"Retribution" Serves Up Action and More Action

I am a hardcore fan of the "Resident Evil" film series, so I must admit that I went into the latest installment--"Resident Evil: Retribution"--a little biased.

However, I needed to see "Retribution" twice before I could fully wrap my head around it enough to write a review. I enjoyed the film the first time I saw it, but it wasn't until my second viewing that I fully realized its full awesomeness. (For anyone who hasn't seen the film, I'm going to be including some mild spoilers in this review.)

As a huge "Resident Evil" fan, I went into the film with expectations based on trailers and commercials. (I actually made that same mistake with the previous movie, "Resident Evil: Afterlife.") But once I knew what was going to happen, I could just focus on what really matters--the action, fight scenes and zombie shooting.

"Resident Evil: Retribution," directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, picks up where "Afterlife" left off, with a horde of soldiers from the evil Umbrella Corporation descending on heroine Alice (Milla Jovovich) and a ship full of survivors. After being captured by Umbrella, Alice must fight her way out of Umbrella's base of operations. 

Alice is pursued by former ally Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), who is being controlled by Umbrella. But a team that includes a few well known faces from the video game series--Ada Wong (Li Bingbing), Leon S. Kennedy (Johann Urb) and Barry Burton (Kevin Durand)--show up to help Alice. Unfortunately, with the exception of Ada, the movie did not give any background information of these new characters.

"Resident Evil" films are not heavy on plot or character development, and usually tend to focus more on action and scares. "Retribution" focuses even more heavily on action than any of the other movies in the series since the 2002 original. The movie does not have many slow moments when the characters are not running from or shooting at something or someone.

The main thing that impressed me about "Retribution" is how, out of all the films in the series, it most resembles an actual video. The Umbrella facility is made up of numerous large bunkers designed to simulate real cities. The characters have to go through these simulations to make their way out of the base, similar to how players in a video game have to go through levels or explore different areas.

"Retribution" actually has numerous references to the original "Resident Evil" movie. Like in the first film, Alice and her crew are trapped in an underground Umbrella facility with only a few hours to escape before the base is sealed off for good. Michelle Rodriguez--Jovovich's co-star from the original "Resident Evil film--returns as good and bad clones of her character Rain. Also, "Retribution" brings back the Red Queen, the homicidal computer that orchestrated the events of the first movie. I'm not sure I like the Red Queen's return since it feels a bit like a stretch and like it was done just to tie "Retribution" to the first movie or because they ran out of villains.

The special effects and cinematography were another impressive aspect of the film. I especially liked the slow motion opening sequence. Unfortunately the 3D effect is not nearly as good as it is in the previous movie. The 3D in "Afterlife" is the best I've seen in any live action movie and really added to the movie going experience, but in "Retribution" the 3D is only a distraction.  

One of the taglines for the film is "The Ultimate Battle Begins" and that is true, but "Retribution" feels like the first half of a two-part finale to the series, which I heard would probably be concluded in a sixth film even before this one was released.

Looking Back on San Diego Comic-Con

After years and years of dreaming about it, I have finally gone to the world's largest and most popular comic book convention--San Diego Comic-Con. I can honestly say Comic-Con was the most overwhelming and insane experiences of my life, but it was also one of the most fun.

Comic-Con, also known as SDCC, was so crazy and tiring that when I got home I was completely worn out and a little shell shocked. In fact, I felt like it took me at least a week to recover from four days of walking, standing in line and being pushed and shoved through a seemingly endless crowd of people. I read that SDCC is massive and that couldn't be more true. Before I went, I read numerous Web sites, blogs and even a book that gave tips on how to survive Comic-Con. I also went over the official schedule numerous times to come up with an itinerary. But nothing could really prepare me. So many events were going on both inside and outside the San Diego Convention Center that it was tough to decide what to pick most of the time.

A Comic-Con sign in downtown San Diego

Even though the size of SDCC didn't surprise me, I was completely amazed seeing it and the large crowd of people in person. When I first arrived in San Diego the Wednesday before Comic-Con (SDCC goes from Thursday to Sunday) I saw so many people who were clearly in town for the event. I could pick out most of them by their comic book or sci-fi related t-shirts and some of them by the plastic poster tubes they had slung over their shoulders. I felt like I was part of something huge, which was a pretty cool feeling. That feeling was made even stronger when I picked up my Comic-Con badge and official swag bag, which I thought was way too huge to carry around but was a nice souvenir. So many people were carrying bags around that first night that it seemed like almost everyone I saw was someone who was attending Comic-Con.

When I first went into the San Diego Convention Center's Exhibition Hall on the first morning of Comic-Con I felt right at home. The Exhibition Hall, where booths are set up for comic book stores and distributors, toy companies and major entertainment studios, is the heart of Comic-Con. The Exhibition Hall at SDCC reminded me a lot of the hall at Baltimore Comic-Con, which I've attended for the last three years. It didn't take long for me to realize that the hall at SDCC is not only much larger than the one at Baltimore Comic-Con but it is more commercial. My brother (who I went to Comic-Con with) and I saw a few smaller comic store booths but the first major booth we came across was the DC Comics booth, where a demonstration was going on for the upcoming video game "Injustice: Gods Among Us." None other than Ed Boon, co-creator of the "Mortal Kombat" video game series, was showing off some characters and fighting moves in the game. (On a side note, I was so excited to see Nightwing, my favorite DC Comics character, is going to be a playable character in the game.) I didn't expect to see something that awesome going on so early in the day.

The top of the Castle Grayskull area of the Mattel booth

I went on to see booths for Sony, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate and a lot of other major companies. I spent a lot of time at the Mattel booth, which was especially cool. Part of it was designed like Castle Grayskull from "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" in celebration of the franchise's 30th anniversary. The booth showed off all of the figures from the Masters of the Universe Classics line of action figures, which I collect. The Marvel Studios booth had a really impressive set up that displayed all of the suits from the "Iron Man" films. Before I went to Comic-Con, I created a list of all of the booths I wanted to see and I really only got a good look at about half. Part of the reason was that I didn't give myself enough time in the Exhibition Hall. But the main reason was that the Exhibition Hall got so crowded on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. People were walking in every direction and a lot of people were lined up for various exhibits and autograph signings that it was tough and confusing to work through the crowd. Unfortunately, I also didn't get to buy a lot of collectibles because I had to fly home and it would have been a lot of trouble to carry it all home.

