Paul WS Anderson & "Resident Evil 4"

[God of War]

Director Paul WS Anderson revealed to MTV News that "Resident Evil: Extinction," the third film in the franchise, will likely not be the last. "I'm just starting to talk to Sony about it," Anderson confessed. "I don't even know if anything will come of it, but there's a possibility it might happen."

http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/headlines/headline8463.jpg

It would seem like a sure thing given the ending of "Extinction," which saw Alice (Milla Jovovich) beside herself with rage — literally, thanks to hundreds of perfect clones - promising to travel to the Umbrella Corporation's headquarters in Japan. But Anderson, who scripted the first three films, says a concrete story hasn't yet been decided upon. In fact, it's coming up with a plausible, kick-ass story that's momentarily holding him up.

"I love the 'Resident Evil' franchise and we always try to make the best possible movie we can. If we could find a good 'Resident Evil 4' to make, then we would do it," he said. "But I wouldn't just do it for the sake of it, that's for sure."

[visual_tension]

The series should just be redone without Anderson and how it should've been done in the first place: based directly on the games.

[NuclearMisfit]

Id like to see a RE make already, thats how bad that shit was. No more goofy ass Alice. Give me Chris, Wesker, Jill and Brad in the mansion.

[Jig Saw 123]

I'd like the series to take a new approach, with a completely new story and new characters. I would like a movie adaption of Resident Evil 4, since it was clearly the best game in the series.

[ilovemovies]

Bring back Jill dammit! Sienna Guillory kicked ass as Jill. Bring her back!

[Pistolas]

The resident evil movie franchise was a complete shit(awful direction,terrible plot adaptation etc), it's an insult to the games, that are the only ones who have an incredible plot. Resident evil 4 is completely unnecessary if they keep the line of the movies, cause the movie itself is just a excuse to give the main role to a character that doesn't even exist in the games(I love milla jovovich, but the only reason she got her ass in the sequels is because she is related to Anderson) so if they wanna do something like Resident Evil Degeneration, they are welcome to; but making another movie in a franchise that is more dead than the zombies in that movies is unforgivable. As someone told, the chance of make the things right is to remake the franchise focusing only on the games; resident evil 4 has the best plot in the series with resident evil and resident evil 0, so they can start over there, other thing different to that stinks like dead shit to me.

[FireCaptain4]

This is some bullshit! Resident Evil started out badly and has become gradually worse with each sequel. I despised part 3. Honestly, anyone whose seen Day of the Dead (the original) or, hell, just a decent amount of movies can realize that even the "alright" parts of the film were directly copied from other, better movies.

[InvaderZim]

After I finshed watching the last resident evil movie I felt like a rape victim. This guy shouldn't be allowed near a directors chair.

But he's banging Milla Jovovich so god bless him there

[perreli1]

I enjoyed the first one, 7/10 even though it had absolutely nothing to do with the game. I thought the second one had potential but went in the wrong direction. Jill Valentine was the best part of that whole movie. The third one however was one of the worst movies I've ever seen, and Im a pretty fair guy when it comes to rating movies. I agree with most of u guys, if they are gonna do another one it should be based on the RE4 the game, that was awesome. Heres to hoping they let this thing go or take it in a new direction.

[Pistolas]

George A. Romero master of the living dead was supposed to direct the first resident evil movie(He told that he loves the RE games and the plot), I read on the web the script that he created for the film and it was pretty good(better than the shit of anderson's movie al least). It included the mansion, the zombies, the infamous dogs and the tyrant; Jill and Chris were included too with the rest of the S.T.A.R.S team. I heard it was rejected cause it was too focused on the game's plot, the assholes of capcom and the movie producers wanted something completely apart from the original history for the new generation or some shit like that. They don't wanna make good movies(the producers), only movies that in their concept make money(that isn't the case here too) so I have no expectations about a new movie that can even remotely bring new blood to the franchise if the history doesn't change to other hands and make something enjoyable or at least decent..

[X-Nightcrawler]

Bring back Jill dammit! Sienna Guillory kicked ass as Jill. Bring her back!
Please do.

I love this franchise; I look forward to 4.

