ANALYSIS (updated version of 9-24-2007 movie review):
ESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION is perfect entry in the Resident Evil film series. They state this is the last one in a trilogy, but the ending leaves everything on a cliffhanger. Fantastic action sequences, pleny of Milla kicking zombie butt and killing them in many different ways, and a great score from Charlie Clouser (last minute replacement for the original composer). Shot in Mexico, RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION takes the film up another notch in this Mad Max zombie movie. The survivors keep on the move as the T Virus has spread across the planet and the Earth is staarting to die. Alice (Milla Jovovich) is on her own until she hooks up with a convoy of survivors lead by Claire Redfield (Ali Larter). The convoy keeps on the move to keep the undead at bay. Alice is reunited with old comrades from RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE- Carlos (Oded Fehr) and L.J. (Mike Epps). Dr. Isaacs (Iain Glen) of the Umbrella Corporation wants to find Alice because her blood holds the key to destroying the T-Virus forever as he also goes about pointlessly trying to domesicate zombies. He is doing this project in addition to testing a variety of Alice clones who end up dead (big mistake for him as you will see).

Milla Jovovich owns the film while many other characters have little to do and not much development to them at all. I do want to see a fourth RESIDENT EVIL film due to the cliffhanger which promises lots of Milla for the next one if they ever make it. Undead ravens are an intresting addition to the mix of undead populating this film. I wonder if lots of material ended up on the cutting room floor like with RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE for a tight action pace. Excellent special effects and great settings make the film an intiguing film I wished they explored more instead of keeping propelled just by action and lots of Milla love. RESIDNET EVIL: EXTINCTION is an improvement over the second film, but I hope they could make another one as great as the first film instead of the series just being a vehicle for tons of Milla Jovovich love as she controls the screen at the expense of almost everything else.

Looking back at this film through a second viewing, the sequel still holds up. The actors do much with the little material given them. The sequel works well under director Russell Mulcahy's direction. It does have many ties to the first film. I still do wish RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION ran on longer than 94 minutes.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
The feature audio commentary (with Director Russell Mulcahy, Writer/ Producer Paul W.S. Anderson, and Producer Jeremy Bolt) does have many insights on the story and production. They even mention a deleted scene not included among the 11 deleted scenes found on this disc. Mulcahy and Anderson also talk about the other directorial work they have done. The deleted scenes are mostly filler that was cut for pacing reasons (even though I wish a couple of Alice scenes stayed in the film).

The sneak peek of RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION, the first CG Resident Evil film, is lacking because it is full of of bunch of jump cuts of scenes instead of providing a proper trailer.

Four making-of featurettes are on the disc (just over 31 minutes in total):
ALICE VISION: PREPRODUCTION- the cast and crew talk about the third film including why Russell Mulcahy was chosen as a director, the Mad Max/ Road Warriorlook, and Russell bring a thick book of the film storyboarded to the meeting with him and the producers (Anderson and Bolt)
THE BIG BANG: SHOOTING RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION- they had to face harsh heat to meet the set release date, filming on location in Mexico and at the studios where Total Recall was filmed, production design
BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER: THE UNDEAD EVOLVE- the make-up of the zombies and Tyrant for the film
VEGAS VISUAL EFFECTS:MINIATURES- a look at the miniature work done for the film (including the miniature set of Las Vegas which was combined with on location photography).

The featuirettes could have featured a little more on the making of the film instead of too many film clips and repeating how harsh things were and the love for director Russell Mulcahy.

Rounding out the extras are previews for over 12 films (UNTRACEABLE, VANTAGE POINT, ZOMBIE STRIPPERS, SOUTHLAND TALES, GABRIEL, and more), a horror web site, Blue-Ray trailer, and video game trailers.

FINAL ANALYSIS: RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION is a fitting bookend to the Resident Evil film trilogy. I hope they do make a fourth film. The extras are good, but I wish there was a little more (like including the original theatrical trailers and optional audio commentary for the deleted scenes).

this DVD review is (c)1-4-2008 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com  


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