Cosplayers as He-Man and Superman

Another site at Comic-con was the people in costume, known as cosplayers. Although Baltimore Comic-Con has its share of cosplayers, there was definitely a larger percentage of people in costume at San Diego Comic Con. I also saw a wider variety of costumes and many extremely well done. Of course there were some costumes that weren't so well done, like one guy who simply wore a pair of underwear and a tank top (at least I assume that was supposed to be a costume.) Some of the best cosplayers were people who were working at the booths but there were plenty of attendees who looked just as good. I did my best to get as many photos of cosplayers as I could. In some cases, it was difficult to compete with other people taking pictures because too many people would be crowded around a particularly impressive group of cosplayers and the cosplayers would move on before I could get to them. People taking pictures of cosplayers was another reason the Exhibit Hall was so tough to maneuver. I read on several sites that the polite thing to do is to pull the person aside so you aren't blocking a major path, but unfortunately a lot of people didn't know or care that they were holding up the flow of traffic.

One of the main draws of Comic-Con, especially for people who aren't as much into comic books, is the panels. San Diego Comic-Cons panels are famous for having major celebrities, directors and other personalities from television and movies. I made it to quite a few panels, but nowhere near as many as I would have liked to attend or even that I hoped to attend. There were a lot of panels that sounded interesting but a majority of them conflicted with another panel or something else I wanted to do. The itinerary I created before I left for Comic-Con mostly consisted of panels, with the ones I definitely did not want to miss getting top priority. Two things I didn't fully consider  while I was going over the schedule are: (1) it takes time to get from one part of the convention center to the other and (2) many of the panels, not just those for major movies and television shows, have long lines. The San Diego Convention Center is fairly large, but it isn't too difficult to navigate if you know the layout well. Even though I tried to study the layout online, I didn't really get a feel for it until I actually saw the inside of the convention center. But even knowing the layout like the back of your hand doesn't help get around quickly when there are thousands of people in your way. Also, the two rooms where the most popular panels were held--Hall H and Ballroom 20--had lines so long that people who didn't make it in when the rooms first opened or get in line early in the morning had to wait hours to get in, if they made it in at all. 

The beginning of the dreaded Hall H line

I made it to a few panels on Thursday, including the panel for Filmation (the company that produced "He-man" and other cartoons), "The Walking Dead" comic book, DC Collectibles and the television show "Nikita," but I missed one on the Batman comics that I really wanted to see. That day I learned that some of the people working at the convention center didn't always know what they were talking about. The panel for "The Walking Dead" comic had a long line and numerous people told me I wouldn't make it into the room but I waited around to see what would happen and ended up making it end. Unfortunately that wasn't as true for a lot of the other popular panels.

I got in line for Ballroom 20 at 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning in an attempt to see the panel for the show "Community," but by the time I got there the line was probably at least a mile long. The panel for the 10th anniversary of the show "Firefly" was a couple panels after "Community" and everyone who wanted to see that panel camped out or got in line early even though that panel wasn't until 12:30 p.m., so most of the people at the first two panels of the day were really just waiting on the "Firefly" panel. The panel for the show "The Big Bang Theory" was held in Hall H at 12:05 p.m. but that line was even longer than the Ballroom 20 line so I knew I wasn't going to make that. I also missed "The Walking Dead" television show panel. But I was determined to see the panel for the movie "Resident Evil: Retribution," so I got in line for Hall H at about 1:30 p.m. and didn't make it in the room until 4:30 p.m. Luckily I made it in time to see most of the "Resident Evil" panel. While the panels were pretty cool, I was surprised at the size of Hall H and Ballroom 20. Unless you have a really close seat, you can barely see the panelists.

The "Supernatural" panel

The two panels that were my top priorities were the panel for the shows "True Blood" and "Supernatural," which were on Saturday in Ballroom 20 and Sunday in Hall H, respectively. I got up at about 4 a.m.--something I wasn't sure was even possibly--and got in line at about 5 a.m., but I was successful both days in getting in the rooms first thing. However, the lines were longer than anything I'd ever seen in my life! The lines went up one street, down a different street and wrapped up and down another street. I heard someone say that the line for Hall H on Sunday had 10,000 people in it at one point. On Saturday I spent most of the day in Ballroom 20 waiting on the "True Blood" panel, so I didn't get into the Exhibition Hall until late in the day. From what I've heard, Saturday is the busiest and best day to be on the exhibition floor so it was unfortunate to have to choose between that and the panels but the "True Blood" panel was something I had to see.

Jeff Bakalar and Justin Yu from "The 404"

Comic-Con had even more events going on outside of the convention center. A lot of bars, restaurants and clubs had Comic-Con parties and events. For instance, one restaurant was set up like a forest from the show "Grimm" and the Petco Park stadium had a "Walking Dead" zombie obstacle course. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to go to those events. The one event outside of the convention center that I did get to attend was a meet up for a CNET podcast called "The 404," which ended up being one of my most memorable experiences from Comic-Con. I got a chance to meet "404" hosts Justin Yu and Jeff Bakalar, who were the nicest guys. It's one thing to see people who you are a fan of from afar or get to talk to them for a few minutes, but it's another to get a chance to have a conversation with them and get to know them a little.

I'll admit there were several times during Comic-Con when I felt like I had enough and thought there was no way I would ever go to another SDCC again. Most of those times were when I had been waiting in line for hours, my legs were sore from walking or I felt like I couldn't get from one place to another because I was tightly packed in a crowd of people. But, despite the number of times I cursed humanity, I am glad I went to Comic-Con because I had the experience so I will no longer sit home watching the coverage on television and wondering what it would be like to be there. I also got to meet and chat with a lot of very cool people, many of whom I met while waiting in various lines. However, I eventually realized that San Diego Comic-Con is something that you have to attend more than once before you really get used to it and have the knowledge and experience to handle it and get the most of it. If I go again, I wouldn't plan on going to as many panels as I attempted to attend this year and I would spend more time on the exhibition floor on Thursday. I would also try to get admission to preview night, which allows people to walk the exhibition floor for a couple hours on the Wednesday night before Comic-Con. I would also take advantage of more of the events taking place outside the convention center.  The main thing to know about Comic-Con is that it offers a lot of possibilities and is an experience that can ultimately be whatever you make of it.

