Since the debut of Resident Evil in 2002, the four part film series (loosely) based on Capcom’s survival horror video games has secured almost $650 million in global box office ticket sales. Certain fans of the Resident Evil games still criticize the big screen adaptations for being overblown and hollow action flicks that bypass canon storylines in favor of convoluted Alice (Milla Jovovich)-centric film plots; however, audiences still turn out in droves for director Paul W.S. Anderson’s over-the-top take on the franchise.
In fact, each subsequent Resident Evil film has delivered a higher box office gross than the one before – with Anderson’s return to the franchise director’s chair in part 4, Resident Evil: Afterlife, nearly doubling the global haul of part 3, Resident Evil: Extinction. Anderson is now set to deliver Resident Evil: Retribution, another in-your-face 3D action experience that, this time, brings back a number of familiar faces from prior installments, as well as new fan favorite characters from the game series.
As a result, does Retribution finally deliver a Resident Evil film that both fans of the games and movies will both enjoy?
Unfortunately, despite the film’s closer adherence to the franchise canon, Resident Evil: Retribution isn’t likely to win over any converts that had previously passed on prior entries in the series – as in general, its just another round of the convoluted storytelling and eye-popping action combo that Anderson has relied on since the first installment in the series. Similarly, the 3D will only be pleasing to moviegoers who judge a 3D experience based on the number of objects that fly out of the screen. Subtlety has never been the director’s strong suit, and once again, nearly every story beat, character moment, and action set piece leaves little to the imagination or mind. That said, there are enough weird creatures, zombie hordes, and brutal kills to satiate some action fans – especially moviegoers who have enjoyed earlier Resident Evil films.
Johann Urb joins Milla Jovovich and Boris Kodjoe for ‘Retribution.’
The Resident Evil: Retribution story picks up (literally) where the last film left off: Alice (Jovovich) and her allies are stranded on the Arcadia tanker with an Umbrella strike force ready to attack. After an explosive shootout, Alice is taken hostage by the Umbrella Corporation and moved to a secret facility – where she is interrogated by her former friend Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), who is under the control of anti-humanity super computer, The Red Queen. In order to rescue Alice, who holds the key to a powerful weapon, Ada Wong (Bingbing Li), Leon S. Kennedy (Johann Urb), Barry Burton (Kevin Durand), and returning partner-in-zombie killing Luther West (Boris Kodjoe) lead a strike on the Umbrella facility – fighting through a number of “biohazards” (creatures and people that have been mutated by T-Virus and Las Plagas infections). However, as the team moves from one branch of the facility to the next, new horrors and even some long-awaited answers are unearthed.
While the movie does implement characters that are familiar to gaming fans, any new additions are merely cosmetic as Anderson makes no efforts to adhere to character backstories from the larger franchise canon. The patched in game characters work only as nods to longtime fans, and in some cases, actually work against the director’s intended efforts – as certain gamers will no doubt find their inclusion distracting instead of satisfying. Despite semi-admirable efforts, the series is so far removed from the game mythology that it would be better if Anderson simply stuck to his vision – instead of trying for a hollow compromise.
Prior installments didn’t feature particularly sharp stories, but the narrative this round is so convoluted that there are two separate expository scenes where a character essentially explains: a) the plot of the previous films and b) the overarching plot of the current film viewers are in the process of watching. While the earlier Resident Evil chapters were brainless but forgivable action experiences, Retribution buckles entirely under the weight of all the plot threads that Anderson and the other Resident Evil directors have introduced over the course of a decade (and five feature films). At one point the movies worked as campy popcorn flicks with enjoyable jump scares and slick (albeit cheesy) action beats, but Anderson’s attempt to weave together a compelling overarching drama out of the franchise’s copious dangling threads makes all the long-standing problems difficult to ignore. On top of downright stilted performances from most of the cast (as well as laughable vocal dubbing) Retribution is chock-full of ridiculous plot holes, hamfisted melodrama, and loads of narrative backtracking.
Milla Jovovich returns as Alice in ‘Resident Evil: Retribution’
Of course, many moviegoers are going to see Retribution for the purpose of watching Jovovich snap necks and shoot creatures while dressed in skin tight leather and platform boots. For viewers who can forgive all of the film’s shortcomings, and really only care about the hyper-stylized action beats, there are definitely a few redeeming moments. None of these scenes are especially memorable and several are anticlimactic (resolved entirely too quickly) but, as Alice and Co. plow through one biohazard after another, Retribution does manage to deliver occasionally intriguing combat. That said, for most moviegoers, the explosions are not likely worth stumbling through the overly complicated as well as underwhelming Retribution plot points.
