The Resident Evil series has been able to accomplish what few other video game based series have – repeated success. The fourth film in the series, Resident Evil: Afterlife, is out today on Blu-ray after an impressive showing at the box office, grossing over $200M worldwide. Where most series struggle to survive past the first weekend, Resident Evil keeps pulling in the crowds, ensuring the star Milla Jovovich will have a permanent gig for the foreseeable future.
For those with 3D Blu-ray players (or those who just scored one after a visit from Santa), Sony is also releasing Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D. If you're looking to replicate the theater experience at home, this is the way to go.
Adding to George Clooney's already diverse catalog of films, the man with no genre stars today's Blu-ray release of The American, to flex his action skills. While the film has split audiences in two, there is no denying the appeal that Clooney still possesses, and his willingness to take the less flashy rolls in the name of good cinema.
For the Blu-ray review of The American, staff reviewer Kenneth Brown commented, "The American isn't an acquired taste, at least not in the traditional sense. It's a divisive, do-or-die, love-it-or-hate-it affair through and through." Regarding the Blu-ray quality, he concluded, "Universal's Blu-ray release is more clear-cut. Its proficient video transfer is striking and rewarding, its faithful DTS-HD Master Audio track is invigorating and immersive."
Might pick up "The American" for the commentary(saw it in theaters and liked it). Otherwise a pretty lackluster week(at least suited to my tastes) The Resident Evil film series annoys me because it's so different from the video game series. Filmakers always stupefy games.
The American isn't a love it or hate it movie. I didn't love it or hate it, I was completely ambivalent.
Resident Evil: Is it a movie or a video game? I don't know. And, like the Underworld movies, because there aren't numbers involved in the title I have no idea what came first, second, third or what the latest installment is.
I wanted to pick up DERAILED as I sold my HD DVD. But I read the one "user review" here, and the PQ got trashed. That it's no better than the Canadian release. Is it that bad? Is it better than the HD DVD transfer?
The American - but only when the price point drops below $15 - even if it's just a PPV copy.
No post Boxing Day 'must have' releases, would have been a good opportunity for studios to cash in on a couple of decent releases.
I'm holding out for a Resident Evil 4-disc set, fingers crossed! Otherwise, after the beating my wallet took over the last couple of months(to include Amazon's BF deal) I'm okay with a downcycle!
Will be picking up Resident Evil: Afterlife. I have always enjoyed the Resident Evil movies and was a big fan of the games(one of the few who likes both I guess) I can take the movies as their own something that some fans cant seem to do. Will be getting the Walmart Steelbook of Afterlife(hopefully) If they are sold out will get the Regular version elsewhere.
The next three months are going to be very slim pickings for BD fans of classic/catalogue "A" films. The studios are beginning to pull back from BD except for new films or those with a cult following and/or state of the arts CGI/special effects. Time will tell if this is the start of a trend as BD continues to fail to find a mainstream market.
2011 is the year of Bluray, Sales this christmas were higher then last and with the golden child star wars finally being released in about 9-10 months from now it means that Bluray is going to continue to dominate the market. I think we'll see standard DVD die a quicker death then VHS did, The only people holding onto regular DVD is rednecks
wdm81, 2010 is as good as BD will ever be. It won't disappear completely. It will continue to exist but serve mainly various niche markets. Look at the next three months of scheduled releases and show me the titles that will appeal to more than specialized groups of viewers. The studios have waited too long to bring out their classic/catalogue "A" films and now the opportunity has passed for BD to be dominant. Check back with me next year and this time and we'll see who is right.
(And if any of you think that I don't like BD personally you couldn't be more wrong. I love it for its picture and audio quality. I just don't see it as ever becoming a dominant player. The studios have released too much junk (Ishtar is worth a BD?) under the BD banner and too little of their quality productions).
The American. I was one of the ones who loved it. Aside from that nothing else. Maybe, in the far far future I will get Derailed in order to replace my DVD. Hopefully it will be like 7 or 8 bucks soon. Plus, I love Clive Owen and certainly one of my fav actors out there right now by far. He just always plays it so cool.
