Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)

[TheSweetieMan]

It blows my mind how Hollywood continually ****s up adapting Resident Evil to film (the new Netflix series appears to be just as bad) despite Resident Evil having such a straightforward story, with simple characters that should be an easy lay-up to adapt to the screen.

I've been on a huge RE kick as of late, playing the RE2 and RE3 remakes back to back again after the announcement of the remake for RE4 -- and the one thing that continues to make me laugh about all of these piss poor adaptations, is how the main draw of this franchise -- for me anyway -- is that mending between realism and the fantastical. What helped set the tone for RE2 being such a seminal game, was having a rookie cop, and this resourceful woman looking for her brother, being dropped into a moody, dark setting, that still felt familiar and real -- while having it gradually building into something bigger and scale in scope, with elements of fantastical, yet grounded sci-fi concepts, explaining the T-virus, while simultaneously having a sociopolitical aspect with a mega-corporation like Umbrella being a metaphorical representation of how big pharma and big corporations truly run the world.

It's not that hard. It's really not.

Also, if Sony, or any other studio for that matter, is going to commit to adapting these films, STOP HALF-ASSING THE VISUALS. Part of what makes these games so appealing -- and even including franchises like 'Silent Hill', 'The Evil Within', and even 'Metal Gear Solid' -- are the design elements. If there's one stereotype out of Japan that they should be incredibly proud of in terms of their art culture, it's that they absolutely know how to design the best looking shit compared to any other country in the world; From monsters to robotics, no one does it better.

I want to see proper renderings of the lickers, proper costume and makeup designs for Mr. X and Nemesis. I want proper looking actors for Leon and Jill.

The biggest issue with Hollywood when it comes to adapting these properties or any other video game IP, is that they still treat it as if the medium of video games is some how still underneath them -- or for kids -- despite the fact that gaming as a medium has grown beyond the storytelling of the current state of the film industry. But this constant mind set they have of thinking 'they know better' is how you end up with shit like 'Racoon City' and that god awful Paramount Halo series.

[HipsterTrash]

Can't please everyone. The first round was in spirit of the games by doing something adjacent yet different. Obviously Paul WS Anderson's sensibilities are different to those of the game. But he still told a saga which had the cheesy sprinkles of the franchise.

Then comes along this new film which has a smaller budget and filmed during a hellish period, as it tries to be more honourable to franchise. It adapts the early games, as faithful as it can, while trying to be it's own thing and not be predictably bland.
Yet that doesn't please the fans either has everyone's an armchair animator as they judge the cgi or they're the next David Mamet making fun of the story and characters.

Be honest. This was great. It's got the cult appeal. this will grow on people later.
It takes inspiration of 70s/80s John Carpenter, looks at the 90s horror scene and recaptures the charm and B-movie spirit of the series. Absolutely wonderful.

This deserves a sequel. With more money. And more of a chance to be appreciated.

[roborunner94]

I'm just glad Alice is finally gone. I got sick of the character. She was never in the games to begin with.

[Invid Ninja]

I guess I had more time for Welcome To Raccoon City than most as both a fan of particularly the original trilogy of RE games as well as the Milla/Paul W.S. film series; I appreciated it's smaller scale fan-service approach as Roberts I feel is growing his craft steadily as a horror director and I can really see even just one more film in this iteration with even only a little extra time/money thrown it's way. It's nice to hear from a cast member after the fact that there's still a smidgen of confidence for the films.

[Resident Evil Labs]

The movies Licker looked 100 percent accurate and had the best visuals in the whole film imo. And I am absolutely tired of the game remakes, it's very lazy at this point. And I'm a huge RE game fan, yes remake 1 and 2 are great, but 3 was just fun trash just like some of the movies. They made Jill totally uncharacteristic of her former self, cursing left and right ect. That's what I hate about the RE game community, they will give the games a pass no matter what, but the minute a film changes a thing they trash it. Don't understand that at all.

[Sabre95]

I'm glad to see sequel chances are still alive. Since Roberts said he'd like to do RE4 I think it would be fitting to make it with the remake coming out soon. Even though some people didn't like Avan Jogia as Leon I thought he did fine with what was given to him. Plus with the focus on just Leon it might be easier to make a more focused story instead of having to give equal screen time to all the RE main characters.

Plus we can see Ada Wong in action after the post credit scene in this WTRC.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by Resident Evil Labs

The movies Licker looked 100 percent accurate and had the best visuals in the whole film imo. And I am absolutely tired of the game remakes, it's very lazy at this point. And I'm a huge RE game fan, yes remake 1 and 2 are great, but 3 was just fun trash just like some of the movies. They made Jill totally uncharacteristic of her former self, cursing left and right ect. That's what I hate about the RE game community, they will give the games a pass no matter what, but the minute a film changes a thing they trash it. Don't understand that at all.

