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"RESIDENT EVIL"
I must admit, I went into this not expecting much. I AM a big fan of
the games, and I LOVE zombie movies, so this was points in the right
direction. But ever since George Romero backed out of the project, and
they cast Milla Jovovich as the lead, I was VERY skeptical. Maybe this
original hesitancy is the cause of my assessment, but nevertheless, I
thought this movie was great!
I mean let's face it, it's a movie based on a video game about flesh
eating zombies . . . You have to be prepared for what you are going to
see. If you don't like this kind of thing, then don't go see this kind
of movie. But from the second it starts, and UMBRELLA CORP's logo flies
across the big screen, you KNOW this is RESIDENT EVIL. From the T-virus
induced zombies, to the high tech underground installations housing
them, the film delivers on every level for a Resident Evil fan.
I've heard complaints about the lack of original characters and
storylines. First off, it's supposed to be a sort of prequel. Second,
it's a movie based on a videogame. As in everything ( see Lord of the
Rings for example ), things have to be changed a little bit to
accommodate a new medium. This should be immediately considered. And
all things considered, they did a great job of bringing this amazing
survival horror game to the big screen!
"ICE AGE"
It's a little scary how good computer animation is getting. Granted
this is supposed to be a "cartoon," so the characters still look
"animated" but it still shows that the things they want looking real,
can be made to look just so. ( See the waterfall in this movie ).
Still, anyone who knows me knows that it takes more than some shiny
graphics to impress me. The movie is pretty decent, with some funny
dialogue between Ray Romano and John Leguizamo. Yet somehow, it didn't
seem to deliver on the same level as it's inevitable-to-be-compared-by
predecessors ( insert any film by Pixar ).
It was entertaining, and the kids LOVED it ( guess that's points for you
right there depending on who you're reading this review for ). So it's
not a "misser," for sure. But there just wasn't that certain spark there.
Maybe it's just me, and the novelty has worn off for these big
production computer animated films.
"BLADE II"
What can be said about Blade in general? I guess the movie is, in a way,
what I expected to see. First off, if you liked Blade, then you'll love
Blade II! As far as action is concerned, it's certainly a step above its
predecessor. It really grabs you by the bullocks, and doesn't let go until
the end. Now of course, there's always the puritans of vampire lore who
may have some problems with some of the characters, but I think
everyone agrees that the "Reapers" are pretty darn cool! The only real problem I
had with the film is how the big bad guy dies in the end... and you'll see
what I mean. It just doesn't make much sense... but I can't give away more
without giving away spoilers. Wesley Snipes is great as Blade the
Immortal, and although he does have a couple of one-liners ( a la action
hero ), he doesn't say anything stupid like "There's always somebody
trying to ice skate uphill" in THIS one... so we can be thankful for that!
All in all, if you like a little horror mixed in with a little action and
a touch of humour . . . You should enjoy this one.
Stephane Morrell
Laurier CIM Group
MCSE,CCA
-Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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