Underworld (Unrated) [Blu-ray]
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Movie Reviews of Underworld (Unrated) [Blu-ray]
Movie Review: Excellent film
Summary: 5 Stars
Together with Underworld: Evolution, two great films. Action-packed, fast paced, great photograhpy and special effects; good plot too. A must see for action/vampire film lovers. This the first film to see. Then see Underworld: Evolution, to keep the story straight. Buy it!Movie Review: Supernatural Action in Gothic setting...oh yeah and guns!
Summary: 4 Stars
A pleasant surprise with Underworld, which upon my initial opinions was that it was just some second rate film with third-rate ideas. On the contrary, Underworld spins a stoic and fascinating tale that weaves through the past and present as it mixes Werewolves and Vampires in a war throughout all time. Kate Beckinsale is one of the vamps, and at night her and her leather jacket, automatic pistol firing pals are combing the streets for Lycan using constant surveillance that is matched by the general stealth that they possess. The Lycan are an ancient Legion of Werewolves though, and although nearly extinct at one time, suddenly seem to be coming back in some sort of "end of time" phase where the endless litters will perhaps pay off with world domination once and for all.
Cinematic Appeal: This film does an excellent job with portraying the dark, evil tones that accompany such a landscape of macabre terror. Hey, I have nothing against Vamps and Werewolves, but they do need all the ancient statues and stone steps one can muster. Throw in some ancient symbols and don't rush anything in the film, and the viewer may enjoy a vast array of visual wonders. Sure, it is done often, but not very often does this reviewer find a film in which it is done well.
Script & Plot: Nothing bad here at all, the history of the vampires and werewolves that are shown as well as the mystery behind some of the key characters is laid out carefully. Sometimes a film like this can go overboard with dialogue or mere "Shock and Awe" tactics, but I found Underworld to possess a high quality in the story, the way it is executed, and the special effects and originality involving the vampires and werewolves.
Special Features: If you are expecting anything special from the Widescreen edition, don't bother. I would look elsewhere for a better package in that department as the widescreen edition only offers some Director commentary, which of course is pretty standard with most special features. Nothing on the Widescreen edition that has interviews with the writers or cast, and no section on the special effects and such.
If you are looking for a film with some supernatural slashing in a gothic setting, then Underworld may be for you. I found the film enjoyable from the aspect that it seemed more genuine than many films of this genre. Beckinsale is superb in her role as Selene, a woman who must eventually challenge her own loyalty before it is all over.
Movie Review: Monster mashing
Summary: 4 Stars
Werewolves and vampires, two staples of the horror genre, are mixed together in this action - drama set in some European country where it is always night and raining. The protagonist is Selene, a gorgeous and very athletic female vampire who is a Death Dealer; someone who kills Lycans. Lycans are werewolves, and the two races are immortal enemies. The story centers around her relationship with a man who happens to be an original descendant of the man who gave rise to both vampires and werewolves. Along the way, he, and then she, discover the truth about this immortal war, and who has really done what to each other.
The movie is quite dark in setting, and most of the characters are palish white in contrast. The action scenes are a mix of hand-to-hand combat and shooting galleries in the style of the Matrix. The violence is bloody and sometimes gruesome. There is no nudity, or swearing even; just violence. This DVD came with some extra features, but not much. This is no matter though as the movie is quite entertaining and moves along at a quick pace. All in all, highly watchable.
Movie Review: Visually Beautiful, with a Flawed Plot
Summary: 4 Stars
Visually, this movie is perfection. The crisp clearness of the movie is the high point of "Underworld", as well as Kate Beckinsale as vampire "death-dealer" Selene. Dark, vivid, and brooding, the imagery in this film is top notch. The story was good as well, though--unlike the imagery--was flawed.
Selene is a believable character, and I rooted for her throughout the film. The world she's thrown into is interesting, as well as intriguing. Even the werewolf/vampire rivalry is riveting. However, how is Master Vampire Victor allowed to be a Master Vampire is his powers hardly rival a more recently-sired Vampire? I have to add though, that Bill Nighy did a stupendous job as Victor, using his menacing, calculated voice.
Back to the grips: Why do some vampires/werewolves die by regular gunshots, but some just pull them out of their chest and get back up? Why do some vampire need to be hit with ultra-violet bullets, but some just--again--die by regular gunshots? A lot of plot devices thrown in the movie simply don't make sense with the world the writers and directors have established but it is an all in all enjoyable movie.
Oh, and before I bow out. One more problem. In the beginning, this is said by Selene: "Our war has waged for centuries, unseen by human eyes. But all that is about to change." Nothing to that effect happens. A few humans are killed, but nothing out of the ordinary. Just another inconsistency.
8/10
Movie Review: Actually pretty good!
Summary: 4 Stars
A few years ago I caught a late-night "documentary" about vampires and werewolves. I use inverted commas because, as it turned out, it was not so much a documentary as a wanna-be Blair Witch-style promo for Underworld. It was slick, cheesy, manipulative and deceptive, and it gave me a low opinion of Underworld, which I decided I would never bother to see.
Flash-forward a few years: I see a cheap double set of Underworld and Underworld Evolution, and, being in the mood for something spectacular and stupid, I buy it. I get more than I bargain for. While Underworld doesn't pretend to be anything more than a "ride", it's the best movie of this type that I've seen in a while. It doesn't treat the audience like kids, it has a unique vision well executed, and it has some fine performances (Michael Sheen in particular is a nice find).
Although it is not a straight rip-off, it is not unfair to describe Underworld as "Matrix with werewolves and vampires". They do have similar looks (bluish tinge instead of green), lots of long black leather coats, and gunfights with rubble flying everywhere. But the setting and story are quite different, and there is less CGI. (Unfortunately, like the Matrix, the sequel is ruined by a bad script.)
The story is an interesting update on the horror archetypes, with emphasis more on action than horror. (The special bullets are a surprisingly neat idea.) There are a couple of weak performances on the vampire side, but Beckinsale, Nighy and Sheen are good, and Speedman is okay in a part which doesn't have much depth written into it. There are a couple of misjudgements in the direction of the performances, but these are small things that most people won't notice, and it's still damned impressive for a first-time director.
One thing, and it's not really a complaint, more a question of accuracy in advertising: The vampires aren't particularly "vampiry" - you know, that whole "living on human blood" thing. It would hardly affect the movie if they were called Atlanteans, say, or Illuminati, instead of vampires. This isn't really a negative, but it may annoy people who expect to see traditional vampires in this film.