As indicated earlier, the 3D in Retribution is unapologetic in its gimmickry – reserved almost entirely for bullets, axes, knives, rockets, blood, and other projectiles to fly out of the screen. It’s hard to recommend that anyone who enjoys more subtle (and arguably inventive) uses of the format pay the 3D upcharge; however, so many of the action sequences are centered around the 3D ploys that it could be even more distracting to see the film in 2D and not experience the overly-obvious third dimension pandering.
Resident Evil: Retribution is style-over-substance in every possible definition of the concept. The plot only serves as an excuse to move the characters quite literally from one action “sequence” to the next, and the 3D is uncomfortable, off-putting, and (worst of all) will likely draw moviegoers out of the onscreen action. A number of later developments clearly show that Anderson avoided emotional character moments in favor of suicidal “bad-assery” at every single turn. However, in a time when amateur filmmakers can throw together cool action videos with blockbuster CGI special effects in their home office, context and competent storytelling are more important than ever. If Anderson doesn’t care enough about his characters and story to make them anything but emotionless fighting and shooting machines, why should audiences care to sign up for further entries in his Resident Evil vision?
If you’re still on the fence about Resident Evil: Retribution, check out the trailer below:
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For an in-depth discussion of the film by the Screen Rant team check out the Resident Evil: Retribution episode of the SR Underground podcast.
Let us know what you thought of the film in the comment section below. If you’ve seen the movie and want to discuss details about the film without worrying about spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it, please head over to our Resident Evil: Retribution Spoilers Discussion.
Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for future reviews, as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Resident Evil: Retribution is Rated R for sequences of strong violence throughout. Now playing in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D theaters.
Our Rating:
2 out of 5
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Wouldn’t expect anything less from this franchise or the director, who would have thought the man behind Event Horizon would be producing pointless crap like this 20 years later, his CV is worse than that of Uwe Boll!!
….No one is worse than Uwe Boll!!!
At least Uwe Boll takes the time to actually put dialog in a movie even if it is bad lol. RE:R had maybe 6 scenes that had dialog other than that it was all slow-mo fighting and gunplay.
The only reason to watch the Resident Evil are Milla Jovovich and other hot chicks in sexy fetish outfits. It’s that simple.
*Resident Evil movies
And to see which previously dead character will make a come back!
i second that, and i think Undeworld falls in that same category, hey why not do a movie with Milla J. and Kate Beckinsale in black leather outfits
called Residen Underworld: The Leather chronicles. hehe
I’d buy that for a Dollar!
See the first 2 underworlds, hell even the prequel had a lot of substance to them, the newest one is i was amazed how opposite it was, so empty and soulless.
I stopped watching underworld after the second one because I found out KB wasn’t in the third one. I watched the most recent one and it just left you completely unsatisfied at the end.
Editors note:
SPOILERS FOLLOW:
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he totally stole “Aliens” pot line with ripley and newt. the lost little girl, the creature taking her, looking for girl l, girl cocooned . saves girl from cocoon. Anderson is at an all time low with this. i know he loves the alien franchise but hes butchered it enough with AVP. now this.. shame on me for seeing it
plot*
I think this comment should’ve belonged to Spoilers Discussion.
Hey, not to be a smart ass, but Resident Evil was released in 2002, not 2003. I remember that for certain because we snuck into the movies to see the movie when we were in high school.lol
Yup, according to the imdb the premiere was on March 12 2002.
Thanks guys, I’ll fix it.
Yea you are right. It was March I think actually of 02
650 million dollars…..globally…..over four movies. I think they used the word “droves” wrong. These movies really tested my loyalty to the the Resident Evil franchise, I love, love, love the games. Ultimately my loyalty failed.
Droves may have been a bit of an overstatement but they do make a lot of money respective to their modest budgets – and, as mentioned in the review, the last film is responsible for just under half of that $650 million. The franchise is actually picking up steam and this entry is expected to do solid numbers this weekend.
That said, yah, if you’re a fan of the games – this isn’t the movie that’s going to bring back your loyalty.
It’s possible that the last film only made considerably more money, because it was the first of the series that came out in 3D, with the associated premium ticket price. It would be interesting to see the actual ticket sell numbers.
The only reason they keep making more money is because ticket costs keep increasing. Add in 3D and OF COURSE they’ll make more money than the previous movie. The first movie was insanely disappointing. The second one brought in series characters and then I stopped watching. I didn’t want my high from the second movie to be ruined by another sequel.
Am I the only one that finds milla unattractive?
No you’re not…. post Fifth Element, of course.
Everything after the fifth element that she’s done has been s***. Isn’t the resident evil director her husband? Maybe that’s why she only shows up when these movies are made and never any other time.
Shes only it cause her husband is the director. Jill, Ada, and Claire, even Rain (I think thats the characters name)all look better then her
I’ve never seen any of the resident evil movies and I am considered lucky among many of my friends. If only it wasn’t about money, we could’ve had something really amazing. Instead, it’s all just cheesy sadness.
