Resident Evil (2002)
Take one part The Bourne Identity, add in one part 28 Days Later, throw in some video game-esque special effects & you've got yourself Resident Evil, a surprisingly alright techno-zombie movie.
Somebody steals a few vials of suspicious looking chemicals or whatnot, tossing one into a desk so that it's contents empty out into the air. Terror ensues, as the building's security measures come into effect. Due to the risk of infection, the building poisons everyone, quickly eliminating the risk of infection. Or does it?
Then Milla Jovovich wakes up to discover she can't remember a damn thing about herself or her whereabouts. Walking around a mansion in a stupor, she is soon confronted by soldiers, strangers to her, though one of them knows her apparently.
All of this takes place within the first ten or so minutes of the movie. What is most surprising about this movie is that Jerry Bruckheimer had nothing to do with it! Usually that kinda lightning fast "story-telling" is his patented trademark. However, this movie is based on a video game, so there's the explanation.
If you've ever played a Resident Evil video game, you'll know that it's fantastically well-made, evoking fear & genuine scares from the player (as well as anger from me due to the absolute shit quality of the control system & the rationing of ammunition). While horror movies don't usually play well with me, I was a bit tensed up during some scenes.
While the score is probably intended to evoke tension, it also increased in annoyance throughout the film. You weren't sure if it was ambient zombie noise or pulsating techno beats half the time. I know you gotta sell soundtracks & all, but points are awarded for subtlety you know. As well, this movie was made in 2001-02 or so. I'm pretty sure there was access to better CG than what they used to first introduce the big monster thingie. I thought I was watching the video game for a couple seconds it looked so cheesy on film.
Despite it's drawbacks (crap script, somewhat terrible CG at times, score overblown), Milla Jovovich looked totally kick ass throughout the movie, erasing any lingering meh feelings I might have had towards her after watching her great, but unattractive performance in Dummy. The movies plays better than the video game, at least in my opinion. I kinda want to see the second one, especially from what I've seen on the ads, it looks like it picks up right where the first one ended. 3.5 outta 5.