It's hard to believe that 14 years ago, "Resident Evil" was nothing more than a video game. Sure, it was an uber-violent, critically acclaimed video game. Then, writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson got the grand idea to bring the game to the big-screen, put wife Milla Jovovich in the lead role, and start counting his Benjamins.

Flash forward to 2010 and we've got "Resident Evil: Afterlife," the fourth installment in the series. Yes, it's the fourth. How did that happen? It takes a little more than skin-tight outfits, zombies, and a "now with more evil" tagline. This time, they've added in 3D effects.

However, this isn't just any 3D. Filmmakers tapped James Cameron's 3D Fusion Camera System. This is the same system that our 3D overlord was packing for the mega-blockbuster "Avatar." Granted, the movie isn't making the same kind of headlines, but it did snag the top spot and $27 million for its opening weekend.

The special effects are pretty hot and so is the cast, which includes Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter ("Heroes"), Wentworth Miller (almost exactly out of "Prison Break"), and Boris Kodjoe. So what's the problem? Pretty much everything else. The story is bad and the acting is even worse.

Alice (Milla Jovovich) is back, but it certainly isn't a wonderland. She's lost her superpowers, only to become a schlub like the rest of us. Of course, she's a super-hot schlub with gymnast-like moves and an itchy trigger finger. The last two are a good thing to have when most of the world is a bunch of flesh-eating zombies. From there, it's all about the body count.

Considering the hype that the 3D received, it's sort of meh. There's some depth, but not on everything. However, the movie provides 3D hits where it counts, with an emphasis on "hit." There are plenty of death stars flying, bullets, swords, building shrapnel, exploding heads, and slo-mo effects straight out of the "Matrix" handbook. It does enhance the movie, but doesn't necessarily make it a must-see.

However, the movie has its built-in fanbase. So basically, if you've already endured the other three "Resident Evil" movies, you'll flock to this movie like zombies to the living. The 3D is definitely a nice touch. Just don't expect to find any brains behind this latest installment.