I have been a fan of the Resident Evil franchise forever. It is not something I admit to people often because I am invariably judged for it. Resident Evil is based on a video game, has a lot of action, and zombies, and mutated animals… I get why. But for me, it is a kick of adrenaline that I thoroughly enjoy. And then there is Mila Jovovich, who I’ve had a girl crush on ever since I watched The Fifth Element, as the un-killable, ass-kicking Alice. It is by far incomparable in its genre of video games-to-big screen movies, even if you think Lara Croft was a good adaptation.

So it isn’t surprising that I found myself in a plex early on Friday morning, one of four people in the entire audi as I got ready for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, supposedly the last chapter in the adventure of Alice, the T-virus-resistant cloning experiment of the Umbrella Corporation (which is involved in top-secret genetic research that started deep beneath Raccoon City) fighting to stay alive in a world which has been overrun by zombies. 

But, sadly, I wasn’t overly impressed by the latest film, though it definitely has a lot of fine moments. For a fan, it is nice to go back to where it all began 15 years ago, meet some old faces (Claire Redfield is back) and come up against some familiar beasts (those mutated Dobermans!). But its breakneck speed hardly lets you appreciate what’s going on and the conveniently open-ended finale takes away from what could be an explosive swansong to the six-film series (if there is not another film that takes off from Alice’s ‘the anti-virus will take time to spread, till then my work isn’t done’ dialogue). 

What I’ll miss about the films? 

a) Without doubt Mila Jovovich’s Alice, who does not need a red sexy dress (that’s what she wore in the first film) while kicking ass to look sexy. She is just the most badass female protagonist ever who can fight with anything from multi-barrelled guns to knives to fists. I’ll miss seeing her escape by the skin of her teeth at least a dozen times each film. 

b) While the zombies are more of a backdrop to the movies the mutated animals and humans are quite something — whether it is the undead dogs, or the Nemesis in Resident Evil: Apocalypse, or The Tyrant in Resident Evil: Extinction, or the pterodactyl-like creatures in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. You never know what is coming out from which corner.

c) The crazy action sequences are yet another thing that I will definitely miss if this is indeed the last film. From the first laser grid corridor scene in Resident Evil (something that we revisited in The Final Chapter) and the city simulations in Resident Evil: Retribution to the last fiery waterfall sequence in The Final Chapter, director Paul W.S. Anderson is the man in charge of action.

d) Some of the supporting characters, though extremely expendable and temporary, are quite memorable, especially the kickass women. There was Michelle Rodriguez’s Rain Ocampo, Ali Larter’s Claire Redfield,  Sienna Guillory as Jill Valentine or Li Bingbing as Ada Wong.

Do I want a prequel/sequel/ reboot?

Not really. The franchise has run dry if the last two films are any indication, and coming up with new tricks and thrills that will make fans sit up and take notice may be impossible, though the film is left open-ended. I have all the films (except the latest) on DVD if ever I feel the craving for some sensational action and a fix of Jovovich. 

Will you miss Mila Jovovich as Alice, like us? Tell t2@abp.in