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Resident Evil: Extinction
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Resident Evil: Extinction or Biohazard: Extinction (??????: ?????????? Biohazado Ekusutinkushon) is a 2007 science fiction action horror film. It is the third installment in the series of film adaptations based on the Capcom survival horror series Resident Evil. The film follows the amnesiac heroine Alice, along with a group of survivors from Raccoon City, as they attempt to travel across the Mojave desert wilderness to Alaska and escape a zombie apocalypse.
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Encyclopedia
Resident Evil: Extinction or Biohazard: Extinction (??????: ?????????? Biohazado Ekusutinkushon) is a 2007 science fiction action horror film. It is the third installment in the series of film adaptations based on the Capcom survival horror series Resident Evil. The film follows the amnesiac heroine Alice, along with a group of survivors from Raccoon City, as they attempt to travel across the Mojave desert wilderness to Alaska and escape a zombie apocalypse. The film was directed by Russell Mulcahy and produced by Paul W. S. Anderson.
The film was released in the United States on September 21, 2007 and was commercially successful, grossing $147,717,833 worldwide, however, it received many negative reviews from critics. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in North America on January 1, 2008.
Synopsis
Despite the nuclear destruction of Raccoon City, the T-Virus has escaped containment. Unable to be contained by the Umbrella Corporation, the virus quickly spreads across the world, drying up the lakes, rivers, and continents while infecting the human population and spreading to other species. Five years later, The Umbrella Corporation appears to be the only human authority left, its remnants forced to live underground in Hive-like constructs around the world.
Alice (Milla Jovovich), is now alone in the desert wastelands of the remains of the United States. She has superhuman strength and psionic abilities gained from Umbrella. Umbrella considers re-capturing Alice a top priority because of her ability to bond with the T-Virus. Dr. Sam Isaacs (Iain Glen) believes that he can use her blood to develop a permanent cure, as well as tame the infected. Umbrella chairman Albert Wesker (Jason O'Mara) orders Isaacs to create a cure using clones created from Alice's blood. Wesker refuses to authorize manpower to recover Alice until they are 100% sure where she is. The Alice clones endure countless tests within the re-created Spencer Mansion, The Hive's laser corridor, and Raccoon City Hospital locations; unfortunately, all the clones tested prove sub-standard to the original.
Meanwhile, Claire Redfield's (Ali Larter) convoy, which includes Alice's fellow Raccoon survivors Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr) and L.J. (Mike Epps), along with new survivors K-Mart (Spencer Locke), Mikey (Chris Egan), Chase (Linden Ashby) and Nurse Betty (Ashanti), are attempting to survive. While searching a small motel for supplies, L.J. is bitten. The next morning infected crows attack the convoy. The battle is going badly until Alice appears using her telekinetic powers to incinerate the flock by covering the sky in flames from a nearby fire.
Dr. Isaacs' attempts to domesticate the infected have led to a new breed of zombie but is uncovered by Captain Slater (Matthew Marsden), Wesker's subordinate. Slater admits that these Super Zombies (the Crimson Heads) may be useful in capturing Project Alice.
Alice is introduced to Claire, and gives her a diary she found in a deserted gas station. The diary claims of an infection free population living in Alaska. Alice and Carlos convince Claire and the convoy to head to Alaska. The other survivors agree to head for Las Vegas to obtain supplies before the trek to Alaska.
The Umbrella corporation is able to triangulate Alice's location based on the use of her powers. Dr. Isaacs has a crate full of his newly created zombies transported to ambush the convoy. Carlos becomes infected by L.J before he is taken out, and most of the convoy is killed in the ensuing battle. Umbrella attempts to shut Alice down: however, she breaks free of their programming and fights on. She locates Isaacs at the scene, just as he slips away in a helicopter, but he becomes infected by a zombie as he tries to flee. Alice and K-Mart enter the Umbrella tent and use Isaacs's computer to track the helicopter's flight path, thus learning of Umbrella's underground location.
The convoy survivors find the location of Umbrella's Las Vegas facility surrounded by hundreds of zombies. Carlos' infection has gone beyond a cure, and he sacrifices himself for the convoy. Carlos plows through the facility before setting off a dynamite charge with one of L.J.'s joints, giving Alice and Claire time to load the survivors onto the helicopter. Alice decides to stay behind and finish the mission.
