In Defence of The First RESIDENT EVIL Movie

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ABOUT THE SHOW:
This show celebrates Ryan's love for film, games, art and entertainment through personal retrospective analysis that aims to explore what made them so good.
MUSIC:
World War Blues by Mini Vandals
The Shining in Dubai by Unicorn Heads
Strange Ways by Silent Partner
Badlands by ELPHNT
Numb Limb Lips by The 129ers
White Hats by Wayne Jones
Terrible Manners by Max McFerren
The Path Starts Here by Cooper Cannell
Underpass by Doug Maxwell, Jimmy Fontanez

[@RyanHollinger]

*Settle this argument: WHAT IS THE BEST & WORST FILM IN THE RE SERIES?*

[@GabePauleyV.P]

I’m pretty sure defence is a misspelling

[@ally-20]

Probably the latest one

[@MrChaoslich]

The first because it scared the shit out of me as a kid especially the last scene The last one is just trash imo

[@erc3338]

Best: Pick any of the animated ones by Capcom. Or the first LA if you have to. Worst: Probably whatever the most recent of the LA RE's, as I can only assume that they kept getting worse with each sequel.

[@MorrisseyMuse]

@@GabePauleyV.P it's spelt "defence" outside of the US

[@batja2719]

Hate it or love it you have to admit the laser scene was awsome.

[@darkangel076]

Elevator prologue still makes me clench.

[@A_YouTube_Commenter]

RE4 "borrowed" it.

[@li-limandragon9287]

@@A_KZbin_Commenter To be fair Anderson burrows action scenes from the games just as much. That Alice surrenders and drops her gun but catches it before it hits the ground and shoots a gas tank scene from Apocalypse is ripped off from Claire in Code Veronica.

[@frankieb9444]

Someone was a fan of Cube

[@drewm.2790]

I remember as a kid my dad making me watch this movie and that laser scene kept me up all night 😭😭😭

[@WeCanCos]

Paul W S Anderson: This is my OC. She looks like my wife and she's better than everyone in every way. Game fans: Okay, but why? Anderson: Because my wife is hot.

[@ShadowKaiserin]

I'm okay with this.

[@theguileraven7014]

He could have just made her Jill.

[@revenge3265]

@@theguileraven7014 THIS. Although Sienna was absolutely amazing, they should've just did away with Alice and made Milla Jill Valentine. She even looks similar but... they didn't???

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@theguileraven7014 she would look great as her.

[@theguileraven7014]

@@Gadget-Walkmen Honestly, I would have even been happy if they just left out the game characters entirely, and just made this a completely separate story that's using Resident Evil's lore. They could even imply that the game characters exist in this world and are doing stuff separately to Alice.

[@Cousin_Uli]

Wes and the Underworld Director having a low key war over who had the cooler action movie wife is one of the funniest things to imagine in recent hollywood history.

[@SayHelloHelli]

SYGLP Jfc is Kate beckinsdale really married to the underworld director? That’s amazing.

[@DMCMaster550]

Anderson won in the end, because he still has his cool action movie wife.

[@Cousin_Uli]

@@DMCMaster550 Monster Hunter is the victory lap.

[@doctorwholover1012]

I love the idea of a wife-based clout culture in Hollywood lmao 😂

[@lL338]

@@doctorwholover1012 I like that energy.

[@AveragePixel]

These movies feel like an excuse for Paul W.S. Anderson to put his wife in fetish clothing

[@thedrycleaners3086]

I thought the consensus was exactly this?

[@quangthuyoan9576]

He did it again with monster hunter. Does that guy have any idea on how to make a film adapted closely with the lore of the game? He could have casted his wife in the role of a main protagonist who is directly adapted from the game, not some outsiders who never exist in the lore.

[@roihanfaiz4820]

Well..... I can understand that, so i don't really blame him

[@cinjohnclaassen1740]

DeusDaecon Reviews nailed it by basically saying Paul suffered from "look at my hot wife" syndrome

[@AirQuotes]

Ok but can you blame him

[@Midnighthalo]

Event Horizon is underrated. Its basically humanities first contact with the forces of chaos from 40k

[@somedogsarecops2354]

Well that's why it became a cult classic

[@ratkid6859]

I was expecting that movie to be good when everyone was talking about it but it stank

[@anguishedcarpet]

@@ratkid6859 false it slaps

[@ratkid6859]

@@anguishedcarpet it was kind of ridiculous wahah but we can agree to disagree

[@anguishedcarpet]

@@ratkid6859 no it is kinda bad but I still enjoy it. Honestly if anderson hadn't done what he always does and turn it into a big sequence of effects set pieces (some of which are fucking boring in Event Horizon; I'm lookin at you zero gravity hallway scene) it would be one of my fav guilty pleasures. I'll still sit through a shitty 60 minutes for the other 30 really great ones here and there lol

[@BugsyFoga]

The Resident Evil movies: aka Theatrical versions of Insert Fan fiction.

[@RyanHollinger]

OMG FAN FICTION IS A PERFECT DESCRIPTION!

[@viternity6903]

That movie is a Bad fanfic with his Mary sue oc wife which is shoved in every movie he Puts his hands on.

[@Anna-tk7ui]

THANK YOU! I've been saying it's fanfiction for years! It's just "WS Anderson's wife is so hot" the fanfiction turned into too many movies.

[@burtbiggum499]

Also good sound track

[@ArlanKels]

@@viternity6903 I'm still disgusted they shoved her into Monster Hunter Capcom's been spiraling downward for me over the last few years

[@princeapoopoo5787]

How could a man say something so controversial and yet so brave?

[@TJF588]

*Hoyever could a man say...

[@nictushazeldine3167]

I will argue to my dying day that the first RE is a profoundly "okay" sci-fi horror movie. It's not a great adaptation of the games, but it's a fairly fun experience in a vacuum. Everything after that... no.

[@drumrocka]

ohhhhhh while the second isn’t great, or overly good.....it’s still OK. It all falls apart from the 3rd, however.

[@kissarococo2459]

yes, the action just rolls on smoothly and it´s a solid horror-action film from start to finish.