"Dark Knight Rises" Over the Top

I must start out by saying "The Dark Knight Rises" is an amazing film. In fact, it's the best film I've seen in the theater this year. Not only does it live up to the first two films in Christopher Nolan's Batman film trilogy, but it also exceeds them in some ways.

"The Dark Knight Rises" takes the best of "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" and rolls them up in one over-the-top package, serving as a very fitting conclusion to the series. It has a madman villain and a massive scale plot to take down Gotham City. Then again, what good Batman story doesn't have those things.

Picking up eight years after the events of "The Dark Knight," the film sees most of Gotham's citizens remembering Harvey "Two Face" Dent as a hero and believing Batman to have killed him. Bruce Wayne, played by Christian Bale, reluctantly returns from a self-imposed exile from society after a terrorist named Bane stages attacks in the city.

In "The Dark Knight Rises," Nolan once again does a masterful job of mixing together themes and events from the Batman comics in a more realistic setting. The film draws from some well known story arcs, especially Knightfall--the arc that introduces Bane to the comic--and Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns--an alternate world story where an older Bruce Wayne returns from retirement.

"The Dark Knight Rises" is a pretty fast paced film. It has a complex story and plenty of action so, while it does feel like a long film, it's the type of film that makes you want it to keep going. (Unless of course you drank too much soda and really need to use the restroom.)

However, even though I did love "The Dark Knight Rises," I don't think it is as good as the previous film. "The Dark Knight" is such an excellent film on so many levels that it is very difficult to top. Heath Ledger's chilling and disturbing portrayal of the Joker mixed with the right amount of humor in "The Dark Knight" is perfection. Of course, there is a reason why the Joker is considered to be not only one of Batman's greatest foes, but also one of the greatest comic book villains of all time.

"The Dark Knight Rises" focuses more on Bruce and his personal struggles than it does on his alter ego so the film doesn't include as many scenes of him in the cape and cowl than I expected. The film also doesn't feature as much of the character Selina Kyle--better known as Catwoman in the comic--as I hoped for. Selina's back story is hinted at as being similar to that of the comic book version but isn't explained in any real detail. In the film, Selina is a cat burglar and con artist who gets wrapped up in Bane's plot.

Speaking of Catwoman, a lot of people questioned whether actress Anne Hathaway could pull off the role of Selina Kyle. I'll admit Hathaway wouldn't have been my first choice, but I think she is a phenomenal actress and I trust Nolan's casting choices. Many, including me, thought the same about Heath Ledger and of course he proved everyone wrong. I'm used to thinking of Hathaway as the "nice girl" in movies but she completely captures Selina's sultry, sarcastic attitude and toughness. She doesn't go as over the top with the sexuality (nope, she doesn't brandish a whip) or affinity for cats as most previous portrayals such as the 1960s "Batman" television series and the recent "Batman: Arkham City" video game.

Julie Newmar's Catwoman costume

I also have to take a moment to discuss the costume. To me, it appears as if the Catwoman costume is mostly inspired by the one made famous in the 1960s series by Julie Newmar. I think the costume used in the current comics looks realistic enough to be used in the film. Actually the costume in the film seems to incorporate elements from different Catwoman costumes, including the goggles from the current comic costume. I think the thigh high boots with the six inch heels are a bit much, even though it turns out they do have a pretty cool use.

Tom Hardy also does an amazing job embodying the character Bane, even if he doesn't provide as chilling or compelling a villain as Ledger's Joker. The film mixed parts of Bane's back story with its larger, overall plot and made Bane as imposing intellectually as he is physically.

It goes without saying but I'll mention anyway that Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman all repeat their stellar performances from the first two films as Bruce Wayne, Wayne's butler and closest confidant Alfred Pennyworth, lawman Commissioner Jim Gordon and Wayne's second closest ally Lucius Fox.

Many of the film's events and plot twists are predictable, especially if you are familiar with the Batman comic story lines. While predictability might be a major flaw in some other movies, it works in the favor of this film because it adds to the excitement. When I was watching the movie, there were a few points where I was anxiously anticipating certain events that I knew were coming. In every instance the film provides a more than satisfying pay off. 

From this point on I'm going to discuss a few last thoughts involving some specific plot details from the film so here is the obligatory spoiler alert.

I'm somewhat of a purist so I like a film to stay as close to the original material as possible. I don't mind some deviation, especially when the translation is a different take on the original book or comic as is the case with the Nolan Batman films. 

I think Nolan did a great job adding some small nods to the comic in the films but I have to mention the whole Robin thing. Only because I am a major Nightwing/Dick Grayson fan, I would have so much loved if it turned out that Joseph Gordon Levitt's character John Blake's birth name was Richard Grayson. If that happened, my head might have actually exploded. I know that is too much to ask for because it wouldn't necessarily make sense for the character to have changed his name but I couldn't help hoping for that the entire time I was watching the movie. 

Throughout the film, it is strongly foreshadowed that Blake would eventually take over for Bruce Wayne. I realize that his characterization and background--being an orphan and a cop and figuring out Batman's secret identity--is an amalgamation of the various Robins from the comic, namely Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake. So in the end, when we find out that John Blake isn't his birth name I was just waiting to hear "Richard" or "Grayson" or something. Hearing his real first name was Robin is a decent nod to the comic but I wish they took it one step further and used one of the names from the comic.

Speaking of supposedly original characters, the fact that Marion Cotillard's character Miranda Tate turned out to be Talia Al Ghul was the worst kept secret in recent movies. Despite all the denials from Nolan and Cotillard, everyone knew. The only problem I have is that "Miranda" was suddenly in a League of Shadows (or League of Assassins in the comic) style outfit before the reveal, which made it even more obvious. But I'm just glad it turned out to be true because it was the perfect way to bring the story back to Ra's Al Ghul's plot to destroy Gotham from "Batman Begins."

I think the ending tied up the trilogy in a very fitting way while leaving the story open, which illustrates how life goes on and the war on crime is never ending. I do like that Bruce faked his death and ended up with Selina. I always liked her better as a love interest for Bruce than I did Talia. And whether Robin ends up using the name Nightwing or becomes Batman or just uses his own name isn't important. It's enough to know the he is taking up the mantle and that the story goes on even if this film series is over. 

