Resident Evil: Extinction

REVIEWED BY DNA SMITH Special to Florida Weekly

King Features

Running Time: 95 minutes MPAA rating: R GRADE: B

First, let's get this out of the way for the "R.E." fans out there: "Extinction" isn't as good as the original, but it's a ton better than "Apocalypse." Also: Return of the Zombie Dogs! (Yesss!) Definitely check it out.

OK, now that that's over with, let's get down to the review for those of you unfamiliar with the movie or video-game series.

"Extinction" is the third and supposedly final installment in the series (but the ending does leave open the possibility of a fourth flick). The T-virus, which turns all living things into flesh-eating zombies, has spread globally, with a few tiny pockets of uninfected humanity living a post-apocalyptic "Road Warrior" kind of existence. And, for some reason, all the survivors are excruciatingly beautiful, pouty supermodel-types who have a hard time finding gasoline, but have no trouble stocking up on hair gel.

The T-virus is the brainchild of The Umbrella Corporation, which has a few underground research labs around the world. They are feverishly trying to save humanity by trying to create "domesticated" zombies and synthesizing a vaccine from the blood of Alice (Milla Jovovich), who escaped the evil corporation and for years has been battling the zombies singlehandedly using her super zombie-fu fighting powers and pouty gaze.

Ali Larter (who single-handedly made her story arc in the TV show "Heroes" the most boring moments in television) plays "Claire," the leader of the uber-hair-gelled Road Warrior Survivors. Thankfully her Black Hole of Talent doesn't suck all the excitement out of the film, because there is simply too much awesome zombie-fu going on for her to get enough screen time to weigh the picture down.

And speaking of zombie-fu, there are some awesome scenes featuring the return of the Zombie Dogs from the first film and an enormous swarm of zombified crows.

If you're a fan of the films, video games (especially RE-4, which rocks!) or zombie flicks in general, you need to check out "Extinction." It's definitely worth the price of admission.

(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.