[ScaryFreak1827]

Being a diehard fan of the video game series I was severly disappointed by the first two movies when I saw them; they didn't have many characters from the games and felt too different. I gave them a second try a few years back and fell in love with them. The third film was amazing. If they make a 4th, and I really hope they do, I'll see it.

[Sigur509]

Did they really think they were making the best film possible with the second and third one?

The first one was okay, but I would be embarrassed to have been a part of the others.


And....do we really need a 4th film? Mila need to do something else besides these sames roles she plays over and over again. Anyone remember how much ass she kicked in The Fifth Element?

[therealjohng]

Anyone remember how much ass she kicked in The Fifth Element?


And He Got Game.

[DaveyJoeG]

I hated the first film and have not seen the others. I'm confused as to why people would see the sequels when they disliked the first film. I hope you realize that just encourages the studios to make more sequels.

[mrsilkunderwear]

Paul WS Anderson blows, please re-boot the franchise with Leon Kennedy.

[FireCaptain4]

Anyone remember how much ass she kicked in The Fifth Element?

While I do think she kicked considerable ass in The Fifth Element, I think it was more of the contribution of the rest of cast (excluding Chris Tucker) and crew (yes, even Luc Besson) that made that film what it is. When Besson made TFE, he was at the top of his game. He had just completed his masterpiece (The Professional), and followed up with a spectacular sci-fi action vehicle.

Mila has become the female Keanu Reeves. Don't get me wrong, I can dig the Reeves for about 30 minute intervals. However, the guy has no range. I think Jovovich is even worse. Sure, she's hot- but damn, she can't act. The reason she worked in TFE is because that role was perfect for her acting style. A blank, other-worldly, exotic and mysterious character. By now, she's played that character countless times and it becomes more and more annoying each time around. Resident Evil: Extinction was only entertaining, if at all, because it was laughable. None of the acting or characters or action could be taken seriously. Yet, is wasn't selfishly and intentionally trashy like Planet Terror. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe during most of the movie. I can imagine Paul W.S. Anderson writing these screenplays and thinking of himself as a genius. The fact is that he’s not and will never make a film even half as entertaining as The Fifth Element. Jovovich is simply riding this wave of typecasting and making as much money off of it while she can before her time in the spotlight dims. I can’t say I blame her, I’d do the same thing in her shoes. But as an audience, we suffer. She’s eye candy, but as of late I can’t call her an actress.

[Pistolas]

While I do think she kicked considerable ass in The Fifth Element, I think it was more of the contribution of the rest of cast (excluding Chris Tucker) and crew (yes, even Luc Besson) that made that film what it is. When Besson made TFE, he was at the top of his game. He had just completed his masterpiece (The Professional), and followed up with a spectacular sci-fi action vehicle.

Mila has become the female Keanu Reeves. Don't get me wrong, I can dig the Reeves for about 30 minute intervals. However, the guy has no range. I think Jovovich is even worse. Sure, she's hot- but damn, she can't act. The reason she worked in TFE is because that role was perfect for her acting style. A blank, other-worldly, exotic and mysterious character. By now, she's played that character countless times and it becomes more and more annoying each time around. Resident Evil: Extinction was only entertaining, if at all, because it was laughable. None of the acting or characters or action could be taken seriously. Yet, is wasn't selfishly and intentionally trashy like Planet Terror. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe during most of the movie. I can imagine Paul W.S. Anderson writing these screenplays and thinking of himself as a genius. The fact is that he’s not and will never make a film even half as entertaining as The Fifth Element. Jovovich is simply riding this wave of typecasting and making as much money off of it while she can before her time in the spotlight dims. I can’t say I blame her, I’d do the same thing in her shoes. But as an audience, we suffer. She’s eye candy, but as of late I can’t call her an actress.




Amen to that

[Bourne101]

Loved the first Resident Evil. One of the best video game adaptations ever. But the last two just plain sucked. The third one was entertaining, but the second was just terrible.

[Jig Saw 123]

Have to agree the first was one of the best video game adaption ever created, the second was bad, really bad. Then the third was entertaining enough to watch but the story was garbage. I would like it if they took the film in a new direction, and I would like a direct to dvd animated collaboration that features several different stories like Batman: Gotham Knight.

[MidnightAngel]

A Resident Evil remake truly to the videogame and directed by George Romero would fucking rule!

