Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City

A reboot to the video game based Resident Evil film series, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a much more faithful adaptation of the Capcom franchise. Taking cues from the first two games by having the story take place in both the Spencer Mansion just like the original 1996 installment and in Raccoon City during the zombie outbreak caused by the Umbrella Corporation as told in the sequel. With the characters from the games being adapted into this movie, including Albert Wesker, Jill Valentine, the Redfield siblings, and Leon Kennedy, it adds to the authenticity that the previous films lacked. Being based on an over the top, gory, and campy video game franchise inspired by b-horror movies like those of George A. Romero, this adaptation definitely captures those silly and gory moments perfectly. The writing isn't entirely new nor does it try to be profound but it's well told and does a good job at getting you invested in the characters and what's going on while giving us references to the video games and often trying for the corny jokes. Props to the actors, especially Avan Jogia and Neal McDonough, for giving strong performances even when they know their in something ridiculous. Director Johannes Roberts was perfect for taking this project on and giving it a lot more than what many would have done. He gives the right mixture of horror, action, and camp which are helped by Maxime Alexandre's cinematography and Mark Korven's score. Even the effects, whether the makeup or the computer effects, are perfectly cheesy and don't mind when it isn't perfect. If any complaint that is towards the production is that certain events like the zombie outbreak occur too quick with more time to better show the people of Raccoon affected by Umbrella's actions. Not every film needs to be a profound work of art, some can just be dumb fun while still telling a well told story like Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Over all: 84%

2021 top list so far:

1. Encanto

2. In the Heights

3. No Time to Die

4. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

5. The Green Knight

6. Candyman 2021

7. The Suicide Squad

8. Ghostbusters: Afterlife

9. Last Night in Soho

10. Dune 2021

11. Free Guy

12. Nobody

13. Black Widow

14. A Quiet Place Part II

15. Respect

16. Raya and the Last Dragon

17. Malignant

18. Eternals

19. Halloween Kills

20. Jungle Cruise

21. Cruella

22. Wrath of Man

23. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City

24. F9

25. Venom: Let There Be Carnage

26. Snake Eyes

27. Old

28. Space Jam: A New Legacy