Next Stop: Comic-Con!

In just a day from now I'll be living a personal dream of mine: attending San Diego Comic-Con!

I can't believe, after years of just watching coverage on TV, I'll finally be in the San Diego Convention Center for the largest comic book convention in the world. For some, attending San Diego Comic-Con, or SDCC, is not a big deal at all. Some people go every year and have done so for many years, or decades even. I'm sure they still get excited about SDCC and look forward to it.

Attending SDCC this year is a big deal for me because I've wanted to go for years but the circumstances were never right. Either I didn't have the money or I didn't have the vacation time. But last year I became determined to make 2012 the year.

SDCC has so much to see and do that there is something almost anyone, or least anyone who's a fan of anything pop culture related. I am a fan of many supernatural themed shows (including "Supernatural"), science fiction and fantasy movies, action figures and comic books (yep, SDCC still does involve those). I know I'll only experience a small fraction of all there is to do.

In preparation, I've spent the past couple of weeks reading tips and survival guides, looking over the SDCC schedule and making an itinerary. Yep (for anyone who doesn't know), it's that serious. I've been to Baltimore Comic-Con, so I have a slight idea of what's in store, but I'm sure it will far surpass any expectations I have. Stan Lee is the biggest celebrity that I know of to appear at Baltimore Comic-Con, and that was just last year.

I could spend my entire time just going to the panels. The two main panels I want to see are the ones for "True Blood" and the aforementioned "Supernatural." But I also recently discovered there will be panels for other shows I watch including "Community," "The Walking Dead" and "The Big Bang Theory" (which I just recently started watching) and the film "Resident Evil: Retribution." Most people who know me know I am obsessed with the Resident Evil" movies. I also want to go to panels for DC Comics and "The Walking Dead" comic. They even have panels for writers and artists that I would also love to attend.

One thing I don't look forward to are the lines. From what I've read I'll spend most of my time in long lines. But I guess you have to take the good with the bad. I will definitely report back on experience. Hopefully I won't come back with the nerd flu, which apparently is a thing.

"Spider-man" is Indeed Amazing

Many people were left scratching their heads when Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures announced a couple years ago that they were rebooting their Spider-Man film franchise.

Considering it's only been five years since the release of the last film in the original trilogy, the obvious question was whether or not we really needed the series restarted so soon. While the quality of 2007's "Spider-Man 3" screams "Yes," the quality of "The Amazing Spider-Man" gives a resounding "eh, maybe."

Don't take that to mean "The Amazing Spider-Man" is a so-so film. Actually, the movie is (pun intended) amazing. The story, the acting and the special effects are all incredibly well done.

Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. Image credit: Sony Pictures

The one problem is the film, which sees Andrew Garfield donning the iconic skin tight red and blue suit, is a little too reminiscent of the 2002 "Spider-Man" that starred Tobey Maguire. Both movies show the origin story of Marvel Comic's popular web-slinger Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man, including his life as a nerdy high school kid living with his aunt and uncle, being bitten by a genetically engineered spider and becoming a super-powered costumed vigilante. Both also include a love story between Peter and a female character from the comics. 

"The Amazing Spider-Man" does deviate from the original film in a few important ways. The most notable is that the new movie focuses more on Peter searching for answer's about his dead parents and the secrets his father, scientist Richard Parker, kept before his death. In this version of the story, Peter discovers his father worked on genetic experimentation at the large company, Oscorp.   

Another big difference is the film's love interest is Gwen Stacy--a character more well-known to fans of the comics--rather than Spidey's traditionally known girlfriend Mary Jane Watson. (Fans of the comics also know that Peter dated Gwen before he met Mary Jane.) In addition, the villain is the Lizard, not the most famous Spider-Man adversary, the Green Goblin.

The casting has its ups and downs. Garfield is a convincing Peter Parker, capturing his awkwardness and bringing a little more humor and personality to his Spider-Man persona than the character had in the 2002 film. Emma Stone, who played Gwen, sparkles on screen as always, but I originally thought she would have been more suited to play Mary Jane. Stone excels at playing down-to-Earth, quirky and smart women like Mary Jane. However, in the film, Gwen has all of these same characteristics so all of Stone's talents are put to good use. Garfield and Stone have a natural chemistry on screen that makes the hot girl falling for the school nerd very believable.

Veteran actors Martin Sheen and Sally Field pulled off the roles of Peter's Uncle Ben and Aunt May flawlessly, but didn't quite match the performances of Cliff Robertson and Rosemary Harris, who made the roles their own in the 2002 film.

As a movie itself, "The Amazing Spider-Man" gives the audience plenty of action along with an engaging story. It does leave a few questions unanswered, but those will undoubtedly be addressed in the sequels.  It is definitely a must see for Spider-Man fans, but unfortunately it doesn't veer far enough from the formula of the original.

"Resident Evil: Retribution" Trailer is Finally Here!

The long awaited full length trailer for "Resident Evil: Retribution" debuted on the Web today, giving fans of Screen Gems' highly successful action horror franchise a first real look at the film's plot.

Screen Gems released a brief teaser in January that gave a peek at some of the movie's action, but did not give much in the way of story details. "Retribution" is the fifth installment in the saga of heroine Alice, played by Milla Jovovich, and her battle against the powerful and villainous Umbrella Corporation, which is responsible for decimating much of the world with its T-Virus.

Both the teaser and full trailer gave a glimpse at the return of Michelle Rodriguez, who appeared in the first "Resident Evil" film as Rain Ocampo, a member of an Umbrella Corporation special forces commando unit. The full trailer also includes scenes of Oded Fehr and Colin Salmon, two other stars from earlier in the series who are returning for the fifth installment. Fehr appeared in "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" and "Resident Evil: Extinction" (the second and third films) as Carlos Olivera, a character from the Capcom video game series the films are based on, while Salmon appeared in the first movie as James "One" Shade. Rain, Carlos and One were all killed off, but are somehow back for this new movie.

The trailer doesn't actually explain the return of these characters so I had to go to Wikipedia to learn that the actors are playing clones created by Umbrella. That's no surprise as there aren't many other ways to bring back characters who were shot in the head, diced up or blown up. Also, this is a sci-fi horror film I'm talking about. However, they are not just playing clones, they are actually playing two clones--one a "good" version and one a "bad" version. (Only in a "Resident Evil" movie!)

