Resident Evil - Apocalypse
(2004)
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Alice (Milla Jovovich), one of only two survivors of a contained biochemical disaster, is still in the heart of Raccoon City. She has been subjected to biogenetic experimentation by the vast Umbrella Corporation and has super-human strengths, senses and dexterity. These skills, and more, will be needed if anyone is to remain alive. Alice is joined by Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), a recently demoted member of Umbrella Corp’s elite Special Tactics and Rescue Services, Terri Morales (Sandrine Holt), Carlos Oliviera (Oded Fehr), LJ (Mike Epps) and Nicholai (Zack Ward). And to escape what is quickly becoming a City of the Dead, they must battle their way past the ravenous undead, plus Umbrella forces and terrifying bioengineered weapons, the most deadly of which is the colossal, heavily-armed assassin Nemesis. |
First-timer Alexander Witt picks up the directorial reins from Paul WS Anderson for this limp sequel to the 2002 video game adaptation. Continuing from where the original left off, it sees the zombies break out from the Umbrella Corporation's underground research facility to wreak havoc on the quarantined city above. Though once again written by Anderson, the film lacks his visual flair and breakneck pacing, resulting in an unbelievable and uninspired shoot-'em-up that's devoid of tension or excitement. Every aspect smacks of a quick cash-in, from the substandard effects to the feather-light plot and insipid (compared to the original) score. A returning Milla Jovovich may be stunning as kick-butt survivor Alice, but her new elite force commandos Sienna Guillory and Oded Fehr don't share her powerful screen presence. Consequently, with even the undead looking like Halloween party leftovers, this time around there's no escape from the movie's two-dimensional origins.