Underworld [Region 2] Reviews

• Underwhelming 'World' Lacks Bite

  
  By ABYTU7EFC5E1Y on 2003-09-27
  "Underworld" has been horribly misrepresented. It's advertising campaign promised a "Romeo and Juliet" love story set among a war between werewolves and vampires. Instead, the filmmakers have given us a "Matrix"/"Crow"/"Blade" rip-off that is light on action, heavy on melodramatics, and big on style.

  Kate Beckinsale is Seline, a death-dealing vampire who has the sole purpose of hunting down the vicious lycans (calling them werewolves would be too nerdy). Apparently, a war between the two species has been raging for centuries. The battle strategies of these supernatural beings are most bizarre. Instead of planning their next attack, the vampires choose to sit around their mansion drinking and looking posh while the lycans wrestle each other in the sewers. Enter Scott Speedman as Michael, a medical intern who's being hunted by the werewolves for reasons that aren't revealed until the end of the film. Of course, Seline reaches him first, but not before the clueless chump is bitten by a werewolf.

  This film is much more "Matrix" than anything else, and I'm not just talking about the leather outfits or the blazing gun battles or the jumping up really high in the air. The stories of the two films are identical. Instead of rebels and machines chasing Neo we have vamps and wolves chasing Speedman. The problem is that "Underworld" is presented on a much lesser scale. The action scenes are sparse and lack any originality. At one point they become downright stupid as a vamp soldier fights a werewolf with two whips. He gets eaten in a few seconds. Maybe he should have tried two pitchforks or maybe even two unripe bananas. Between the blood and bullets, we are introduced to the various characters of the vampire and lycan clans. I was much more interested during these moments, mostly because whenever I became bored with the talking heads I turned my attention to the stylish cinematography, the real star of this film. If anything else, "Underworld" makes for great eye candy. A warning to anyone looking for an epic, forbidden romance set between the travesties of violent conflict: the filmmakers equate the idea of a love story to Beckinsale giving Speedman a peck on the lips. That's it. There is no chemistry whatsoever between the two actors. They barely come into contact with each other.

  Don't you think it's so cool how vampires and werewolves are totally evil, legendary monsters. Screenwriter Danny McBride doesn't. His reinterpretations of these classic beasts are of the lamest, failing at almost every point to use their full potential. Instead of coming out during a full moon, the lycans can change whenever they want. Silver bullets only work if you use about a hundred of them. And the wolves are the more formidable of the two species. The so-called-vampires aren't even really vampires. They have reflections, don't drink blood, and run away like panicked deer at the first sign of danger. Without guns, the lycans tear them apart like wet tissue paper. It seems like the only reason McBride calls them vampires is so that there is an excuse for their gravity-defying stunts. After having vampires updated with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the "Blade" films it's a letdown that this is the best McBride could imagine.

  Had "Underworld" made its debut a decade ago, it may have been the groundbreaking hit that "The Matrix" was. Having come out now only makes it a rehash of things we've seen before. Still, the style of the film and some interesting characters save it from being a straight-to-video type disaster.

  Grade: C or 2 stars out of 4.
  
  

• Best Movie this year! A+++++

  
  By ANEDXRFDZDL18 on 2003-09-25
  Kate Beckinsale stars as the Lycan hunting vampire Seline. When Seline notices a gang of Lycan's hunting a lone human, she becomes intrigued, little realizing that the group is part of a centuries old conspiracy, thus inevitably drawing her into a world of mystery, murder, and betrayal.

  What can I say? I LOVED underworld. I loved the costuming, the plot, and the fantastic cinematography. The vampires looked exceptionally cool with their white skin, cerulean eyes and black gothic clothing. I appreciated the fact that the lead character was female, and no 'wilting flower waiting for the hero to rescue her,' in fact, it was quite the reverse! The love story was cute, and filled with romantic tension.

  I thought the vampires were well portrayed, and the motivation complex. If you are a fan of vampire/werewolf movies you'll like Underworld. My only complaint, was I thought the werewolves were a bit TOO easy for the vampires to overpower, and looked a bit 'stumpy.' Also I saw no real advantage to have them running along the walls. Otherwise, Excellent! Excellent! I really hope for a sequel!
  
  

• AMAZING

  
  By A191ZD1RVWT476 on 2004-03-01
  I don't understand the many poor reviews I've been reading about
  this movie. It is the best horror flick I've seen come along in
  a long time. Like a mob war between two rival families, the
  vampires and werewolves are at each others throats. Twists,
  betrayals, and double dealings, lay around every corner.
  Alliances are forged, alliances are broken. Pity and revulsion
  intertwine with each other for these two sects as new revelations
  come to pass. I thought the special effects were outstanding, and
  the sound quality excellent. I had to turn the subwoofers down
  to avoid blowing out the windows during the opening storm
  sequence.(o.k., maybe I exaggerate just a little there, I think
  the windows would probably have held, but I really did have to
  turn the subs down.) I'm going to keep this review very general,
  unlike so many other reviewers, I see no point in giving away
  the entire adventure. I'll let you discover all the surprises
  for yourself. Just let me say that London or Paris would not
  survive these werewolves, and the vampires here are in no mood
  to give an interview! This is an action packed, fun movie, and
  I hope you enjoy it. Oh, and yes, it does have a good plot.
  Thanks,
  Tom
  
  

• Great movie, but not exactly what I expected

  
  By A2XWU6Y8PF8L17 on 2003-09-21
  I had been looking forward to the release of this movie all summer long, and it was a great movie! It was just a little different from what I had thought it would be.

  The movie, as most of you probably know, is about a war that has been going on between werewolves and vampires. And it is THIS that is the primary focus of the plot (as opposed to the vampires and werewolves themselves). The werewolves have been researching their bloodlines and discovered a human who shares a common ancestor with both the werewolves and the vampires. The werewolves seek out this human, and this is noted by Selene (Kate Beckinsale), who decides to make it her mission to discover the importance of this particular human.