Dr. Isaacs has been locked in his lab. Ordered by Wesker to "liquidate" Isaacs, Slater finds him at his lab desk, injecting himself with massive doses of Anti-Virus. Isaacs explains that the T-Virus carried by the Super Zombies is more potent and therefore he needs much more Anti-Virus. However, the Anti-Virus overdose triggers a massive mutation of Isaacs into a Tyrant. Isaacs goes on a rampage, killing all the employees in the facility, but the White Queen manages to confine Isaacs in the lower levels of the lab.
Entering the facility, Alice meets a holographic representation of the Red Queen's sister AI, the White Queen (Madeline Carroll). The recent tendencies of the "homicidal bitch" Red Queen fresh in Alice's mind, she nevertheless strikes an uneasy truce with her. The White Queen informs Alice that her blood is the cure to the T-Virus. The Queen informs Alice of her current problem with Dr. Isaacs, and Alice agrees to deal with him.
On her way to the lab's lower levels, Alice comes across a clone of herself still in a vegetative state. Isaacs attacks her, but she manages to fight him off. The clone awakens, but the shock apparently kills her. Alice goes after Isaacs and finds herself in a replica of the Spencer Mansion, where a battle between Isaacs and Alice ensues, with both displaying use of telekinesis and cunning skill and strategy. When the fight spills into a replica of the laser corridor from The Hive, Alice grimly informs Isaacs that they are both to die there . The laser grid slices Isaacs into pieces, but just as Alice is about to meet the same fate, the lasers are deactivated by the clone of Alice in the nick of time.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Japan, Wesker informs the rest of the Umbrella board that the North American branch has been lost, and he will now control further scientific experimentation from Japan. Using holographic technology, Alice makes an appearance at the board meeting, declaring that she and her friends are coming for them now. Standing beside the clone of herself, Alice looks onto the rows of pods containing other clones. As many clones begin to awaken, the film ends.
Cast
- Milla Jovovich as Alice and clones: The primary protagonist who is being tracked down by the Umbrella Corporation in order to develop a serum from her blood. Since being exposed to the T-Virus outbreak in Raccoon City, Alice has been captured and subjected to experiments
- Ali Larter as Claire Redfield: Very loosely based on the video game character of the same name, she plays a prominent role in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica. In the film, she is a protagonist and leads a convoy of survivors alongside Carlos.
- Iain Glen as Dr. Sam Isaacs: The primary antagonist, and head scientist of the North American facility. Dr. Isaacs had been involved in the creation of the Nemesis program as well as the creation of Program Alice in Apocalypse. He is turned into the Tyrant monster as a result of a bite by a "super-zombie" and from then injecting himself too much anti-virus.
- Oded Fehr as Carlos Olivera: Ex-U.B.C.S. soldier,based on the video game character of the same name in Resident Evil 3:Nemesis, protagonist and survivor of the Nemesis program as well as the "cleansing" of Raccoon City. Since the events of Apocalypse, he has helped lead Claire's convoy of survivors.
- Jason O'Mara as Albert Wesker: based on the video game character of the same name, he is a prominent antagonist in many of the video games. In the film, he is the Chairman of Umbrella. His office is in Tokyo, Japan and through holographic technology, he has regular meetings with committee members including Dr. Isaacs who gave the order to find and capture Alice.
- Spencer Locke as K-Mart: A girl found by Clare's companions hiding out in a K-Mart store prior to the outbreak.
- Ashanti as Nurse Betty: A tough young woman who acts as the medical unit in Claire's convoy. She is a nurse, helping to aid members of the group to full recovery. Betty drives the paramedic vehicle and is a love interest of L.J,she was pecked to death when the crows attacked.
- Mike Epps as L.J.: Former citizen of Raccoon City, who survived the Nemesis program and Raccoon City's destruction in the previous film. He also travels with Claire's convoy. He is Betty's love interest,he was bitten by a zombie and turned into zombie himself when super- zombies attacked.
- Chris Egan as Mikey: A young mature computer junkie who drives the "computer station" portion of the convoy. Mikey is responsible for monitoring the radio in search of other survivors as well as monitoring the motion sensor perimeter cameras,he was killed by the super zombies.
- Madeline Carroll as White Queen: The sister Artificial intelligence of the original Red Queen. She is designed to protect and preserve human life and monitor the Umbrella facility, like her sister computer. However, the White Queen has more advanced holographic technology.
Production
Pre-production
Resident Evil: Extinction was first discussed by Resident Evil franchise writer Paul W.S Anderson after Resident Evil: Apocalypse opened Number 1 on the US box office in 2004, earning more than $23.7 million dollars on its opening weekend. Anderson told SciFi Wire that he would like to oversee a third installment, under the original title of Resident Evil: Afterlife. Shortly after, the film and another planned sequel were officially announced by Sony Screen Gems on June 13, 2005.
