Underworld (Unrated) [Blu-ray] 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 2004-03-02
  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
  
  

• Underwhelm is more like it

  
  By A24D0DENA8N7GH on 2003-09-30
  I really wanted to like this movie, a lot. First, it has Kate Beckinsale, who I have loved and followed ever since she appeared in "Cold Comfort Farm" (hopefully my wife understands). She's pretty, personable, and, in this film, very sexy looking. But for whatever reason the director fails to take advantage of her presence.

  As far as plot goes, apparently vampires and werewolves, or as they are called in the film, lycans, have been at war for centuries. Beckinsale is Selene, a vampire who specializes in hunting and killing lycans. Early in the movie, she discovers that lycans are tracking a human, Scott Speedman, but can't figure out why (and guess what, she's a very high tech vamp). Her curiosity causes her to come into conflict with the present leaders of the vampires and to, naturally, meet and fall in love with Speedman.

  As the story progresses, she uncovers a plot to overthrow the current vampire hierarchy and, in the one clever twist to the plot, also learns that she may have more in the common with the lycans than she thought.

  The film is beautifully shot in a blue tint, but for some reason, its almost constantly raining throughout the film. Apparently vampires don't have to worry about black mold problems in their homes. There also seem to be problems with the passage of time. It seems obvious that all the action is taking place over several days, but its always night throughout the film and we never get any indication that daylight has come and gone.

  It is also apparent that all the action is taking place in an old, unnamed European city (Budapest in reality), but apparently Americans are studying medicine there with no language difficulties. Speedman appears to be a med student and works at a hosptial with other Americans.

  The special effects are, well, not too special and the overall plot is just trying to be way too clever for its own good. The filmmakers clearly want to keep us guessing about exactly what is going on throughout the movie, but its obvious in watching the actors who is going to turn out to be a bad guy (a relative term in a film about werewolves and vampires). Moreover, other than Beckinsale, most of the acting is pretty bad.

  There are also plenty of illogical moments, particularly given the wealth of vampire lore with which most viewers would be familiar. At one point Speedman saves Beckinsale from drowning and essentially resusitates her. Excuse me, but aren't vampires pretty much immortal and capable of being killed by only a limited number of means? Last time I checked, drowning was not among them. And other than Beckinsale and a few other key characters, these have got to be some of the wimpiest vampires to appear on celluloid.

  The film also seems to strain against its budget, esspecially in the special effects department. Who would think that the old Lon Chaney, Jr. wolfman could be more convincing than modern CGI werewolves (at least I think it was CGI)? But that's exactly how I felt while watching this movie. Its too bad that they've squandered what could have been a very cool film by saddling it with a bad plotline and poor effects.

  Still, the film is worth viewing for the excellent cinematography and Kate Beckinsale. And get ready for "Underworld II" as the ending makes it clear someone is already planning on a sequel.
  
  

• 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!
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  

• Good vampire action film, not the greatest.
  By AEDLJZMLDDGWA on 2003-09-30
  If you want to see gun blazing action between werewolves and vampires, Underworld delivers. However, I feel it is overshadowed by other vampire movies (Blade, Blade 2) which have far superior fight coreography and character developement. The werewolves are probably the most interresting part of the movie. The visual effects of their transformations are awe inspiring. The vampires seem to be whimpy. They don't have the superhuman powers normally posesses by vampires. They are strong, but where are the super senses? The stealth? In one scene one of the vampires stands in a beam of sunlight (?) and looks into a dark hole in the wall, unable to make out the werewolf hiding in the darkness. What's wrong with this picture? The beautifully sculpted Beckensale is hypnotic to watch in her skin-tight leather outfit. She does a good job acting the part and leading the film but she needs to play paintball a few times to learn how to move her hands like a real experienced gunfighter. The pistols she uses seem to have an unlimited suply of ammunition. They're fully automatic and can blast away for about a minute without a fresh magazine. I know a lot of firearms depicted in movies seem to have these "dream magazines," but to those of us who know a thing or two about firearms, it completely drains the illusionary world the film is trying to create.
  All in all, it's a decent action vampire film with good visual effects. You might want to wait for the rental on this one.
  