  Unfortunately, the writers decided not to delve too deeply into vampire and werewolf lore. I was pretty disappointed by the fact that the supernatural abilities of these supernatural beings were not really emphasized. Instead, the writers chose to merely stick guns in the hands of the vampires and werewolves. In addition, the mythology was slightly different from what I've read and seen before in previous vampire and werewolf books and movies. I don't necessarily have a problem with that, but if you are going to change things from what people are used to, then it should be explained in slightly more detail.

  Another thing that was a little disappointing were the effects. The previews led me to believe that the movie would be comparable to the "Matrix" in that department. Unfortunately, the best effects (with the one exception of the werewolf transformations) were all shown in the previews.

  All of this aside, the movie was still pretty incredible. The plot was exceptional, which is not necessarily always the case with most action movies, and the action kept me entertained throughout the movie's entirety. The make-up and costumes were also outstanding, as was the acting. I actually saw this movie twice, and the second time around (once I got over the intial let-down of it being slightly different from what I expected) it was MUCH better. I anxiously await the sequel (and based on how the movie ended, there WILL be a sequel) as well as the DVD release!
  
  

• Underworld in Superbit

  
  By AG3XKSY6YWH95 on 2004-11-25
  I'm sure there are many reviews about this movie under the regular release. I'll comment a bit specifically about the superbit version that costs more for higher quality video and audio (without the extras on the disk). To really get any advantage here you need to have a digital TV (preferably HD but ED will probably work too), a DVD player that puts out a progressive signal (vs. interlaced), and a component or digital connection between your DVD player and TV. IMO if you don't have all three of these you won't get the benefit of Superbit and should save your money.
  
  This was my first Superbit disk, so I had high expectations. I'd say there's good news and bad news here. The good news is that I do think the picture is visibly better. There is definitely more detail and you can seem more subtle features (texture, reflections, etc.) in the picture. This also helps some of the dark scenes (many in this movie) with more visible detail. The bad news is that there's so much more detail that you can see the grain of the film. I know that's normal for a movie shot on film and it doesn't really bother me (unless I'm looking for it). However, I do think it detracts slightly from the perceived quality of the picture. Compare this, for example, to a movie shot in digital and you'll see what I mean. I'm sure there's some debate over what defines good picture quality so YMMV here. Finally, the sound is excellent on this DVD, but I can't say that it's significantly better than on the original release over a Dolby Digital system.
  
  So, in the end I'd say that Superbit is great if you really love a movie and want the best PQ you can get for it. I think that Superbit is probably better for older movies that they can clean up for DVD transfer than for newer movies with a decent original DVD transfer.
  
  Remember that if you want all the extras you won't get them on Superbit. My one complaint about this specific DVD is that they used the theatrical release rather than the (now available) director's cut.
  
  Hope this is helpful!
  
  
• This movie is not horrible.
  By on 2003-09-29
  I have read the reviews here and by the critics. Many of these reviews rate the movie badly. I disagree and urge others to consider several factors.

  One thing to remember about these reviewers is that many are overly critical nuts who have preconceived notions about the movie. They are so set on their ideas that they do not let the actors and directors tell their own story. They changed a few things about vampire and werewolf mythology, so what. That doesn't mean that the movie is horrible. Watch the movie with and open mind and you will probably enjoy it.

  Now, about the movie. It has great action sequences that anyone could enjoy. The story is not that hard to comprehend if you managed to graduate high school, and is really entertaining on several different levels.

  My advice, go see the movie and give it half a chance before you start ridiculing it.
  
  

• The Underworld Is Coming. Are You Ready?
  By A17M20ISV4BP07 on 2003-06-19
  The premise of this movie is basically a gothic rendition of Romeo and Juliet. On one side you have the Death Dealers. An ancient race of vampires living among humans for centuries. On the other you have the Lychans. Savage werewolves who battle the Death Dealers for common survival. Both groups of creatures have secretly been at war for countless centuries but a sudden twist is thrown into the mix. One of the Death Dealer's leaders, Selene (played by Kate Beckinsale), falls for a young human on the run named Michael (played by Scott Speedman). When his ties to the Lychans becomes known, Selene must decide if her future with Michael is worth betraying her people. Set in a gothic/Matrix look and setting, Underworld is expected to be one of the sleeper hits of 2003. This is one fan who will be eagerly waiting in line with his ticket the day it is released.
  
  
• All I ever needed to know about assembling a vampire coven..
  By A3ATTCCO32ZXET on 2003-11-09
  ...I learned from Underworld.
  It has been a most educational experience, watching Underworld. Until now I was walking around with some very laughable ideas about the Creatures of the Night that we all so take for granted as the pedestrian kind of beings that populate folklore. From here on out I am enlightened; no longer a gullible moviegoer, or naive reader. I can rely on the sophistication I have gleaned from this movie to move forward with confidence among the Undead. Underworld set me straight.

  For example, not just anybody has what it takes to become a vampire. The first requirement for immortality is a European accent. In fact, British and French accented vampires seem to be the most prolific, regardless of residence. It would be considered extremely gauche for, say, a Texan accent to show up at one of the black tie coven soirees even if he sported the hippest Versace lace cravat. Next, one must be a model. This means high cheekbones, gauntly thin, and with a nose constantly in the air as one's lips form a slight pout in resting state. Only the alpha females are allowed to have larger bustlines; this is so that those black leather designer fashions will drape nicely. But above all, a vampire must have that cultivated air of aloof that can be obtained by constantly imagining an offensive odor.

  Now werewolves have to be selected from an entirely different lot. The master werewolf of Underworld must have scoured every biker bar in LA for swarthy males that with the proper ear hair. Sideburns and a pointy unibrow will gain you extra points for consideration as well. Blondes need not apply, as the lupine fashion seems to favor the swarthy look. Fortunately for Americans, there is less discrimination here with regards to accent. But make no mistake, the world of werewolves is a male dominated culture - women are for snacking only.