The trailer does explain that Umbrella captured Alice and placed her in a dream world where she and Carlos are living happily in the suburbs with a young daughter--that is, until she is given a rude awakening by a zombie attack. Also, Umbrella has grown larger than ever and appears to have achieved world domination. Alice has to once again go up against Albert Wesker, the sunglasses loving villain who was supposedly killed when his plane exploded in the previous film, "Resident Evil: Afterlife." (Wesker could actually be seen parachuting from the explosion if you look closely). Alice also has to face her old ally Jill Valentine, played by Sienna Guillory, who appeared in "Apocalypse." A scene during the credits of "Afterlife" showed that Valentine is under the control of Umbrella thanks to one of their mind control devices. Also glimpsed in the full trailer are Ada Wong and Leon Kennedy, two characters from the video games who are making their way onto the big screen.

Despite never having played through an entire "Resident Evil" game, I am a huge fan of the movies (as I mentioned in my post about my love for all things zombie). This latest film looks like it will not disappoint in giving us a good dose of shooting, ass kicking and Umbrella Corporation craziness. The previews for "Afterlife" showed Alice storming Umbrella's facility that resulted in a huge battle, but that part of the film ended up only taking up the first 10 or 15 minutes. I actually thought it was a really clever twist. The movie's actual plot turned out to be much narrower in focus than I originally expected, dealing more with Alice getting trapped in a prison with a group of survivors and not having her facing off against Umbrella again until the end. "Retribution" looks like it will be the global scale war that I was expecting in "Afterlife," which is necessary to keep the franchise fresh and draw it to an explosive close. I just wish Chris and Claire Redfield were included in this film, but unfortunately they seem to be missing since their appearance in "Afterlife." Hopefully they will be in the sixth, and reportedly final, film.

"Resident Evil: Retribution" will be released in theaters on September 14, 2012. Watch the trailer below:

 

Update: Screen Gem's released two additional international trailers that can be found on the Web site Bloody Disgusting.

"The Cabin in the Woods" is Worth the Trip

So I'm going to review another film that's been out for a while: Liongate’s "The Cabin in the Woods." But unlike the last movie I reviewed, "The Hunger Games" (also released by Lionsgate), the Joss Whedon produced horror film "Cabin in the Woods" hasn't shattered any sales records, which is unfortunate because it is just as amazing in its own way.

I had extremely high expectations for "The Cabin in the Woods" going in, mainly because I am a huge fan of Whedon’s past television shows, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” and “Dollhouse.” Also, Whedon co-wrote “Cabin” with Drew Goddard, who wrote for “Buffy” and “Angel.” On top of that, I spent years anticipating the film’s release since first hearing about it in late 2009. (It was supposed to be released in February 2010, but was delayed because of financial problems at MGM, the film’s original distributor.) I can easily say “The Cabin in the Woods” surpassed my expectations and left me in complete awe. I’ll even go as far as calling it a must see movie for horror fans, especially those that appreciate what was done with the genre in the 80s and 90s. This includes cliché situations and stereotypical characters like the dumb blonde who often falls while running from the killer, the macho jock and the innocent, chaste “final girl” character who is usually the lone survivor. In true Whedon style, the film manages to both poke fun at and subvert these stereotypes at the same time.

It's probably best to go into the film with as little information about the premise as possible, other than that it's about five college kids who go for a weekend getaway to the secluded locale referenced in the title. That plot may sound reminiscent of slasher film classics, like the much beloved (at least by me) "Friday the 13th" series, in which a mindless killer picks off partying teens one by one. But there is much more to "The Cabin in the Woods." Unfortunately, incessant commercials spoiled the main aspect of the movie that sets it apart from those fondly remembered films from decades past. So I can at least talk about that much since I won't be spoiling anything that the television ads haven't already. However, if you want to go into this movie completely blind, you should probably stop reading here. So the five friends--Dana, Jules, Curt, Marty, and Holden--are being monitored by technicians from some apparent scientific corporation throughout their entire trip. Strategically placed surveillance cameras are in the cabin and covert military looking guys spy on them even before they leave for their ill-fated adventure. The fact that the college students are being watched and somewhat toyed with by the technicians is kind of similar to "The Hunger Games" and some of the ideas that movie brings up, except in "Cabin in the Woods" the kids don't know they're being watched.

The movie does have other surprises that aren't ruined by commercials, including why the corporation is performing their horror games. The movie hints at the corporation's endgame a few times earlier on and, while not completely original, it gives a very creative concept the both pokes fun at and explains certain horror film character stereotypes. "The Cabin in the Woods" also has a climactic scene that shouldn't be missed. At this point it's probably too late to catch the film in the theaters, but it should definitely be seen on DVD/Blu-ray. I can't speak for all horror fans but I think most would agree "The Cabin in the Woods" is one hell of a movie!

"The Walking Dead": Not Your Father's Zombie Game

If you ever read those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books as a kid, imagine one with terrifying zombies and great character development. But instead of a book it’s an interactive game that brings the characters to life on your screen. That’s “The Walking Dead” video game in nutshell.

Developed by TellTale Games, “The Walking Dead” is based on the popular comic book series of the same name by Image Comics. The downloadable game is split into five episodes; the first, ‘A New Day,’ was released last week on the PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade, PC and Mac.

Lee fighting off a walker. Image credit: PlayStation.com

"The Walking Dead" video game is set in the same continuity as the comic series, with the events considered a canonical prequel to Rick Grimes’ adventure. The game follows a new character--escaped convict Lee Everett--and ‘A New Day’ features appearances by well known characters from the comic, including Glenn and Hershel Greene. Because the game is not based on the television series, viewers that haven’t read the comics might not recognize Hershel, who differs somewhat in appearance and personality than how he is portrayed in the series. Glenn, however, is similar enough (Asian guy with a baseball cap.) Hopefully more faces from the comic will be seen in future episodes.

