Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D is a new movie, the latest so far, in the video-game-inspired movie series about a lone warrior woman fighting zombies and an evil corporation in a wasteland that used to be the Earth. But though it’s new, the visual style and effects are inspired by something old. If you’ve watched the Matrix series by the Wachowski brothers, then you are already familiar with the slick and stylish visual style that you can expect to see in Resident Evil: Afterlife, which is in 3D.

Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D is produced, written, and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson (not to be confused with fellow director Paul Thomas Anderson). Anderson is already a veteran of the Resident Evil series, starting with the first one, Resident Evil, which he directed and wrote and produced. He wrote the screenplay of Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Resident Evil: Extinction. His most recent movie of note is Death Race, which he produced, wrote, and directed. A fan of Ridley Scott, he made spin-offs of both Aliens (Alien vs. Predator) and Blade Runner (Soldier).

Judging by the effects used in Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D, it’s obvious that Anderson is also fascinated with the visuals used in the Matrix movies. Even the costumes and sets are obviously taken from or inspired by production designs from The Matrix. It’s not at all bad to use styles from other movies, but if you watch the trailer of Resident Evil, you will get the feel like you’re in some kind of Matrix Redux movie. Fans of Resident Evil have expressed mixed reactions with most saying Resident Evil could have used more originality where looks and feel are concerned.

Anderson obviously wanted to give audiences something familiar where Afterlife is concerned. Perhaps it’s a way of getting the fan base of The Matrix to watch Resident Evil movies. But it may not help make this Resident Evil movie more memorable than the others. What it does is give the implication that even in a post-apocalyptic setting, someone who kills undead zombies can still stay healthy and pretty even when the world is a total mess. Hey, who knows? Perhaps future sequels will have themes from other movies like Star Wars, or even Avatar. Blue zombies that interface with USB buses may look good on the big screen!

Oh, I forgot to say that Resident Evil: Afterlife was filmed using James Cameron and Vincent Pace's Fusion camera system that was also used in Avatar. So even if you don't like seeing The Matrix all over this movie or even if you don't like zombies, this is one film you have to see just to experience the thrill of 3D in the Resident Evil series for the first time.

TRIVIA: Director Paul W. S. Anderson is married to Resident Evil actress Milla Jovovich who plays gun- and sword-toting Alice. They met while shooting the first Resident Evil movie.

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