  If your taste runs to the slaying side of things you should know that wooden stakes are passé. Please. Nowadays you will need automatic weaponry and explosive munitions. Also, be aware that vampires and werewolves alike must have kept up on action flicks because now they have advanced martial art skills upon conversion and can unload seven clips worth of ammo into their foes without reloading. And did you think vamps were the only ones who could run on walls and ceilings? It's not just for Eurofrogs anymore.

  Some further rules to keep in mind when cavorting with Underworld denizens are:
  No athletic shoes. No pastel or white clothing.
  When in doubt, leather
  Waterford crystal is the vessel of choice for blood-tasting parties.
  Bottom line, this is an entertaining action flick that should appeal to those who like movies like Blade. You can enjoy it if you keep that in mind.
  -Andrea, aka Merribelle
  
  

• Details
  By A21GGWY4S983JD on 2006-01-10
  I was confused how this was different than the other DVD's and now that I have it in my hands I wanted to post what it is.
  
  The two disc unrated extended cut version. Inside were two booklets. One is a 49 page comic book but the standard DVD enclosure size and paper. The other is a 16 page sketch book same standard DVD insert size.
  
  Attached to the outside of the package in a cardboard sleeve is a bonus disc. I haven't watched it yet but the sleeve says it contains a sneak peak featurette of the movie Underworld Evolution and a sneak peek at the Underworld Comic Book.
  
  
• Prepare to be entertained
  By A38TC59GM2WW1X on 2003-09-21
  I did not go to this movie with especially high expectations. In fact, I read plenty of professional reviews trashing this film prior to seeing it. I was just looking forward to a fun movie to forget about the stresses of life for about 2 hours. And to that effect, "Underworld" succeeds extraordinarily. It's true that oscar material it ain't, but damn was it entertaining. Underworld is the quintessential "guilty pleasure" movie. I walked out of the theatre with a big smile and feeling not a little guilty for being so entertained by such a "stupid" movie.
  Regardless, Underworld sports some of the most stylish cinematography I have ever seen in any movie. Every action and backdrop is meticulously crafted for maximum suaveness. The film depicts an alternate, dark world just slightly out of kilter with ours, so that we get to see something different from everyday life without the "world" being too farfetched. The action sequences are all taut and well done.
  The movie provides some good new ideas for the vampire and werewolf mythologies. I especially loved the idea of vampires using laptops, cell phones, and automatic weapons to keep up wtih times. I mean, we would expect them to, no? Unfortunately, some old favourites of vampire lore were not presented in the film. Apparently vampires have reflections in mirrors, and breathe according to this movie. And not enough emphasis was put on the blood-drinking nature of vampires in general, which was so central to films like "Interview with the Vampire" (the greatest vampire flick of all time).
  The werewolf effects were not spectacular, but they were sufficient. The director had to good sense of relegating our canine friends mostly to the dark, knowing that in full light, CGI characters look absurdly fake.
  Yes, I went to see Underworld primarily for Kate Beckinsale, and I was not disappointed. She was hella, hella hot in this movie. Well, she's just beautfiul in general, but there's something about the blue vampire-eyes and ultra-chic costumes that makes her a delight to watch. This is certainly a whole other side to Kate compared with Serendipity. She makes a very satisfying action hero. I think Kate Beckinsale's Selene is the first of those independent female "girl-power" action heros that I actually like. I'll take her over any of those Charlie's Angels any day, that's for sure.
  Plot holes? Yes, Underworld is overflowing with them. But who cares? The plot is indeed woefully convoluted, but includes many clever twists to keep the audience guessing and amused. All in all, if you're in the mood for a "turn-off-your-brain" supernatural rollarcoaster, Underworld is a pretty good bet.
  
  
• Extra Underworld! With even more extras!
  By A4722QI5TI6VY on 2006-01-13
  Okay, The DVD here is the Unrated edition, but as a bonus, you get a special preview disc for Underworld Evolution, containing, the new trailer, a 'making of' documentary, a preview of the Evolution comic and a DVDrom link for the website.
  I loved the original film; and the Unrated version is even better with more footage, different commentary tracks and completely different extra features from the original release on both discs!
  The only downside to buying this set is if you already have the unrated edition, (Guilty) then the DVD is the exact same one, you just get the attached 'Bonus disc' as 'one more extra'.
  
  
• So what. Big deal.
  By A2OY590A56XV5H on 2004-02-23
  Kate Beckinsdale is a vampire "death dealer" who just takes it out on lycans (read:werewolves) in this dark gothed out city. When it becomes clear that the wolves are stalking a human for some reason, she defies her annoying,sexually harrassing, vaguely trent reznor looking, vampire boss and investigates on her own to find that the wolves are trying to make a vampire/wolf hybrid and royally piss off all the old racist vampire types.
  Everything bad you've heard about this film is true. So is everything good you've heard. It really depends on a) You being able to suspend your disbelief mightily even within well-worn vampiric film conventions b) being able to put up with exceptionally crappy werewolf CG effects and c) getting past some of the worst acting in a modern hollywood release recently, including the normally charming Kate Beckinsdale in the lead role, who just looks bored and faintly embarrassed to be reading these lines. Really though, we've seen much worse crap than this in horror/action crossovers and despite the above-listed major problems, there are some genuinely fun moments, to laugh at if nothing else. I thought it was hysterical that thrown out as an afterthought at one point, it is mentioned that vampires don't really drink from humans anymore but subsist on artifical plasma. Not that the factoid advances the plot in any way, but I'm sure some exec hand wrote it in there because how else are you gonna make a crowd sympathetic to a man-killing female vampire? "Underworld" won't start any new players to White Wolf's "World of Darkness" RPG's (of which this has been accused rightly I believe of ripping off) but it's not gonna make you despise it either. It actually gave me some hope. See, it made some halfway decent money apparently. Perhaps now with more money spent on actors, CG, and script, a sequel set in this world could turn out to be quite entertaining. So, I'm a relentless optimist when it comes to vampires, so sue me.
  
