With so many people these days commenting on the theory that there are no strong roles for actresses in Hollywood you have to wonder if they have been under a rock when it comes to the Resident Evil franchise of movies. The franchise has now spawned six movies and has introduced two of the toughest female characters we have seen on the big screen. Milla Jovovich’s Alice has appeared in all of the movies as has kicked and punched her way through an army of the undead, mutant dogs and corrupt businessmen as she takes on the evil empire known as the Umbrella Corporation. Alongside her during several of the films has been Ali Larter playing the rough-and-ready Claire Redfield.
With Resident Evil: The Final Chapter now in cinemas both women were very excited to sit down and talk about the film.
“Coming back to the world of Resident Evil after a three year hiatus was just so fun and so exciting,” says Milla Jovovich. “I loved the script and I loved getting back into Alice’s shoes again. She’s kind of the best of me, she’s what I would imagine I would do in a survival situation or in emergency… I would become Alice but regardless in reality I would probably be like… ow, ow, ow (Milla also cowers in her chair and she explains it) but in my head I become Alice so in a way she is my hero as well and as long she remains my hero she will be a hero for other people to.”
So what made Milla love the script for this instalment of the franchise? “Alice is coming back above ground from some insane battle between the ending of the last film and this installment,” explains Milla. “At the beginning of the movie she comes out from underground to this absolutely desolate Washington D.C., so you know that that battle from the end of Afterlife happened and it has devastated everything and it feels like she is pretty much the only survivor and from that point onward it is non-stop.”
“It’s quite amazing that Resident Evil is going into its sixth instalment,” says Jovovich when asked what her thoughts are on the franchise. “It is literally the longest-running, female-driven action franchise ever made up to this point, so it is inspiring that it has resinated so much with audiences and they have wanted to come back to the Resident Evil world over and over again and see the adventures of people that they know and love. This movie to me is the best movie in the franchise. I mean there are so many amazing stunts and the visuals are so amazing. Then the story is riveting and you find out things about Alice and the Umbrella Corporation that they never knew about them and I think that there are so many secrets revealed and it brings this amazing franchise to this great close… a closure that I think the audience is going to love.”
With Ali Larter playing such an important role in the Resident Evil franchise it is not surprising that Milla is full of praise for her co-star. “Ali Larter plays Clarie Redfield, one of the most popular characters from the game, and it has been great. Ali has done three films with us at this point and she is just an incredible actress and she really brings so much life to Claire and she has really done justice to her.”
Ali Larter then explains that doing these movies is so different to any other kinds of acting. “Doing these movies, they are actually action films,” she explains. “So we are doing stunts and keeping up with the guys… in fact possibly even doing better. And so we’re in there and I learn it and then I watch Milla and it just blows my mind seeing her do the stunts, she is incredible. And not only is she physical when she does it, she is graceful. She is amazing at it so that to me is what makes this movie different, yes we have strong female characters, but yes we are also very physical and it is stunt and action orientated.”
Apart from that gracefulness Ali says she is also blown away with Milla’s passion for playing Alice. “Yeah there is a passion there and she knows that it is all about getting in there and doing the stunts but also knowing this character that is trying to figure out her past and put the pieces together of that puzzle and constantly driving forward. But it’s like she just keeps up that energy, but she is always asking and always looking to just push it forward.”
As Milla pointed out Claire Redfield is one of the favourite characters for those that play the Resident Evil series of games so what has it been like for Ali to play such a well-loved character. “I’ve always loved having her there and I feel so lucky that they keep bringing her back,” she says with a smile. “I love playing Claire Redfield and I love that the fans are so excited. That to me is… it makes me giddy because I do all kinds of movies and play all kinds of roles but Clarie Redfield, like she is for lots of people, maybe one of my favourites.”
So does she have anything she would like to say to the fans before they sit down and watch the film. “I think that Resident Evil: The Final Chapter will surpass all the ones before it. I think it captures excitement, fear and maybe a little bit of love, power and I think that you are going to get that and you are going to get to see all your favourites again.”
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is now showing in cinemas.
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