sniveling creature imaginable.
My favorite little dig, though, comes when Jovovich initially flies into Los Angeles – right over the Hollywood sign – and looks down on post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. The city is burning, smashed to pieces, and crowded with hordes of shambling, flesh-eating zombies. “Los Angeles,” Milla says, “no signs of life here.” The audience in my theater laughed out loud at that one.
I haven’t really been following the Resident Evil franchise, but this film now has me interested. I know that Paul W.S. Anderson has taken a lot of heat for films like Alien vs. Predator and the Death Race remake, but this film works quite well. The only serious disappointment I had was with the scene in which Milla starts to disrobe, and is about to take a shower … in 3D … when the zombies show up and start another fight, interrupting everything. [Sigh.]
Piranha 3D would not have flinched on that one. 🙂
Posted on September 10th, 2010 3:55pm.
Sigh! There’s fantasy… and then there’s FANTASY. Movies which place females who clearly couldn’t beat up their 11 year old sons as kick-assers are in the latter category. It’s all about suspension of disbelief. And my particular kinks don’t go in this direction. I suppose as a certified old guy I just can’t appreciate the anti-misogyny and active misandry that permeats modern film/TV entertainment. But, given my retrograde attitudes, I’ll skip this one, thanks anyway.
I think ‘misandry’ is a little strong, in terms of describing this film or others like it. I was reading a book the other day about adventure serials from the 30s-50s, and it’s worth mentioning that about 1/3 of the heroes from those entertainments were women.
Just for the record, while the ‘Umbrella Corporation’ is the villain of the Resident Evil film series, I don’t get the impression that it is actually anti corporate in particular. There is a side feature, a cgi direct to video film called Resident Evil Degeneration where the right wing and apparently suspicious looking senator is actually a good guy, the hero is a secret service agent, and while there is a rogue employee at a corporation, the corporation in question is actually good, engaged in research for a vaccine against the zombie virus and a well meaning NGO actually made matters worse through protests. I can’t directly speak for the entire game series, but Resident Evil 4 was also not anti corporate or anti american: again the main character was a secret service agent, the evil organization was a cult in some European backwater, and the end villain makes a speech about how the hero kills the villain and saves the girl “only in american movies”, right before you kill him and save the girl. Someone had to make the virus, and the Resident Evil mythos was created before islamic terrorism was prominent and after the end of the Cold War. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Thanks for that, Andrew. Oddly enough, I just used the phrase “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar” in a reply to someone …
I don’t pretend to know the extensive Resident Evil backstory, so thanks for these details. I certainly did not have the impression that the film was pushing a heavy agenda, and I’m aware that the origins of the story are significantly prior to current political debates.
Hey Jason, good review. I went and saw the film today after reading your review. I thought it the best ‘apocalyse’ themed film since ‘The Road’ – But this one is a lot more Fun!! – & it has Milla Jovovich! – even when she flexes her arms it’s hot! – I share your opinion about the shower scene though! damn!! & it’s always fun to see L.A. ‘roughed up’! LoL!
Hey, thanks Doug! I really appreciate it. Yes, it was great to see LA depicted with such documentary-style ‘realism.’ 🙂
But I agree with you about the shower scene. Why’d they even bother turning the water on? Heck, Janet Leigh showed more in Psycho!
milla jo rocks. i can’t wait to see this film. i’m so excited that for once i’ll use capital letters: U. GO. GRRL.
Control yourself, Pong! I don’t want you getting out of hand …