On November 7, 2005, Davis Film, Constantin Film and Screen Gems announced their distribution rights worldwide with the film's title being changed from Resident Evil: Afterlife to Resident Evil: Extinction. Impressed with Russell Mulcahy's work on Highlander, Highlander II: The Quickening, The Shadow and Ricochet, Anderson signed Mulcahy on as director, stating, "Russell pioneered a very distinct visual style, a lot of moving camera and crane work, lots of very fast cutting. He’s got a very cool eye and sees great ways to shoot. His work certainly had a big influence on me as a filmmaker and that’s why I was very excited to work with him on this movie."
Casting
On June 12, 2005, Milla Jovovich was announced to reprise her role as the heroine Alice. In an interview with BlackFilm.com on September 9, 2005, Mike Epps confirmed that he would also be reprising his role as L.J., noting that "Black people die in these movies and [Anderson] was like, 'Well Mike, I kinda like you.' So then I asked him, 'Are you setting me up to die because if there's a fourth movie, I'm as good as dead." Sienna Guillory was planned to reprise her role as Jill Valentine; however, she passed on the role, citing commitments to Eragon. On May 9, 2006 Oded Fehr, Iain Glen, Spencer Locke and Ashanti Douglas were added to the cast. It was rumored that Debra Marshall was originally cast as Cindy Lennox. However, it was proven to be only a rumour.
Story development
The film's story takes place in Death Valley, where the large scale action sequences take place amid post-apocalyptic landscapes of Las Vegas in broad daylight. Drawing inspirations from western films and post-apocalyptic movies, including Mad Max and The Road Warrior, Extinction manages to reference such predecessors, with plot elements revolving around the shortage of oil, the shortage of supplies, a convoy traveling across a desert, and the desert taking over civilized land.
Anderson stated that the film's story is original and unfolds in a world that fans of the game recognize: "It’s all part of trying to deliver a movie-going experience that satisfies the fans of the game but also provides a fun cinematic experience for a broader audience that has never played a Resident Evil game". The story takes place five years after the events of Resident Evil: Apocalypse. While previous installments in the series had minor changes to plot and characters, Extinction branches completely away from the video game series as evidenced by the fact that Resident Evil 4 takes place six years after the events portrayed in Resident Evil: Apocalypse and the world has not become overrun with zombies. References to Code Veronica are made, such as the replica mansion and the viral outbreak itself. A common element used throughout each Resident Evil film is the climatic battle which occurs in the finale. Extinction marked the first appearance of herbs, a healing item in the video game series, as seen in Dr. Isaac's lab, and it also referenced the first film with the inclusion of a replica Hive facility designed after that one in Raccoon City, the Raccoon City Hospital, a holographic computer database known as the White Queen, and the replica Spencer Mansion.
Numerous references to the video game series have been made including zombies being unleashed through a T-Virus mutation. While the concept of the undead remains the same, this film includes "Super Undead" (otherwise known as Crimson Heads). As Anderson explains, these are "a result of Umbrella experimenting with the Undead and attempting to give them back some of their reasoning power, some of their intelligence and a little of their humanity. Unfortunately, these experiments don’t quite work and the side effect is the Super Undead, which are Undead that are faster, stronger and [a] more cunning foe." Other creatures from the video game series have also made appearances in the film, including the Tyrant, a swarm of crows, and a pack of Dobermans (although Belgian Shepherd Dogs were used during production).
Two main characters were added to the film's cast: the main antagonist Albert Wesker (portrayed by Jason O'Mara) and secondary protagonist Claire Redfield (portrayed by Ali Larter) from Resident Evil 2.
Filming and post-production
Resident Evil: Extinction began principal photography with a budget of $45,000,000 in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico in May, 2006 after filming locations had to be changed from the Australian Outback to Mexico causing production dates to be pushed back repeatedly from November 2005 to May 2006. Numerous sets were designed by production designer Eugenio Caballero including Umbrella's underground laboratory, the Las Vegas Strip, the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Paris Las Vegas, Realto Ponte, Luxor Hotel and the replica of the Spencer Mansion. The film entered post-production in late July 2006 with details about production being kept secret and with the film's special effects being covered by Tatopoulos Studios and Mr. X Inc., whom both worked on the 2006 film Silent Hill.
In late June 2006, Sony released the films first two production stills which included Alice wearing a costume designed by her fashion company Jovovich-Hawk and Claire Redfield.