  
• Where's the TEETH?
  By A2PN7Z2VTHICL8 on 2004-01-23
  I knew before even going into this movie that it would not be "pure" vampire type film. Still, to be disappointed on top of that was a big letdown. I love monsters. I love vampires. I love werewolves. I would have accepted this movie a bit more if they had left out the references to these classic fiends and created a whole different type of demonic bad guy that *should* use guns.

  Insistance on using these two familiar and well loved creatures of the night was nothing more than a hook to draw in an audience; beyond that the people/creatures had no resemblnce whatsoever to the two legendary monsters. The mere idea of these supposedly vicious and blood/flesh hungry beasties running around shooting special guns at each other for no other reason than "we are at war" is as ludicrous as a starving man shooting a cow and not eating it.

  Okay, the premise? Vampires and werewolves are at war, and we don't find out why until the end, which is nonclimatic and doesn't make any sense. There is one person on the earth that contains blood that the werewolves want, the vampires see the lycans chasing the human so they chase him down too. Yawn. That's it.

  What I didn't like about the movie? Other than what I mentioned above, the plot was so thin you could read a newspaper through it. The script was horrible, and while the premise of a battle between vampires and werewolves would be very cool, you need to include some TEETH! It was as if the scriptwriters could not make up their minds whether to make anaction-shoot-em-up movie or a horror movie, and wound out with less than the sum of both.
  In particular is a scene when Selena (Kate Beckinsale) drives her car into the water with Michael (Scott Speedman). He "rescues" her after she hits her head on the windshield and gets knocked out, pulls her from thewater, gives her CPR, after which she coughs out a little water and comes to. HELLO! Vampires are dead. They are not alive. They don't breathe. They don't have heartbeats. They can't be knocked out, and they can't drown. And after all this, Selena tells Kraven "He saved my life." Riiiiiiiight. What life? You're undead!

  Another problem with the vampires was that they seem to have forgotten they can change into bats and fly away. Instead, they just stand there and let the werewolves chew them.With the werewolves, only Michael changes with the full moon (of course) but the other werewolves are changing back and forth like a malfunctioning traffic light. The special effects were mediocre; the turning of the werewolves was really no better han "American Werewolf In London", and all the fighting was so "A-La-Matrix" that for a moment I was confused as to which movie I was really watching.

  Okay, so what DID I like about the movie? The acting was actually verye good. Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, and especially Bill Nighy played their roles very well. The acting alone is the only reason I gave this movie 2 stars instead of 1. It is a visually stylish movie as far as dress and scenery. I liked the idea of vampires and werewolves descending from one anscestor. I thought that Viktor's tomb was very cool, and the visual effects of the awakening of Viktor were pretty slick. I am glad that I rented before buying on this one. It just got scratched off my purchase list. After viewing it, I just wanted to run out and bite someone in order to fill the hunger left unsated.
  
  

• Cool, fun and one heck of a wild ride!
  By A2X9AXCWH4MT4I on 2003-10-07
  I wanted to see 'Underworld' since I heard that Kate Beckinsale was attached to it. I admire her as an actress and its premise of a Romeo-and-Juliet-meets-vampire-vs.-werewolf movie intrigued me. As a fan of genre films like 'The Matrix,' 'The Crow,' 'Blade' and 'Equilibrium', I was keen on watching this film. My expectations were high and I'm glad to report that I came out of the theater wanting to see the movie again. From the first few seconds when Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is introduced, I was hooked. This was one heck of an exciting and immersive ride indeed!

  Highlights for me include:

  - Main characters (with a couple of exceptions) did a great job - particularly Selene (Kate Beckinsale), Michael (Scott Speedman), Erika (Sophia Myles), Raze (Kevin Grevioux) and Lucian (Michael Sheen) ' and were well cast. The vampires are elegant and sophisticated while the lycans are husky, rough and brooding.
  - Scott Speedman ' I never watched 'Felicity' but I didn't realize he could be such a hunk!
  ?? Very cool costumes ' I just love those vampires in their sleek black skintight leather outfits, which bring to mind Trinity from 'The Matrix.'
  - The storyline ' this is really much more than a vampire vs. lycan, Romeo and Juliet type film. It goes deeper than just the themes of love and hate. Themes of oppression, tolerance, deception, revenge and survival are also explored. And there is even a history which goes back to the Dark Ages (which we will see more of in the sequels) and is briefly explored in this film.
  - The action sequences truly rock. I hate to sound like an MTV commercial but this really is the best way to describe it. Every time the lycans and vampire clash is just sooo cool. 'Equilibrium,' 'Blade' and 'The Matrix' come to mind but it is particularly awesome to watch Raze, Lucian and Selene fight. The last 20 minutes alone are worth the price of the movie ticket. It is one heck of ride!
  - Contrary to other reviews, the special effects are quite good. CGI/stop motion effects has come a long way with portraying werewolf transformations since 'American Werewolf in London,' "The Howling" and 'Silver Bullet.'
  - The brooding, dark backgrounds remind me of 'The Crow.' Very atmospheric and works well with the somewhat gothic mood.
  - The ending is satisfying but also leaves room for a sequel. And for those who wonder why there are a couple of loose ends; well, the filmmakers intended this to be a trilogy. It still doesn't do away with the fact that it has a very exciting and satisfactory conclusion. I'm looking forward to revisiting this story again and again on DVD.

  Low points:

  - I wasn't crazy about Shane Brolly (Kraven) and Bill Nighy (Viktor) - they looked the part but played off too much to the camera. They could use acting lessons on subtlety. Michael Sheen, who gave a poignant performance as Lucian, could give them a few pointers.

  - There was a small bit towards the end was a bit 'cringe-inducing.' It reminded me too much of the end of 'Equilibrium.' This particular one involved Viktor and Selene.