That's just fandoms for you. Most will say they love this, but won't love that despite that being faithful or what have you.

As a lite RE fan then but a big RE fan now, I love what's been done with the remakes. I prefer 2 like most people do but 3 was pretty good too. And it makes me wish for remakes of CV, 5, 6 and even 1 in that style (hell throw in 0).
And I also think fans aren't the hottest on the likes of 5 and 6. But they'll act like 4 is high art and get worried about the new remake of 4 with cut content and a serious tone when that's been the aim since the 2nd remake.
It's like the this movie here. Fans of the games complain that things aren't the same and it's goofy or this yet they don't realize how the franchise has been ridiculous since the start.

Originally Posted by Sabre95

I'm glad to see sequel chances are still alive. Since Roberts said he'd like to do RE4 I think it would be fitting to make it with the remake coming out soon. Even though some people didn't like Avan Jogia as Leon I thought he did fine with what was given to him. Plus with the focus on just Leon it might be easier to make a more focused story instead of having to give equal screen time to all the RE main characters.

Plus we can see Ada Wong in action after the post credit scene in this WTRC.

Avan was fine. I think the guy got it tough and took the vitriol like a champ. He did what he could with Roberts script and the shared screen time that this movie had with everyone. To me it felt like there was some things left in the cutting room floor that would have built the characters a bit more.
But I like what he did still. Roberts said he wanted him to be like Jack Burton and I can both see that and dig it.
My only complaint with Leon was that he swore too much. Most of the characters did but if anyone shouldn't swear it should be Mr. goody good Leon. So maybe for a sequel he can have a sear book that tries to control his attitude. Could be a cute little character thing as it would be closer to his character.

[Brutalizer79]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Avan was fine. I think the guy got it tough and took the vitriol like a champ. He did what he could with Roberts script and the shared screen time that this movie had with everyone. To me it felt like there was some things left in the cutting room floor that would have built the characters a bit more.
But I like what he did still. Roberts said he wanted him to be like Jack Burton and I can both see that and dig it.
My only complaint with Leon was that he swore too much. Most of the characters did but if anyone shouldn't swear it should be Mr. goody good Leon. So maybe for a sequel he can have a sear book that tries to control his attitude. Could be a cute little character thing as it would be closer to his character.

I can look past the fact that the guy looks nothing like Leon, but, they made him bumbling idiot, that is the real problem here. I don't know how you mess that character up so badly. We can talk about sequels and what they might do to fix certain things, but this movie still has to stand on it's own, which it doesn't. The only people who knew what they were doing were the set designers. They nailed the look of certain areas, everyone and everything else, massive fail.

[Agent Bond]

That's what I hate about the RE game community, they will give the games a pass no matter what, but the minute a film changes a thing they trash it. Don't understand that at all.

Code Veronica was the last good Resident Evil game.

[bradnoyes]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

Code Veronica was the last good Resident Evil game.

I don't completely agree, but I do hate that they don't make them like that anymore. I recently replayed it and it's still great. What sucks is that if it gets a remake they'll just turn it into another third-person shooter like all the other remakes.

[badfingerboogie]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

Code Veronica was the last good Resident Evil game.

No.

The RE1 remake came out after Code Veronica, and is easily the best game in the series if you ask me.

[HipsterTrash]

So I guess a fan twitter is calling their dream sequel "Welcome to Rockfort Island"

Sounds like the right idea for a sequel. Island horror with main cast. Adapt Code Veronica and throw in some references to Zombie 2.

[residentgrigo]

I can confirm that the Blu-Ray did well in Germany. Hopper is likely not making things up as WtRC only cost 25 mil, more than reasonable for a soon-to-streaming film, and it´s not like the German studio has other things they can make for the international market. The best of a bad lot as they say.
Am I ok with a mediocre straight-to streaming/Blu-Ray sequel based on VCX or RE4 or both at once as Johannes Roberts needs to keep all the balls in the air at once. REmake 4 will also lead to marketing synergy so parts of RE4 are destined to be used. The original will likely be ported to smart fridges before a script is written. The most accessible horror game of all time? Going with CVX can only help to remake that game so a sequel with it in mind would be a godsend for the community.

There is no way that the Netflix abortion and this can co-exist as ongoing universes and I chose Roberts´ inoffensive mess ANY day of the week. Tom Hopper is an okay original character inspired by Wesker. Wesker is all games that the team considered for sequels so keep him. He, Robbie Amell and Donal Logue did solid work.

Edit: ""I am obsessed with the fourth game," he continues. "I could very much see that becoming part of the next installment." Johannes Roberts, November 2021. Hybrid movie confirmed?
https://www.gamesradar.com/resident-...t-installment/

[badfingerboogie]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

So I guess a fan twitter is calling their dream sequel "Welcome to Rockfort Island"

Sounds like the right idea for a sequel. Island horror with main cast. Adapt Code Veronica and throw in some references to Zombie 2.