[@drewm.2790]

I’ll go as far as to say it’s an “okay” adaptation of the games but a great movie on its own. Maybe nostalgia is a big factor but yeah I still cherish watching this movie in the theater with my dad lol

[@nubworthycigars6682]

I think people, in general, don’t actually want adaptations. They want what they see in their heads brought to screen... for my tastes that’s the boring approach. If I wanted to see all the extra bits I added to the originals game experience to flesh the story out I can replay the game, or read the book again, or whatever the case may be.. the point of me taking the time to watch someone else’s take on a story I enjoyed was to see another perspective or interpretation. Aside from this last year the biggest challenge for me personally was finding time to allocate to fantasy adventure of any kind, so why would I want a recreation of an experience I can make on my own time and terms... I thought the first RE film was a fun adaptation of the themes, as opposed to a direct adaptation, of the games up to that point. I saw the first two in theaters, I was a fair bit younger of course, but after Muppet Nemesis I couldn’t bring myself to watch anymore.. I’m the kind of nerd who blocks off my calendar for a genre film..

[@lazaruxdeluz1673]

The first film remained faithfull to the game environment and has the most resident evil atmosphere out of rest. They did a very good job with the action choreography, design and the ending scene. But the characters and story is a mess and lacking element. If only they remake the movie with the same action choreography, visuals, good ending scene and added a story with great elements and complex memorable characters it would be a great movie. Sadly it was a waste potential.

[@brycehitchcock9207]

I've always wondered what a Sam Rami Resident Evil movie would be.

[@moch.farisdzulfiqar6123]

The zombie turn into emo-phase and start to dance in public walk

[@Andy-ld8zk]

@@moch.farisdzulfiqar6123 nah, Bully Maguire would snap them out of existence way before that phase, and while all of that is going on Ash, Kelly and Pablo are fucking some shit up while saying "Groovy". Edit: I didn't play the game so I'm probably wrong but isn't the Evil Dead franchise basically that, but more magic?

[@crisiskid1990]

Fucking awesome, that’s what it would be. Raimi is amazing

[@HejaWolf]

It would be incredible ❤️

[@anubusx]

James Wan.

[@Blast2224]

The first movie is the most early 2000s aesthetic. Big chunky guns, form fitting dresses in combat, rock and techno music, color filters, overly ambitious CGI, and slow mo.

[@Gryphondork.]

Its amazing

[@giannilyanicks1718]

It has a particular charm to it, I think. in the environments.

[@brettthebest3978]

If the reboot don’t have the line “you were almost a Jill sandwich” it’s 0/10

[@Xehanort10]

Or "I have THIS."

[@li-limandragon9287]

@@Xehanort10 whaT dO yOU thINK oF iT?

[@White927]

Or You want starts, i'll give you start

[@Cuestar]

always been a guilty pleasure of mine

[@cassidyfriedman73]

yea me to

[@alextalcual8042]

Why guilty?

[@Sjs9000]

@@alextalcual8042 yep, we should embrace what we enjoy, fuck the haters

[@Cuestar]

@@alextalcual8042 idk it's always been looked down on by fans of the games. I'm trying to eliminate guilty pleasure from my vocabulary tho

[@alextalcual8042]

@@Cuestar I understand why video game fans don't like it but for me it's just a great movie.

[@brianb816]

Hats off for Mr. Anderson. Without him we would not have the ridiculous scene in the game of Chris punching a boulder

[@jdivina15]

Actually, the Apocalypse church scene might be the most faithful scenes ever remade in the movie series. It was Jill alone, exploring, walking slowly, and the camera angles are even the same as the first Resident Evil. It was a really good sequence of events until Alice showed up and became part of the Matrix cast.

[@RaKeLN.]

Yes, I noticed that church part with Jill, I've been watching Apocalypse lately and it has grown on me.

[@drewm.2790]

When Jill was walking around those dark church corridors it felt so much like RE1 in the Spencer Mansion I loved it

[@drewm.2790]

@@RaKeLN. same! But still what a damn shame they overpowered Alice. Imagine what it could have been if she shared the spotlight with Jill and they worked together to make it through the streets…

[@Gryphondork.]

So true. I actually loved jill in that movie too

[@giannilyanicks1718]

too bad it was so breve as a moment, it's kind of sad how it will not last at the moment we saw the team nailed the spirit of the games it's like if they fixed a pottery before sadistically breaking it just for the fun. but still in the first movie we have shots like that too. it's also funny how people when talking about that RE Apocalypse says that this movie is like made of two parts, they're not wrong

[@BambamCZ]

As much as I have a soft spot for the first movie the series can be summed up as "Look at my hot wife - The Franchise"

[@slimmccoy8863]

IIRC, this is supported in the commentary track, where Milla says something along the lines of "Here comes my gratuitous crotch shot!" (jump kicking the dog)

[@Wulfsmasher]

I like the first and second movie, the rest are on a scale from enjoyable schlock to downright terrible. But I gotta give it to him, Shawn Roberts was born to play Wesker. The way he chews the scenery just warms my heart

[@drewm.2790]

Yeah I agree, the first and second movie are the best of the series. I still enjoy the sequels except for the last one but mainly because of nostalgia lol

[@cristhianmontoya6648]

The Final chapter could of had such great action scenes but they ruined it with all the excessive jump cuts.

[@Tommykey07]

Sienna Guillory as Valentine made the second movie for me. I liked her character.

[@stugod5000]

first two are definitely my favourite, I think the first one I ever saw fully was the fourth one. speaking about Wesker its gonna be interesting Tom Hopper from umbrella academy take over the role

[@heartlessGUYnumber17]

"I think the first film is kinda good" THE TRUTH HAS BEEN SPOKEN!

[@theirishpotato6588]

Yes.

[@danialyousaf6456]

In other news, water is wet.

[@scentsiclestylings4443]

Now all he needs to do is admit Mila has a certain je ne sais quois

[@drewm.2790]

@@scentsiclestylings4443 I agree, Milla brings in this energy and physicality to Alice’s character even if the character itself lacks the emotional connection we may have with the game’s characters

[@mimsydreams]

The first one really is the best. I actually enjoyed it enough to watch it more than once. The sequels jumped the shark so hard that it felt like you missed some movies in between or something.

