Resident Evil: Retribution, 3D + 2D Blu-ray + Digital Copy (2012)

by | Feb 16, 2013 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

Resident Evil: Retribution, 3D + 2D Blu-ray + Digital Copy (2012)

Cast: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Kevin Durand, Sienna Guillory, Boris Kodjoe
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Video: 2.40:1 anamorphic/enhanced 1080p HD 3D
Audio: English and French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1; English Audio Description Track
Subtitles: English SDH, English, French, Spanish
Extras: (3D Disc): Audio commentary with Milla Jovovich, Boris Kodjoe and Director Paul W.S. Anderson; Audio commentary with Director Paul W.S. Anderson and Producer Jeremy Bolt; five deleted/extended scenes in 3D; outtakes in 3D; 3D trailers for Underworld: Awakening, Men in Black 3, Resident Evil: Afterlife and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. (2D Disc): “Project Alice: The Interactive Database”; seven featurettes in HD (“Maestro of Evil: Directing Resident Evil: Retribution”, “Evolving Alice”, “Resident Evil: Reunion”, “Design & Build: The World of Resident Evil: Retribution”, “Resident Stuntman”, “Drop (Un)Dead: The Creatures of Retribution” and “Code: Mika”); Resident Evil: Retribution– Face of the Fan;  Capcom game trailers; UltraViolet digital copy
Length: 96 minutes
Movie Rating: ***         3D Rating: *****         2D Rating: *****
Audio Rating: *****        D-BOX Rating: *****

At the conclusion of the previous installment (Resident Evil: Afterlife) of this popular movie franchise, Alice (Milla Jovovich) successfully fought off the enemy on board of the ship Arcadia, but new enemy reinforcements were on their way.  As Resident Evil: Retribution opens, Alice is knocked unconscious in battle and awakens to find herself in suburbia, with longer hair, a husband, and a daughter. It isn’t long though before this perfect world is destroyed by zombies.  Alice survives only to next find herself in a Russian Umbrella underground virtual reality facility.  The underground facility is controlled by the “Red Queen” where she has the ability to recreate battle simulations that take place in Japan, New York, Russia and Raccoon City.  In an effort to escape the facility, Alice is aided by old nemesis Ada Wong as well as a group of five heavily-armed mercenaries.  I have seen the previous four Resident Evil films.  My favorites were the first one (Resident Evil) as it had the best story and the fourth one (Resident Evil: Afterlife) because of its great 3D.  I enjoyed Resident Evil: Retribution too.  Granted, the storyline doesn’t really offer much that is new and it seems to recycle concepts from the previous films, however, the action is non-stop and the 3D effects are top-notch.  I will not be at all surprised if a sixth film is released for this franchise in the near future.  Recommended for fans of the film series and 3D enthusiasts.

The overall high-definition video quality of the 2D Blu-ray presentation is excellent.  Images are pristine with super-sharp detail.  Black levels are consistently dark throughout the movie.  Colors are vivid and bright with fully-saturated hues.  Picture defect mastering is perfect with no major flaws or compression artifacts.  The 3D video was shot in native 3D and it is one of the best live-action 3D titles I have yet seen.  Colors and black levels exhibit the same excellent qualities present in the 2D version.  Dimensionality and depth are fantastic.  There are a few pop-out effects (such as rain, weapons and bullets) that appear to extend beyond the screen and a couple of effects that even “jump out” at the viewer.

The overall audio quality is also excellent with the English DTS HD-MA 5.1 track.  The soundtrack has a supremely active mix that makes use of all of the discrete channels.  Dialogue is crisp and intelligible even amidst all of the action that is taking place.  The surround channels are aggressively utilized for sound effects and the music score, plus include many split rear effects.  The low frequency effects channel is active throughout and provides ample punch for the movie’s action scenes.

Resident Evil: Retribution is compatible with the D-BOX Motion Code™ System, meaning that if you have the necessary D-BOX equipment, your movie viewing experience will be enhanced by adding both motion and vibration.  Up-and-down and side-to-side movements, plus significant vibration, are used to simulate, among other things: flight, a vehicle chase, many types of weaponry fire, hand-to-hand combat and huge explosions.  D-BOX highlights not to be missed from this movie are: (1) the opening sequence when the Umbrella Corporation soldiers attack the ship Arcadia; (2) the sequence where Alice is battling the two Axeman mutants through the simulated streets of New York; and (3) the car chase sequence where zombies on motorcycles and an Uberlicker mutant are chasing Alice and her friends.  Overall, this is a must-have D-BOX title.

—Calvin Harding Jr.

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