There's actually that one room in CVX which I thought way back might be inspired by Zombi 2 - there's a point where you enter a little surgery for memory, corpses are on stretchers around the room and there's one of those anatomical mannequins in there too.

Always reminded me of the surgery/triage from the beginning of Zombi 2 ("Tell the boat it can leave now"), so I'd be more than open to some homages in a potental sequel film.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by badfingerboogie

There's actually that one room in CVX which I thought way back might be inspired by Zombi 2 - there's a point where you enter a little surgery for memory, corpses are on stretchers around the room and there's one of those anatomical mannequins in there too.

Always reminded me of the surgery/triage from the beginning of Zombi 2 ("Tell the boat it can leave now"), so I'd be more than open to some homages in a potental sequel film.

I could see him taking an island approach and staying there. As much as fans want the movies to stay consistent and "true" to the games, an Antarctica switch halfway through sounds boring.

And like I said I could see some Zombie 2 refs. And probably more Carpenter. Maybe Prince of Darkness and Big Trouble in Little China.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by residentgrigo

I can confirm that the Blu-Ray did well in Germany. Hopper is likely not making things up as WtRC only cost 25 mil, more than reasonable for a soon-to-streaming film, and it´s not like the German studio has other things they can make for the international market. The best of a bad lot as they say.
Am I ok with a mediocre straight-to streaming/Blu-Ray sequel based on VCX or RE4 or both at once as Johannes Roberts needs to keep all the balls in the air at once. REmake 4 will also lead to marketing synergy so parts of RE4 are destined to be used. The original will likely be ported to smart fridges before a script is written. The most accessible horror game of all time? Going with CVX can only help to remake that game so a sequel with it in mind would be a godsend for the community.

There is no way that the Netflix abortion and this can co-exist as ongoing universes and I chose Roberts´ inoffensive mess ANY day of the week. Tom Hopper is an okay original character inspired by Wesker. Wesker is all games that the team considered for sequels so keep him. He, Robbie Amell and Donal Logue did solid work.

Edit: ""I am obsessed with the fourth game," he continues. "I could very much see that becoming part of the next installment." Johannes Roberts, November 2021. Hybrid movie confirmed?
https://www.gamesradar.com/resident-...t-installment/

Netflix abortion of a show that you haven't seen but are condemning. Makes sense. Where did the TV show touch you?

I see that Constantin Film also produced the Netflix series, so guess what, if it's successful, there will be a season 2 of that over another film.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Netflix abortion of a show that you haven't seen but are condemning. Makes sense. Where did the TV show touch you?

I see that Constantin Film also produced the Netflix series, so guess what, if it's successful, there will be a season 2 of that over another film.

Doubt there would be a season 2 over a sequel. TV is expensive and I doubt there's a good return with that over the likes of a movie.
Also doesn't help that Netflix is treated as a dumping ground for everything and they cancel everything. Wouldn't be surprised if they dissappear within 5 years.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Doubt there would be a season 2 over a sequel. TV is expensive and I doubt there's a good return with that over the likes of a movie.
Also doesn't help that Netflix is treated as a dumping ground for everything and they cancel everything. Wouldn't be surprised if they dissappear within 5 years.

So then this is more of anti-streaming anti-Netflix thing?

We're getting 8 episodes, so depending on episode length that's going to be between 6 - 9 hours of brand new content in total.

After already seeing some of the CGI and set pieces of the show in the trailers - I can already see that the production value is 10 times better than what Raccoon City could ever have hoped to be. We'll see what happens in 3 weeks.

[Modren]

Production value is one thing. I can excuse some wonky effects or underwhelming sets and costumes. I just don't understand why it's so hard to just adapt the games faithfully. WTRC came the closest but it still has a lot of unforced errors like making Leon a comic relief figure, cutting Barry & Rebecca out entirely, whatever the hell is going on with Lisa Trevor, etc. And the Netflix series feels like they got a bunch of people who've never heard of RE, gave them the briefest description of Umbrella and Wesker circa RE1, and just let them do whatever. Even the Jovovich movies had more in common with the games than the series appears to. It's genuinely baffling, considering that Resident Evil's characters and story are already pretty generic and should easily fit into a Hollywood format.

[Resident Evil Labs]

The TV show doesn't look like it has a higher production budget. It's just shot in an ultra slick way like the previous movie series. The CG looks good except the licker they showed looked really fake and bad CG. WTRC had great production value, the sets, lighting and effects for the most part were great. Why do people keep trashing it's look? The cinematography was gorgeous. It was shot to look vintage, so it doesn't have that glossy look as the previous films or this new show. And I will give the show a chance, just tired of hearing the movie had poor production, when it was made for $25 million, and looked better than Morbius did.