  A couple of things to remember before going to see 'Underworld': 1) This is not a scare-fest. Just because it features vampires and werewolves does not mean that this is your typical jump-off-your-seat thriller. Go watch or rent '28 Days Later' or 'The Howling' if you want a scary film. 2) This is not a 'The Matrix'-type film. Even though some of the action sequences and costume design are borrowed from 'The Matrix,' this is not a sci-fi film. There are very strong comic book / graphic novel influences but this is probably closer to 'Blade' and 'The Crow' than it is 'The Matrix.' If you can get over these 2 main preconceptions, then you are set to have a good time. And if you enjoyed any of the films that I have compared it to in this review, then don't waste any more time and go see it for yourself!!
  
  

• Kate rocks!! Say no more, say no more...
  By A3GQKB1KF0CRPE on 2004-05-20
  Blade was interesting, but to me it failed emotionally. You just do not connect with the film on the personal level. The effects were super, but that was the main impact..."wow what amazing effects". You feel like breaking out in a chorus of Peggy Lee's Is That All There Is. Special effects alone cannot make a movie great.

  Underworld makes that jump, great FX work, but also gives you characters you really care about, ones that you really love to hate. A strong plot line designed to hook you and keep you, just does that. With the emotional involvement, there is a greater impact, a movie that will demand repeat viewing. Instant Cult Status.

  The movie grabs you from the opening and never lets up with the pace. Firm direction and with a driving score, the movie reaches for perfection. You have a 1000-year-old war between Lycons and Vampires, and it's all coming to a head. It's a well thought out and executed premise and Kate Beckinsale shines! She is an amazing talent. I first adored her work in Cold Comfort Farm as Robert Post's child Flora. When you compare that gentle, deft bit of humor with this kick a*** vampire hunter, it proves what an overlooked talent she is. With Van Helsing out now (and I am sure this movie led to her landing the role), she is finally getting a spotlight she so well deserves.

  A gloomy, atmospheric ambiance to the whole movie is maintained all the way through, adding a strong foundation for the otherworld premise. I am sure some will nitpick things, as all vampire film faces, but kudos for the vibrant energy and sheer edgy feel to the film.

  It leaves you hanging, clearly open for a sequel...one can but hope it maintains this high quality.

  Kate rocks...you don't need to know anymore!
  
  

• Underworld Unrated rocks on Blu-Ray!
  By A1B0JB58LQLFYH on 2007-09-27
  This movie really looks great on Blu-Ray with an AVC encode and the PCM lossless audio is excellent. By the way this movie is also region free (Regions A, B & C) so people can import this if they want to.
  
  
• I DID NOT LIKE IT..... WHY?
  By A1PL8JA0TEHBVN on 2004-03-15
  Because it is loud, full of razzle-dazzle and (most of all) the characters are unattractive and unsympathetic. The story is weak, contrieved and full of umbelievable elements.

  Having said that, I have to say this:
  When I first heard about the movie, I thought "Now that's a great idea... werewolves vs. vampires". But when the film actually began, I discovered I was wrong.

  For me, the problem lies in the fact that this movie does not know what it is. Is it a horror film? Is it an action movie? Is it Sci-Fi? It tries to be "The Matrix" with it's there's-a-higher-plot-behind-this-plot approach. I don't think it works nearly half as well. The story seems quite simple in the beginning with the old narrated explanation formula that sets the story. Then the film goes on forever and new complications keep on coming (and they get to be more and more unbelievable). The screenwriter thought he was constructing a grandiose story... but instead of this he created a pompous story... that's all.

  Then comes the image. Most of the time, it has this annoying effect of flashlighting which supposedly gives the film a "thunder-like" thing thoughout the entire film. This is not new and has been used many times before with great effect. The problem here is exactly that every effect is overdone...

  Then comes the looks. The film has this I've-seen-this-cool-before look that obviously comes from (you guessed it) "Blade" and "The Matrix". Maybe they used the same wardrobe... duh! But the thing that annoys me most is (for instance) the fact that the mansion where the vampires live seems like a lobby of a big disco... (laughs) nice-looking people sitting there doing nothing.

  Then comes the characters... there's simply no one there for you to like!!! They are always full of (too) serious faces expressing the oh-so-big crisis and hidden agendas behind it all. And the story starts to be so pompous that you don't care about what happens next.

  Then comes the ludicrous aspects of the screenplay... werewolves and vampires are engaged in a battle that is centuries old (all this backstory is stupid)... they have lots of technology and weapons (James Bond-like gadgets) and keep on loudly blowing everything that comes in the middle... and yet they are a veeeery secret thing that we humans do not know about. They blow everything and no one ever asks what's going on... Hmmm... ok.... and the cars... They destroy a Jaguar just to have a Maseratti on the next scene....
  It's all too cool to be believable. Keep your copies of "The Matrix" and "Blade" instead. At least these films have much better characters!

  And it is 2 hours long!!!!
  Go check "AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON", "THE HOWLING", "FRIGHT NIGHT" and "NEAR DARK" instead... just to name a few.
  
  

• Unspeakably stupid bulletfest
  By A38NFO9GV7668W on 2004-08-02
  If you enjoy watching black leather-clad morons spray trillions of bullets around, skip this and see _The Matrix_ again. If you like the concept of an updated vampire movie, see _Blade_ again. But at all costs skip this waste of a DVD. Unless I fell asleep during a key exposition sequence (which is possible), I could not make sense of the vampire mythos in this movie. Vampires - immortal creatures - need 'awakening' (resuscitating)? Are they just too lazy to deal with the day-to-day drudgery of immortality? Vampires can faint from *blood loss*? Vampires need CPR after near-drowning events? (Ask yourself during this scene: isn't drowning, being defined as a suppression of the oxygenation of blood, really more of a problem for the living than the undead?) Advice to the Lycans: skip the expensive UV bullets, hit the Home Depot, and attack the vampire HQ with $59.99 chainsaws. Even better, just flood it using $9.99 garden hoses. Worth seeing for a number of laughable sequences, including one in which Beckinsale expends about 1,100 rounds from two handheld automatic pistols to create a Looney Tunes-style hole in the floor to jump down through. (I can suspend my disbelief of Hollywood clip sizes unless I have a scene like this shoved in my face...); also to hear grown people discuss the Lycans in abject fear, although if you're just sitting down to this movie with a bowl of popcorn, you might, like me, hear 'lichens' in your head. ("The lichens! My god, the lichens! They're...slowly growing on mountainside rocks!") Beckinsale in leather is the only redeeming quality. Keep the rest on 8x FF in your DVD player.
  