I think Blu-rays will be the main source of movies in homes very soon. More and more people are going for BD now, and even people who had no idea what it was a month or so ago now are all over it. I agree that there is nothing interesting coming out lately, but whenyou look at the many awesome catalog titles which came out this year, plus the whole of next year to have a ton of strong catalog titles (maybe Starwars [which i can't stand but respect that it will convert peopel to BD very easily] and Indi trilogy [the only good ones]) I feel it will replace DVDs very very soon. Plus, stores sell BDs at DVD prices or cheaper now: that is a major sign of BD replacing DVD as a whole.
Already got my copy of Resident Evil: Afterlife today!! I just might also get the steelbook version from Walmart just to have (I won't open it, though).
The Resident Evil movies are NOT good movies. Seriously, how old are you guys, like 16? You are easily amused and have low standards. So what if Milla is hot, you have the internet to look at her pictures and videos for free. Much better than spending $10 on a ticket or $20 on a blu ray and making the studios think this garbage is worth making.
snickerskicker - It's mindless action flicks, and I see nothin' wrong with that. why would you give 2 s#!ts what I watch anyway? Your hissy fit makes me belive your not old enough to get a ticket to the show, ask Santa next year.
Hollywood continues to crank out movies like Resident Evil, The Expendables, Paranormal blahblahblah, The A-Team, etc. and they wonder why no one is willing to buy a ticket? As long as they produce garbage aimed at 16 year old boys--the very demographic most likely to pirate said movies--rather than good, interesting movies they deserve what little they get.
I realize good movies are still made and not all are geared toward the intellectually empty demographic, but it just gets frustrating hearing studios bemoan a lack of an audience when almost 100% of production is aimed at only a section of the movie-going public.
People love to throw hissy fits when someones movie preferences are different from there's. People can purchase whatever they want and they can like whatever they want. I know i've been unfairly bashed for my opinions before on this site. I just don't get why it matters so much
I love the RE films, they are fun entertainment and i'll continue to see them as long as the studio makes them
@Repete66211, don't stereotype. These movies don't have a certain age group, it's just some people prefer this type of genre. I'm 16 and look at my blu-ray collection, a lot of foreign and independent films. People that enjoy these aren't "intellectually empty". These movies are usually fun to watch with friends, relax and a lot of the time, their simply entertaining.(although I'm not a huge fan of the Resident Evil series)
And also, these aren't the movies studios gripe about, this movie did pretty well. The movies they moan about are the ones that are unique generally so of course, these are going to be the more prevalent films. These also take advantage of blu-ray the best usually.
It takes different strokes to rule the world. I have no problem with a film studio creating and releasing films that do not interest me. That's the spice of life. I will laugh out loud at someone who says that "Armageddon" is their favorite movie, but that's only because it's so terrible. At the same time, I love Flash Gordon.
So while Resident Evil may not be groundbreaking, Oscar nominated pieces, they still serve a purpose in society. If you hate it, avoid it. I've never seen them, nor played the games, so I am certainly not in position to judge them. I say just like what you like, and damn everyone elses thoughts on it.
There's a review up at DVDtalk.com that highly recomends Resident evil afterlife. The reviewer even starts the review by saying that he hates Paul WS anderson but loves the RE films for what they are. and RE:A delivers on all acounts
Speaking of Reviews, where's the BR.com review, our lives aren't complete without it
Got RE 4 on Monday and watched it on my new 42" LED and I must say it looked awesome. This is the 1st full 1080P TV I have had, my old TV was a 37" Panasonic EDTV and what a difference the new TV is over the old one.
@ricochetguro: As with all stereotypes, I was generalizing. Graph the average audience and you'll see that where the bell curve (age) falls would support my statement more often than not.
It's great to see someone like you who enjoys independent and foreign movies, but I defy you to assert that such movies are more popular with 16 year olds than the movies of which I speak. For the record, I too enjoy mindless movie fun (as my collection will attest). To clarify, my "intellectually devoid" comment wasn't addressed at 16 year olds, but rather those who subsist solely on intellectually devoid fare.
@karavarus: That's funny. I too laugh at Armageddon while loving Flash Gordon. I admit it's an irrational and for the most part--nostalgia and camp aside--unsupportable position. Thanks for putting that in perspective.