“The Walking Dead” isn’t the traditional survival horror game I expected when I first heard it announced. Like the comic and television series, the game is more about the character’s interactions than fighting off zombies. The game is also about slowly unfolding the mystery of Lee’s past and whether he is a good guy or not. So rather than being reminiscent of games like “Resident Evil,” it is more in the interactive movie genre like the critically acclaimed “Heavy Rain.” But “The Walking Dead” feels even more like an interactive movie--or maybe an interactive show in this case--because the graphics look more animated than realistic. This is meant to be reminiscent of the art in the comics and mixes well with the game’s more story focused game play.

Like with “Heavy Rain,” the player’s choices in “The Walking Dead” affect how events unfold and how other characters act towards Lee. At certain points you can decide whether to be honest or lie when asked questions or what actions to take when a zombie finally gets around to attacking someone. Attempt to save one person and you’ll make an ally, support someone’s plan of action over another person’s and you might make an enemy. The game gives you only about 30 seconds or so to make decisions so much like real life (unless you stop and restart) your path can be dictated by split second decisions.

The other games are supposed to be released over the next few months so time will tell exactly how different choices affect the course of the game overall. But this type of gameplay definitely increases the replay value. I’m already wondering how things might be different if I had Lee be more honest here or dishonest there, so I can definitely seeing myself playing this game again a few times.

Despite the heavy focus on story, the game does have its share of startling and chilling zombie attacks, where split second timing is really of the utmost importance. Although the controls are fairly simple, I fumbled a little the first few times I had to fight off a zombie because I wasn’t always sure what I was supposed to do.

Certain buttons have different uses in action scenes versus scenes in which you explore rooms or interact with other characters. The game has general instructions that are accessed in the main menu, but they don’t explain what each button does for each scenario. However, it won’t take long before you will be punching, kicking and bludgeoning zombies like a pro.

“The Walking Dead, ‘A New Day,’ costs $4.99 in the PlayStation Store and 400 points in the Xbox Live Marketplace. A “Season Pass” is available for $19.99 in the PlayStation store that includes the first episode, pre-purchase of the additional four episodes and an exclusive PlayStation 3 premium theme. A Season Pass for the five episodes of the PC or Mac versions can be purchased for $24.99.

I Have More to Say About "The Hunger Games"

I tried to avoid giving away any major spoilers in my review of "The Hunger Games" just in case the one person who hasn't seen the film yet somehow stumbled upon it. But I have even more to say, so I'm doing a post for anyone who has seen the movie or just doesn't care about spoilers.

The first thing I want to discuss is the over the top scene I mentioned in my review. In the film, there is an added scene after Rue's death that shows a riot breaking out in District 11, Rue's home district. It starts out with a guy that I assume is Rue's father going into an angry fit. People around him start acting out as well and it escalates into a full scale revolt. Now don't get me wrong. I love Rue as much as the next “Hunger Games” fan, but I think a riot is a bit of an extreme reaction. Obviously Rue's family would be angry, and I would have been fine with the scene if it just showed her father getting upset. But I would think the other citizens in District 11, as well as those in every district, would be used to seeing a 12-year-old get killed in the Games considering this is the 74th competition. That should especially be true for the more poverty stricken districts, such as District 11, where the children are malnourished and most aren’t strong enough to compete against the well fed tributes from the richer districts. Also, the riot takes away from Katniss's experience, which is what this part of the story is really about. After Rue is killed, Katniss decorates her body with flowers as a way to both honor Rue and show the Capitol that she and Rue are more than pawns in their game. While this is shown in the film, the riot is so jarring that it kind of ruins the somber, emotional mood of Katniss mourning Rue’s death. I believe the filmmakers added the riot scene to foreshadow events in the sequel, “Catching Fire,” which is where we will learn more about what goes on in the districts as a result of the Games. The riot scene gives the idea that Rue’s death sparks a revolution in the districts. While Rue’s death was part of a chain of events, the dissension in the districts is supposed to be more a reaction to Katniss’s defiance of the Capitol.

One thing I found interesting about Rue’s death in general is that, as much as I would have liked for her to survive, her death is a necessary part of the story. It is a strong reminder to the audience that this is a world where very young children are sent not only to die, but in most cases to die brutally. Seeing 17-year-olds killing each other isn't as disturbing as seeing a 17-year-old killing a 12-year-old. In movies, older teenagers look and are oftentimes played by adults so the viewer doesn’t necessarily think of them as children. Plus, horror movies have been featuring teenagers getting murdered since at least the early 70s so viewers are used to seeing that. Other younger tributes were killed in the bloodbath at the start of the games but the film doesn’t focus much on them. But these deaths, as well as Rue’s, also serve as a reminder of just how sick and bloodthirsty the spectators are in the Capitol. The last thing I’ll say about Rue is that I would have liked to see a little more of her before she was killed. I thought the filmmakers could have added a conversation between Katniss and Rue about the conditions in District 11, how Rue had to work in the fields and how she loves music. Rue could have also mentioned how she used the four note song she and Katniss used as a signal during the Games back home in District 11 to signal the end of the work day. That could have showed Rue was known by a lot of people and could have explained the uproar that took place in District 11 after she died. 

I think some other important plot points from the novel could have easily been added to the film with just some slight changes to certain scenes or extra dialogue. For example, at one point later in the movie, Peeta refers to the red headed female tribute from District 5 as “Foxface,” but there is no explanation for this. In the book, Katniss comes up with the nickname because she doesn’t know the girl’s real name and probably because it sounds catchier to the reader than “the girl from District 5.” I know that isn't exactly a major detail, but it could be confusing to some. I think the filmmakers could have easily avoided that by having Katniss mention the girl to Peeta and say that she’s been thinking of the girl as Foxface or something like that. Earlier in the film, the video shown at the reaping mentions that Panem began with 13 districts but afterwards it is said Panem only has 12 districts with no explanation. I think it would have been easy to add another line in the video or a line of dialogue in another scene to clarify that District 13 was obliterated in the Dark Days—the war caused by the districts’ rebellion 75 years or so before the beginning of the story. In another scene early in movie, Katniss mentions that her sister’s name will only be in the bowl at the reaping once and it is mentioned in a following scene that Gale’s name will be added to the bowl numerous times with no explanation. In the novel, Katniss says that potential tributes can have their names added to the bowl extra times, thereby increasing their chances of being selected, in exchange for tokens, or tesserae, that are traded for a small amount of grain and oil. This would probably take more than a line of dialogue to explain but Katniss and Gale could have discussed it or an extra scene could have been added showing them signing up for tesserae.

