Read Mixed User Reviews for Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City

4

TheQuietGamerNov 27, 2021

I was initially annoyed when I heard the news that the Resident Evil film series was going to get a reboot so soon after having dominated theater screens for about 15 years. You could hardly blame Sony Pictures and Constantin given how muchI was initially annoyed when I heard the news that the Resident Evil film series was going to get a reboot so soon after having dominated theater screens for about 15 years. You could hardly blame Sony Pictures and Constantin given how much money they made though. The one silver lining was that fans of the source material might finally get a movie with a little fidelity. It's no secret that Paul W.S. Anderson's hexalogy had almost nothing to do with the games it was supposedly based on. He might have borrowed a monster design or a name here and there, but for the most part created his own mutated beast complete with an original protagonist and everything.

Well, upon having now watched this revival of the franchise's cinematic half I can state for certain that gamers have at long last received an adaptation that actually has something to do with the stuff they've played. The heroes are all familiar faces like Leon Kennedy, Jill Valentine, and Chris Redfield while the story sees them uncovering the secrets of Spencer Mansion and, of course, surviving the outbreak in Raccoon City. Both locations found in the original two PS1 classics. It even fully embraces the property's horror roots by going heavy on the scare attempts rather than just focusing primarily on the action like its predecessors did. Unfortunately, all this faithfulness is kind of wasted given that the feature presentation itself isn't very good.

When the characters are shooting their way through the undead to try and escape their doomed town, it's alright. Things go straight down the toilet though the second someone opens their mouth, usually to utter a line of profanity, or the narrative tries to give an explanation behind the whole scenario. The writing is just so bad with the new takes on the cast turning some members of it into bumbling idiots for an intended comedic effect that feels wildly out of place, as well as there being elements that make no sense like how the entire police force is the only portion of the local population to be unaffected by the "Umbrella" pharmaceutical company's deranged experiment for some reason.

There are aspects I can praise. The set design is fantastic with a lot of interesting little details to pick out in the backgrounds. Every environment manages to capture a vibe and atmosphere that reminded me of what terrifying Playstation gems I have managed to play, such as the first Silent Hill, and watching the survivors battle groups of great looking zombies in their cramped interiors can be genuinely tense as Johannes Roberts has a knack for crafting unsettling scenarios. The score is also fantastic. It's got some serious issues with the plotting and dialogue however, and they're enough to derail the entire experience.

Perhaps this will go over better with someone who has a greater appreciation for the works that inspired it. Personally, I've only ever touched the 5th, 6th, and Revelations spin-off titles so I'm sure the majority of the Easter Eggs and parts recreated onscreen missed their intended mark with me. Still, even if you do manage to pick up on everything that doesn't change the fact that it's largely cheap fan service in lieu of legitimate quality. Not saying that isn't enough to provide a good time, but in my mind it can't save this from somehow being the worst Resident Evil flick. I'd be down to attend a sequel regardless.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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4

JLuis_001Nov 26, 2021

From 2002 to 2017 the world had 6 Resident Evil films starring Milla Jovovich.
15 long years of mediocre movies that really had nothing to do with the video game beyond some characters and of course, the zombies.
Now with only 4 years apartFrom 2002 to 2017 the world had 6 Resident Evil films starring Milla Jovovich.
15 long years of mediocre movies that really had nothing to do with the video game beyond some characters and of course, the zombies.

Now with only 4 years apart we have a reboot that tries to be more faithful to the source material and it shows, but splashes the good details with an unsuccessful execution, turbulent action and sloppy storytelling.

The merit that at the same time becomes a disadvantage is that Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, pretends to offer fan service instead of creating a true horror film that can stand on its own, and above all separate itself from the shadow of the video game.

You can be part of a franchise and still have your own identity, but while the director goes about giving little easter eggs that will only satisfy people who recognize them, he forgot to create a film that actually deserves to be seen for its best elements, instead of trying to sell itself with the poor and basic components of what it ultimately attempts.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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5

Abby002Nov 26, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I apologize in advance if it sounds like an incoherent rant, I just need to get this out of my system~