[Raimo69]

A Resident Evil remake truly to the videogame and directed by George Romero would fucking rule!

That would not only rule but that would be insane

[jaw2929]

Loved the first two Resident Evil flicks, but the 3rd one was fucking BEYOND ATROCIOUS! I couldn't believe how fucking horrid it was.... Honestly, whatta fucking piece of SHIT! Hopefully if they DO make a part 4, it'll be better than the 3rd.

[ScaryFreak1827]

A Resident Evil remake truly to the videogame and directed by George Romero would fucking rule!

I just read the script he wrote for Resident Evil and have to say I agree. He would do the series true justice.

[Mr.HyDe807]

I sorta enjoyed the first one and the second to an extent, but extinction was just beyond awful.

Sorry, defintiely not there for the next one.

[syxxpac]

"But I wouldn't just do it for the sake of it, that's for sure."

How does this tool explain the last three hackjobs, then?

[Pistolas]

Romero rules.. I want him directing in that creepy village of re4!!!

[venom718]

the resident evi movies suck.I don teven consider them resident evil movies because they dont follow the game story line.

They should wait afew years and retool them.Cuz i hate them.....BAD FILMS...VERY BAD...(wags head in disapproval)

[FireCaptain4]

Some details that are being deemed as "very reliable" just broke at Arrow in the Head:

Paul Anderson wrote the screenplay but he is not coming back to direct.

The screenplay is more akin to RE2 in terms of style, but with better dialogue. The overall tone is also very dark.

There's enough hand to hand fights in the script for them to bring in a martial arts choreographer.

Patrick Tatopoulos (R3) will be in charge of the creature effects and they will have a new Special FX supervisor (in terms of the the practical effects) - Michael Lantieri (JURASSIC PARK 3)

The script is complete (they're at Draft 2)) and they're going to start casting before making any more script changes.

So far, they will be filming in Toronto and Tokyo. Toronto will actually front for Alaska.

They will be hiring a director once they have Milla officially signed back on.


Source: http://www.joblo.com/arrow/index.php?id=15406

[ScaryFreak1827]

I like the idea of using Alaska for the movie (RE: Code Veronica flashback; even though I know that wasn't Alaska but still an arctic setting.) It's encouraging to hear that the script is "darker" than the previous entries and if they use more characters from the games (or at least bring back Jill) this could be at least entertaining. Plus the third movie was very open-ended so I'd like to know what happens next (esp. to Claire and her convoy).

[adamjohnson]

Wow, now hes ripping off 30 Days of Night. Why is this guy allowed to make movies again?

Should there really be ANY hand to hand fights in a zombie film? No.

Jesus fucking Christ. Im tempted to go out a make an RE movie myself, it'll likely be better than these turds. At least I'll respect the source material.

Syyxpac will help me.

[FireCaptain4]

Jesus fucking Christ. Im tempted to go out a make an RE movie myself, it'll likely be better than these turds. At least I'll respect the source material.

Syyxpac will help me.


You could add me to your crew as well, if you need an extra hand. :)

Personally, I could care less about these flicks. They're nothing special at all, but I don't totally hate them. If they're making this fourth one... whatever-- it's not really "Resident Evil" anymore anyway.

[adamjohnson]

You could add me to your crew as well, if you need an extra hand. :)

Personally, I could care less about these flicks. They're nothing special at all, but I don't totally hate them. If they're making this fourth one... whatever-- it's not really "Resident Evil" anymore anyway.

Frankly, I think a movie like Resident Evil needs a guerrilla approach, some film stock from the 80s and a very limited budget. I would limit it to zombies and maybe, MAYBE a Tyrant for the climax. The first step in a successful franchise is to develop a strong lead, (LEON) and make Umbrella a very realistic business entity. Im still not sure why they were responsible for the virus being unleashed in Anderson's film, or why they were so quickly put into control of its quarantine in the second. I mean, shit, wheres the government?

The very IDEA of Millas character goes against everything the games and the GENRE stand for. Whats the point of battling a foe at all if the protagonist is more powerful at all times.
The protagonist is NEVER supposed to be more powerful than the antagonist, not in any movie in ANY genre EVER, ESPECIALLY one about Survival Horror.

[Silverload]

I've enjoyed these films (except the second one, which is painfully bad). As long as these films keep up the entertainment value, I don't mind more sequels.

