DVD Review: Resident Evil Degeneration
Full Length CGI Horror Action Film Looks Pretty But Bland
Jan 22, 2009
Resident Evil Degeneration Synopsis
Claire Redfield, somewhat of a veteran of the past mayhem from Raccoon City (setting of the zombie infestation explored in the previous games, especially in Resident Evil 2), is meeting with friends of hers, arriving at an airport in Harvardville. While meeting at the gates, Claire recognizes a dubious senator, Senator Davis, who may have been involved in recent events pitting the dubious WilPharma group (which replaced the evil biotech Umbrella Corporation from previous games and movies) against the protestors from Terra-Save, an organization determined to shed light on the unethical biological practices of said conglomerates.
Soon thereafter, a incoming passenger plane inbound from India, loses control, and crashes into the airport terminals, causing massive damage and injuring scores of visitors. Unbeknownst to the masses, the plane was carrying a passenger infected with the T-Virus, the infection which turns people into singleminded zombies.
Claire and her friends, along with the senator and a few aides, run for their lives, avoiding zombies at every turn, as they find any defendable hiding space within the large airport complex. Though the airport is quarantined and cordoned off, help soon arrives in the form of Special Response Team agents Angela Miller and Greg Glenn. Carrying enough firepower to assist in evacuating whomever they manage to find uninfected, these agents, along with the help of U.S. Special Agent Leon S. Kennedy, shoot their way through the labyrinthine corridors of Harvardville Airport.
As the survivors find their way to safety, the special agents (along with Claire) head off on the hunt for clues as to why this occurred, and who might be behind this latest local infection. Their investigation lead to two possibilities, one being WilPharma, the other being a radical terrorist named Curtis Miller (oh yes, the SRT agent's brother!).
As the film reaches its terrifying climax (for a CGI movie anyway), the heroes must confront the scientist behind the latest occurrences, and Curtis Miller, before the virus causes total devastation.
Resident Evil Degeneration Overall Analysis
First off, let it be said that just because a movie can be made in CGI for any sustainable length, does it ever mean it should be done. Even factoring in the built-in audience which stems from the popular video game series, this film suffers from a serious lack of viable storyline.
While not the most elaborate of stories (in a sense very much like a video game), there simply just isn't enough to the plot to really keep anyone but the most hardcore of fans watching past the airport scene.
The first half of film has some definite tension in it, but by the time the agents leave the scene of the airport crash to start investigating the culprits, the movie decends into pure silliness.
The movie has some impressive visuals, namely the background elements of each scene, in many cases photorealistic. The problem plaguing this project, is the continuing inability for technology to truly render human expressions realistically, resulting in what could be called "dead eye symdrome", where characters have no real liveliness to their eyes, giving the impression one is watching a very expensive re-enactment from the online game Second Life.
Very much like CGI films before it (Beowulf, Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within) this film fails to deliver enough realism to its characters. Add this to the movie's questionably thin storyline, and you have yet another expensive failure, destined for the discount bin.
Resident Evil Degeneration DVD Features
Very little of note here, other than some behind the scenes footage of actors wearing motion capture suits, to help in providing some movement realism to the characters in the CGI environment. Look also for an unfunny attempt at levity, by showing some cast voice bloopers, using scenes from the film. There is a faux interview with the animated character of Leon S. Kennedy, it can easily be dismissed, as it's equally boring.
4 out of 10, for a horrible movie that happens to have incredible computer generated scenery
 |