Fangoria magazine features
Horror magazine Fangoria featured the film in the August 2007 Issue, talking with director Paul W.S. Anderson, and on the cover of the September 2007 issue. The following details were revealed, although some points proved to be untrue:
- Alice's convoy are traveling across the Nevada desert trying to reach sanctuary in Alaska to meet Chris Redfield and other survivors. In the film, however, there is no mention of Chris and the information has proved to be incorrect.
- The film will feature new "super zombies" that have been "pumped up on some sort of alter-essence steroids. They transform[...]" The "super zombies" are created using blood taken from clones of Alice.
- Mulcahy also noted that he was happy with the ability to use CGI, which allowed for an increased level of gore, and many decapitation scenes.
- Albert Wesker runs the Umbrella Corporation
- Mulcahy also stated concerning the ending of the film trilogy, "As far as I'm aware, this is indeed supposed to close the book."
- The character of Claire Redfield did not exist in the early draft scripts for the film and previously Jill Valentine (who appeared in Resident Evil: Apocalypse played by Sienna Guillory) would continue the role in Extinction. Later producers Paul W.S. Anderson and Jeremy Bolt decided to have a separate game character appear alongside Alice saying, "We thought, rather than bring Jill back, put her with another game heroine."
- Alice can now use her powers to control fire as Milla Jovovich explains, "I'm trying to do my own little thing, but here she bursts everything into flames and stuff. It's really useful against the birds."
- Extinction takes place 8 years after Apocalypse. In the film, this was contradicted when characters stated that it had been 5 years since the outbreak (The film then passes on 2003), The film also states that the global outbreak started with the U.S. after a few weeks and the rest of the world in a few months.
Release
The film's teaser trailer was shown with Ghost Rider on February 16, 2007, and was structured in the same manner of the "Regenerate" teaser trailer for Resident Evil: Apocalypse. The film's website was launched by Sony on February 17, 2007 with confirmation of the September 21, 2007 release date. It was also revealed that the film was rated R by the MPAA for strong horror violence throughout and some nudity.
The film's teaser poster was leaked onto the internet via a fansite in May 2007, before appearing on IGN, where as a German website leaked concept art for Extinction including vehicle and numerous set designs. The film's theatrical trailer premiered onto the Yahoo! Movies in late July 2007, with NBC releasing several scenes including the crow attack sequence. The social networking website, Myspace also featured numerous clips of four of the main characters Claire Redfield, Carlos Olivera, Nurse Betty, and Alice. The official website for Extinction, launched an online game titled Resident Evil Extinction: Online Convoy Game in August 2007. On September 12, 2007 Sony released numerous promotional clips and television spots and on September 17, 2007 the film's soundtrack was released, where as the film's score was released on December 18, 2007.
Resident Evil: Extinction was released on DVD, UMD, and high-definition Blu-ray Disc in North America on January 1, 2008. A Blu-ray release of the Resident Evil trilogy, featuring the three films in one package was also released on January 1. Milla Jovovich and Oded Fehr filmed a commentary while Jovovich was pregnant, which Fehr expects to be shown "in a little square box in the corner" of the Blu-ray version. The DVD and Blu-ray versions of the film showed previews for Resident Evil: Degeneration, a trailer of Devil May Cry 4, and a video of Resident Evil 5. Resident Evil: Extinction was released on DVD in Australia on February 13, 2008 and in the UK on the February 18, 2008.
Reception
The film was the number 1 movie at the North American box office in its opening weekend, grossing $23 million in 2,828 theaters, averaging $8,372 per theater. It opened stronger than the two previous films,, Resident Evil: Apocalypse (which opened with $23 million in 3,284 theaters – over 450 more theaters than Extinction – and averaged $7,014 per theater) and Resident Evil (which opened with $17 million in 2,528 theaters and averaged $7,004 per theater). As of January 1, 2008, the film has grossed $50,648,679 domestically and $96 million overseas for a worldwide total of $150 million.
Steven Hyden of The Onion's A.V. Club said that "the movie delivers some simple-minded thrills" and praised the "solidly effective killer-ravens sequence" but felt the film was too predictable, saying: "Anybody who has ever seen a zombie movie can figure out what happens next. Somebody will get bit without telling the others, which will inevitably backfire. Survivors will be forced to shoot suddenly undead friends in the head. One of them dastardly science folk will protect the monsters in order to study them, which will also inevitably backfire. And legions of undead will be re-killed in surprisingly easy fashion."
