Resident Evil Apocalypse doesn't fall under the realm of bad movies. It comes close to earning the title of obnoxious, which is one step below annoying. It's not fun or original, and it completely misses the point of the franchise it's based on. This is one video game that fans will mercifully forget if they're smart. 
Video quality may seem open to failure here, as the opening and brightly colored scenes turn murky and dark. The same quality is nicely maintained throughout, with this sharp, clean transfer. Compression is well hidden while the scenes that allow color outside of deep blues are gorgeous to look at. 
For this all-out action flick, 5.1 audio is pushed, and the surround usage makes the movies only superbly crafted scene inside of an abandoned church better than it actually is. This is definitely one of those movies used to show off some new speakers, while the subwoofer is left behind. A few explosions lack the punch they should have, but the ensuing debris makes fine work of the sound field.
This review is based on the first DVD release of this movie, while a separate two-disc edition provides far more. The only additions on this release are three separate commentary tracks covering the main parts of the production. The director Paul Anderson and crew start things off, the actors take over the second time out, and the writers attempt to save face in the third. Skip this set and pick up the two-disc set, which contains outtakes, even though the movie feels like a full-length one itself. 
Considering this sequel proved successful (especially in the home market), we'll be on the receiving end of a sequel in 2007. With a working title of Resident Evil: Extinction, we can only hope that one lives up to its name. If that's what it takes to prevent this from ever happening again, so be it.
Article comments
1 - Deano
I don't know if I would call the movie quite that bad. It delivers what I would expect - hordes of zombies, impossible action, leggy heroines and poor dialogue. It's not Citizen Kane but what is nowadays (other than...well, Citizen Kane, I mean.)
Lastly I kind of get a kick out of watching them nuke Toronto... sorry it's actually "Raccoon City", my mistake.
2 - Matt Aron
I think this and the first film are both excellent. The story is excellent and Nemesis looks great. The overall feel of the film is great aswell. Overall great great great. I can't wait for the third movie.
3 - Thomas M. Sipos
Matt: "This is one video game fans will mercifully forget if they're smart."
Guess that means I'm smart, :-)
I have forgotten the sequel, except that I was bored by it and hated it to the point that I'll avoid any more films in this franchise
4 - Matt Aron
Matt: "This is one video game fans will mercifully forget if they're smart."
I'm a fan of the games and see them both as seperate from one another. The films are good. Zombie action at it's best unlike that extremely dull dawn of the dead remake or the annoying Land of the Dead Note. Zombies shouldn't have any intelligence, it ruins the whole zombie theme.
5 - Matt Paprocki
See, everyon says "they're seperate," and to that I say why are they named the same? If its based off the game, then it should be the game. Giant snakes, spiders, and various other nasty beasties should be in the movie, and they weren't. All we're left with is a pale imitation that takes some ideas and does whatever it wants to with the rest.
6 - Jason
For anyone who tries to justify the bastardizations known as the Resident Evil movie i suggest you try reading this first. It's the unproduced Resident Evil script penned by the lord god almighty, George A. Romero.
7 - Jason "Njiska" Westhaver
It was turned down in favour of the one Paul W.S. Anderson penned himself in order to get his wife a role.