Resident Evil: Retribution – Someone Put a Bullet in this Franchise, Please!

If you want to see Resident Evil: Retribution but are on a tight budget, just watch a gif of Milla Jovovich shooting zombies over and over, without ever bothering to take cover or reload, and you’ve essentially seen this film. Jovovich returns as Alice in the fifth installment of the Resident Evil series, along with many familiar faces you’ve either seen in the first four films or played in the video game world. For the two of you who are interested, I’ll keep the returning faces a surprise.

As far as story coherence, dramatic tension, character development or original ideas, Resident Evil: Retribution is a very bad film. What really happened in this film? They escape from an Umbrella facility. That’s it. This film has the least amount of plot I’ve ever seen in an action movie- and action films aren’t known for having a lot of plot. I actually asked myself, “What is the point of all this? Why?” and I rarely ask those questions of an action movie. I’ve trained myself to take what little plot there is in stride and just enjoy the action; but when there isn’t even a thread of rhyme or reason as to why the big bad is suddenly trying to rescue his nemesis, and characters constantly do things without even a shred of explanation, I can’t help but wonder, “What’s going on?”

One thing’s for sure, though, Resident Evil: Retribution has the most non-stop action of any film I can think of. The opening action sequence was in slow motion and in reverse, which was pretty cool, and the action didn’t stop after that either, moving right into the next battle and the next one… and the next one. It literally felt like 90 minutes of Milla Jovovich shooting things; and normally that would’ve made me ecstatic, but there has got to be some worthwhile goal the film is working toward and this one just didn’t have it.

It was full of recycled ideas like saddling Alice with a kid (like they did in the second film) and trying to escape an enclosed place before X thing happens (like they did in the first and second film), and zombies shooting guns, which basically removed the last vestige of difference between the generic zombies and generic umbrella soldiers. I finally got interested in the film during the last scene when they sort of explained what was happening and were facing a big battle, and then the film ended. Fans of the Resident Evil films could easily skip Resident Evil: Retribution and miss nothing; just watch the next inevitable entry in this franchise, one that will hopefully (I can’t believe I’m saying this) provide more plot to go along with the endless parade of nonstop bullets and zombies.

Action Rating: Now, as the Action Chick,  I have to rate this film for its action, not for how good it is otherwise, which is why I rate it 5 Zombies Shooting Guns, out of 5!

This is the Action Flick Chick, and you’ve just been kicked in the ass!

 

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About Action Flick Chick

Action Flick Chick Katrina Hill, author of the books Action Movie Freak and 100 Greatest Graphic Novels , learned to appreciate all things action at a young age by sneaking into the room while her two older brothers watched action movies and horror. At ActionFlickChick.com, she shares her love of these films with everyone, along with interviews, news, and whatever else she happens to choose. G4TV crowned her their Next Woman of the Web champion, and she co-hosted MTV Geek’s live Comic-Con coverage. Her articles have appeared at sites including MTV.com, io9.com, Arcade Sushi, and Newsarama. Follow her as @ActionChick on Twitter. Base of operations: Dallas, Texas. Favorite Movie: Tremors (1990).
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7 Responses to Resident Evil: Retribution – Someone Put a Bullet in this Franchise, Please!

  1. R.H. Rusef says:

    Here’s my only question. How CGI-ey is the action? Does it look realistic enough? I’m pretty sure this isn’t one people watch for the plot.

  2. Jess says:

    Actually saw this over the weekend with a non-fan and she loved it. It’s by far the most imaginative and well thought out installments in series.

  3. TheReelRussell says:

    Yeah as plots go it has none. Despite the seemingly endless supply of bullets, the fact Alice keeps passing out and waking up places she must escape from and the almost annoyingly long fight sequences I actually enjoyed this movie. Probably the first one in a while that didn’t totally annoy me. Maybe I just had my brain turned off when I watched it.

  4. Kelley Marie says:

    we still definitely want to see it. it’s just a matter of how much money we want to spend to watch it.

  5. well that’s a shame. i used to like this franchise.

  6. Tamela Ehlinger says:

    WOW Ms K! I never thought I would read an article like this from you. I have not seen the film yet, now I think perhaps I should not. I am in shock

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