  
• Superb Blu-ray Hi-def release
  By A2HTJHQOOHAG65 on 2007-09-24
  The film is stylish and highly entertaining. Kate Beckinsale gave a stellar performance in this movie.
  
  Besides many included extra, this Blu-ray release features superb AVC video encoding and outstanding uncompressed PCM 5.1 soundtrack.
  
  You'll enjoy this must buy Blu-ray release.
  
  
• Glad I made the purchase
  By A228JDTKVAUHG8 on 2006-01-18
  I'm so glad I got this extended unrated version. I have the original widescreen DVD that came out first, but with this copy there were so many extras that I decided to grab it also. After watching both of the versions I've decided I'm going to keep both as they have different commentary tracks. The commentary on the extended version with Len, Kate and 'Speedman' was quite funny.
  
  I usually would be very annoyed with having to own more than one copy of something to get all of the extras, but in this case I wasn't too urked, considering the great deals I got on both DVDs.
  
  I picked my extended one from best buy for only $15, and it came with a movie ticket valid for up to $10 off of one ticket for Evolution (only at best buy). I believe the other one was around that cost also.
  
  If you're a big fan who owns the original DVD of the movie I would definetly recommend getting this version too.
  
  I already know what will happen once Evolution comes to DVD: I will run out and buy it immediately, only to buy the new extended, unrated version a year later. ;-)
  
  
• Enter the Underworld
  By A3S7SGHVRPCVLU on 2003-08-26
  Taking an old story with old style monsters and usuing mdern age, Underworld should be a top contender to go. The batte is between the Vampires and Werewolves who's war have been waging for years hiding from the likes of human eyes. But Seline a great Vampire falls in love with a Human who has a special blood in his sytem that will stop the werewolves from being extinct, Now a war will wage on. So what do we expect a good story awesome graphics, and taking an old remdeial story of Romeo and Juliette and putting it in modern age might make this a sure hit. I find it should be exciting and action packed to the max. So what should everyone do find the piece of the story everyone will enjoy and go see this movie, looking great.
  
  
• Cool, but cloudy
  By A2EJP1CB7YGPNK on 2004-01-15
  "Underworld" was released in the fall, which is appropriate, because it's like an autumn night. It's dark, it's cool, and at times, it can be rather cloudy.

  The basic plot is straightforward. Vampires and werewolves war with each other, for an ancient, unknown reason. The vampires live in big mansions, the werewolves live in the sewers. Both sides have adapted to using modern technology in their quest to rid the Underworld of the other. Along the way, the Lycans are looking for a human that may hold the key to shifting the war in their favor.

  On the positive side, this movie looks cool. The background, costumes, scenery, and music portray a dark, gothic world. The weapons are also sleek and stylish.

  On the other hand, the acting is usually stale, and the plot gets bumpy and disjointed. And Kate Beckinsale does look cool, once you get finished laughing at the idea of her being an action heroine. (That's silly, sillier than Michael Keaton as Batman, but not as silly as Denise Richards as a nuclear scientist from "The World is Not Enough.")
  
  

• "The Matrix" meets "Blade" -- and goes home
  By A11YV6VC51HJTV on 2004-01-29
  This was definitely on my list of the worst films of 2003. A boring monster flick starring Kate Beckinsale (who really is a good actress and should have known better), this movie is ostensibly about an age-old conflict between vampires and werewolves. Instead, it's a remarkably tired and predictable plot that exists mainly as an excuse to show Beckinsale in tight leather. The dialogue is awful, the storyline (ooooh, what a big mystery) was obvious from the first frame, and the climactic battle scene relied on one of those movie moments that's so ridiculous you feel compelled to shout out, "Oh, COME ON!" in the middle of the movie theater. To be fair, Bill Nighy did make a suitably creepy villain, but he deserved a better movie to do it in. Pass on this flick and rent one of the movies it tried to rip off -- "The Matrix" and "Blade." Both of them are far more worthy of your time.
  
  
• It howls, it bites
  By A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ on 2004-02-02
  There are two kinds of directorial debuts. There are the kinds that instantly establish directors as critically-acclaimed and immensely talented, and then there are movies like "Underworld." Len Wiseman's vampires vs. werewolves flick had so much promise, and just about all of it is squandered.

  The vampires and Lycans have been at war for centuries, for reasons that are revealed later in the movie. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is one of the vampires whose sole duty and purpose is to hunt down and kill the Lycans (a "death dealer," har har) with guns that shoot silver bullets. The Lycans, in turn, fire ultraviolet bullets that can kill the vampires. Whatever.

  Enter Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), a young human who is being followed by the Lycans. Selene is intrigued by why he's important to the Lycans, but unfortunately he's been bitten by one, and is now in danger of becoming one. To uncover the answers about why Corvin is important, Selene will uncover the truth about both the Lycan and vampire races -- and secrets about her own past.

  There hasn't been a halfway decent vampire flick in uncounted years, or a decent werewolf flick in even longer. Looks like that Taking "Underworld" even semi-seriously is hard to do; it's like the unwanted illegitimate child of "Matrix" and "Blade," without the appeal of either. The special effects are okay, but the story and action (not to mention the near-nonexistant romance) are as cold and clammy as a vampire's kiss.

