RESIDENT EVIL DAMNATION DVD (2012)




SYNOPSIS: United States Special agent Leon S. Kennedy sneaks into a small Eastern European country to verify rumors that Bio Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) are being used in war. Right after his infiltration, the US government orders him to leave immediately. Determined to uncover the truth, Leon ignores the order and enters the battlefield to end the chain of tragedies caused by the B.O.W.s.

MOVIE REVIEW:

We’re confident enough at this juncture to proclaim that you’re better off anticipating the next animated feature film of the ‘Resident Evil’ video game than another Paul W.S. Anderson live-action movie. Indeed, the latter – with its most recent disappointment ‘Resident Evil: Retribution” – have largely been letdowns for fans and neophytes alike, while the former – with this latest – have been largely successful at distilling the spirit and form of the games into adrenaline-pumping narrative features.

Instead of Alice – which frankly if not for Milla Jovovich’s to die for body would have been an utter complete bore – ‘Damnation’ chooses two of ‘Retribution’s’ supporting characters as its leads. The first is series regular Leon S. Kennedy (voiced by Matthew Mercer), whom for the uninitiated is a United States Special Agent sent here to a small Eastern European country known as the Eastern Slav Republic to investigate rumours that bio-organic weapons (or BOWs) are being used by resistance fighters in their long-standing struggle against the Government.

It goes without saying that the rumours are true, but upon his capture by two freedom fighters Buddy (voiced by Dave Wittenberg) and JD (voiced by Val Tasso), Leon also learns that the resistance has been infected with ‘las plagas’, which not only gives them the power of rage but also allows them to control the BOWs. Apparently the ‘las plagas’ were a gift from the resistance’s elders, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that they were no more than a science experiment.

Into the melee comes the second supporting character from ‘Retribution’, Ada Wong (voiced by Courtenay Taylor), adopting the same mysterious persona as she pretends to support the rule of President Svetlana Belikova (voiced by Wendee Lee). Fans will know the history between Ada and Leon, details which the screenplay by Shotaro Suga don’t bother to incorporate here. Instead, the battle between the Government and the resistance (with Leon and Ada as allies) is the highlight, evident too from the extended half-hour climax that director Makoto Kamiya sets within the President’s office (modelled unabashedly after The White House).

Neither plot nor character have been the series’ (whether animated or live-action) strong suites, and ‘Damnation’ is really no different. What plot exists serves to bring the action from Point A to Point B, and what character development is largely kept to a minimum in favour of non-stop unrelenting action. Nonetheless, both elements are relatively more serviceable here than they were in any of the live-action films, which helps the numerous action sequences cohere together better as a movie.

Speaking of the highlight of the series, we are willing to state categorically that they do not disappoint. In fact, the motion-capture animation here is as good as any big-screen release, and Kamiya keeps the action flowing seamlessly and relentlessly. Clearly catering to his demographic, much of the action happens from a first person point of view – and though it does make you feel as if you were playing the game, the technique is nonetheless effective in getting you immersed in the thick of the action. Thankfully, Kamiya sticks to the hard R-rated roots of the game, so there is blood and gore in abundance.

So really if you’re looking for an exhilarating ‘Resident Evil’ movie that gives the kind of adrenaline-pumping experience you would get from playing the game, then ‘Damnation’ will certainly satisfy your thirst for such visceral pleasures. That’s already far more than we can ever say for any of the ‘Resident Evil’ live-action movies that have come by so far. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The best extra here is the 30-minute making-of documentary ‘The DNA of Damnation’, which is a surprisingly insightful look at the story of this movie against the larger ‘Resident Evil’ universe as well as the thought that went into the visuals of the film. Continue from that into ‘Las Plagas’, a roughly 7-min clip specifically dedicated to the creatures in the film. A ‘Gag Reel’ caps the extras, but offers little more than the occasional amusement.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is robust and lively, especially when the bullets and ballistics go flying around. Otherwise, dialogue is crisp and clear from the front and centre speakers. Visuals are just as sharp, and the colours always look dynamic.

MOVIE RATING:

 

DVD RATING :

Review by Gabriel Chong

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 ABOUT THE MOVIE

Genre: Sci-Fi/CG Animation
Starring: Courtenay Taylor, Matthew Mercer, Robin Sachs, Carolyn Lawrence, lli Saffioti, Wendee Lee, Dave Wittenberg, Patrick Harlan
Director: Makoto Kamiya
Rating: NC-16 (Violence)
Year Made: 2012

 SPECIAL FEATURES

- The DNA of Damnation
- Gag Reel
- Las Plagas: Organsims of War

 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Languages: English/French/Portuguese/Spanish/Thai
Subtitles: English/Chinese/French/Korean/Thai/Portuguese/Spanish
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins
Region Code: 3
Distributor: Origin Entertainment