Resident Evil : Retribution

And she is back. With the 5th of a series that doesn’t cease to amaze me in terms of capability to generate revenues. What else could be the only reason why they keep coming back with more and more of Resident Evil? 5 parts in 10 years and each with a story that is ever so slightly different. But each with the same kind of special effects and similar (but continuously improving on quality) of special effects.

The consistency probably comes from the fact that the producer is the same for all 5 parts. Paul W S Anderson. He has in fact directed the first part and the last 2 installments i.e. Afterlife and now Retribution. To that extent full credit in ensuring that audiences get what they expect more often than not.

There will be a new creature that wreaks havoc. There will be zillions of bullets fired and some special kind of weapons that will make their appearance. There will be Mila Jovovich in the lead role of Alice whether you like it or not. There will be situations where several undead people will corner Alice and her friends but she will come out all guns blazing in a miss of blood and gore.

So you can expect all of the above for certain. Without any debate whatsoever. To touch upon the story just a little bit for posterity (not that it matters in any way), we have Alice who wakes up in a fancy and happy family with a daughter, only to realize that it is all part of an elaborate testing facility set up by the Umbrella corporation. None of it is real by a country mile and a half.

When the bubble bursts about 10 minutes into the movie, she finds herself – yet again – half naked – in a large cylindrical room with white lighting all around. In a few seconds, she walks out of the room replete with the ammo that’s equivalent to World War II on herself. How? Because a band of rebels, that include her old friend Luther West (Boris Kodjoe) have decided to attack the set up and relieve her.

We then go through the usual process of 7459 fights, 3.82 tons of ammunition, 483 dead bodies of human beings and about 4587 litres of blood being spilt before Alice overcomes all odds and brings us to a point where we realize that – Dammit!!! We have more installments to follow?

Dear Paul W S Anderson – When will we see the final edition of this mega franchise? Frankly, it is getting a bit difficult and really boring to see the same things over and over again. Unfortunately, the special effects ensure that we cannot see it on TV. 6 on 10. Not fair at all. Not Fair!!!

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3931415065/

The Three Musketeers

Just last week I was watching Alexander Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo – the movie. One of the movie channels. I think it was Zee Studio if I am not mistaken. Probably the only adaptation of the classic to date. It has so much potential to be an absolute pot boiler even today and I wonder why no one has gone for it once again. But The Three Musketeers has been attempted thrice. First in 1973. Then in 1993 which featured the cult classic by those 3 rock stars – Sting, Rod Stewart & Bryan Adams – All for Love. And the 3rd one released yesterday. Wonder why they did not keep up with the 20 year window and released this one in just 18 years. The ’73 and the ’93 versions were exact adaptations of the classic. The 2011 version has just that little bit of spice and slickness that is expected of a modern day adaptation.
And it has a cast that is – how do I put it – adventurous. Milla Jovovich is the hottest and I repeat THE HOTTEST ACTION WOMAN to ever have hit the silver screen. One may argue that it is Angelina Jolie but I guess Jolie is more versatile that Jovovich. Jovovich sticks to what she knows best – Action, Action and more Action. Her portrayal of Milady DeWinter – one of the most gorgeous and scheming villains of all time – is filled with all the elements that would scream out “JOVOVICH! JOVOVICH!! JOVOVICH!!!” And Mila does full justice to the role. Along with a not so great attempt at being a villain from chocolate boy Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham. And a an effortless portrayal of the sinister Cardinal Richlieu by the super talented Christoph Waltz ensures that The Three Musketeers is a movie to be watched for the villains and not the heroes by far. The lead roles of the fabulous four French fencers (now that’s an alliteration) is played by Matthew Macfadyen as the lover boy Arthos, Ray Stevenson as the brute Porthos, Luke Evans as the pious Aramis and Logan Lerman as the enthusiastic D’Artagnan. Not sure if it was the best possible cast.

This version kind of disappoints you with the final product which seems to have experimented with a truck load of action and loads of special effects. Now I am perfectly fine with the slick action sequences and they only add a lot of character to the movie. I am however, not able to point a finger on a particular aspect that seemed to have let me down. It was just average across the board and great in no aspect. If I can think of one aspect, it would probably be the acting and the fact that a bunch of French Musketeers sound like British Agents. Milla Jovovich fans are in line for some stunning sequences with the gorgeous heroine… oops villain. But overall disappointing. 6 on 10 at best. Paul Anderson does a better job with Resident Evil.

Trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1451924505/