  
• 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
  
  

• 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!
  
  

• 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.
  
  
• Social Commentary Packaged in Action Packed Tale
  By A1E94T4GW7O149 on 2004-12-26
  Underworld is by far the slickest and most creative Vampire movie ever. The movie begins with Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a 'death dealer' who kills Lycans (Werewolves) as she recounts the tale of the six-century blood feud involving the Vampires and Lycans. Selene among other death dealers catches sight of Lycans and pursue into the subway. A gunfight follows as the Lycans draw first blood. In the melee a newly invented Ultra Violet bullet kills one of the death dealers. She pursues the Lycans into the tunnels where she discovers a den of Lycans - all ready and willing to attack. Selene returns to the Vampire abode to inform, Kraven (Shane Brolly), that something is afoot and that specifically she should investigate it. Kraven scoffs at the idea but sends someone in her stead. Trapped in the mansion Selene examines post operation photos and discovers that the target was a human.
  
  Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) is the target of this 'man-hunt.' In defiance of Kraven's orders Selene sets out to and finds Corvin. Corvin is subsequently bitten by Lucian (Michael Sheen) - the Lycan leader (who is purported to have been slayed by Kraven) - for a sample of his blood. Corvin, it is discovered, is a descendant of gene pool that extend back to Corvinus - who, it is reputed, was able to take the Lycan, and Vampire combination without dying - a true hybrid. This brings up an interesting angle in the movie... the movie has a sub-plot playing a genetic angle that will play itself out later in the story. For now, suffice it to know that there is a strong sense of 'Us' vs. 'Them' with the Lycans seen as soiling the pure genetic line of the Vampires. The plot thickens when Selene gets wind of Kraven's duplicity and tries to find solace in Victor (Bill Nighy), earlier than was scheduled in her quest to stop Kraven. Underworld is a remarkable movie not just for the mis-en-scene, the stunning visuals, and the creative makeup of the Werewolves as well as the stellar performance of Kate Beckinsale as Selene - but because of the social commentary that underlies the movie. The notion of the preservation of the bloodline comes to presence early and everyone is good and everyone is bad - no either/or here - its all about both/and. The skillful plot turnaround with Selene, Victor and Lucian is indicative of very creative writing. Be cognizant that in order for Selene to effect the Corvin transformation he had to have been bitten by Lucian first. I am hopeful that a sequel is in the works. The movie moves on a myriad of levels and the supporting characters that help move the story along - characters like Erika (Sophia Myles) help the story along. Underworld brings together drama, social commentary, and action in one space of consideration.
  
  As I rushed out to get this DVD, I was really impressed by the many extras that are explored in the same. One gets a real sense of the complexity of the sets, the costumes and writing by checking out the extra features. Despite the many clichés, the movie is new, fresh, and yet deliciously dark. I wait with much anticipation, as mentioned previously, for a sequel - wishing both to see what happens to Selene and to learn more about the Vampire and Lycan past - and who knows, maybe even a future.
  
  Miguel Llora
  
  
• 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'.
  
  
• 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.
  
  

• So what. Big deal.
  By A2OY590A56XV5H on 2004-02-24
  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.
  
  
• The Vampire / Werewolf / Matrix / Blade Movie
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2004-11-23
  Kate Beckinsale makes a mean vampire, proving once and for all that she was wasted in Van Helsing - but then, everybody in that movie was miscast, and that's another review altogether.
  
  Beckinsale is Selene, a younger, giddier Trinity with a matching wardrobe and gravity defying skills, combined with a romantic interest who seems to be "The One" everybody's after.
  
  Scott Speedman plays said love interest, and soon discovers that there are creatures literally out for his blood. Faced with the cruel fact that having been once bitten, he's going to get no lovin' during a full moon, he realises that Selene is his only hope for survival.
  
  Meanwhile, back at Vampire HQ, OIC Kraven also has the hots for cute Kate, and gets mighty upset when she runs off with wolf boy instead of joining him for a bite.
  
  The main plotline involves the movie stealing lycan Lucian (Michael Sheen), who wants everybody to just get along.
  