Resident Evil - 8/10
Resident Evil: Apocalypse - 2/10
Resident Evil: Extinction - 6/10
Resident Evil: Degeneration - 7/10

Romero's RE script - 6/10

[Rawlin67]

the only Resident Evil ive liked so far is Degeneration, but the first and third movies were close to being somewhere good.

[adamjohnson]

Romero is washed up. Diary of th Dead proved tha time has passed him by.

[LordSimen]

Horrible adaptations of the video games but fun enough movies. The first one was the best of the bunch but the third one wasn't bad. I hated the second one. Here's hopin'.

[dellamorte dellamore]

They have to limit Milla to a cameo , the character is good but all wrong for this franchise . Let her show up in the 4th and get offed not soon after , and let the vidgame characters take over .

I like the idea of the Japan ( one of the best moments in Re3 was the shot of a zombie infested Tokyo ) and Alaska based hives .

I agree , there needs to be more zom action , and they should expand on the g virus mutant theme , the sequence with the mutated Dr was sublime , it made whatever came before seem quaint .

I also hope they utilize the r rating to it's full effect , all the installments have been relatively tame gorewise if you compare them to other r rated horror films from the past 7 years or so .


I would say the series is entertaining overall (i agree part 1 is still the best ), but they have a chance to make the best one of the bunch if they improve upon certain aspects and neglect others .

[drc5145]

I say just end this damn run and start over by adapting the fucking game. If anyone has played Resident Evil 4 knows how different it is from the rest of the series and I think everything should just get scrapped from here to start up a new series with Leon Kennedy. I never was big on the movie. I thought the 1st was okay but everything else was crap.

[venom718]

Stop the madness.The stuck to the game i littile tiny bit in part 1,part 2 they looked like they would follow the game a littile closer with Jill, Nemesis and etc in the film..but then ....DOOM...they fell off clompletely and paid no attention to the game the movie was mad from and its fans.I LOVE the resident evil games.They need to stick to the story of the game with only monor changes.I want this serires to end so they can reboot the risident evil films.I hated alice and everything about thee films.I saw part1 and 2 wen they came out.both sucked and the last one was soooooooo dumb.

They need to remake these films.Call the next one "Capcom Presents: resident Evil" to show they have nothing to do with the other films...do something....just remake these films and dont make a sequal.AND NO ANDERSON AS DIRECTOR.

[fooknasty]

There is so much potential with this series, and I just wish they would have stuck more closely to the video game, then creating a new character.

Even with that being said, the first movie is a lot of fun and damn entertaining, but the others after have been average at best.

I look forward to what they can do with this if they darken the tone and isolate the characters more.

[syxxpac]

Wow, now hes ripping off 30 Days of Night. Why is this guy allowed to make movies again?

Should there really be ANY hand to hand fights in a zombie film? No.

Jesus fucking Christ. Im tempted to go out a make an RE movie myself, it'll likely be better than these turds. At least I'll respect the source material.

Syyxpac will help me.

I've been remiss. It appears I've been summoned once again to my duties as JoBlo's resident Anderson judge, jury and executioner.

However, a lot's changed in my positions on the subject of the RE series as it was, and what it is now. After all, Capcom has actually gone the "mindless arcade shooter" route with Umbrella Chronicles that I always used to condemn about the movies' action sequences, so... that's now out of my list of things I can use to defend the games with. That's one down...

Then there's the slo-mo and the polished techno schematics replete with things like laser chambers and talking computer systems, which was actually transposed almost beat for beat in Umbrella Chronicles. When I saw Jill and Chris flipping around to avoid laser grids, I nearly shit. Couple that with Degeneration's fancy schmancy slow motion bullets, John Woo gun-handling and Kung Fu Claire beatdowns and there go THOSE age-old defenses out the fucking window along with the former bunch. Thanks a LOT Capcom. Cunts.

What’s next? RE4 has decisively steered the series more in a new ACTION/horror direction than an action/HORROR one, something I've always been adamant about, as some could probably attest about my previous forum antics on these subjects. Criticizing Anderson for concentrating on action in this day and age when Leon is flipping around with uber-stylish metro hair and Ada is zipping around with a grapple gun in the most impractical mission gear ever designed for field duty in the middle of a medieval Spanish Nowhere... Let's just say I'd look like an idiot. Thanks AGAIN, Capcom. You're not giving me much to work with anymore...

