Leon Scott Kennedy in Resident Evil: Degeneration

Resident Evil Degeneration
Information
Directed by: Makoto Kamiya
Produced by: Capcom Company / Sony Pictures Entertainment
Written by: Shotaro Suga
Starring: Paul Mercier, Alyson Court, Laura Bailey, Roger Craig Smith
Music by: Tetsuya Takahashi
Cinematography: Digital Frontier, Atsushi Doi, Yusaku Toyoshima
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Release date(s) Japan: October 18, 2008
United States: December 30, 2008
United Kingdom: January 12, 2009
Australia: January 21, 2009

Running time: 96 Mins
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese,English
Budget: US$ 70 million
Preceded by: Resident Evil 4
Followed by: Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil: Degeneration Movie Review

Resident Evil Degeneration is a Full Length Computer Animated film staring Leon Scott Kennedy and Claire Redfield of Resident Evil 2 fame. This is a movie for the fans, but does it deliver? First, I'd have to say I would not recommend this movie to anyone other than the hardcore fans of Resident Evil 2. Although the movie is lacking in a certain old school Resident Evil magic, it's still more like the Resident Evil we know and love more than the latest installments of the video game series (Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5)

This movie has been a recipient of mixed reviews, for good reason. The graphics are gorgeous, the fun retro 90s action movie cliches abound and raise the laugh factor, but what's missing? It's hard to say. Maybe it's the ridiculous post-matrix-era slow motion bullshit they have to throw into every action film now for good measure? The complete lack of decent character development? The fact that the movie is in no way, shape, or form scary?

I'd also like to add that the DVD extras imply that this movie is essentially "Resident Evil 4.5," meaning it's likely cannon to the storyline. Yes, you just read that.

Leon Scott Kennedy in Resident Evil Degeneration

Leon is a conglomeration of ridiculous in this movie. First of all, what's with the pissed-off disposition? He looks like he has a stick up his ass for the entire movie. Second, since when was he this ridiculously hardcore? And finally, what's with the new look? I'm not a fan of how he's designed in this movie. He looks more angular and slimmer, which doesn't fit the macho-guy attitude (and physical strength) they appropriated him with.

Claire Redfield in Resident Evil Degeneration

Claire Redfield doesn't get enough chance to show how badass she truly is in Resident Evil Degeneration. In fact, the poor girl plays a babysitter for the first 30-45 minutes of the movie. The brief bits of Leon and Claire interaction are fun, and the two get to briefly display that they make a good team. We also see the potential for a cute brotherly/sisterly relationship when Claire teases Leon for developing a new love interest. Claire also muses "What would Leon do... " when trying to make a crucial decisions, displaying her trust in Leon's talents and capabilities.

Leon Scott Kennedy's Latest Fan Girl, Angela Miller

Angela Miller is an attractive Special Response Team Officer...whatever that means. Her brother is emo and blew up their house on Christmas, or something like that. Not how it happened? Well, I was half asleep by this part of the movie so I don't remember the details so clearly. In any case, she tags along with Leon for a lot of the movie, sappy quotes and a bit of chemistry follow. For the scene where they should start swapping DNA, they just stare at each other holding hands while hardcore guitars riff in the background. I'm not making this stuff up. It made me feel more uncomfortable than if they'd have stripped right there and gotten to it, right in front of their grandparents. So, what's my point on this? Nothing really, but I always like seeing a love interest for Leon that might take his mind off the trifflin' hoe that is Ada Wong.

Cast

English version
Paul Mercier - Leon S. Kennedy
Alyson Court - Claire Redfield
Laura Bailey - Angela Miller
Roger Craig Smith - Curtis Miller
Crispin Freeman - Frederic Downing
Michelle Ruff - Rani Chawla
Michael Sorich - Senator Ron Davis
Steven Blum - Greg Glenn

Japanese dubbed version, only appears in DVD, UMD and Blu-ray (Not available in the EU version)
Jin Yamanoi - Leon S. Kennedy
Yuko Kaida - Claire Redfield
Mabuki Antou - Angela Miller
Rikiya Koyama - Curtis Miller
Masashi Ebara - Frederic Downing
Akiko Yajima - Rani Chawla
Masashi Hirose - Senator Ron Davis
Masanori Takeda - Greg Glenn

Release

The film received a limited theatrical release in Japan on October 17, 2008. It was released December 24, 2008 on Blu-ray and DVD in the USA. It opened on November 13 in New York and November 18 in Los Angeles in the USA and on November 17 in Paris in France, with the producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi

It was the first film released in the PlayStation Home Theater. A trailer of the first eight minutes of the film were shown in the North American Home Theater of PlayStation Home from December 18 to 28, 2008.

Resident Evil: Degeneration was released on UMD, DVD, and Blu-ray formats December 24, 2008. The release's special features include: the Generation Of Degeneration featurette, character profiles, voice bloopers, a fake Leon interview, five trailers, two Resident Evil 5 trailers and previews. In the "Generation of Degeneration" special feature, the filmmakers explain that this movie is in effect "Resident Evil 4.5"*, i.e. what happens after Resident Evil 4. The Low-Down

This movie has mixed reviews for good reason. The diehard fans want to like it, because hey, it's Resident Evil. For fans of all things cheesy, this movie delivers. But it's missing some kind of special Resident Evil magic, it wants to capture the magic of Resident Evil 2, but it falls short. Not even our beloved Leon Scott Kennedy is in top form. In fact, he's a complete asshole who elbows people for no reason and frowns throughout the entire production. Mixed Feelings on all of this, opinions might change after a re-watch.