Why are Resident Evil Films Successful?

Discussion in 'TV & Media' started by TedShatner10, Feb 28, 2013.

  1. TedShatner10

    TedShatner10 Commodore Commodore

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    Although I found the first Resident Evil instalment by Paul WS Anderson to be nearly good I'm puzzled (judging by how very, very generic the sequels are) how the RE movie series kept on going and going and going for a whole decade, generating over eight hundred million dollars in global box office. :eek:

    What is the key to the success of this artistically vapid series?

    I know the first movie was not exactly high art but I find it no more egregious than the first two Blade movies, with decent production values, some tense action scenes, and a decent ensemble cast of solid B-list actors.

    I think the first RE movie is the most decent official movie adaption of a video game ever, but that's not really saying much....
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2013
  2. RoJoHen

    RoJoHen Awesome Admiral

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    Eh, the first one was good enough to make people watch the second. I think the fact that the story never ends is a big help. People see them because they want to see how it all comes together.

    I wait for rental to watch them, but I'm still curious to see how they end the story.
     
  3. Aldo

    Aldo Admiral Admiral

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    I'm sure most people (like myself) just have fun watching them. I also like the fact that each sequel picks up right at the end of the previous, it feels like I'm watching an ongoing story line. And Milla Jovovich is extremely hot.
     
  4. Admiral2

    Admiral2 Admiral Admiral

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    I'll just speak for myself.

    I get all kinds of wood seeing Milla Jovovich move and listening to her talk. I'm not looking for intellectual stimulation...
     
  5. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    They're easy to watch, dumb fun and not torture porn. I thought the final one was pretty ropey but the third was pretty solid and helps to carry the others.
     
  6. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

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    They appeal to people who just want to see a cool action-horror flick, with a female lead who's sexy, but can totally kick butt and doesn't need a man to save her.

    But they generally perform way better outside the U.S. at the box office.
     
  7. Tom

    Tom Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Has the 6th film been greenlit yet?
     
  8. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

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    Yes, it's intended to be the finale. When production begins hasn't been announced.

    If it does as good as the previous films, though, I wouldn't be surprised if do a seventh movie later down the road as a reboot.
     
  9. Mark_Nguyen

    Mark_Nguyen Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I've only ever watched these movies to see my Milla jump and shoot and kill zombies and look awesome doing it. So does my wife, for that matter (plus Boris Kodjoe held some of her interest in the more recent installments).

    Walking Dead is for well-written drama with zombies in it. Resident Evil is for over-the-top action with zombies in it. Both are good for what they do, but never the twain shall meet.

    Mark
     
  10. od0_ital

    od0_ital Admiral Admiral

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    They're just dumb fun.

    And the last one had the added bonus of bringin' Michelle Rodriguez back.

    :techman:
     
  11. Asbo Zaprudder

    Asbo Zaprudder Admiral Admiral

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    ...and Milla Jovovich writhing about naked apart from some small strategically placed pieces of cloth.

    What I would like to see is her and Kate Beckinsale kicking butt in the same film, but those streams will probably never cross as they're both approaching 40. There were rumours in 2011 that they would appear in Danger Girl but nothing since then.
     
  12. Gov Kodos

    Gov Kodos Admiral Admiral

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    How I'd love a Resident Evil/Underworld crossover. Alice and Selene in a mad lycan-zombie killfest would be fantastic popcorn munching fun.
     
  13. Takeru

    Takeru Space Police Commodore

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    I wouldn't call The Walking Fead well written drama, it has great moments but most of the time it's somewhere between mediocre and bad.
    The only thing that's consistently good is the make-up and the effects
     
  14. Infern0

    Infern0 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Mila Jovovic, often semi nude, shooting zombies.

    It's dumb popcorn fun for the dumb masses.

    And it's a lot less offensive than something like Transformers tbh.
     
  15. Shazam!

    Shazam! Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I've only seen the first one and it was a screaming pile of shit.
     
  16. Agent Richard07

    Agent Richard07 Admiral Admiral

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    Sometimes they're one of the other and sometimes they're both.

    I'm glad they brought back Jill Valentine. She totally stole the show in the second one.
     
  17. Admiral2

    Admiral2 Admiral Admiral

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    I can't stand Jill Valentine, mainly because Sienna Guillory's American accent sucks.
     
  18. ThunderAeroI

    ThunderAeroI Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I think the 3rd one is easily the worst and 5th one feels stupid. I think one and two are the best with four close behind. None of them are really great movies, but they can be fun.

    I really think the super powers rune the movies, and the ending to the fifth one....yeah...

    How did Wecker live through the explosion of the Enclave Vertibird blowing up at the end of the fourth one...like he lived through the crash at the beginning?
     
  19. FFunctionalData

    FFunctionalData Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    they tricked me. After the first three movies I am to invested to stop watching them now.
     
  20. MNM

    MNM Captain Captain

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    Meh, people arent dumb because they like these movies.

    To answer teh question, they have a good lead who plays an interesting enough character and the films are generally enjoyable.

    Do they actually stick close to the game's storys etc? Dont really know, only played snippets of the games. But even if they dont, the films are fun.