Why are Resident Evil Films Successful?

[TedShatner10]

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.

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....

[RoJoHen]

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.

[Aldo]

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.

[Admiral2]

TedShatner10 wrote:

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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.

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....

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...

[Mr. Adventure]

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.

[C.E. Evans]

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.

[Tom]

Has the 6th film been greenlit yet?

[C.E. Evans]

Tom wrote:

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Has the 6th film been greenlit yet?

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.

[Mark_Nguyen]

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

[od0_ital]

They're just dumb fun.

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

[Asbo Zaprudder]

...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.

[Gov Kodos]

Asbo Zaprudder wrote:

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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.

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

[Takeru]

Mark_Nguyen wrote:

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Walking Dead is for well-written drama with zombies in it.

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

[Infern0]

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.

[Shazam!]

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