On my list of directors who I would personally tell to suck it, W.S. Anderson is number two right behind M. Night Shyamalan… Who the f*ck is Ong?!
Why do people need every movie to have an AWESOME story????? Every now and then I like to see a bunch of action will crazy s*** going on for no reason
and I’d hate to watch Resident Evil movies based solely on the games I’ve played them all and know how that story plays out why would I want to watch them after I’ve played them?????? Makes no sense.
I don’t always need an awesome story but I’d argue that the action in this never hits the crazy **** sweet spot either
If there isn’t going to be a story then don’t make it or base it off Resident Evil, they are essentially using the title to draw people in, it could have the same exact plot just change character names and what not so it isn’t Resident evil.
Especially when the RE games are as godly as they are, it just makes these movies worse than they are, which is quite a feat since they’re dreadful all by their lonesome.
We get that “crazy s***” every time michael bay makes a movie and that’s already too much. Transformers 2 and 3 sucked. They should’ve let optimus prime die at the end of two and make 3 be him coming back. instead
Please do i have to keep begging for a REMAKE with better drama characters and well placed action scene that is actually darker scarier and grittier,and has a great story line closer to the first games story?
Unlike a lot of people I have never really been disappointed in a Resident Evil movie. I suppose it might have something to do with the fact that I always go into them knowing they will be a little cheesy etc.
That is until today
the new one was just lacking, it never captured my attention or provoked me. I never found myself saying “Awesome” or “Wow” or “Cool”. Then before I knew it the movie was over and I was left wondering what just happened.
I could see the directors/writers attempt to draw all the previous movies together into a cohesive story line with this film. Unfortunately it seems in their attempt to do that they forgot to make anything in this film feel important enough to pay attention to.
You spend the entire movie reliving what has already happened and never truly focus on what “is” happening. Then before you know it the movie is over, without giving you any type of conclusion or satisfaction.
does the d***head kill of chris redfield and his sister ?
people who say they watch these movies for ‘mindless fun’ are kiddin’ themselves b/c these movies have nothing in them to appeal to anyone besides immature jokes that get hard from seeing red sauce fly once in a while. the females in the movies aren’t really hot at all (except maybe the cop chick from 2 and ada wong) and the cliché action is just that.
it really wouldn’t have been hard to adapt one of the games into a proper live action movie b/c games do have scripts for both narrative and action. all the joke would have had ot do is change it around a little to make it more suited for cinema, but instead he got whipped into promoting that terrible (and unattractive) ‘actress’ known as mila.
He didn’t get “whipped” into using her. They were dating when the first movie finished and now they’re married.
I just came from watching this movie and let me tell you…….it sucked! It was just Bad in every way. They did whatever they wanted in this movie without even thinking about the logical repercussions it would have on the plot. It sucks because in the first 15 minutes the movie had something then Bam…..Straight down f***ing hill!! I’m not even upset because I knew what I was getting myself into but I would’ve atleast thought they would do better than extinction…..but hell no, this was the worst of all the resident evil movies!
why did you go see it if you knew it would suck ? this is the very reason these movies keep getting sequels that have no story and just mindless violence – the reject director thinks that what people want due to box office numbers.
if people just waited for it to come out on dvd then maybe we would get a decent resident evil movie, but as it stands, they’ll keep making these t5rashy c grade ‘action’ movies that no one likes but still watches.
I just came from watching it too, and I agree it sucked. You started watching Alice talk and then you see her killing a group of zombies then boom she’s laying down on the bed? Like they mixing the game story with the movie & about the characters what the hell? Jill Valentine was rescued by Chris & Sheva on RE5 & wait ! Wesker died on RE afterlife !? Oh no wait Chris killed him on RE5 I mean some of us played all the games and now how this should go but I just saying why combined game story with the movie story? We most of us that played the game knows what really happened & wait Alice was bleeding after she confronted a group of zombies then she survived the fight against Jill oh then the fight against Michelle Rodriguez but yeah she still alive being human anyways my thing is this movie sucked , Im not going to lie I did like some scenes but the story line was horrible. I just waiting for the new resident evil game that will definitely get our attention & won’t disappoint us. 1.5 star out of 5
Her outfit in the pic being chased by zombies looks the same as the Asari uniform from mass effect 3.
No offense to any fans but these movies are absolutely terrible. And not good terrible like return of the living dead is terrible but super fun to watch. Just bad. I don’t get it. Definately the worst “zombie” franchise imo but of course its also the most successful zombie franchise. Somehow. And if they don’t even follow the games story lines like the column says what is the point? 28 days later was made for something like 5 million? And is worlds better on every level except over the top action. Just write a good story, throw in some exploding zombie heads, slap the resident evil name on it and enjoy!