[@shawnfields2369]

Completely agree, dude/lady. I thought by watching the first RE movie, I'd learn more about the characters and setting, and environment, but while the movie does indeed take place IN Raccoon City, it's not in the city itself. Just in The Hive, a much different place. I just wanted to see Leon Kennedy done justice onscreen in an RE movie. He's my favorite character from the series, because I started the series with RE2, on the n64. Playing it as a kid, with my dad. Saw this movie on demand, got in trouble for watching an "R" Rated movie, but this movie could be it's own story instead of following the games, but I feel like the sequels did fail in aspect. I do know that the series is known for having corny as hell dialogue. Like the first game. "You were almost a Jill Sandwich", or stuff like that. So the second RE movie isn't as bad as the other sequels, but still pretty bad. But at least it's watchable compared to the other horribly bad movies that later down the line, do indeed make you feel like you missed 2 or more of the movies or games that they all "tried" and failed to follow. They all also looked like bad cosplayers of the RE cast, and were then thrown into another dimension, where they weren't even the main characters they were from their own games. Like Leon was a jerk, and tried to be the horndog, and was suggesting leaving people behind?! Leon would NEVER EVER do that, not EVER. He's ALWAYS, thinking about how best to help, and get someone out of there. His personality in the movies is a JOKE. But it's a poorly done joke. Barry Burton, just a dude who looked like Barry, didn't act like him, didn't have his .38 Magnum, didn't have a love for guns, didn't do jack s**t. Just there to be there. Jill, again, acted selfishly and stupidly, she was just annoying, but the actress was hot though, if I'm being honest. The guy who played Chris, looks more like Jake Wesker, the dude who played Carlos Oliveira looked more like Chris Redfield. The actor also looks more like the lovechild of both Chris Redfield and Enrique Iglesias, to be fair. And I have seen the first 2 RE movies multiple times myself. Back then, I thought the 2nd one was genuinely scary and funny. Don't know what was wrong with me back then... it was also my first introduction to RE3's story. Or at least some part of it's story. But even I knew that the story hadn't been done right. But I do think you have a point. The sequels feel like you missed something important in-between games or movies. While it is cute that Paul Anderson does show some love towards his waifu, it doesn't make the movies themselves any better. But it's nice to know he treats her with respect and love. But why completely ruin a beloved franchise just to do that? There are other ways you can show how much you love your wife AND make good movies based on RE, at the same time. But I do think the first RE movie is worth your time. I just hope my dude Leon will be done justice eventually in an RE movie. Hell, I hope every RE character gets their characters done right, someday. If they keep making RE movies, that is.

[@rasmusazu]

Resident Evil is basically horror films for people that are too scared to watch actual horror.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

the movies, not the games as the games have plenty of horror that's good, scary, and of quality.

[@DJTXD123]

Bro you just hit the nail on the head, i can't watch horror movies but i love the original Resident Evil and Silent Hill films, also the newest hills have eyes, dawn of the dead remake etc

[@-Scrapper-]

so action?

[@Jeremy-bt8lo]

@@Gadget-Walkmenyes and I’m glad I watched them as a child. And now as an adult I’m barley getting into the video games because of it. Plus now I’m ready for the more horror based games!

[@7eaven780]

That closing shot with her grabbing the gun and the camera going back to show the city (with that awesome theme playing) will forever be one of my favorite closing shots of a film.

[@drewm.2790]

And that Marilyn Manson song slowly coming in is genuinely badass

[@metvl_slvg1838]

And the credits music being Slipknot?! This movie straight up turned me into a metalhead as a kid lol

[@Dunmerdog]

You are demented

[@GirlWithAStarEarring]

Holy crap you are spot on when it comes to Alice as a character. She get so fucking powerful you just stop caring about her, like you are not worried one bit about what could happen to her because well nothing can harm her in any way. So I guess she's on 'god mode' during all the sequels. It's boring playing a game as god mode and it's boring as hell to watch movies with a character like that.

[@li-limandragon9287]

Especially in *survival horror* where the protagonists are supposed to underpowered so the tension can be high. Granted the RE characters do get into superhuman hijinks later on in RE4, RE5 and especially RE6. But I feel difference is the games are pure camp while the films take themselves seriously.

[@thomasraines1396]

A great example to how stupidly overpowered Alice becomes is in the (I think) fifth film: a guy named Luther gets his heart stopped and dies, Alice gets the exact same thing done to her and she keeps going on (and this is after they removed her bullshit super powers).

[@li-limandragon9287]

@@thomasraines1396 I think the worst was her eye powers.

[@thomasraines1396]

@@li-limandragon9287 those were just dumb.

[@drewm.2790]

@@li-limandragon9287 exactly 😆 but hear me out Alice in the sequels is like playing a game with cheats. Yeah the suspense and fear of dying is not there and it’s not as exciting anymore but it still kind of is fun making things explode and do crazy shit

[@awkwardity5615]

I will never not love that opening scene in the lab, always get chills, the visual just goes so perfectly with with Manson's intro 🧪

[@drewm.2790]

YES! Manson’s scoring combined with the establishment of the locations is SO atmospheric

[@Lauranna]

I always thought Paul W. S Anderson lost his passion for moviemaking after Event Horizon bombed. He obviously poured his heart and soul into that movie. He must have been crushed when it was so badly panned by critics of the time. It’s a shame considering Event Horizon is now seen as a very underrated sci fi horror movie and has a huge cult following.

[@pop000690]

I think that's what annoys me about Anderson even more than Uwe Boll is he is capable of doing good. Mortal Kombat (1995) was pretty damn good and Event Horizon is now up there with Alien and The Thing as one of the greatest Sci-Fi Horror movies. I do agree that I believe he just gave up after EH and if true, I don't blame him but he played things, still does, way too safe with Resident Evil onwards and while he still makes bank, critically it isn't doing him any favours. P.S: Uwe Boll's films are way worse btw

[@aalfano16]

Say what you will about Paul W.S. Anderson, but Event Horizon is an excellent sci-fi horror film that absolutely slaps.