One of the aspects of the novel that I really wish the film version had retained is how rough the conditions are for Katniss during the Games. In the film, once she escapes the bloodbath she gets set up in the woods and finds water and food pretty quickly. In the novel, however, it takes Katniss a couple days to find a source of water and, before she does, she nearly dies from dehydration. Also, both Katniss and Peeta suffer from near starvation as well when they are holed up together in the cave. Peeta also suffers from blood poisoning while they are hiding in the cave due to his leg wound and he nearly dies. Another aspect that I would have liked to see in the film is how Katniss figures a lot of things out for herself in the novel, such as what the gifts from Haymitch mean. In the novel, Haymitch wasn’t allowed to include notes in the gifts like he did in the film, so Katniss had to interpret why he sent her gifts at certain times and refrained from sending gifts at other times. For instance, before she first found water she wondered why Haymitch didn’t or wasn’t able to send any to her but she eventually realized that meant a water source was nearby. I understand that a lot of that stuff had to be cut for length but in my opinion removing these aspects definitely took some of the bite out of the story.

I could probably go on and on analyzing "The Hunger Games" but I need to stop somewhere. The last thing I’ll discuss is something else I think the film could have done without. In the movie, the Gamemakers seemed like they were trying to kill the tributes; particularly in the scene where they hurl large fireballs at Katniss. In the novel, they used tricks like the fireballs merely as a means to drive the tributes to the same location so they would be forced into confrontations. Manipulating the environment was meant to make sure the Games didn't get boring for the viewers in the Capitol. However, they were not supposed to kill tributes. That seems like it would be counter intuitive to the point of the Games, which is to have to tributes kill each other. I haven't finished reading the trilogy though so that could also be some form of foreshadowing for information that comes out later about how the Games are operated, but I like the idea that the Games at least has some level of fairness. Then again, the government officials in the Capitol are so cruel that I wouldn't put anything past them.

"The Hunger Games" Review

So I decided to write some movie reviews and I'm starting with a film everyone has seen already:  "The Hunger Games."

Before entering the theater to watch "The Hunger Games" this past Saturday, I promised myself I would not spend the entire time comparing it to the book, which I finished reading that morning. Unfortunately I failed miserably. With the book so fresh in my mind, I found it impossible not to think about how each scene in the film matched up with the corresponding scene in the book. I actually had the same problem when I first saw many of the Harry Potter movies, being a huge fan of the book series. I didn't have that problem with the last two Harry Potter films though. By then, it had been a few years since I read the books so I didn't have an exact memory of them. But, much like the Potter films, the movie version of "The Hunger Games" does not completely live up to the book. However, that does not stop it from being a great film.

Even though I was slightly disappointed that some events in the film do  not happen exactly as they do in the book, I kept reminding myself that all of the details in a novel couldn't be captured in a two-and-a-half-hour movie. The screenwriter (who I later found out is the book's author, Suzanne Collins) had to form a story for the film based out of all the information in the novel and could not fit in everything. (As a side note, that reminds me of the same writing process I used when I was a reporter at a community newspaper. I would gather a lot of information and only use what I needed to craft a story, rather than cramming in every bit.)

Set in Panem--a dystopian nation standing on the ruins of a post apocalyptic North America--the film follows the plot of the novel fairly closely. Panem consists of a wealthy city known as the Capitol and 12 poorer surrounding districts. To punish the districts for a past uprising against the Capitol, Panem's government imposed a yearly ritual called the Hunger Games, in which one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are randomly selected from each district to fight to the death in a televised competition. During the Games, the participants are placed in an outdoor arena where they must survive unknown conditions and hazards controlled by agents of the Capitol. The Games serve as a way for the Capitol to keep the districts in line by reminding them that they are always at its mercy. Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl from the twelfth and poorest district, volunteers to be a sacrifice, or "tribute," in the 74th Annual Hunger Games to take the place of her younger sister Primrose, whose name is originally selected. The film centers on Katnis, who must travel to the extravagant Capitol, along with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark, to train for and compete in the competition.

Reading the novel before seeing the film definitely biased my opinion of it, in both a good and a bad way. I already knew the full story so I wasn't confused by any missing background information. Plus, I was more forgiving than some because I loved the novel and wanted to love the film. However, I think the fact that the film glosses over or omits some of the novel's major plot points was possibly more noticeable to me than someone who hadn't read the book. For instance, the film mentions Panem began with thirteen districts but doesn't explain District 13 was destroyed in a catastrophic war caused by the rebellion. Also, a character says the victor of the Hunger Games is "bathed in riches" but the film doesn't explain what that includes. In the book, it is explained the victor receives money and a fancy house in their home district. The book also says that the Capitol provides extra food to the winner's home district for a year, which is why the competition is called the Hunger Games.

Additionally, some of the novel's brutality is lost in translation to the screen, however, not enough for the film to seem too toned down. A story about teenagers fighting to the death is obviously going to be violent and controversial but the film isn't nearly as brutal as the similarly themed Japanese film "Battle Royale," also based on a novel. Rather than focusing on the actual killing, "The Hunger Games" is more about Katniss's struggle for survival in the arena. Though the movie is not without deaths, it uses a shaky camera style that distracts from some of the violence and helps portray Katniss's frenzied experience. The most important aspect of the story that the film doesn't capture is Katniss's insight, given through first person narration in the novel. However, not having the limitations of first person narration allows the film to show scenes that take place with characters outside the arena while the games are taking place. Some of them are interesting additions but some detract a bit from what is really Katniss's story. One of the new scenes (that I won't give it away for that one person who hasn't seen the movie yet) is so unnecessary and over the top that I actually cringed a little.

The film features strong performances from some veteran actors including Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss and Peeta's mentor and District 12's only living Hunger Games victor, and the marvelous Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickman, the Game's colorful host. But the movie really belonged to star Jennifer Lawrence, who played the role of Katniss to perfection. I can't think of another actress who could have done a better job capturing the character's charm, toughness and vulnerability. Lawrence played a similar role in the Academy Award nominated film "Winter's Bone," which could have been a "Hunger Games" prequel that tells the story of Katniss's ancestor, Ree Dolly. Like Katniss, Ree is a tough girl living in poverty who supports her younger siblings and nearly catatonic mother. Someone needs to cryogenically freeze Jennifer Lawrence so she can play Katniss again when "The Hunger Games" is remade in 10 or 15 years. I also loved young actress Amandla Stenberg as the character Rue, a 12-year-old chosen as the tribute from District 11. I just wish Rue had more screen time in the film.