Wow was it really that bad? Me and my Borther were getting all excited going to watch it this afternoon only becuase we were big fans of all the RE Games and Hyped over the New RE 6 Game coming out next month. That is true about alice being human because she doesnt have her Inhuman ability anymore since it was taken away by a lethal injection by Wesker in RE Afterlife…I havnt seen the movie yet, but the Leon Kennedy they those looks stupid, they would have better gone with Leonardo Decaprieo instead even if he doesnt look anymore like a pretty boy he would have made a better Leon Kennedy then this bozer only because most of Leonardo’s movies have him act as a cop and Leon Kennedy was a cop Hello!
Something tells me leo would never in a million years sign on for this movie….
I like the movies, the action scenes and the 3-D effects but when I was watching RE: Retribution, I felt like I was watching a mixture of resident evil, terminator and mission impossible. The plot was so confusing and I didn’t really feel any emotion at all. It was just pure bloody action.
I was thinking about the same thing!
I liked the first two…After that. I think I rather face a horde of Zombies, then watch this Disaster flick…..Kind of like the Games, it getting tedious after awhile.
*than watch.
Why do I find Zombieland the last good Zombie Movie? Am I missing something. I am a Fan of Zombies, always have a love for the deep rooted fear in people. But even Romero lost his touch….I love seeing Milia…I love Milia in Red Dress…I love Milia in Leather….I am not sick of seeing the same thing from Milia in Resident Evil, time to put this puppy to bed, time to let it go…Time to move on…
And sadly, next big Zombie Movie, which I hear is so fubar right now, World War Z…Sigh.
Actually, if you watch [REC] and [REC] 2, those are pretty amazing zombie movies, they’re from Spain, but dude trust me, they will be amazing!They bring something new to the genre. ^_^
I shall give them a shot, and I said since Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead came out before Zombieland, and I loved that movie as well.
REC movies are awesome
actually I’m a hardcore fan of Rec and Rec 2 they weren’t zombies they were possessed.
On the side note…STOP SUPPORTING THE RESIDENT EVIL MOVIE FRANCHISE! THEY’RE TERRIBLE! I cannot believe I watched the one before this one! Not gonna waste my money on this one! That’s a no no.
Shaun of the dead
Good to know I’m not missing out on anything… I really don’t like the RE franchise.
The movie was very very disappointing. Action scenes are ok but there’s no substance.
I’ve been playing RE since I was 13yo so the appearance of Alice has always been a question, not to mention, when the 1st movie was released, i thought she was Jill with a different everything. Have liked te franchise until today, it took all the love I have for it.
OK, Lawless it is for me then. The first 2 RE were watchable, then they just went to the toilet.
The only redeeming quality in this movie was probably Ada Wong and Leon Kennedy. Leon, overall, was lacking.
Need more Leon badassery!
By the 2nd movie, fans of the video game already knew that this director and wife duo where not going to be faithful to the game itself, just lifting the company and creatures attached for their reimagined world. So, those who come back to the franchise aren’t really looking for the train to rerail, they are following this duo for chics and B-movie mix with zombie like creatures peppered in, logic be darned. Like Transformers, if you want a faithful adaption, you’ll have to prior from the cold dead hands of the money making directors in charge and turn it reboot it. Unlike Transformers, I don’t know if the Resident Evil universe is looking for a faithful big screen adaption anymore since I haven’t played the game in over a decade. I’m not prime for it.
while not as good as the first two, it was worth seeing, and it is better than the last one.
Truly horrible movie, they stole the white uniforms from the end of the movie the ISLAND with the clones, mortal combats bone breaking xray manuever, stole Aliens with Rebecca/Newt terrible how many other movies did they steal…the 4 tongue zombies looked like it was from Blade 2 or 3.
The “four tongued” zombies are from the video games. The movies didn’t steal it from Blade 1 or 2… just saying. Also, I dont think the director stole the “saving the little girl from big monster” thing from Alien. It is kinda somthing thats been done before, even before Alien. It might be cliché, but it doesnt “belong” to Alien and so can not be stolen.
I’m pretty sure Becky was trying to say those things were unoriginal. Please, don’t defend terrible movies like this- you’ll only encourage more of them.
I will be honest I enjoyed the film I knew what I was getting into these movies are very bad but its not like it really tries to hide that and I know what to expect. Personally the director could have called this anything else besides resident evil and I still would love it lol. I know a lot of people will disagree with me but yeah for me personally I would go see it again!
Saw the matinee today with a few friends, and we all LOVED IT. Best of the franchise, in my opinion.
What a fun time at the movies!
Thank you, Milla and Paul!!!