[@derrickdutoit8940]

Anderson is basically a kid that just got GMOD along with a few RE textures and figured he'd make his own little fan movie for funsies.

[@Payduro]

Also this movies’ soundtrack was kickass. Like come on, Killwitch Engage AND Slipknot? Shit was 🔥

[@RandomGaki]

First move is definitely a nostalgic gold mine. Watched it a few weeks ago, heard Slipknot and teared up a little bit.

[@AJadedLizard]

Manson and Beltrami's soundtrack is also surprisingly good and effective; for the story they decided to tell it's nearly perfect.

[@drewm.2790]

Hahahahaha yes 🤣 Slipknot and Marilyn Manson in this film really is perfect

[@AJadedLizard]

@@drewm.2790 And Rammstein, Depece Mode, and Saliva...all we're missing is Disturbed and this soundtrack would've been perfect.

[@multitudeoutcome3963]

Only Ryan could actually make me see a movie like resident evil in a more interesting way and make me go back and rewatch it, your videos never cease to amaze me thanks man

[@senecauk8363]

I always remembered the opening scenes of the first RE movie being pretty interesting and spooky.

[@redmasquerade13]

I absolutely love this movie. It was my first time watching a “scary” movie as an 18 year old living out of home for the first time, and was exploring the ~real~ world. I grew up Mormon and was very sheltered, and RE was such a fun beginning to seeing into what movies were out there! Editing to add, have you ever done a video discussing Alien? It’s one of my favorite movies of all time and I’d love to see you chat about it!

[@JackedThor-so]

I grew up conservative Christian. The first "scary" movie I ever saw was the 1998 American Godzilla remake. Its God awful but still holds a place in my heart.

[@howiegruwitz3173]

I remember a kid in the theater puking

[@freesheep0]

* high fives * for growing up Mormon. That baptismal underwear was questionable. 😳

[@550077]

Wow, this is exactly my experience :) I was 18 as well, had just entered a university. The film caused me a mild PTSD.

[@erisi236]

I'm just surprised that in this day and age a movie series like this could go so long and have all of the films be actual theatrical releases instead of straight to DVD schlock after the second film

[@RomanCzachor]

the 2000’s were a different time, im not sure if a series like this would work now given the box office failures of the last 2 RE films

[@adamstevens6492]

@@RomanCzachor I'm confused as to what you mean by failures? The last two RE films made 240 and 312 million dollars.

[@RomanCzachor]

@@adamstevens6492 ya you’re right i wasn’t paying attention to the international markets, but in terms of their domestic box office numbers which are the most important for american films they were very low with the final chapter bringing in like less than 30 mil. internationally i guess they were a hit tho which i feel is more common with videogame adaptions and schlocky action flicks in general

[@ReverendMeat51]

@@RomanCzachor International numbers are way more important to studios than domestic. That's why movies are shit now.

[@creed8712]

@@RomanCzachor my man if you really think domestic box office is important for American films you haven’t been paying attention to how Disney simps almost as hard for China as Anderson does for his oc

[@tonitolletti9472]

Publicly I hate this movie, but if I were to ever voice how much I actually enjoy this movie I'd lose my auteur street cred

[@doroelidoro]

This is public 🤔

[@tonitolletti9472]

@@doroelidoro oh dear

[@athannyx6815]

@@tonitolletti9472 Don't worry I love all the other movies including this one.

[@APoliticalConfusionAndMess]

Dude... Who cares? Why should you apologize for liking something?

[@tonitolletti9472]

It’s all jokes my man, nothing serious

[@anishia]

Haven't seen this since my first viewing at at age 11, and yet, the Red Queen's "You're all going to die down here" has reverberated in my nightmares for nearly-literal decades 😅

[@jwnj9716]

After all the horrible sequels and the mess they created, you start to appreciate the first film where it told a simple story. I'm surprised they didn't go with Romero's script, it's not perfect but it's closer to the games. Here, it's decent, not amazing like Event Horizon but decent and watchable. Now since they are going to remake it, you don't have to bring the video game characters, just make it serious and scary where even one zombie can be dangerous. And please stop with the over the top Michael Bay action scenes. You guys should listen to Umbrella Chronicles Parody of Rihanna's Umbrella, it will cure you, trust me.

[@aydenvavra2153]

I wish they went with Romero’s script because he is a horror Master. I liked Romero’s original script it wasn’t perfect but it would have been entertaining

[@costadinover]

If they are making a RE movie with no game characters and divorced from the series, they might as well just do a proper good zombie flick tbh. We don't need movie adaptations of everything, just good movies. Like Silent Hill movies, we don't need them. We already have Jacob's Ladder.

[@li-limandragon9287]

The George Romero directed trailer for RE2 blows nearly all the Anderson RE movies out of the water in my opinion.

[@aydenvavra2153]

@@li-limandragon9287 I agree 💯 that RE2 Romero trailer was a fun watch I am not gonna lie

[@ronpitts7636]

You're right, the umbrella parody was so worth it!

[@benrig89]

Also the music is absolutely banger, I'm not even a metal fan and I thought it was awesome as fuck

[@abiybattlespell8401]

i just find it funny tht the director pretty much made a career out of inserting his oc into a established franchise who also just so happens to be his wife irl dude literally married his oc

[@AJadedLizard]

Hey, mad props to him for following his dream, though, and they've been married for over a decade, which is quite impressive for Hollywood, so maybe they actually have a healthy relationship.

[@abiybattlespell8401]

@@AJadedLizard ikr mans living the dream

[@li-limandragon9287]

Just because they’re happy doesn’t mean they make us enjoy their work

[@AJadedLizard]

@@li-limandragon9287 Maybe, but it's still kind of wholesome to watch.

[@li-limandragon9287]

@@AJadedLizard Wholesome for them maybe

[@aT47157]

“RELEASE THE ROMERO CUT!”

[@wasuptime]

the dog that splits its head open in Resident Evil Afterlife is one scene from a film trailer that was ingrained into my young mind upon first seeing it. Idk how young I was but its always stuck with me. Not scary or traumatic, but cool!

[@oliviav.3565]

"You're all going to die down here"

[@livir3361]

Do love the Marilyn Manson theme - perfect cold laboratory vibe.