Overall, I think "The Hunger Games" is a very compelling story with a lot of interesting themes, my favorites being the allusions to the popularity of reality television in today's culture and the gladiator combat that took place in the Roman Empire. I would recommend the movie to the person who hasn't seen it. I would also highly recommend the novel to anyone who enjoyed the movie because it gives much more depth to Panem and the characters.

I ♥ Zombies!!!

As everyone knows, popular culture is caught up in an intense love affair with the undead creatures known as zombies. This is evident because zombies are pretty much everywhere you look, from movies and literature to video games and comic books. Zombies have even taken over television with the popular and amazing AMC series "The Walking Dead." People participate in zombie walks where they dress up like the undead and stumble down the street, and zombie races in which they run through obstacle courses while being chased by people in zombie costumes. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even released a zombie preparedness guide online.

The most recent zombie craze seems to have begun in the early 2000s and has yet to die down. But zombies have been around for a lot longer, appearing in literature as well as movies such as George A. Romero's Living Dead film series, which are among the most well known zombie fiction. Zombie lore itself originated from West African spiritual and religious practices and the Haitian Voodoo (or Vodou) religion created by African slaves who were brought to Haiti in the 16th century. In the Voodoo religion, zombies were corpses that were mystically reanimated and controlled by a sorcerer or priest known as a bokor.

The 1932 film "White Zombie," considered the first zombie movie, stars Béla Lugosi as a white Haitian Voodoo master that controls a horde of zombies. Redefining zombie lore for modern times, Romero kicked off his previously mentioned Living Dead series when he released "Night of the Living Dead" in 1968. While zombies were previously depicted as creatures that followed the orders of a sorcerer, Romero's breed of zombies had only one goal--devouring human flesh. The 1985 film "The Return of the Living Dead," an offshoot of the Living Dead series not done by Romero, created the popular idea of zombies hungering for human brains.

Me with two "zombies" at Baltimore Comic-Con 2011

I am proud to admit that I am one of the many who are obsessed the living dead, but that was not always the case. I am a longtime fan of horror films (a topic I will revisit in a future post), however, while growing up I rarely watched zombie movies. This was probably because there were never any good ones on television. I recall watching one movie with talking zombies that was complete garbage (I believe it was actually part of the Return of the Living Dead series). I now realize there were better options like the Romero classics, but at the time all that was available was whatever was on basic cable and HBO.

My love of zombie lore didn't begin until spring 2002 when I first saw the horror film "Resident Evil," which would become one of my favorite movies and go on to spawn an awesome franchise (at least in my opinion.) In addition to horror movies, I am also a fan of video games and video game movies so, even though I have yet to play through a "Resident Evil" game, I had to see the movie. "Resident Evil" had serious ghouls that craved flesh, not the silly zombies from my youth that moaned "braaaiiins." Not long after that another movie, "28 Days Later," also brought the scariness back to zombie lore (although the creatures were more like rabid people than zombies, but I won't split hairs.) In both movies the zombie plague--known in extreme cases as a zombie apocalypse--is caused by a viral outbreak, which adds an explanation as to why zombie bites turn a living person into a zombie. Ever since then there has been a constant stream of zombie movies, including the 2004 remake of Romero's "Dawn of the Dead," the "Resident Evil" sequels, [REC], and many others.

I'm not exactly sure why the current obsession with zombies is still going strong (not that I'm complaining.) Vampires, another type of undead, have always been popular but it seems like their popularity waxes and wanes. For instance, vampires became über popular after "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" the series became a success in 1997 and again with the more recent TV series "True Blood" and the horrible "Twilight" books and movies that for some reason are much beloved by many teenage girls. With zombies it seems like there has been an increasing, or at least steady, level of popularity over the past decade.

There are numerous reasons why I love zombies and why I believe others love them as well. One reason is that zombies are known to usually appear in hordes. Even though other fictional creatures may attack in groups at times, none are known for it as much as the walking dead. Zombie movies are thrilling to watch because at some point the characters end up surrounded by an army of undead creatures trying to devour them with escape difficult to nearly impossible. Another reason is that, as previously mentioned, zombie bites (and sometimes scratches) turns a living person into a zombie, which makes combating them extremely dangerous. I believe a bigger reason why zombies are so popular is that zombie stories involve a lot of extreme violence. This society is obsessed with violence, and in a zombie attack someone could justifiably shoot, stab, and bludgeon people. On a side note, one of my aunts, who likes most other science fiction, once told me that she refuses to watch "The Walking Dead" and zombie films because she couldn't stand the idea of people preying on other humans. I hadn't really thought about it that way before since I generally don't think of zombies as still being human.

I believe one of the main reasons a lot of people love zombies isn't so much about the zombies themselves but the strategies people plan to use for survival in case a zombie apocalypse were to occur in real life. I am in the middle of reading "The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead," by Max Brooks. (I'm probably the last zombie enthusiast on the planet to read this book but it's been sitting on my Amazon wish list for the longest time. I finally got around to buying it once I saw that it has a spin-off/sequel/whatever called "World War Z" that is being made into a film starring Brad Pitt.) "The Zombie Survival Guide" is written in the style of a real survival guide that provides information on the best weapons and methods to use when combating or eliminating zombies, the essential items to carry when on the run from zombies, and other topics involved in surviving zombie outbreaks. I'm sure most zombie fans have had the discussion with friends about if, how, or how long they would fare in a zombie apocalypse. An interesting element of the zombie apocalypse is the idea of the breakdown of society. Many zombie stories show how living in an apocalyptic world affects humanity--some people band together during the apocalypse and some turn on others and become as predatory as the zombies that are hungering after them.

In my opinion, the popularity of zombies is at an all time high. "The Walking Dead" is a ratings success going on its third season at the end of this year. Also, several new zombie movies are in production, including another film based on a book titled "Warm Bodies" that actually involves a zombie teen romance in the vein of the "Twilight" series. So no matter what the reasons are for why people adore the undead, society's love of zombie lore clearly isn't going to die down anytime soon.