There’s little doubt director Paul W.S. Anderson is a fine maker of celluloid trash. His films such as ‘Event Horizon’ and ‘Alien vs. Predator’ have hardly been high art. They’ve been a huge amount of frivolous fun with his eye for kinetic action and extravagant thrills raking in audience dollars. This fifth entry in the never-ending ‘Resident Evil’ series is just as outrageously silly although one has to admire his refusal to conjure anything but the cinematic equivalent of a fizzy pop drink.
Continuing her battle against the evil Umbrella Corporation Alice (Milla Jovovich) fights hard. Raging against the firm’s release of a virus turning people into snarling zombies, her battle seems eternal. Aided by a group of new and old friends, her quest to stop the global plague knows no limits. With the clock ticking, Alice must prevent the disease from spreading any further with any available weapon at her disposal.
Although having Anderson’s name attached as director ‘Resident Evil 5’ looks like a John Woo movie. Famed for his balletic slow-motion style, Woo’s influence is evident. Almost every action sequence is slowed considerably so viewers see each crunch and fight in minute detail. This also coincidentally extends the run-time without adding much to the story. That’s where things go slightly awry in this entry as what plot there is seems minimal.
Perhaps everyone is running out of ideas although the cast have fun. Jovovich still eagerly kicks some serious zombie butt while energetically pouting in her striking outfit. Her fellow cast-members give performances you’d expect with the wondrous CGI managing to overcome some of the more risible dialogue. This is pure comic book fluff with the mix of genres well developed by technicians knowing how to present an action spectacle.
‘Resident Evil: Retribution’ signals the near-end of the series. Although movie No. 6 has been announced it’s best to end proceedings there with the franchise’s well of ideas becoming as ragged and gnarled as the zombies its heroine battles.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 6
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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