[@drewm.2790]

YEP! Absolutely phenomenal scoring. It perfectly portrays the cold stainless steel atmosphere of the Hive’s labs

[@noelienoelie8425]

Orbital and Marilyn manson.

[@xxxholic22]

Somewhere in script revision a really interesting thing was sort of lost, shoved under the carpet, it was a twisted version of Alice in Wonderland, so Alice, the red queen, Max was shown sat on something with smoke all around him to represent the caterpillar etc, it got cut or botched or something but it certainly would have been interesting to see I just love how the red queen's proclamation of "you're going to die down here" isn't a threat, just a statement of fact

[@SolRyuKen]

I enjoy the resident evil movies the same way I enjoy Saw movies, laughing and having a good time.

[@mesousagaby740]

Saw, though actually has complexity. This is just Mary Sue-rriffic. Show those whiny Star Wars fans that keep thinking Rey is a Mary Sue this sometime.

[@SolRyuKen]

I really love part 1 & 2 of Saw. Once part three ended with them playing the tape that was surgically removed and him predicting everything from the dead, I hated the movies. Few years later saw them again, and I laughed and realized I should enjoy them more as a thriller deadpan comedy.

[@BOBSYOURGUNKEL]

I'm an absolute sucker for Residnet Evil: Extinction (not directed by Paul W.S). It has zombies crows, sprinting zombies and Ser Jorah being all evil and such. Dessert scenes got a Mad Max vibe too

[@danielchampion2982]

Yeah the first and Extinction are my favorites

[@cheesybeans9476]

I liked afterlife (or whatever the one with leon Kennedy was called) just because of how stupidly over the top it was, and when it was released I liked the the actress who played Ada

[@kgldude]

I can’t stand the sequels because they play so fast and loose with their continuity and character mortality. Since every later film would just disregard important plot beats or even character deaths by saying “it was a clone that died”, I could never take a single thing that happened seriously. The first one’s fine though.

[@li-limandragon9287]

That’s what happens when you grab stuff from the games and mash it together with your own fan fiction. The first one is most tolerable because Anderson wasn’t fully unchained.

[@cluster___]

Kkji

[@v8bitecho]

Opinions on the films aside, hearing the praise given to Anderson in this vid is kind of uncomfortable Like the point about Snyder makes a lot of sense but the key difference between the two is that as miguided as it is Snyder very clearly loves cinema and film and although he usually aims higher than his talents he really cares about the integrity of the process whereas Anderson seems to have nothing but utter contempt for filmaking. His insistence on placing his wife in the lead role of every film despite the fact that she cant act her way out of a box and willingness to antagonize people who disagree with his decision to do so really undermines any attempt to take him seriously. Not to mention the multiple accounts of absolute shit show level decisions on set that led films like monsterhunter to be banned in the main country it was marketed for because he had to wipe his greasy dick over the script before they started filming. All these decisions culminating in the most disgusting handling of a situation, wherein during the filming of one of the resident evil films he blatantly ignored safety protocols and had a stunt changed last minute with no communication of this to the coordinator or stunt crew resulting in a stuntwoman having lost her arm and her face degloved because of course it went poorly before being fired without compensation to which he still has suffered no consequence for makes it pretty clear that he doesn't give a shit about making films to "fufill his vision" hes just so ego driven that he believes that the films he makes are something audiences should watch because he dared to bless them with the opportunity

[@DMCMaster550]

This! At one time, I think he actually gave a damn as a filmmaker. Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Soldier and the first Resident Evil, are all competently made and relatively decent B-movies. There's a sense of quality to them, like he actually gave a damn about what he was doing. The latter Resident Evil films that he directed, which have higher budgets, all look cheaper than the comparatively low budget original. Being given the reigns of a franchise, clearly got to his head, leading to him just not giving a damn and, because of this, a stuntwoman suffered serious injuries and a crew member died.

[@mistatyrant8119]

@@DMCMaster550 i agree with this. This is past Anderson we are talking about not the present dickwod we have today. His past films had promise to them even though it doesn't internally connect to the games or concept they are based off of. Not to excuse what he been doing today alot of that stuff hes been doing like that stunt accident that happened on Resident evil final chapter should have lead Anderson into being blacklisted from Hollywood and directing as whole. And him screwing up video game franchise like resident evil should have ended in his contract with capcom to even film their games.

[@desanctisapostata]

@@DMCMaster550 i like how non-chalantly one can say "someone Lost an arm (therefore their whole career) and someone died because of bad decisions" as if it wasnt something horrid. Just another day in the business

[@DMCMaster550]

@@desanctisapostata sadly that's how it is.

[@etheriaart2172]

Y'know what Ryan, this film (and the 2nd one, and also silent hill) are my autism comfort films. I watched the film by accident in 2002 (i was 6) and it's become a film I know every word to, every scene, and it was kind of a catalyst of my love for resident evil and the reason I now make horror games. It's not a guilty pleasure of mine - it's one of my all time favourite movies. I know it's not *good*, but its good enough for me to now know the entire script so many years later. As soon as I saw this uploaded i was like "shit yeah, thanks, i agree" because it's brilliant. Every other film after the 2nd one is absolutely dire though so

[@MuertaNox]

Aliens fill the same slot for me. But, yes, all three movies you listed just... are comfortable. Good guys face impossible odds and through great struggles triumph, though not without cost. And that cost is part of what makes the triumph so good. If they can get through that, then... I... can get through this.

[@etheriaart2172]

@@MuertaNox exactly!! But also as well because I’m such a big fan of the games too it’s really nice to see half decent game to move adaptations. Clearly the guys who made these films love their source material, but take a lot of creative liberties too. But it’s understandable. I just love them. They’re simple stories, comfortable stories, and I love them.

[@drewm.2790]

@@etheriaart2172 SAME! the first 2 films just take me back to when I was little watching the movies with my dad and then playing the games after

[@kclink1579]

The first Resident Evil movie is a great zombie and Resident Evil movie. I love that just one Zombie is a danger in the first movie. Funny that in the later movies a horde of running zombies almost didn't feel like a threat but yet in the first movie one slow walking zombie was a worry. Love the movie. A underrated movie and underrated zombie movie.

