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Resident Evil: Extinction

Strictly for anyone who wants to see Milla Jovovich kick zombie ass...you know who you are

By Geoff Berkshire

September 21, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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The world has become a vast wasteland following the events of the first two “Resident Evil” films, with the few remaining humans (including “Heroes” star Ali Larter and singer Ashanti) banding together in groups of evade the hoards of hungry zombies roaming the planet. Humankind’s greatest hope remains Alice (Milla Jovovich), a genetically-altered security expert with superhuman powers.

Big question: Is this the end of the line for a franchise that seems to exist more out of sheer determination than blockbuster box office, or are we just reading too much into that “Extinction” subtitle?

Skip it: This is B-grade action/horror for die-hard fans only. It’s not that it’s necessary to have seen the first two films to understand any ongoing subtleties in the storytelling (there aren’t any), but if you haven’t caught on to a “Resident Evil” film yet this isn’t the place to start.

Catch it: The good news, if you are a fan, is that “Resident Evil: Extinction” could be a whole lot worse. Give the creative team some credit for keeping each new installment distinctive with fresh settings (this time it’s the desert and the empty sand-filled ruins of Las Vegas), new zombies and increased abilities for Alice that showcase Jovovich’s knack for looking cool while kicking ass. Who knew the Russian-born former teen model would make such a natural action star?

Bottom line: Borrowing heavily from other franchises like “Mad Max” and George A. Romero’s “Dead” films (especially “Day of the Dead”—there are smart zombies in this one), “Resident Evil” lives down to the low artistic expectations for movies based on videogames. But with Jovovich leading the way, it’ll make for great late night cable TV guilty pleasure viewing.

Bonus: In one of the most awkward bits of product-placement we’ve seen lately, a teen girl (Spencer Locke) who doesn’t like her birth name changes it to “K-Mart.”