Resident Evil 3: Extinction [2007] [DVD] [2008]

This third installment goes all Road Warrior for the first hour or so, but it isn't in a bad way - like Thunderdome was, for instance. Now that was bad - really, really bad. So nowhere near such a disappointment as I had expected, and a bit better than the so-so second. The desert 'roadscapes' however, are oh so familiar from countless Mad Max clones, but almost comforting in a way.Obviously, a lot of people play, or have played, these games and enjoyed them to a point where they're constantly linking them to the movies, or parts of them at least, and judging them in that way. I have never played any of the games. Ever. In fact the only real video game I have ever played at all, apart from flight simulators, is DOOM - the original DOOM. Which I thought was absolutely fantastic - especially in two-player mode and seated in flight simulation 'cockpits'. I have played that a lot and enjoyed it immensely, but sitting at consoles wasn't really my thing. Now, I have not seen the DOOM movie yet, in fact I have just ordered it on DVD, and it's going to be very difficult for me not to attack it if it doesn't stand up to my experiences playing the game. So what I'm saying is that I understand people marking it down for not sticking to 'The Game-plan' as it were.A very good first hour or so of Maxing it, post-apocalyptic-style, leading to a decent face-off with The Tyrant in The Hive, it is well acted and photographed, with a better screenplay than the second, and an OK soundtrack to boot, meaning that I give it 3.5 - 4.0 stars all day long.So far in the franchise, the first movie gets a solid 90% (in my opinion it's a stone-cold classic), the second gets 65%, and this gets 75%. So crack open whatever you've got, light up a fatty and get watching.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***I know that there are a lot of Judas's out there who are extremely stuck up about game-films, and will always give them a thumbs down regardless of seeing the film or not, however to give this film a thumbs down, is almost criminal. Obviously the first film was full of holes and was generally a sloppy mess i'm sure plenty of people will agree with me, apocalypse was actually decent, the stunts and visuals were very entertaining and nemesis debut was warmly welcomed.Moving onto number 3. One of the best things about this film is the story, it's actually believable because it could happen one day; in fact its a story similar to the 28 days later film. The story is set soon after the sanitation of raccoon city where the T-Virus was supposed to have been obliterated. It wasn't. The T-Virus spreads globally and infects the entire world, drying up lakes and turning the planet into a baron wasteland. Caught up in the midst is a convoy lead by Claire Redfield, Carlos Olivera and LJ, the remaining umbrella corporation lead by Albert Wesker, and of course, the heroine, Alice. Professor Isaac (the bad dude) is trying to find a cure for the T-Virus to end the zombie infestation but runs into a few complications.This film boasts action more than any of it's predecessors and will not fail to impress you with it's improved fight scenes, the only real downside is the absence of one important character and another, but not so important character, Jill and Angela, which is disappointing because they were a likable characters. There are quite a few dramatic scenes, so it's not all blood, guts and senseless violence, there is a sense of loss and sadness in it. Talking about blood and guts. This film is much bloodier than any of the previous films and does add a bit more eye pleasing scenes if you like seeing blood spraying everywhere and people being slashed to pieces. Another thing that is quite impressive, is the very slight hint of the G-Virus coming into effect, even though it hasn't a label clearly saying, 'G-Virus, Big Daddy's Only' you can still see the similarities and could aid the story in a 4th one. Yes, that's right folks! It's pretty certain that there's going to be number 4.Overall I give this film 10/10 because I can't really find anything highly disappointing about it. I wont downgrade it because it's based on a game, that would be very narrow minded, also because it's not meant to be a film thats meant to make you walk out and say that it made a valid point, or it was hilarious, or for whatever reason because it's a film thats meant to be entertaining and something to enjoy on a rainy evening or afternoon, not something you can have a 5 hour debate discussing the moral rights, or historic event that the film is based on. To be completely honest with you, films like that are rather boring and often send me to sleep, I'd much rather watch resident evil extinction than "Gone With the Wind", or "Syrianna" any day. You go to a cinema to be entertained and come out thinking 'wow those fighting scenes were amazing, well worth the money' not to come out and discuss politics. Anyway enough of my ranting, some of you will agree with me some of you will lob rotten lettuces at me, but if you enjoyed the Resident Evil films, then this film is for you and I fully recommend it. If you just want to watch it for the eye pleasing stunts, fight scenes etc, then I fully recommend it, but if you want a film based on historic events such as apartheid, sorry do not watch this you'll just come out wishing you spent the last 2 hours in the pub discussing various topics.All I can say now is......Bring on number 4

I think I preferred the second film Nemesis but I wouldn't say this was disappointing either, Milla still kicks ass and owns it being an action star. This is probably that last really good one they did.

Having finally watched this, I have to say I'm left with the same impression I had with the first two... that's it's neither exactly good, but not exactly bad either. I still think the biggest weakness with the first two RE films is the complete invention of a new character who is unrelated to the games, that being Alice (Milla Jovovich), and unfortunately that opinion hasn't changed - and it's not helped by the fact I think Jovovich is a pretty bad actress at the best of times. I've always thought the films should revolve around one or more characters from the games, and ONLY those characters, I think fans of the games would have been a bit more forgiving of the obvious meddling with the RE storyline and history.In the first film I didn't really relate to any of the characters because none of them were from the game, and therefore think it's the worst of the films - with the second they had had Jill Valentine (Guillory) and Carlos (Fehr), and so I liked it more, although it infuriated me how Valentine was kind of sidelined and made out to be anything but the kickass chick she was in the games... and the Nemesis was a joke... hand-to-hand with Alice, purlease! Now with extinction we have Carlos (Fehr) again and, most importantly for me, Claire Redfield (Larter), who's without a doubt my favourite RE character... and Larter does an excelent job, in my opinion.So, anyway, don't expect a true representation of the RE universe here again, what you get is an entertaining zombie chompfest, as you do with all zombie films, so if you keep your expectations in check you should enjoy this film. I hope, if they do another RE movie, that they do away with Alice (Jovovich) and follow Claire (Larter) instead, her character is much more interesting, and Larter is far more talented than Jovovich.