I'm on the fence about this one because as a die-hard fan of Resident Evil, I was really looking forward to a movie that followed the games entirely. Honestly, a few reviews are about the actors they chose but I actually grew to love the actors for Jill and Leon. The biggest problem for me was how much they changed in order to fill 2 games into 1 movie. They glossed over multiple things such as Jill's background and they switched the role of "Greatest Lockpicker" to Claire instead of Jill, which didn't make much sense. The Spencer Mansion seemed dumbed down, which I can understand since it's huge in the game, but it still would've been nice to see it in all its glory. Also, the fact they just waltzed into it was quite disappointing since the chase, in the beginning, is what gets you excited to play the game (or in this case, watch the movie). And who the hell said, "Let's replace Barry with Richard"? Richard isn't even on the Alpha team and they didn't bother adding the Bravo team into the movie, presumably because it wasn't in the budget to find an actor for Rebecca, or they just couldn't find room for her in the story. I'd also guess the reason they didn't add Barry is that Wesker didn't manipulate him into being a good little soldier because they didn't even bother adding the whole "Wesker is evil and selfish and he also the ex-partner of Dr. Birkin" which was probably the thing that pissed me off the most. Also, who decided to make this a love story between Wesker and Jill??? I thought we all agreed that Wesker's heart is cold and dark and he is incapable of love so why was this even a thing. They even had the audacity to make Leon look like an idiot. This whole movie feels pointless because they joined 2 games that have months in between them. The only reason Claire goes to Raccoon City in RE2 is to find Chris after the events of RE1. This might've completely ruined the chances for a Code Veronica movie, which is one I want to see more than anything. Another thing is Annette seems oblivious to Williams's work like what?? Girl aren't you also an Umbrella Researcher, how tf are you in the dark on this. I'm also confused about Claire and Chris's backstory. I know it was never really confirmed how their parents died and what happened to them afterward until they grew up but like Umbrella Orphanage? Really? How canon is that? It may sound dumb, but I want everything in the movie to be exactly the same and it's sort of uncomfortable having new information come out that isn't from the mouth of Shinji Mikami. Lastly, it hurts to see Chris and Claire literally hate each other but whatever. Let this be a warning to all you RE fans, you might be disappointed but you might enjoy it. Overall, I had a blast watching it and pointing out the easter eggs but as always, there was things they could improve on.

I'm unsure if it's true or not but I heard they only made this movie to keep the rights to Resident Evil which, if it's true, makes me furious. We deserve a team of people who actually give a sh*t about the games and strive to make a movie we can all enjoy.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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5

BeardedYodaNov 26, 2021

Welcome to Raccoon City is not a good film, but it is not a terrible one either. The movie is well shot, the acting is pretty solid, and there are some cool designs and set pieces. But, the script is a mess, the plot is way too overpacked,Welcome to Raccoon City is not a good film, but it is not a terrible one either. The movie is well shot, the acting is pretty solid, and there are some cool designs and set pieces. But, the script is a mess, the plot is way too overpacked, the pacing is bad, some character decisions are not explained and/or developed, and the whole movie just feels far cheaper than it should. There are some cool references here if you are a fan of the Resident Evil/Biohazard video games, but there are also a lot of things that do a disservice to the games. Maybe watch Welcome to Raccoon City when it is being streamed, for free.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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4

AllNewSuperfakeDec 11, 2021

Since the writing of the video game series is always stumbling from being fascinating to making you feel like you are made fun of for taking it serious, cleaning it up is a good idea, and some consistency would have gone a long way.

InsteadSince the writing of the video game series is always stumbling from being fascinating to making you feel like you are made fun of for taking it serious, cleaning it up is a good idea, and some consistency would have gone a long way.

Instead the movie is namedropping characters and locations like a Hollywood hopeful at their first party, but that's only a problem if you came for the fanservice.

A few years, and a few billion zombies in dozens of movies and series and games ago, this would have been a decent movie, even though it kind of loses both pacing and plot in the second half. It's not bad-bad, it's just borderline impossible to impress any audience old enough to be allowed to watch this since they grew up with a steady diet of the undead. And since it's also certainly not shakespearean drama, or great acting, or comes up with anything even remotely challenging, seeking the mediocre middel-ground right at the center, it's really hard to feel like you haven't been wasting your time, and money. Watch this at home if you really have nothing better to do.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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6

EtaYoriusDec 2, 2021

The movie is ok, it does not suck it just isn't very memorable. They should had started with the Mansion, then do RE2 in the city and the Police station. Not sure why they decided to mix game stories into a single movie and i can't say iThe movie is ok, it does not suck it just isn't very memorable. They should had started with the Mansion, then do RE2 in the city and the Police station. Not sure why they decided to mix game stories into a single movie and i can't say i agree with that. Some characters do look like their video game personas like Chris, while others don't even resemble them at all (Leon and Jill) and these two personalities were a bit off, since Jill was a bit too psychotic in the movie, while Leon feels a rather clumsy. Claire also looks much older than what she was supposed to be. But apart from those minor issues the movie does ok job at giving fan service, which is in my opinion always good. 6.5 for me, is an ok movie that is not very memorable but entertains you while it lasts.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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5

Sensui33Nov 29, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really liked what they did with the movie. It gave me the game feel but was original in ways as well. I like how we will get code Veronica I'm the future after seeing them perform the dragonfly peeling scene from the game. I've been a fan of resident evil since I was 7 I'm now 33 and all of the live action movies are very good so far.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

actiniumDec 6, 2021

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1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

Rhm_89Nov 26, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There's some good stuff here if you are willing to overlook the butchering of lore and characters. For example Chief Irons is coward (pretty much his only bad trait) in this, funny but absolutely nothing like his character. I will go through "some" lore differences real quick and the characters:

