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Resident Evil: Degeneration (R, 2008)

common sense media says

Violent video game becomes CGI zombiefest.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie is not a direct continuation of the Resident Evil live-action movies. It's a computer-generated feature that carries over none of the established characters, although place names and overarching background story will be familiar to longstanding viewers. Those unfamiliar with the first two films in the series (and the video games) may wonder what's going on. Action is intense, and there's bloody violence consisting mostly of zombies being shot in the head and a mutant monster on the rampage. Some mild swearing happens, and big corporations, businessman, and politicians are depicted (usually) as forces of evil.

Positive messages: None of the muddled characterizations go very deep, but the elite paramilitary heroes here show a code of always trying to save lives of victims (the uninfected, anyway) and comrades, no matter what. The Resident Evil universe continues the theme that big business is a breeding ground for powerful villains, boundless malice, and inhumanity. Characters seem multi-ethnic, with the qualifier that this is Japanese computer-animated; many have the Asian-but-not-quite-Asian facial features seen in "anime" cartoons.
Violence: Frequent carnage inflicted on humans and humans-turned zombies, including close-range gunshots to the head and limbs, being blown up, and set on fire. Blood spatters as humans are bitten by zombies. One character metamorphosizes into a grotesque monster, who is repeatedly shot, knifed, smashed, incinerated, etc. A piece of glass pierces a character's leg. An airline crash and a few humongous explosions.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Use of "s--t"and "a--hole."
Consumerism: There's a certain popular video game (and live-action movie series) this ties into, complete with a guide to the new game iteration on the DVD.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some smoking.
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More on Resident Evil: Degeneration

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the appeal of zombie-gore movies and compare the slam-bang action of Resident Evil and its sequels to the more up-gross-and-personal realism of Night of the Living Dead and 28 Days Later. Which is spookier? This Resident Evil movie looks just like the Capcom video game come to life, rather than the live-action features. Is it more effective? What's more relatable: "real" people or computer-generated ones? Which is more entertaining: the interactive zombie-killing game experience, or the passive one, watching other characters carry out the perilous work?

What's the story?

What's the story?
The graphically violent Resident Evil movies are based on a popular series of Capcom video games in which players must use weaponry against contagious flesh-eating ghouls and monstrous mutations, the results of an amoral, high-tech corporation that unleashed a genetically-modified "T-virus" strain. Seeing the original Resident Evil and its first sequel are key to comprehending (maybe) this digital-animated spinoff, with a new cast of characters. A giant pharmaceutical corporation has a cure for the dreaded T-virus, but outbreaks of zombies around the world suggest that either terrorists wield the virus or the drug industry is deliberately spreading the plague for their own gain. A T-virus outbreak at the international airport in mythical "Harvardville" traps a number of people, including a disagreeable US senator and battle-hardened activists who escaped a previous zombie holocaust at Raccoon City. Their plight leads eventually to the health company's enormous subterranean lab/complex (never a safe place in these movies!), where an even deadlier mutation, the "G-virus," is housed.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The decision -- probably very cost-effective -- to render this in CGI makes RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION look very much like the video games on which it's based -- imagine a console playing in "demo" mode for an hour and half. Maybe there's a bit more plot to it than that, but even with occasional gropings at emotion and intrigue, you're rarely engaged with the story in the rudimentary degree you might were these flesh-and-blood actors. Though backdrops are photo-realistic (and the crash of a zombie-ridden airliner a spectacular effect), the mostly unmemorable characters/icons have unresponsive, doll-like faces whose blank expressions can either signify "I love you" or "Oh, all my teammates have been killed and my brother's turned into a ravening hell-beast determined to mate with me." On the plus side, graphic violence is a little less sickening in an all-digital milieu, and swearing, sex, and bad taste have been toned down from the live-action installments. Those are very faint "virtues," mind you.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Sony Pictures
Director: Makoto Kamiya
Cast: Alyson Court, Laura Bailey, Paul Mercier
Genre: Science Fiction
Run time: 96 minutes
Theatrical release: October 18, 2008
DVD release: December 30, 2008
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: bloody violence
This review was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

tonyc21
adult
10
 
play RE4 instead
I really hope this isnt canon, cause it was so stupid! Leons only 2 facial expressions were angry and constipated. It makes no reference to the events of the last game. Resident evil 4 is my favorite game, and I really hope this isnt an official sequel to the game.
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neutral15
teen, 17 years old
14
 
Claire makes this movie more reasonable
The Violence and inhumanity is what makes people think twice about seeing this movie but, clair is pretty much the most humain out of all the characters because she is seen protecting a small child throughout the film and the other characters protect each other as well but, Claire is a better role model
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Machete
adult
17
 
perfect for older teens 15+
language , violence and gore like you see in a horror movie
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residentevilfa ...
teen, 13 years old
13
 
A movie for the resident evil fans
Resident evil degeneration is a must see for fans. The movie was not released in theaters but if you see it on DVD either buy it or rent it. Many people love and hate this movie. the reason why is because their are so many resident evil fans out their so they love this movie and people who dont like resident evil will not like this movie. Violence: For a Cg movie the violence is pretty strong is shows zombies getting shot in the head sometimes you cant notice but you can see blood spray out and they fall down. their is a tyrant that knocks soldiers with his claw and they go flying and theirs blood and gore. so its violent but not hardcore gore violence 3 and a half/5 for violence. language sh** is used and d**n is used a** is used. its not strong and their are no F words. 3/5 for language. consumerism: The game is based of a video game so if you dont know what resident evil is and you like this movie chances are you are going to start buying the games and liking them. its not horrible consumerism but im just telling you. 2and a half/5 The movie is very short in my opinion its only about 90 minutes long and i think they could have added alot more to this movie.
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dachund45
teen, 13 years old
16
 
Perfect for anyone who likes this kind of stuff mostly boys
I think it's a very cool movie because me and my younger brother watch the live-action Resident Evil movies and play the video games as well (freakishly cool and addicting) Although it's for older teens which I highly recommend for any of you who might like it. There's some bad language which I don't recommend for younger audiences under 17
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