Back story
For some spontaneous reason I decided to rewatch the first two Resident Evil CGI movies, namely Degeneration from 2008 and Damnation from 2012. While some time went by between Degeneration and the sequel, it marked the beginning of quite a few CGI movies and even a TV-series in this massive horror franchise.
I recall reading about Degeneration in some gaming news before it released and decided to pick it up at launch here in Europe, which was 2009. I enjoyed it as it relived some of the magic of Claire and Leon last seen together in Resident Evil 2. That said, I fell off the hype down the line with all these CGI movies, feeling that they're moving in a direction I'm not interested in.
The latest CGI movie in the franchise, Dead Island, was an enjoyable watch though, I must say. Collecting a lot of the famous main characters from the games into one movie. You can read my review here.
Rewatching the first two movies back-to-back, in respectable Blu-Ray quality nonetheless, I'm reminded that a lot of time has passed since 2008. The CGI looks simplistic these days, then again, it's likely far below the budget of Final Fantasy Advent Children, which released in 2009. That said, between the first movie and Damnation from 2012 there's quite a big jump in CGI quality. Reminding me of all the technical leaps in computer generated visuals back then.
Let's take a close look at each one though!
Released: 2008
Released: 2012
I recall reading about Degeneration in some gaming news before it released and decided to pick it up at launch here in Europe, which was 2009. I enjoyed it as it relived some of the magic of Claire and Leon last seen together in Resident Evil 2. That said, I fell off the hype down the line with all these CGI movies, feeling that they're moving in a direction I'm not interested in.
The latest CGI movie in the franchise, Dead Island, was an enjoyable watch though, I must say. Collecting a lot of the famous main characters from the games into one movie. You can read my review here.
Rewatching the first two movies back-to-back, in respectable Blu-Ray quality nonetheless, I'm reminded that a lot of time has passed since 2008. The CGI looks simplistic these days, then again, it's likely far below the budget of Final Fantasy Advent Children, which released in 2009. That said, between the first movie and Damnation from 2012 there's quite a big jump in CGI quality. Reminding me of all the technical leaps in computer generated visuals back then.
Let's take a close look at each one though!
Movie review
Viewed on: Blu-RayReleased: 2008
As mentioned in the introduction, I remember being pleasantly surprised when this movie came out featuring a long-awaited reunion with Claire and Leon. Almost in the same vein as Final Fantasy 7 did with their Advent Children movie, review here, although leaning less into obvious cliched nostalgia.
There are a couple of flashbacks from RE2 though, and some easter eggs for fans of the original RE2. But it doesn't quite lean as far in for the heart strings like Advent Children does. A smarter move, as trying to relive those magic moments you remember from Resident Evil 2 would just feel forced.
While this movie is set in the timeline after Resident Evil 4, it's visually and aesthetically closer to Resident Evil 2. Las Plagas, the grey and brown visual style and the Spanish influence is completely missing here and as such doesn't feel like anything remotely RE4. Another fair move as this is tapping in on the RE2 nostalgia.
The story begins in an airport, where Claire finds herself having to comfort a child waiting for her mother arrival on a flight. Incidentally, it also happens to be the spot where an executive from Tricell, a mysterious bio research company, is about to hold a press conference.
This rather ludicrous character not only looks and behaves like an evil villain, but he also demands Claire to be kept alive when airplane full of zombies comes crashing into the terminal. Turning the airport into a zombie apocalypse nightmare, of which only Leon, with his new Terrasave military buddies can save. They arrive at the scene trying to control the zombie outbreak chaos. It's a typical thin plot, to set up zombie killing and horror.
Noteworthy for die hard Resident Evil fans are the company names Tricell and Terrasave. You might have heard through the game series, bridging the connection of the lore with Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil 5. Both are featured in those titles and tie in with the time period around this movie release. Not important for watching this movie as a standalone, but it's neat to connect the games and movies in a somewhat meaningful manner.
Although it's visually very dated, with a cringeworthy plot at the airport, it continues to be a serviceable watch. There're characters with hidden agendas resulting in some plot twists, plenty of zombie gun action, a large boss fight and some melancholic scenes along the way. There's even a funny scene which Claire must protect herself with an umbrella!
Considering the dated CGI, it feels a lot like watching cutscenes from a game in the early 2000s, glued together to one movie and thus there's an overhanging nonsensical and b-movie look and feel to it throughout. Characters are stiff and the detail isn't even tapping into uncanny valley as there's not enough detail for it; it just looks like cutscenes from a game all the way.
That said, if you wanted more out of the collaboration between Claire and Leon in Resident Evil 2 and want to tap into that bubble without it getting too fanservice heavy, like FF7 Advent Children, it's worth the watch. Just be aware it's dated and doesn't really add anything important to the lore.
Movie review
Viewed on: Blu-RayReleased: 2012
The second in the CGI movie franchise, Damnation, is set between RE5 and leading up to events in RE6. Like Degeneration, it doesn't take inspiration from the games released at the time as this one is clearly inspired by RE4. Both visually, especially so in the beginning, and with the addition of Plaga zombies. There's a nod to RE5 too, in the way it depicts the licker creatures.
Interestingly, the setting is Russia complete with stereotypical soviet buildings and characters. Leon gets pulled into a civil war and captured by an underground resistance force. In a series of events he becomes tangled up in a large biological weapon conspiracy, evolving no less than the Russian president and his ongoing love/hate relationship with Ada.
Although the premise and setting seem a little over the top, Damnation cleverly keeps the actual story around Leon at a smaller and more personal level with stylish, but claustrophobic, environments where he must fight zombies and reach the people involved in the ongoing bioweapon struggle.
Leon is cocky, as always, but somehow manages to not become too one dimensional here. He shows consideration and empathy towards some characters that at first don't seem deserving of it, plus there's less of the annoying Ada feud and sexual tension depicted.
Visually, it's large step up from Degeneration, and I really like some of the environments depicted. Ranging from the vintage styled industrial streets, to massive monuments and a parade arena, all down to the mandatory laboratory setting. It keeps the movie visually interesting and the detail level in the animation and characters feels more modern.
That said, it doesn't fool me into believing it's a Pixar level animation or proper movie, there an overhanging budget vibe going on here, once again feeling like a CGI cutscene from a game. Well, perhaps slightly above that with heavily improved facial animations. That said, uncanny valley kicks in and there's that unshakeable lack of life in the faces, even though it's a big step up from Degeneration bringing it up to Advent Children quality.
Admittedly, I quite enjoyed Damnation, even though it goes a bit over the top towards the end. I've never really been that fond of anything outside the games when it comes to Resident Evil, but this feels fine to watch, never stepping too far into cringeworthy scenes.
The animation is good quality, with an interesting plot development and some neat looking environments it set in. There are quite a few cool scenes both with action, tension and sadness. Although it also has that weird Japanese culture thing hanging over of how it stereotypically and depicts other countries and their people.
Worth the watch? For Resident Evil for sure, not really for an audience outside the gamers though. It goes alongside the latest RE CGI movie, Dead Island, as the better one in the franchise for sure.