The stories and characters were never all that well written in the games due to the fractured nature of interactive storytelling and the design of a video game as opposed to a film. So I could never really use that as a completely viable defense to begin with, though I know I certainly did try. The books were a better starting point when it came to developing the characters gamers most care about (hint - none of them are Alice), but even they also needed a LOT of work to truly come alive cinematically. So it’s not quite a dead argument yet, but since I’ve grown as a writer myself, it’s definitely harder to defend these days without a heaping helping of explanatory dialogue to convince anybody that the original characters are more deserving of a filmic representation than Anderson’s various poser models (Wesker and Claire in Extinction, anyone?). It’s more about the potential for great characters and interesting relationships and expanding on what’s only scratched at in the games’ mythos, rather than relying on the games themselves. If that makes any sense.

Which brings me to what I have left to argue for the RE moviemaking cause, which boils down to exactly what you mentioned, Adam. The only thing one can do to make it like the better RE's of old is to go back to basics. Film it with a grittier, more grounded style. The more realistic you try making it, the better the most fantastical shit from the series will appear and the more believable it'll be. After all, zombies, zombie dogs, a giant shark and a Tyrant sounds goofy on paper, but if a director goes balls-to-the-wall and plays it straight down the middle with no cheap MTV gimmicks and concentrates on keeping the atmosphere cloaked in a perpetual veil of rotting death, then nobody will care that much that the story elements are ridiculous. And part of what made that atmosphere work in the games was the grimy, hometown setting of Middle America, not a fucking futuristic metropolis with cameras around every corner or a Road Warrior post-apocalypse where a magical evil corporation is still somehow able to thrive with their razor technology and super clones. Fuck THAT. But I digress.

And then there's the script, which goes back to my theme of characterization above. I think the straighter it's played and the more time you spend developing your main ensemble instead of just tossing them into a meat grinder from word go, the better off it'll be. Along with the direction OF said script, the film, if made with that combo of ingredients, could likely challenge other more grounded virus/monster movies of recent years like the 28 Days movies, The Descent, Cloverfield, etc. etc. that don't have the inhibiting stigma of having started life as digital geek material for critics to piss on before post-production has even been completed. Then again, most video game based movies deserve it, so I can’t rant on that too much…

I'm personally biased and prefer my own Biohazard Trilogy that I wrote a couple years ago, because I'm a creative control freak and that's just how I roll. But in general, if the above things are in check, I don't see how it could go wrong. Case in point being Degeneration - if it had less slo-mo, less rock music, some better character writing and dialogue… well, basically everything that Anderson and his ilk take pride in, it would've been a GREAT RE movie instead of just a serviceable to good one. Still, I think they were on the right track, and at least TRIED to tone it down to fit it into the real world, more or less. Just make it live action and tweak those aforementioned things next time and we'll finally be all set. Maybe… Hopefully...

But probably not. Capcom and Anderson are now true soulmates. They both know how to fuck up a sure thing, and we all know they’ll just continue aiming for the lowest common denominators. The wave of the future of RE style "horror" is catering to all those dumbass kids who think slow motion bullets and Kung Fu make things better in a fright flick.

Fuck them all. I'm going to go watch 28 Weeks Later. Now THAT'S a fucking action/HORROR movie. And it does so without Kung Fu or slo-mo! How is that POSSIBLE? I don't know, it's amazing! WOOO!

I think I've finally gone mad. Hmm.

[venom718]

THE ABOVE POST IS SO TRU THAT NOTHING ELSE NEED BE SAID ON THE TOPIC!!

[pablo_super1!]

I love the franchise. I would like for a version to be done that focuses directly on the game, but I'm all up for a 4th Resident Evil if it's got a good enough script. I agree that Kung Fu anbd Slow Motion shouldn't be in horror films and that was one of the main things I didn't like about RE:Apocalypse but I still thought it was okay.

I don't see the resident Evil films as scary more as Action with maybe a little sprinkle of horror. Like I said if there was to be a true adaptation of Resdent Evil based off the games I would love for it to be as scary and terrifying as the games are.