  Wiseman's clumsiness is shown vividly in the action scenes, which are all cloned from "Matrix" -- lots of bullets, swirling leather and antigravity jumps. And some humor might have elevated this film to action camp, but heroes and villains alike are so earnest that they almost come across as goofy. There are plenty of gaping plot holes that could have been avoided (why do vampires spend all their time lounging around?), but Wiseman apparently doesn't bother to try spackling them shut.

  Kate Beckinsale, a talented young actress, is horribly wasted here. Most of her time is spent pouting and wearing how-can-she-move leather. Her chemistry with Speedman is nil, which is good, since the romance between them is also virtually nonexistant. Speedman does what he can, but he doesn't have much to work with. Bill Nighy alone gets to chew the scenery as senior vamp Viktor.

  Relentlessly hokey and humorless, "Underworld" is an effort to elevate style over substance. In the end, it doesn't have either. Watch it with some friends to mock it, but otherwise don't bother.
  
  

• Every Vampire/Werewolf fan's wet dream.
  By A1E110L9ZKX6FD on 2003-09-26
  Lets start off with this. If you are not a fan of Vampire or Werewolf movies avoid this movie with all caution.

  With that said being an avid fan of both the immortal Vampire and the immortal Werewolf this was quite a cool concept when I first heard about it. So how does it pay off? Quite nice. First the casting. Kate Beckingsale has found her calling here. For those who did not know the actress before she is sure to get quite a fan base as the "Death Dealer" Selene. "Death Dealers" are a group of Vampires who are always on the hunt for the Lykens (Werewolves). She is hell bent on her mission too as she kicks major Vampire ass as a focused assassin of the Lykens. Lots of "Death Dealing" here. In addition to Kate the supporting cast does a convincing job here in their rolls. Each member delivers their lines with the utmost seriousness which really adds to the movie for me.

  The basic story is there is a war between the Lykens and the Vampires. However I do not want to spoil what gets them into this war as that is a major plot point that does unfold very nicely as the movie moves along. I can tell you both are looking for a human named Michael who plays a pivotal part in which way this war will go. There is a huge mystery as to why he wanted so much by the Lykens and the Vampires want him to find out. However Michael himself does not even know the answer, yet. Sound a bit confusing? One thing that was smart about the movie is unlike what the previews elude to it being an action movie it is not. It really does a great job at character development and telling of the story. With that being said this is one to really go and see for yourself and not let someone spoil the good parts for you by reading a review that gives away too much.

  The visuals are wonderful. Very dark as they should be for the theme of this movie. Not one shred of day light at all really.

  Worth your time if you are a Vampire or Werewolf fan.

  Visit IMBUEnet "dot" com
  
  

• Reasonable Vampre/Werewolf Flick, but Lacks Originality
  By ABO2ZI2Y5DQ9T on 2003-12-05
  "Underworld" has two great things in it; beautiful images and elegant Kate Beckinsale. Period. Except for them, you get nothing particularly special about it -- the actions are not new, the acting is not good, and most of all the story is very slow-moving and uninvolving.

  "Underworld" is, some say, the Romeo and Juliet story in vimpire/werewolf version. This account is quite misleading. It is about Ms Beckinsale's Selene, deadly assassin with guns among the vampire clan. They are fighting the bloody war so long with the now-outnumbered werewolves (Lycans, they are called), so no one remembers the original cause of the war. So, Selene is told to kill, and she kills. So far so good.

  And the opening subway gun-shooting scenes are reasonably done. And Scott Speedman's doctor named Michael enters as the possible target of the Lycans. Selene only seems aware of the fact that Michael has some secret he doesn't know, but the leader of the Lycans (Michael Sheen) is desperately after. Now the plot is going to thicken.

  But it doesn't. Soon we get confused because of the very clumsy storytelling, i.e. talk, talk, talk, which includes many monologues, intricate relations of characters, and some ritualsa and traditions about the dynasty of old, sleeping vampires. Some are intrigued by these webs of facts, but I must say ... Isn't this supposed to be Romeo and Juliet?

  The director Len Wiseman unaccountably doesn't show any interest in the relations between Beckinsale and Speedman. This misguided choice kills any potential power they might have been given; instead, we start to lose interest in them. How should we care these uninteresting characters?

  If you have seen "Blade" "Blade 2" or the first "Crow", don't expect the actions, which lack originality. Not that they are bad -- far from it. But the fact remains that we have seen more exciting and unique ones in them, and to make matters worse, for all the inclusion of creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos, the werewolves are not convincing.

  We got good production designs including the cobbled streets of Budapest; we got credible and often very sinister atomospher. Still we need more power, or elegance, or humor, or anything here, which might heighten the tension between the two clans. We need danger, and only in danger Beckinsale's death dealer starts to shine.
  
  

• Very good, but it will require a brain to follow.
  By on 2003-09-26
  If you could not follow the movie, give up. I am very tired of hearing about people that cannot follow the Matrix or any sci-fi movie that requires some kind of intellect to follow. Maybe we can have theaters pause movies every ten minutes so the room can get together and discuss what is happening before it is too far into the movie for some to follow. Amazing.

  This movie was well done. I must admit I had read harsh reviews and wasn't expecting much. It's full of eyecandy and if you like the idea of a dark and different story then go for it. I'm not a die hard vampire / werewolf fan so it may not be as accurate as expected, but overall the movie was quite fun.
  
  

• Great premise, Great execution, Edgy Movie - Quite good
  By A2V5HMKYATEC9R on 2003-10-09
  This is quite a good first time movie from the director and co-screenwriters. They've created a deep and dark universe where Vampires and Werewolves have been warring for centuries and filled it with interesting characters. The setting seems Londonish with hints of Eastern Europe with a dash of Blade Runner. There's lot of rain and underground tunnels to stalk through. And there are several corners for death to lurk around.