[@bryanegelhoffsanimationtec257]

They're planning on redoing the films? Honestly, I'm cautiously optimistic about that. I mean, with Castlevania, Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog being quite entertaining, thus could be their chance to make a good adaptation. With this and the new R-rated Mortal Kombat movie, I'm actually excited to see what happens.

[@VernulaUtUmbra]

Considering their planning on doing a Netflix(?) series about a bunch of super powered Wesker Kids, I really wouldn't hold your breath.

[@noelienoelie8425]

From what I've seen of the pictures it's not looking good. Sets look ok but they've race swapped all the characters and they seem really young looking.

[@bryanegelhoffsanimationtec257]

@@noelienoelie8425 I honestly don't mind those last bits. The appearances of the characters have changed various times as the games have gone on, and since the film is supposed to be at the very beginning of the story, it makes sense for some of them to look younger than they do in the more recent games.

[@cheesybeans9476]

@@noelienoelie8425 that's probably the TV show, netflix are making a show on it whereas there is also the movie reboot

[@li-limandragon9287]

Watch the RE CG movies, they’re way better even at their worst.

[@Tressa_]

I’m a simple woman, I see a new Ryan Hollinger video essay- I click.

[@ReverendMeat51]

simp

[@eastendthug]

Greetings m'lady

[@Ebi.Adonkie]

Alice being stupidly overpowered was my only issue. She really outshines every other character. Although it's explained that she has a doze of the T virus I still thought it was shit. The sequels are all movies to watch with friends, high of course

[@quangthuyoan9576]

Anderson is a true simp. He knows how to make good movies. He is ready to ruin a whole video game adaptation just to give his waifu the main role in the series. Had he curbed his simpness down and made a plot that respects the games' lore, the series would have been greater than ever. The games have huge potential. Their storyline can be adapted into a good horror movie series.

[@realtalk13]

yeah the issue with alice being OP AND the main character in each film meant that there were no stakes/tension to any of the other films. who cares if these characters introduced in this film live or die when we know alice is going to come in and save the day. no tension/uncertainty = no fear and that leaves you with mediocre sci-fi action films

[@Mad.Dog.Murdoch]

And then to make it worse, they had to keep finding ways to de-power her which began to annoy me.

[@quangthuyoan9576]

@@realtalk13 The main protagonists should have been the main protagonists from the game, not some "Alice". 5 movies are more than enough to adapt the world of resident evil. Btw,why did he not make his wife jill or claire or any main female characters in the game from the beginning? Milla is a pretty solid actress. She is pretty and her acting is not bad. There are more than enough strong female characters for her to choose.

[@drewm.2790]

@@quangthuyoan9576 hmmm I think Alice from the first movie can still work with the characters from the games ( ideally she won’t have superhuman powers just her raw skills ) Jill can be the main character of the second movie as it has the RE3 storyline but at some point Alice meets her. Serving as Jill’s intel about all of Umbrella’s secrets and they can work their way out of Raccoon City helping each other.

[@dusthymn8187]

I’d like to praise the fifth film Retribution. Being in the pandemic and watching those scenes had this eerie sense of nostalgia. The world is destroyed by this point, and Umbrella has created replica cities from different Countries in these giant domes under Antartica. The world is operated by A.I’s and fake weather, it feels as though youre watching a world you used to know. I can’t help but feel that way sometimes living in the 2020s. I also appreciate the return of many actors from the first film, but as clones that have no memory of Alice and her tribulations. It’s an emotional gut punch for characters we have been with for almost a decade at this point to look Alice in the eyes and say they don’t know her. Retribution has no right being as good as it was for being the fifth film in a convoluted world of lore so detached from the original source material.

[@tympestbooks1727]

I second this. The clone thing was super weird to start off with, but then the movie did interesting things with it and I can't help but have enjoyed the whole ridiculous thing.

[@andymontanez56]

You're delusional

[@tympestbooks1727]

@@andymontanez56 Why do you think that though? It was a flawed but fun movie, what about thinking that makes someone "delusional"?

[@drewm.2790]

I agree! I also like how Alice is not overpowered so we still have that feeling that yeah she’s very skilled but she’s not Wonder Woman. She could’ve died in that last battle with Jill and Rain but it’s her skills and wit that saved her.

[@dusthymn8187]

@@drewm.2790 totally! she also manages to show human compassion after 5 films of nihilistic violence, Alice taking over as a surrogate to the deaf A.I is another example of the compassion Alice displays. Thats exactly what a protagonist in a long running series should exude. The final film is a massive let down because of how Retribution manages to set itself up, the series could have ended on a really high note

[@bluefoz]

Wonderful analysis as always! I fondly remember watching the sequel on the big screen with a good friend at age 13, and being absolutely blown away, and for that it will always have a special place in my heart. The first one is actually decent, and the scratches on the underside of the DVD I still own proves how many times I watched it. If there was one thing I think you should've touched upon it was that Marilyn Manson scored the first one very well. The main theme of the movie is absolutely chilling and probably some of Manson's best work to date.

[@ethanlynch3639]

Honestly i love the first one so much. that laser scene has stuck in my head since it first came out. It think for me it and the first game are exactly what resident evil is, even though they have significant differences.

[@rainb214]

Having seen every single one of these delightfully awful movies I can concur that RE1 is the height of quality it reaches. Also I highly reccomend the commentary track where Mila and Michelle talk about having an amazing time around Germany and making jokes. The amount of fun they seem to be having just doing the commentary alone gives me extra fondness for the whole thing.

[@li-limandragon9287]

I somewhat enjoy Apocalypse because it mostly follows the plot of RE3 the game, Jill is there and the actress does a good job playing her. It becomes less much good when OC wife comes bursting through the church window tho. I guess RE1 the movie is alright since it’s far removed the games and has none of the original characters.

[@WallMark101]

Fans in the comments: RE wasn't that bad. Not too good, not too bad Ryan: HIIIIEVER

[@Liam-lw9hq]

Hœŷēvæh

[@theblackryvius6613]

@@Liam-lw9hq thanks for the IPA XD

[@MothsAreTheBest]

HAYEVER

[@exowolf10]

I need Hoyever merch!!!

