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Resident Evil: Extinction Blu-ray Review |
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Resident Evil: Extinction Blu-ray
Sony Pictures | 2007 | 94 mins | Rated R | Jan 01, 2008
Resident Evil: Extinction Blu-ray ReviewThe best Resident Evil film yet is a landmark Blu-ray.Reviewed by Martin Liebman, December 29, 2007 If you pick a side, be sure it's the right one. It's a rare occurrence when a movie comes out that just says "you." It's as if you wrote and directed it; it suits you almost perfectly. Nothing about it is bad, in your eyes, and while it may not be the best movie ever committed to film, it's a ride that you'll never forget. Over the years, movies like Aliens, Independence Day, Saving Private Ryan, and Sling Blade have represented such films in my life, entertaining me in ways other films just can't. They are part of my "core" films, movies that I can always turn to when I need to watch a sure thing to remind me of just how much I love movies. Resident Evil: Apocalypse isn't in that group, but it's sitting there on the periphery, a film that combines some of my favorite elements and genres to a degree that satisfies me as a fan very much. It's lacking in some areas to be sure, but it's a great ride that will become one of my staples as one of the very best popcorn flicks I've seen yet.
Resident Evil: Extinction opens with a few recycled shots from the first film of the series. It's a little confusing at first, and as producer Paul Anderson discusses in the commentary, it's meant to perplex the viewer into thinking the wrong reel was put in front of this film. We'll learn what's happening later on in the film, but rest assured, this is a necessary and crucial plot element. As the movie progresses, Alice (Mila Jovovich, The Fifth Element) is seen as a drifter, avoiding both the ever present eye of the Umbrella Corporation and the undead that have devastated the planet. Only small bands of survivors push on, and soon enough Alice will find herself allied with one such group after she rescues them from a horde of undead vultures using her newly found telekinetic powers. It turns out that Alice is of great importance to Umbrella and to the world, for her blood holds the answer to the T-virus that is responsible for the havoc that has spread worldwide. Alice shares with the group information she has discovered that leads them to believe that parts of Alaska may be free of infection. Before embarking for The Last Frontier, the group must re-supply. They've already dried up the supplies from the small towns, and they must travel to Las Vegas to replenish all they need to make the journey. Here, Alice will finally discover the secrets behind her powers that will lead her to a final confrontation with those responsible for the devastation where she will be assisted by an unexpected ally. Resident Evil: Extinction definitely represents the best film in the series to date. The first was good, the second was a complete let down, and the third approaches classic status in zombie picture lore. It's a radical and welcome approach, filming in broad daylight, pushing the envelope in terms of zombie make-up, gore, and pace. The action is more in the tradition of The Matrix and Equilibrium, and it works well with the "new" Alice. As Resident Evil re-invigorated the zombie genre, perhaps so too will Resident Evil: Extinction re-energize the post-apocalyptic film. Clearly the film is influenced by both The Road Warrior and Day of the Dead and the result is a unique experience that even the most hardcore lover of zombie films will embrace. I was very glad to see the direction the series went in this film. The first was more of a "video game on film," the second a straight action movie with very few redeeming qualities that could have easily doomed the franchise, and the third took on a grittier, "dirtier" tone, adding to the violence and "realism" of a world plagued by the undead. This is a take no prisoners zombie slugfest, and I loved it. Video  This 2.40:1, 1080p presentation of Resident Evil: Apocalypse is simply breathtaking. The image is of high detail and spectacular clarity. This is one of those transfers where I don't see a need to draw out the strengths and weaknesses of the image. This is a true high definition experience that perfectly represents what a modern home theater can bring us. The look of the film ranges from dark, damp rooms to the bright whites and tans of the desert, and the disc handles each flawlessly. The image is clean and free of defects of any kind, as expected of a brand new movie. Though the film has a certain washed out quality about it, colors reproduction remains steadfast and the result is a lifelike image throughout. Black levels are spot-on with no wavering at all. Skin tones are amazing, and only a miniscule amount of grain is present. I noted no discernible flaws of any kind. This is one of the best transfers yet on Blu-ray. Audio As with the first film, Resident Evil: Extinction is presented with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack that will knock your socks off. The soundtrack is generally of a lesser bitrate than that accompanying the first film, running around 2-2.5 Mbps, but the result nonetheless is an engaging and intense track that delivers quite a punch. Right from the opening title sequence, we know we are in for a sonic blitz (and sonic bliss). This is heavy stuff. Tight, clean bass rumbles the house and the room is filled with the clean and precise beats of the music. Surrounds never let up. The viewer is always engulfed in crystal clear, lifelike sound. This track really made me jump a few times. The "zombie vulture" sequence was all-enveloping and particularly impressive. Once again, what I love most about these high definition tracks is the attention to detail. We hear clearly the most minute nuances, such as the constant chirping of crickets emanating from the rear speakers during a scene, creating a wholly realistic and palpable experience. It's certainly a movie soundtrack with loud crashes, high pitched musical cues, and pumped up effects, but it nevertheless stays true to the small details and all of these together make Resident Evil: Extinction one of the best home theater experiences I've had to date. Supplements  Resident Evil: Extinction and Lionsgate's War represent two landmark discs in Blu-ray history as both are the first to incorporate true "Picture-in-Picture," or "PiP," secondary video and audio tracks in true profile 1.1 fashion. For those that do not know, profile 1.1 allows Blu-ray players to decode secondary video and audio sources simultaneously to the main feature. Films like The Descent have offered a "pseudo" PiP where the movie was re-encoded with the secondary source forced on top of the video. So, how is it? Well, it's pretty cool. The secondary picture overlays the main image, overtaking the primary soundtrack when need be. I'm running this on my Playstation 3, and the audio continues to run with the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. The participant(s) are identified via text next to the box. The box itself moves around all four corners of the screen. We see behind the scenes footage, interviews, storyboards, and all sorts of neat stuff. For example, the first time we see zombies, we are treated to a brief look at the make-up artist touching them up for the scene. We also get a standard commentary track featuring director Russell Mulcahy, writer/producer Paul Anderson, and producer Jeremy Bolt. They discuss how Resident Evil re-introduced the zombie picture to audiences after a 15 year lag, and the resurgence of the zombie genre. This is an excellent supplement to the film and even though it is pretty technical in nature, it's a great listen that keeps pace with the movie and never gets off track. It's one of the best tracks out there. Beyond Raccoon City: Unearthing Resident Evil Extinction is a four part documentary presented in 1080i with a total runtime of 31:07. Included as part of this documentary are Alice Vision/Preproduction, The Big Bang/Shoot RE:E, Bigger, Faster, Stronger/The Undead Evolve, and Vegas Visual Effects/Miniatures. The evolution from film to film is discussed and how the influx of zombie movies effected the creative approach to the third film as opposed to the first two. Also discussed is the choice of Russell Mulcahy as director and the style and vision he brought to the film. Unlike many horror films, this one is filmed in daylight rather than night, bringing a different look and feel to the film that is welcome and long overdue. There is much more to discover here, and it's one of the better documentaries to grace Blu-ray so far. Eleven deleted scenes (1080i windowboxed, 8:26 total runtime) are included. Not all of them feature sound. Listen for the sound of the doorbell from Star Trek: The Next Generation in one of the scenes. Finally, 1080p trailers for Resident Evil: Degeneration, Superbad, The Brothers Solomon, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil, Ultraviolet, Underworld: Evolution, The Fifth Element, Fearnet.com, Dragon Wars and a 1080p Blu-ray montage piece are available. 480p video game trailers for Resident Evil 5 and Devil May Cry 4 finish off this exciting set of supplements. Final words  Resident Evil: Extinction is a landmark release that didn't disappoint this reviewer in any way, shape, or form. I liked the movie quite a bit. As an action/zombie/horror fan, it's right up my alley and the approach to the material was not only suitable but also unexpected and welcome. This series seemed on the precipice of death after the second film, but this movie is clearly the best of the trilogy and a terrific standalone movie in its own right. Action, zombie, and horror fans, listen up: this one is for you. On the technical side, this disc is hands-down one of the best home video releases, ever. It sports crystal clear and lifelike imagery and sound, and the supplements mark a new and welcome beginning for the Blu-ray format. This is a must-own disc for every Blu-ray fan. Highly recommended. 
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