Resident Evil: Apocalypse

Commencing where the first film left off, Resident Evil: Apocalypse again features Milla Jovovich as Alice, the genetically altered, zombie-killing hero. Joined by a small group of survivors, Alice navigates through a monster-infested Racoon City in hopes of escape. The crew's getaway is hindered not only by the hordes of undead but also by the ominous Umbrella Corporation, whose responsibility for the zombie outbreak feeds their desire to eliminate all civilians and erase any evidence of the catastrophe. Despite possessing a certain novelty for anyone familiar with Toronto (the film features a countless number of landmarks), Resident Evil: Apocalypse is really quite boring and even the most dedicated fans of the games will be disappointed by the mediocre special effects and dry story line. It is not surprising then that the Special Edition DVD is equally dissatisfying. The lengthy "Game Over: Resident Evil Reanimated" feature, which highlights the making of the film, offers little more than self-congratulatory snippets from the cast and crew. The "Game Babes" and "Corporate Malfeasance" featurettes are simply extensions of the "making of" feature and exist only to beef up the quantity of the extras. The three commentaries offered, which include observations from Jovovich and writer/producer Paul W.S. Anderson, are mostly dry and ultimately a waste of time. The only decent feature on the disc ("Symphony of Evil") fuses a musical score with an assortment of storyboard sketches, screen tests and special effects development. Using this particular feature to further explore the "behind the scenes" efforts would have been far more compelling than the other hype-filled fluff. With so little to offer, purchasing this "special" edition should not be a priority for anyone. Still, if you feel you must see the film, save yourself some cash and rent it instead. Plus: theatrical trailer/teaser, poster gallery, outtakes. (Alliance Atlantis)