[@Renkinjutsushi]

I unironically love this movie. It's my favorite of the RE movies, my favorite Anderson movie, and honestly one of my favorite zombie movies. I like the music, I like the characters (cardboard cutouts they may be), I like the effects, and the Red Queen will always be kinda terrifying. It's suspensful and scary at times, and bombastic at others. I honestly see it as a good movie. It does exactly what intends, and it's a ton of fun while it does so. Just treat it like an Alternate Universe story, rather than a strict retelling of the game.

[@justnothing32]

There are always aspects of each film that I love, my most favorite being the soundtrack for Resident Evil Retribution, my favorite song being from the intro of the movie, (flying through the air is the name of it) actually amazing.

[@lospollosh]

The first one we can give a pass to, the others is a different story

[@forsaken841]

My thoughts exactly.

[@NasuRat]

I personally like the whole series. Never really expected any cinematic masterpieces, and it's own lore while being a bit silly is still enjoyable. My favorite is the third, but that might be because I watched it first lol

[@MatrixRefugee]

Agreed! If you shut off the critical parts of your brain and just watch it, they're rather a lot of fun. Fairly dumb fun, but fun nonetheless.

[@realtalk13]

if you have no knowledge of the games, i can see these movies being dumb fun, like the Fast and Furious movies. if you come in with knowledge of the games, these movies are just a slap in the face, followed by a gut punch, and a spit on your defenseless body

[@drewm.2790]

@@realtalk13 I’ve been a big fan of the games since I was little but I still find the movies fun. They’re like ridiculous fanfiction on a big screen 🙈

[@cristhianmontoya6648]

Final Chapter just makes me go ugh. Idk who thought it was a great idea to add that many jump cuts.

[@SuperMurray2009]

You like the Final Chapter? I've been going to the movies for years and there has been times where people were shouting in the theater and I got bad food. I've never wanted a refund so bad in my life when I finished watching that movie

[@Walmbat]

I can't forgive what Andersen did to Monster Hunter, he basically brutalized it. Though with the original RE movie, he did decently.

[@beno1129]

I have fond memories of the first RE movie. I went into the second one with raised expectations, but I came away thinking something had gone, horribly, wrong. That feeling only intensified with the 3rd one onwards. I finally gave up somewhere along the line, can't even remember which anymore, they all became interchangeable at some point...

[@owensreviews625]

I mean, if James Cameron names it as his favorite guilty pleasure, then it must be doing something right.

[@charlespuruncajas9663]

Checking out, this movie is basically a remake of Cameron’s Aliens (an unconscious woman is awaken at the start, strike team goes to facility, most of them are killed in the first half of movie, both films feature a Latin woman as a kick ass soldier, greedy corporation makes experiments, one guy betrays the others but gets killed, and also a creature with no eyes attack the main characters at the end)

[@vegetalover9297]

@@charlespuruncajas9663 hmm so you're saying Cameron like it because it reminds him of his own work EGO

[@li-limandragon9287]

@@vegetalover9297 I love most of Cameron’s movies but the dude is a egotistical douche

[@Martintoney2012]

I watch these movies regularly, they're just mindless fun, good background noise for doing other things. Although I sincerely enjoy the first Silent Hill movie and make it a point to watch the second one every now and then just for shits and giggles.

[@beno1129]

I enjoyed the first Silent Hill too, but I also think it was a missed opportunity to create the best movie adaptation of a video game. There were flashes of brilliance, but they just didn't quite come together perfectly

[@tywonellington]

Wair, Milla Jovovich married the director?? Well, there's a pattern...

[@CaptainRufus]

Makes me wish I got into directing.

[@ed_carnby3431]

Be the second time she hooked up with a director, first time she hooked up with the director of The Fifth Element.

[@shawnfields2369]

@@CaptainRufus Same here...

[@TheDeadmanTT]

"Yeah, Nemesis is cute" - Ryan 2021

[@li-limandragon9287]

Nemmy is adorable, he can’t even swim but tries so hard.

[@AcolytesOfHorror]

my college movie theater used to be free for students every Tuesday night, and Resident Evil Apocalypse was one of the wildest times at the movies I've ever had. Everyone just cackling and cheering from start to finish. I refuse to watch it again because I know it can never top that experience (love the Anderson=Snyder comparison btw)

[@troyagarcia7709]

Underrated movie imo is the Tom Savini Remake of the Night of the Living Dead. Such a decently made movie with the undertones of the original but made for a more modern audience. Plus it has some decent zombie action and horror

[@ketamu5946]

The first movie was a good b movie. The soundtrack was neat and it was a fun movie. Teenager me loved it. I mean the zombie dog attack scene is just a prop showed in front of camera but still the movie is fun.

[@NachozMan]

I've always absolutely loved the very first RE film, I watched it on KZbin actually YEARRRRSSS ago when you could still get away with just mirroring and shrinking a whole movie and upload it lol.

[@tympestbooks1727]

I remember just binging the first three Resident Evil movies and Blood Rayne and it's sequel once back on a summer break from college, I probably enjoyed them a lot more than any of the movies actually deserved because at some point my Dad came in and we wound up watching some of them together. Good times

[@ayrawn9513]

As someone who grew up playing the games (played RE2 when I was 7 lol) and still do play them, I have and always will adore the first 2 live action films. No shame

[@EdmundLoh]

The sequels were so shitty they made the first one looked like a masterpiece, which it was just average at best.

[@drewm.2790]

I always loved the first and second movie, and even the third one but mainly because of nostalgia. The first movie is atmospheric, claustrophobic and somewhat gave me the thrill of survival horror the games gave me. We also need to give a shoutout to the scoring of Marilyn Manson and Marco Beltrami. The music in this movie is so damn badass and fitting 🔥

[@User.665]

The second movies was also "OK". 3 onwards goes to actual shit.

[@grimwaltzman]

When I was like 7 and first saw the laser scene as I happened to randomly select the channel it was running on, I was scared shitless. Thing stuck with me for months if not years.

