Resident Evil: Retribution - Tell me why?

I liked the first Resident Evil film (and even the - much maligned - second instalment). I sat through numbers three and four then promptly forgot them and now tried number five. I kind of wish I hadn't.

Considering it's the fifth in the series, it starts off as if it's trying to reboot itself by being overly clever and bringing back all the dead characters and putting the existing ones in new settings and locations. Maybe I'm just being dim, but it came across as pointless and confusing. Then, when you find out what's really going on, the beginning seems even more unnecessary and serves no purpose other than to fill time.

As most people know, the Resident Evil films are based on computer games. Most films based on computer games get a hard ride for trying to make a story out of a medium which isn't really `narrative-based.' However, this Resident Evil film seems more like a computer game than most games themselves! If you're playing a computer game, you may expect to play one level set in a desert then the next level set in a city, followed by another level in the jungle. And you'd probably think little of it, as that's how video games work. However, films are supposed to be stories and therefore follow some narrative. Resident Evil 5 doesn't. When the confusing and pointless bits are over, you're left with one action scene after another, simply moved to another location.

The same baddies run at the same goodies and get kicked or shot to death. I know you have to suspend your disbelief when you're watching films, but this one took it too far. No one ever really runs out of bullets, the baddies (despite being an army) can't hit five men standing in the open, women in spandex can outrun lasers and every time anyone enters a new scene (or should I say `zone?') they have to stand their posing and posturing before finally getting down to (yet more) action.

The film goes on for the usual ninety minutes, however there's only about twenty of those with dialogue in it. Seriously, the script was probably the shortest ever written. Then again... that could be a good thing as the lines are diabolical and the acting even worse.

Then, just when you think it can't stoop any lower, it blatantly rips off Aliens with a `Ripley rescuing Newt' scene.

There is no story to see here, just action scenes. You might as well play Streetfighter 2 or Tekken on a games console for all the story you get.

I give it 4/10. I would give it 2/10, but the action scenes are well shot and stylish. Paul W S Anderson is clearly a good director who can handle cool visuals. It's just a pity he can't write a good script.