Chris Redfield: He doesn't really act like Chris, he doesn't believe Claire at all which later prompts William Birkin to call him dumb and her smart. He also is very childish having a back and forth shhhh with Claire, he not Wesker in this leads the unnamed Team (Team Bravo seems only to consist of Marini and Dewey here with Richard with the "Alpha" team we know minus Barry). He has some good moments but runs and tries to take on William Birkin but instead gets saved by Claire in mere seconds (Claire saving people tends to be a running theme). Here instead of being born and raised in New York, and taking care of Claire like in the books he with Claire was born and raised in Racoon City and after their parents died lived at the Orphanage there headed by William Birkin. Later Claire escapes and Chris basically gets raised and put to school and Airforce by Birkin and Umbrella, a stark change. He also has a thing for Jill in this which in the games is never shown beyond being a partner.

Claire Redfield: Here she meets Lisa at the Orphanage briefly and then escapes it leaving Chris behind for 5 yrs, this means that Claire has not in this learned her skills from Chris but just mysteriously happens to have learned on her own to the point she knows more than new but actually professionally trained rookie transfer Leon about weapons. She seems to act older than Chris and much smarter in this. Despite barely knowing or seeing Lisa somehow they formed a bond by Claire just seeing her and asking her name just to read it off the arm band. She's also to nonchalant in this. For example when the Re2 trucker hits what they think is a person (a zombie who just disappears for the rest of the movie) she just gets out says lets wrap up the body and have my police officer brother help. After the body disappears there's just a brief nonchalant comments about it. This seems very contrary to her Re2 motherly persona. Her character is fine other than this except when she basically is in to much in the forefront. Instead of looking for Chris due to losing contact with him after the Spencer Mansion incident and thus looking for him, she just disappeared after escaping the Orphanage for 5 yrs and decides to visit him to show him info for some reason Ben Bertolucci decides to give to her. In which Chris doesn't believe her and basically gives her money, tells her he is going to work, not to mess his bike up and get out. Weird.

Leon S. Kennedy: Worst character in this. His backstory is completely rewritten almost entirely. He's not actually a brand new rookie recruit, he's actually a new "transfer" who accidentally shot his partner in the butt in his previous precint. His dad is also a hot shot cop. This seems to be why he is a cop instead of the incidents of the murders in the Arklay Mountain's giving him motivation due to a strong sense of Justice to join the force. Unlike this movie Leon was seen as an intelligent and gifted rookie. His training officers being none other than Rita and Kevin Ryman from Resident Evil Outbreak. Rita who assisted Marvin to help save the people of the RPD and Kevin being a main character and exceptional Marksman who took a pivotal role in the events on the frontlines. Leon in this movie gets saved multiple times and doesn't really do anything until the very end via one rocket Launcher. Claire has to save and carry him twice. Claire also has to help him learn how to use the shotgun, and he gets tricked and basically blackmailed easily by a jailed Ben Bertolucci.

Wesker: Wesker doesn't look anything like his counterpart, never gets his glasses, doesn't lead Team Alpha, plays around with the others like a typical team member. Has not worked for Umbrella and though contacted by a rich group to take information in the Spencer Mansion for a high price doesn't know that group either. He also doesn't seem to have any connections whatseover with the Wesker experiments nor does he even know William Birkin. Like the other's carries their characters title in name only. After betraying his group by leaving them behind to get the virus from Birkin, he shoots Birkin and Annette. Gets shot by Jill over Sherry and dies regretting things after making a joke.

Jill Valentine: She doesn't look anything like Jill and she really doesn't have much of a personality. She's just shown being incredible in marksmanship, has a thing for Wesker stated (which is completely contrary to her game character btw) and pretty much bland. She does go a tad overboard in things but besides that not much to say.

Overall it was meh, as long as you don't take it seriously have expectations it would be faithful it can pass the time I guess.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

Mexicanman1999Nov 26, 2021

Loved it, better than the old Resident evil movies. Had a bunch of easter eggs from the game

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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5

Voodoo123Jan 18, 2022

+Some fun b movie moments
+Some cool callbacks to the original games
-Forgettable plot and screenplay -Some pretty disappointing zombie visual effects In the overcrowded genre of zombie action movies, sadly 'Resident evil welcome to raccoon+Some fun b movie moments
+Some cool callbacks to the original games
-Forgettable plot and screenplay
-Some pretty disappointing zombie visual effects

In the overcrowded genre of zombie action movies, sadly 'Resident evil welcome to raccoon city' fails far more often than it succeeds. The city itself feels more like a town and as cheesy as the original games were, at least the basics of logic were in place where here these basics are oddly missing. We are quickly introduced to a town bereft of common sense filled instead with sociopaths. The lead cast from the games are here spouting needless amounts of exposition and regularly stating each others full names in their sentences. It feels more like a parody. Its a shame as this could've been an opportunity to really capture the feel of the games and bring it to the live action world. That said it is watchable enough to pass time. It only just about works as a mindless b movie horror with all the usual tropes that go along with it.… Expand