Review of Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) by Kyle B — 03 Jan 2012

You can consider this film on two different levels, just as you can with any video game to movie adaptation. The first part of this review is for the average movie goer, the second will be from a fan's point of view.

The third, and so called "final installment" picks up years after apocalypse we assume. Alice (Jovovich) is on the road doing her thing, and the rest of the surviving crew from Apocalypse are caravaning their way through the west of the US, which for some reason has become a complete desert. Alice crosses path with the caravan lead by Carlos Olviera from Apocalypse (Fehr) and new-comer Claire Redfield (Larter) Redfield is new to the film, but is a regular in the RE video game series. She made her first appearence in RE2 and once again in RE:Code Veronica. Now back to the movie. Of course it is filled with hundreds of undead, the beloved zombie hounds of the two previous films, and a new addition to the film series, Zombie Crows. There is one more creature to surprise audiences, but I won't spoil that. The film is a typical post-apocalyptic horror joint, that does provide the audiences with some scares, and some surpsies, epsecially when dealing with the fates of some well known characters. Another side story revolves around yet another mad Umbrella scientist who we meet briefly at the end of the previous installment, Dr. Issacs and his obsession with project Alice, who after many failed attempts at creating a clone, is determined that the original Alice is the key for the survival of all man kind, about 50 remaining humans... For the average film goer, and horror fan, this film might suffice, the scares are decent, the blood and guts is all there, and sure there are some explosions, oh and I almost forgot to mention the deliverance style hillbilly's that Alice encounters at an abandoned radio station. If I was an outside viewer I might give it 3 stars, so if yo like your typical zombie flick check it out, if not, give it a rent, especially if you have seen the previous two, and just want to see how it all gets wrapped up.

Now from a fan...

Now I understand that even the recent games have veered off the typical Umbrella corporation and virus plot line, but this film seems to ignore all video game history completely. I looked the other way at the previous film, Apocalypse when Alice teams up with Jill, who is non present in this one, and battles Nemisis on the rooftop, or the fact that the two ever met, and through off the original ending of RE:3 entirely.

Now let me just say that it was great seeing Larter portray Claire, but I would have liked to have liked to have heard some dialogue between her and Alice perhaps? that explains how she joined the cause, or what had happend to her in Raccoon City. Larter also shares a mother like role with a young girl in the cast who says her name is K-Mart, becuase that is where they found her. Well when I first saw her, I thought to myself, oh my god, that is Sherry who Claire rescues in Raccoon city! What a neat tie in, and since this film takes place years after RE: Apocalypse ( set during both RE:2 and RE:3) she would be the perfect age, but no... of course not, because that would be too much to ask that the screewriter actually play the games...

Another little thing is that Albert Wesker makes an appearence during some Umbrella meetings between all country "managers" fans will identify him right away because he is wearing his iconic sun glasses...every time...and later they identify him as such, but here is the thing, Wesker is pronounced the head of Umbrella..as in the big boss, which completely contradicts the Games ( In RE:code Veronica, after obtaining superhuman strength is sent in by an Umbrella rival to obtain the T-virus...).

Now originally it was stated that this storyline would act as a quadrillogy, ending in Tokyo Japan with a big showdown, but that plan was swiped, and it was decided that Extinction would end it all, a nice little three part story, but ...SPOILER..

The film still ends with a cliffhanger in Tokyo Japan, that makes us feel that the film is about to end right before we get to see some really cool ass kicking..a bunch of Alice clones taking on the remainging Umbrella...oh BOY! So apparently the writers just decided to ignore the fact that the 4th film had been scraped, and decided to leave fan's hanging.

END SPOILER.

So to wrap it up..

No sherry tie in.

No Chris Redfield mention,.

No Leon Kennedy.

No mention of Jill Valentine after her survival in Apocalypse.

No cool monster like Tyrant, or Mr. X,.

Stupid Super Zombie subplot.

Let's just say this film had potential 20 minutes in but derails with a number of plot holes and lose ends. This film will prove dissapointing for any hard-core fan, but works partially on its own level. What would have been so wrong with a live action translation from the original game story?

Any way, if you are a die hard fan go see it to finish the series or give it a rent.