Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) Starring Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts & Sergio Peris-Mencheta Written & Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson

Having seen all of the RE movies like many people (OK, we must admit watching these movies to see Milla Jovovich kick some zombie ass in either a short red mini or black & brown leather), there was a moment of cheer and also a moment of dread when it was announced that Anderson (W.S.) was returning to direct RE movie #4.

I could blame this somewhat unfavorable review on the fact that the movie took a while to get going. Literally, this movie took a while to start. The film was beginning with an interesting visual and the opening credits were appearing. Then, the screen went black. N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!! The house lights went up. After a few minutes, it looked like it would start again. Unfortunately, it was the 15-20 minutes of movie trailers we had already seen. It looked like everyone in the theater was hoping that the film wouldn't die (and by that I mean have the screen go black) at the beginning. Success!! We got past the opening credits.

This time W.S. had new toys to work with in this new RE movie. He employed the Cameron/Pace 3D camera technology that was used on James Cameron's "Avatar". Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter returned from the 3rd movie "RE: Extinction". Had it already been 3 years since the last RE movie? Were RE fans anticipating a return-to-form RE movie?

Sadly, fans were wrong. What was W.S. thinking?? The new film, after a good opening scene, starts to go downhill from there. The running time of 97 minutes seems to last forever too. The viewer feels like they are watching bits and pieces of a film librarian's regurgitated movie collection. Yes, if you went on a movie binge and then vomited what you had seen in the past 48 hours, you might come up with "RE: Afterlife".

"The Matrix", "The Descent", "Blade", "Alien Resurrection" and maybe a few more films must have been in W.S.' DVD player on Loop mode. The first "Resident Evil" movie was so thrilling and a favorite of horror/action movie fans. Then, with each new RE movie in the franchise, it seemed to become a zombie that wouldn't lay down and die.

In the new "Afterlife" film, the zombies (the undead) seem to have more life, with their unintelligible grunts and glazed looks, than their human counterparts. With all of the hot chicks (ahem, I mean actresses) and action, you would think that this film would have made you stand up and clap at the end. It's more like you would stand up and head for the exits.

Jovovich (stylishly wearing some designer Jovovich-Hawk clothes) returns as Alice and she is seeking survivors of a T-virus outbreak in Los Angeles in the new film. The omniscient Umbrella Corporation is tracking her movements and its leader, Albert Wesker, is searching to find the original Alice. Alice's search keeps you interested. The "City of Angels" now looks like Las Vegas did in "RE: Extinction". Ali Larter returns as Claire Redfield to join Alice in her crusade to bring down the Umbrella Corporation.

It's interesting that Jovovich has said in recent interviews that Anderson wants to use social media in the making of the next RE movie. He wants to reach out to fans and after this "movie", I think that's a good start. However, it may be another 3 years until the next RE movie. Oh, great! That would put its release date around 2013, after the predicted Mayan extinction of Earth in 2012, and the start of the new Earth (as shown in the "2012" movie), and there might be real zombies on the planet.

What was the 10-foot-tall masked menace doing in this film? He looked like he was from the "Silent Hill" game or movie. Kim Coates (he plays Bennett), by the way, was in "Silent Hill". Again, another case of regurgitation.

This movie could have been titled "RE: Purgatory" or "RE: Limbo" because that's what the viewer feels like they've been through after watching it. Supporting characters are barely developed before they meet their untimely demise.

There is an annoying use of scene transition (black screen) and slow motion. Is it slowed down so you can marvel at the 3D, or is it to stretch the film's running time? The black screen was scary in the theater I was in (we feared the film might start over, or we'd see the movie trailers again!).

I could compare this RE film to a concertgoer watching their favorite band except they don't have all of the original members. You try to accept some of the new additions but it doesn't match up to the original lineup. Yes, there will be another RE movie and RE fans will anticipate seeing it (maybe next time with some caution) and Anderson will have some kind of involvement. Spoiler: the bonus scene at the end of "RE: Afterlife" hints at one returning character.

I have seen a lot of Paul W.S. Anderson's movies and if he ever contacted me to help write the next RE movie, I wouldn't hesitate. LOL. All kidding aside, I just feel that this "film" was more like a long commercial for the RE games and the RE film franchise. It could have been included as a bonus feature on the RE Trilogy Special Edition DVD.

The film does accomplish one thing. If you leave the theater feeling like a zombie, it's because your smile and anticipation of the new RE film has left your body -- along with any thrill of moviewatching. You have now become one of the undead.