I have no problem with Anderson, most of his films are entertaining, he's not a terrible film maker, but some of the project he's taken on probably could've been put to better use in somebody else's hands.

[g1ng3rsnap9ed]

After I finshed watching the last resident evil movie I felt like a rape victim. This guy shouldn't be allowed near a directors chair.

But he's banging Milla Jovovich so god bless him there

...or as us jealous fan-boys say, god damn him. :rolleyes:

[SatansPuppet]

They'd be better leaving WSA for Four years or so and moving on to the story of Redfield... on her way in the chopper to alaska, the chopper goes down, stuck in the woods or even a city long since evacuated... only on other survives with her, one gun between them... she's had to use one bullet n that little girl she liked so much....

She's angry and sleep deprived... in fact she's alone... no other person....

She's angry and sleep deprived... the zombies are after her... it's tense... it's tight, no sign of hope... turns out she's been all halluncinatey and she's killed a small survivors colony at the end of it all!!!!! HOORAY!!!!

:lol:

Oh and her best friend is Ed, the zombie head!!! :D

[g1ng3rsnap9ed]

They'd be better leaving WSA for Four years or so and moving on to the story of Redfield... on her way in the chopper to alaska, the chopper goes down, stuck in the woods or even a city long since evacuated... only on other survives with her, one gun between them... she's had to use one bullet n that little girl she liked so much....

She's angry and sleep deprived... in fact she's alone... no other person....

She's angry and sleep deprived... the zombies are after her... it's tense... it's tight, no sign of hope... turns out she's been all halluncinatey and she's killed a small survivors colony at the end of it all!!!!! HOORAY!!!!

:lol:

Oh and her best friend is Ed, the zombie head!!! :D

That would be the greatest possible Resident Evil movie ever. I'm not even kidding, you should actually write this and post it on here. You can even keep Ed the zombie head in it, or just have a man named Ed decapitated and his head gets all zombified or whatever as a cameo to the remark. I would just love to see/read that.

[SatansPuppet]

You can just see the final scene... rain lashing down, Redfield soaked... a broken woman....

Now you could have one of three endings.....

A) Hooray Alice arrives and saves clare... but kills Ed the Head (What a bitch!)

B) Redfield kneels in the pouring rain, closeup on the gun held loosely in her hand... the sound of her cries become louder as we pan above her head... we can see she's certainly alone, the cries get louder and louder... Redfield rocks backwards and forwards, the gun raises we're seeing the back/top of her head and then BAM!!! The cries stop and either brain matter covers the camera and end credits or you see the muzzle flash out the top of her head and then fade to black :D

C) she realises what she's done and then discovers that the survivors were the only thing keeping the infection at bay... how could a group of average joes ever have stopped the militant clare redfield.... and now... clares true fight for survival begins... a better Alice is born without the fancy flippy nanitey type technology :lol:

I might actually give a short story ago it's been AGES since I've written something... I just get so much floaty stuff in me head that I can never get it down on paper

[Luke-Abbott]

Is anyone forgetting that the world, meaning the ENTIRE world was made into a deserted wasteland thanks to the T-Virus (yeah, I know it doesn't make sense)? Well, fat chance of finding any snow in Alaska in Resident Evil 4...if Paul WS Anderson is going by his last script, which he probably isn't! This series died after the end of the second Resident Evil for me.

I'd rather see a sequel for Resident Evil: Degeneration, I've enjoyed that more than anything WS has given us.

But, thats the thing with Anderson, he's a brilliant director, he's proved how good he is with Event Horizon, Mortal Kombat and, yes, even the first Resident Evil, its his writing thats the problem, he can't right for sugar and it shows in the last two Resident Evil's and the first Alien vs. Predator (where he seemed to have lost interest in the project after the first fight). If Paul directed this RE and didn't write it, this may have a good chance in being good. He should stay behind the camera and drop the pen already!

[Satans Puppet]

Doesn't stop colonies trying yo start over... there were some signs of plant life along the way, I think... I did intend to sit down and watch all three films at one point but then half way through apocalypse I was all "This is a bad idea!" :lol: and gave up on my crusade!

[Satans Puppet]

Just realised I was thinkin of the wrong character or was I? Arrrrrgh who did Ali Larter play in RE3? I want to see her all wet in the rain not the muscle bound man :lol: