Chris In The Movies
It's one of the most talked about subjects of recent times when it comes to the Resident Evil movies franchise. Why hasn't Chris Redfield appeared, and at the end of the day, should he? Here I'll look at the arguments for and against, and sum up my own view at the end.
The argument for
Chris Redfield is Resident Evil's number one male hero. He's been there from the word go, and in one way or another just about everything that goes on can be related back to him. He discovers the initial outbreak and helps destroy the mansion. He tries to let the public know what's going on, he conducts secret research and dedicates his life to bringing Umbrella down. Claire Redfield is always looking for him, Jill is always mentioning how she's going to meet up with him, Wesker is always plotting how to make his death as painful as possible.
How could a man so central to Resident Evil's plot not appear in the movies? Even with the movies focusing (for the most part) on original characters, how could rather minor (in comparison) characters such as Carlos and Nicholai appear and yet not the main man? The movies aren't following the games in any strict way, there's no reason Chris Redfield couldn't have been in Raccoon City at the same time as Jill in Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Surely he would have lifted the movie to another level and added some much needed game incorporation instead of the horribly bland Peyton (who clearly had the role Chris would have otherwise had).
Considering Peyton's role in Resident Evil, it wouldn't have been hard to incorporate Chris (and to save his death and add another game dimension, Brad Vickers). Jill somewhat looks up to Peyton and the two had a relationship in some ways very similar to that of Chris and Jill in the video games. This would have added another element many fans have been dying for and we're unlikely to ever see in the games; a more in-depth, out-of-the-subtext-pages look at the enigmatic Chris and Jill relationship. Not to mention the humanising effect Chris could have had on the rather (at times) crass Jill Valentine of the movies. But considering Peyton bites the big one, it wouldn't be hard to substitute his death for that of Brad Vickers, who dies at the hands of Nemesis anyway. Chris lives, gets his time with Jill, a S.T.A.R.S. member still dies, everyone is happy.
But what about looking towards the future, where it's still possible that Chris may appear? The movies could really use another tie to the games, because as it stands, they're way too flimsy. Who better than original survivor and one man Umbrella-wrecking crew Chris Redfield? The team sure could use some help to take down "Project Alice", and there's nothing to suggest Chris didn't work for the RPD S.T.A.R.S. at some stage and left before the Raccoon City incident (much like the games).
Imagine the scene. The team from Apocalypse (whoever manages to survive to the next film, that is) stuck in some terrible predicament. Crimson heads on the rise, horde of the undead closing in, some unnatural abomination from the Umbrella labs, even Alice herself. The goings are looking grim, very grim indeed. Suddenly out of nowhere in jumps a handsome stranger in a blazy of fury, all knife slashing and zombie decapitating. He turns around and there's an awkward moment as Jill recognises who is he. Did they part on good terms or not? Do the others feel threatened by this new manly presence? Does anyone really care, because dude, Chris Redfield is finally here! He's all survival knife action and stony glare!
Well perhaps not. But there are countless ways the scene could be played out, plenty of them just as good, if not better than Jill's fantastic introduction scene in Apocalypse. And really, doesn't Chris deserve at least that?
At the end of the day, Chris could bring much needed depth and interaction to the Resident Evil franchise. He's a fantastic, popular, solid character ready and waiting in the wings to get his much deserved screen-time alongside his gal Jill. If any Resident Evil character deserves to appear in the films, it's him. He is Resident Evil.
The argument against
The Resident Evil movies have hardly been a beacon of hope and light when it comes to their source material. The first two games were skipped entirely, a brand new pre-history was written, the entire Nemesis storyline was screwed with, characters received dramatic personality transplants (if they were lucky enough to even appear) and the main, and the driving force of the movies is a (rather dull) original character who is essentially an all-powerful God.
Who's to say, should Chris Redfield ever appear, he'll be the Chris Redfield we know and love? How do we know that Anderson won't turn him into some crazy, macho gun-toting maniac who likes to shout slogans like "Come get some!" and "Freak, you die now!!" Look at Jill. Although occasionally brass and off-the-cuff in the games, Jill was all heart and all about protecting the people. Jill in the movies is all head-shotting, swearing, sarcasm and "Stuff you, save yourself." Faced with character assassination, do we really want Chris there that much? Anderson seems to have trouble with character depth and feelings other than "Die now f*cker!" Chris could so easily become just another one dimensional hero with no heart and soul, and that would be a real shame.
Another problem posed is that of casting. They hit it lucky with Jill in Apocalypse, but Carlos and Nicholai were so grossly miscast (not to mention written) that one can't help but fear what they might do with Chris. Carlos is a young, hot-heated, red-blooded male who likes to look good, yet in the film he's quite older, calmer, and actually quite boring and dull. There's no fire in him, and looks-wise he really couldn't be further away from Carlos of the games. If they can get Carlos so wrong, what's to stop them from doing what they want with Chris?
Even if we grant that Chris Redfield will be written like his character in the games, the problem remains of people's preconceived notions of what Chris looks like. Not everyone is going to be happy no matter who they cast. Chris has a very specific look in Remake, and even in CV. It wouldn't be the easiest job to find a (good) actor who actually resembles the part. Certainly no 'popular' names spring to mind, and delving into the unknown talent pool is always touch and go. Then finding an actor who may look the role, who's to say we'll get one with the same dedication to their character as Sienna Guillory did for Jill Valentine? A Jill that could have so easily been horrid and generic, yet at least gained some heart and game-ness due to Sienna's study of her. Good writing can easily go down the tube with a horrible actor who cares nothing for the heart of a character.
So in the end, do we really want Chris Redfield to appear in the movies? Where he might face mass character-desecration that spoils the general public's (and even the fans) view of him? Do we really need to put his so-far untarnished character on the chopping block where it's very likely he'll just be turned into a generic one-dimensional crazy army guy? Wouldn't it just be safer in the long run for us to be happy with him in the games, where we know he's a great character and unlikely to have any huge changes of heart should he appear in future games? Surely it will be disheartening to fans to see one of their favourite game characters on-screen only to realise he looks and acts absolutely nothing like he does in-game. Why not just name him something else entirely and move on?
Yay or nay?
The problem posed by whether Chris should or shouldn't appear in the movies is quite a complex one, and at the end of the day ultimately rests in personal opinion. Some things matter more to others, some things don't matter at all, some are of such importance you'd rather jump off a cliff than see them changed. As for myself, I'm currently a fence-sitter.
As a huge Chris fan I can really think of nothing better than finally seeing him on the big screen in all his glory, even better should he appear alongside Jill. But by the same token I love Chris so much I'd hate to see the character-assassination I know would happen if Anderson were to write him. For a self-confessed fan he clearly doesn't understand the characters, and he seems to find it impossible to give them any depth. It's rather sad when a video game character has more depth, heart, soul and history than a movie character has. Not to mention how difficult it will be for them to find an actor who I feel would be appropriate for the role. It's tough shoes to fill, it can't just be any old out-of-work guy who walks in off the street.
So ultimately, I'm going to sit back and wait. Hope for the best, expect the worst, as the saying goes. So long as Chris isn't there, he can't get butchered. But the fact he still hasn't appeared is also upsetting, and a slight against his character. He's certainly more deserving than the few who made it into the second movie (Jill notwithstanding).