[@ShanaReviews]

I had recently watched most of Phelous's reviews of the films and one thing he does bring up that I think everyone agrees that the biggest mistake of the film series, in its later run, was making Alice an over powered character who stole the spotlight from much of the characters who were from the game and the films finding convoluted was to make their stories work with de-powering her and then giving her powers back and why? because Alice's actress was played by Paul W.S. Anderson's wife. And it looks like history will repeat itself (maybe) with him behind the Monster Hunter Movie which stars, you guessed it, his wife

[@theofficialvernetheturtley338]

Hey Ryan, did you watch The Dead Don't Die? I'd really like to know what you took from it.

[@RyanHollinger]

It was ok.

[@theofficialvernetheturtley338]

@@RyanHollinger Fair enough. Thanks for all the content.

[@darkangel076]

@@RyanHollinger That's being generous.

[@theofficialvernetheturtley338]

@@darkangel076 It wasn't great, but it's a guilty pleasure of mine.

[@howiegruwitz3173]

Annoying movie. Like, acting shouldn't be more bland and monotone than real life...

[@bunkerzero]

The first was good and It worked well as a stand alone resident evil story (I confuse Paul W. S. Anderson with Wes Anderson)

[@A_YouTube_Commenter]

Me too. I used to think it was the same guy.

[@SuperMurray2009]

Never do that. West Anderson is wayyy more talented

[@exowolf10]

This video officially tops the straight-to-video Scooby Doo movies video as my favorite of yours to rewatch, Ryan. Awesome job! I must've watched it a dozen times in the past month alone.

[@s0n1ch3r0]

The first movie is still my favorite, but everything after it falls into "so far below a zero it's a ten" for me. The action in later movies is SO dumb you can't help but laugh. Every time Wesker fights Chris and Claire, I get tears in my eyes from laughing to hard.

[@edsp666]

"Not-Thomas-Jane James Purefoy" lmao

[@erc3338]

I noticed Ryan mentioned the RE Live Action revival with some sadness, but it looks like that movie is going to be very faithful to the source. They've already started working on sets and oh my god it's literally real life Raccoon City.

[@greenhowie]

Don't count your zombies before they've turned...

[@li-limandragon9287]

Anything will be better than Anderson’s films.

[@realtalk13]

@@li-limandragon9287 better than anderson is a low, low bar

[@li-limandragon9287]

@@realtalk13 Lower than Satan’s wine cellar.

[@duckfilms3662]

Oh damn, I wish there was a way to read Romero's script...

[@JasonV3894]

I would argue the first film was set up like a game where each change of location would be the next level. It starts in the mansion with mystery and introduces characters. Then it gives the map of the hive like literal levels. Then each location is a task to complete before you leave.

[@christopherdaniel5919]

I have the complete series on DVD. Not ashamed to admit, I've always been a fan of Milla.

[@dudetheman3]

I really like number 4: Afterlife. Kick-ass cool fight of Chris & Claire vs Wesker. The sawed-off shotguns loaded with quarters. Luther West is awesome, "star power, britches!" The fight with Alice and Claire vs the big sword guy in the shower. All the Alice clones mowing down Umbrella SWAT guys in the beginning. Also, The Outsider by A Perfect Circle is a freaking amazing song. This one is a guilty pleasure of mine for sure.

[@anedgedancer5147]

I cried like a baby during the laser hallway scene. Iconic.

[@kingunknown3907]

The first one is what got me into horror films I watched it and it gave me nightmares for days after that I was hooked but the last one will always be my favorite I also think watching the first film makes watching the ending of the last one better

[@NachozMan]

Woah woah woah woah woah woah woah hold up, you mean to tell me Event Horizon, possibly one of the most influential cosmic horror movies ever made, BOMBED in box office? Holy shit we truly live in the worst timeline.

[@iBlindPanic]

Event horizon was a great cosmic horror movie, people just expected to see a sci-fi movie, I remember families leaving with crying children.

[@NebLleb]

If the suspense doesn't kill you... ...SOMETHING ELSE WILL!

[@spiralmewtrix]

Omg he made Event Horizon!? I actually like how weird that movie's atmosphere is. Got a lot of good inside jokes from it, too.

[@CBSmith-js9yl]

Michele Rodriquez should’ve been the main character. She is the best in this.

[@SuperMurray2009]

Yeah. Milla is so bland

[@burntgrahamcracker2866]

Did a great job playing herself

[@naochan133]

Michele Rodriguez cant the be the main character in anything. She gets too much shit done, the movie would be over in half an hour if she was a protagonist

[@SuperMurray2009]

@@naochan133 Lol exactly

[@missmeme3946]

They were planning to do this but milla changed the whole script to not let her take the spotlight from alice www.google.com/amp/s/www.syfy.com/syfywire/resident-evil-milla-jovovich-almost-quit-after-rewrite%3famp

[@ZyxthePest]

Part of me agrees that it's really adorable that Anderson and Jovavich make stupid B-horror movies as a hobby, but part of me also feels bad for her because I've LIKED her in other things for her acting. She's really entertaining in The Fifth Element and downright great in Dummy. I think she's never gotten a good role since the early 2000s and deserves a Keanu Reeves-esque comeback.

[@anonism7642]

Anything with zombies I've always loved. When I was 16 this movie came out and my mom, that always hated my love of these games and movies, took me to see it. She absolutely loved the over the top action and corny tropes that are what I've always loved about these stories and we used to watch all the different movies. It became a HUGE part of my life after that because it was a bonding point for my mother and I.

[@darkangel076]

Love how no one will admit to watching and enjoying the RE film series, yet they made 6 of them. Are we supposed to believe the studios budgeted them out of charity? Whatever, I enjoyed the series for what it was, and I'd watch Mila Jovavich read the phonebook aloud if she did it in a sexy outfit, so...

[@theBGCsatire]

I like the first two films. The second one was cool, and even had Alice go through the helicopter scene like Claire in Code Veronica X. But I agree with everything you say. I hope the remake will use the iconic RE characters

[@thatsnodildo1974]

The fact that they just put George on the shelf annoys me. I want to see his film and now i never will and it will forever annoy me to the point of slight anger

[@oblivionnpc3313]

the first resident evil was the first horror movie i ever watched! it has such a special place in my heart & my childhood nightmares