  The Vampires are decadent, the Werewolves gritty and their conflicts both high-tech and hard punching. Fight scenes are both stylized and horrific. Not a lot of gore but enough for me to give it 4 stars. It's not for everybody. But if you liked Blade, The Crow and the first two Alien movies, you'll probably like this one. Underworld has been compared to The Matrix and there are some things similar but not enough for it to seem derivative. It's possible to see several influences in Underworld but it has enough fresh material to be a very new on the Vampires vs Werewolves battles.

  I didn't realize this was a starting point for a trilogy but this movie works as either the first episode or as a stand-alone story. Underworld is the story of the Vampire Death Dealer Selene. Played wonderfully by Kate Beckinsale, Selene is driven, ruthless, tough and more vulnerable than she knows. This is her tale of self-awakening and a changing of the world for the Vampire and Werewolves Clans.

  Just about everything works in this movie. There's a good mix of background, lots of action, great characters and a premise that hangs together. The mythology is well described and seems to be thought out very well. Every character has an agenda and no one is to be trusted too much. It's definitely worth a look. I'm looking forward to the next in the series, should it come to pass.
  
  

• Too bad,no option for negative stars..Derivative trash, dull
  By A1ERZIZ48CBCSB on 2003-12-30
  An utter waste of time. Save your money. I saw this on the big screen at a second run theatre. As I LOVE vampire movies, this sounded so promising...a sexy, high-style love story between a vampire girl and werewolve boy. Well, the PR people deserve a bonus for coming with THAT hogwash! Be forewarned: this isn't "Buffy" and there is no romance here at all. I don't think the characters hardly touched, let alone have a "love affair". One minor character appears to have had an interspecies romance in the far past, but it's not gone into. Set in England (or somewhere), it's very hard to tell, but most of the Eurotrash looking actors have British accents.

  Every cool movie of the last decade is mined here -- the bleak, colorless noir of "The Crow", the wire-work stunts and long leather coats of "The Matrix", the kick ass action of both "Blade" films, the vampire "king" from "Interview with the Vampire" and every Anne Rice novel ever written -- but to absolutely no effect. What plot there is, is nearly incomphrensible. The general principles of vampirism or werewolvism are disregarded...werewolves change at whim, and both silver bullets and daylight no longer work as in traditional tales.

  Kate Beckinsale, a fine young actress, is wasted in this garbage. What on earth could have convinced her to take this part? At least she looks great, wearing Michelle Pfieffer's catsuit from "Batman". Every one else in the film is so pitifully incompetent that it would add further injury to even name them. Trust me, this won't appear on anybody's resume.

  By midway, I was nodding off. If I'd been at home, I am sure I would have fallen asleep. One boring shoot out after another, often with very unclear results. The ending clears up nothing whatsoever about the "plot", which is nearly nonexistent.

  This is one of the worst movies I saw in 2003, and possibly the worst vampire/werewolf movie ever made. Abbot and Costello meet Dracula is Oscar material in comparison with this howling dog. AVOID AT ALL COSTS, even if it shows up on cable.
  
  

• a beginning
  By A32W6O80V2Y4QW on 2004-01-21
  Underworld is an ambitious movie, but to appreciate it one needs to understand that it is the first installment in a trilogy. Also, and this is important, Underworld tells a story. I suspect that this will be a better story when all three parts of the trilogy are filmed and can be viewed in one sitting.

  Perhaps a third of Underworld's two hours is no-holds-barred battle between Lycans and vampires, waged sometimes with stylish modern weaponry, sometimes with tooth and claw. The remainder is exposition, back-story, character interaction and plot movement. As a storytelling vehicle, conflicts rage on many levels through the film: a conflict between elder and younger vampires in the Covens; a conflict between Lycans and vampires; Selene's inner conflict as she reconciles her ages-old hatred of Lycans with her feelings for an innocent newly introduced to the Lycan-vampire blood feud and her unquestioning loyalty to a vampire Elder who had been like a father to her for centuries...

  As a stand-alone film, Underworld is not perfect, but it is trying to do a lot in two hours: give us the back-story of the ancient feud between Lycans and Vampires; introduce us to the vampire Covens and the Elders ; introduce Selene and the Death-dealers, give us a glimpse into the Lycan culture; introduce us to Michael Corvin and Selene and Kraven and other notables; illustrate their strengths and weaknesses...

  It succeeds in several interesting ways. There is a point in the film where our understanding of who and what the principals are, our understanding of what motivates them, shifts. This is the sort of thing that many who went to see the film will hate. It's time spent away from the flash of claws and baring of teeth. It is, though, very satisfying from a storytelling and character perspective. It enhances Underworld's replay value, makes a second or third watching of the movie more interesting because characters we know from the first hour are more fully developed by the end of the film, and more interesting for it.

  Underworld doesn't throw one side at another until one side 'wins'. Underworld is several stories: a love story, yes, but more than that it is several characters' efforts to resolve an ancient conflict between Lycans and vampires, each in their own way. We begin the film with Selene and her Death Dealer comrades looking down on their prey, each single-mindedly dedicated to hunting the Lycans down, one by one, until the last. By the end of the film, Underworld has given us a glimpse into the true nature of the conflict and the true character of its principals.

  In sum, what weakens the first film is what may make the trilogy interesting. If Underworld had been non-stop battle, a second and third movie would feel more like installments in a franchise and less like what I think they will be: the middle and end-point in a six or seven hour story.

  Final note: Casting was quite good with each character (Beckinsale's Selene, Speedman's Michael, Viktor, Lucian, et. al.) delivering a performance that matched their character nicely. Special effects were also quite good. The sound track tried a little too hard at points to give the film an edge, didn't always sync up. Overall though, high marks.
  
  

• Underworld - Evolution (Fullscreen Special Edition)
• The Fifth Element
• Hellboy (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• Troy (Two-Disc Full Screen Edition)
• Resident Evil - Extinction (Widescreen Special Edition)