Alice is back! and if you ask who is Alice is then you need to see Resident Evil 1,2,3 and 4!
Retribution’s writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson tackles the rebirth of the Resident Evil universe in an intelligent and logical story line that unfolds as the plot moves along with the action of the film. In the end he successfully creates a natural jump off into another series of Resident Evil ‘Alice’ films. A bonus to Resident Evil fans since the last installment seemed to have the storyline coming to an end.
Though it is hardly unexpected that Anderson would have the indebt knowledge to extend this particular universe since he actually wrote and produced all of the first four Resident Evil films and directed two, the first and fourth installments.
While the story moves along fairly well paced there are a few speed bumps along the way, with fight scenes that, while satisfying the masculine needs for slow motion violence, do nothing to aid the plot line.
Anderson, interestingly, does bring back old characters, all of whom previously died in past iterations, some human, some not, but all readily explained in the reality that is Resident Evil. At the same time adding, to comedic effect, some tongue-in-cheek comments about this from the characters themselves.
This film also introduces an important development in the Zombie culture, zombies with guns! And in one gory scene a zombie with a chainsaw! Now possibilities in season 3 of “The Walking Dead” TV series become explosive!
The “Alice” fighting scenes do devolve from the current style of fast, close up, jumble of bodies (Avengers, Batman, Spiderman, Expendables 2) where it is hard to actually make out what really happened (unless you’ve seen the movie a few times – like I have) other than the bad guy just got whooped, really badly!
Resident Evil reverts to the past fashion of slow motion movie-ography showing incredible attack and counter attack by the antagonists and hero/anti-hero. I loved it!
Milla Jovovich reprise's her role as Alice and at only 37 years old, still has a good run at continuing with this character in the rebooted Resident Evil franchise. Just look at Arnold Schwarzenegger – 65; Bruce Willis – 57 and Sylvester Stallone – 66 in the recently successful action movie Expendables 2.
The Ukrainian actress (I despise the modern political correctness of calling both males and females actors, equality is gained by accepting our individuality not ignoring it) who began her career as a child model, at the age of 9, has grown with the recurring Alice role over the last 10 years, during which time she has been refining her acting ability, this is evident when comparing the 2002 launch of the Resident Evil franchise to this years evolution.
As an actress Milla, while owning the ‘Alice’ character has also acted in 39 other roles in Big Screen action and drama to guesting in some Small Screen TV series.
All in all Resident Evil: Retribution is a good action film for adrenaline junkies. What takes this movie from ‘B’ to ‘A’ is the well conceived plot and character development that remains true to the Resident Evil genre, but sighing just slightly at the ‘B’ style return of the Mutant bad guys of the second and third installments. I look forward to many more years of Resident Evil and Milla Jovovich’s kick ass ‘Alice’ character.