Kyle Smith of the New York Post gave Extinction half a star out of a possible four, saying that the film was "no more interesting than watching someone else play with his Xbox". Scott Brown of Entertainment Weekly said that Extinction "plays like a flabby middle chapter, full of nerdy details but fraudulently short on the ruined Vegas-scape that ads have been promising."
Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide gave the film a score of two and a half stars out of four, saying: "Equal parts Mad Max and Day of the Dead, [Extinction] is no less derivative than its predecessors but moves along at a brisk clip." Pete Vonder Haar of Film Threat gave Extinction a score of three out of five, saying that the film had a "rather lazy pacing" but added that "the way Anderson keeps upping the ante with regard to Alice's ultimate fate continues to amuse."
Jack Mathews of the New York Daily News gave the film a score of one and a half stars out of five, calling the action scenes "monotonous" and urging audiences to "flee this yawn of the dead." Helen O'Hara of Empire gave Extinction a score of two stars out of five, saying that the film was "better than [Resident Evil: Apocalypse]" and had "an effectively creepy empty world setting" but felt that it's "nevertheless scuppered by a lack of coherence."
A common complaint among critics was the noticeable digital airbrushing on numerous close-up shots of Jovovich's face, for which reviewers were confused at the use of, or found unnecessary.
Sequel
In July 2005, the producers openly discussed the possibility of following Extinction with a sequel titled Resident Evil: Afterlife, with the announcement of plans to shoot and set the film in Tokyo, Japan. During the film's production, actor Chris Durand stated that talks were held to set the film in Alaska during the winter time.
In September 2006, it was announced that casting had been underway for Resident Evil 4, and that Jensen Ackles was in talks for portraying Leon Kennedy. However, bringing Leon as a character in an upcoming film would contradict promotional information from Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Screen Gems created a faux newspaper, The Raccoon City Times, that detailed the background of Jill Valentine, and included that she was dismissed from the S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics and Rescue Squad) after the death of her partner, Leon Kennedy. During an interview with Bloody Disgusting, while promoting Extinction, Ali Larter confirmed she would reprise her role "100% if asked". Oded Fehr jokingly mentioned if his character was to return for a new film, he would have to be cloned like Milla's character in Extinction. Despite Resident Evil: Extinction being billed on the official website and elsewhere as the final installment of the Resident Evil film series, Rory Bruer, Sony's head of distribution explained, "It absolutely would not surprise me considering the success of the franchise that they find a way to come up with another. It's a real possibility". In an October 18, 2007 interview with IGN regarding the continuation of the franchise, however, producer Jeremy Bolt said, "It's not our intention [to make a follow-up to Extinction]. But we've been very pleased that the third part of the franchise has done so well. Paul Anderson has reported that there is a possibility of a fourth film and is talking to Sony about it.".
On October 29, 2007, Capcom announced the start of production on Resident Evil: Degeneration, a full-length CG animation film based on the Resident Evil game series. The film was released December 2008. A 60-second sneak peek of the film was included on the DVD and Blu Ray release for Resident Evil: Extinction which was released in January 2008.
On July 1, 2008, Paul Anderson announced a fourth live action film is in early development stages and negotiations have begun with Sony. On October 5, 2008 Paul Anderson stated in an interview with Sunday Sun, he may begin writing the script soon: "I'm writing an adaptation of The Long Good Friday right now, set in present-day Miami. Then I will probably begin writing Resident Evil 4."
On December 19 2008, director Paul W.S. Anderson told IGN that he is currently working on the script for the next Resident Evil film:
”Everyone at [game developer] Capcom has had their input into the idea and they're all very excited. I don't want to tell you what it is but it's very exciting." Anderson told the site. "The game is constantly [evolving] and so is the movie franchise. We're doing it very much in conjunction with the developers of the videogame to give the audience something fresh but something that fits within the world of the videogame."
On January 29 2009, Arrow in the Head News reported that Paul W.S. Anderson is nearly finished with the script for Resident Evil 4 and is currently on draft two. The article claims that Anderson is writing but will not direct. The story is more in tune with RE2 in terms of style but with better dialogue and a darker tone. There's enough hand to hand combat in the script for the producers to bring in a martial arts choreographer. The story reportedly takes place in Tokyo and Alaska (with Toronto standing in for Alaska). Patrick Tatopoulos will return to be in charge of the creature effects while Michael Lantieri will be the new Special FX supervisor (in terms of the practical effects). Casting will start before any more changes are made to the script and they plan on securing a director once Milla Jovovich officially signs on.
External links
- of Resident Evil: Extinction
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