  To complicate matters, Selene plays reanimator, and wakes up a sleeping Bill Nighy for a little advice. This strange casting choice totally confused me, having just watched "Love Actually", and I kept expecting Bill/Viktor to break into song at any moment. Unfortunately, just as he was warming up to the task at hand, he lost his head a little, and couldn't "feel it in his fingers" any longer.
  
  The special effects are superb, the sound is excellent and the gore is...gory. A perfect choice if it's Kate Beckinsale that makes your blood flow.
  
  Amanda Richards, November 23, 2004
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Overall this film was a good action-filled goth-thriller
  By A19VMQDCB4HZ9P on 2004-08-06
  Len Wiseman's Underworld has to be taken for what it is: an action film dressed up in goth-couteur with vampires and werewolves. This film doesn't have the scares of other films that include either a vampire or a werewolf or both. It is without any kind of apology a dark, gothic action film.
  
  Underworld's story owes alot to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and White Wolf Gaming's Werewolf: Rage and Vampire the Masquerade. Any fans of those two pen-and-paper urban gothic role-playing game would see alot of similarities in Wiseman's film. The film starts off pretty quickly and doesn't really let up until the final scene. There are a few scenes sprinkled throughout the film to let the viewer catch its breath. These scenes would be just as good as the action sequences if not for the scenery-chewing of Shane Brolly's Kraven. Looking like a stereotypical Euro-trash vampire, Brolly's Kraven doesn't know the meaning of understated acting. Some have mentioned that Bill Nighy's vampire elder Viktor does the same, but I thought Nighy's performance was very convincing and very in-character.
  
  The person who really holds the film together was Kate Beckinsale. Who knew that she could be convincing as an action-heroine. Her petite form and soft-spoken demeanor actually gives her ass-kicking character some sex-appeal and both fuses well together. It didn't hurt that she pretty much spent almost the entire lenght of the film in some outfit that was all black, and either leather or latex or a combination of both. Ms. Beckinsale is both hot and dangerous in this film.
  
  The action sequences owes alot of The Matrix and the other imitators that showed up after the release of that film. Unlike, most Matrix imitators, Underworld doesn't overuse the slo-mo, 360-degree shots that the Wachowski Brothers' film made popular. The FX work for the werewolf change is done well, but sometimes when the Were's arrive on the scene in large groups it still has a certain artificial look to them. But overall, the film's FX work was good enough to avoid scrutiny.
  
  Len Wiseman has already announced that Underworld 2 will be made once everyone involved in the first film get their schedules straightened out. The ending of this film really needs a sequel to continue the story that really just started with this film. Underworld is fun and a rollercoaster of a goth-action-thriller.
  
  
• 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!!
  
  

• 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.
  
  

• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  

• 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.
  
  
• Jungle Fever
  By A2AX102C9F65WA on 2004-01-13
  Underworld. I have come to hate these kinds of films. The kind of films were art direction is the soul of the movie, and the script becomes an afterthought. Maybe even less than that. With its decadent costumes and constant visual blasts of post-industrial color schemes, Underworld is obsessed with its own image. For two hours, we are taken for a ride through a monochromatic labyrinth of boredom, where a nameless gothic paradise (we may call it Budapest) is the center of an apocalyptic war between vampire and "werewolf" that has raged for, oh, ages. Only in this image obsessed film, the old-school term werewolf is replaced by the much cooler title of lycan. YAWN. But this war isn't about justice, vengeance, freedom, or ideology, although it pretends it is; no, the conflict in Underworld is about action scenes so sadly derivative of The Matrix, they look like out-takes (Blade and The Crow also pop in to say hi). Once again, instead of well choreographed action involving skill, we get camera tricks. And lot's of bullets. What's up with that? Instead of supernatural combat, we get mundane, unoriginal street gang warfare. YAWN.

  What skeleton of a plot the film does have has something to do with an annoying racial metaphor between werewo, er, I mean lycan and vampire. It seems the CGI lycans were once slaves of the vampires, and treated like, well, dogs. And of course, wouldn't you know it, one of these savage, inferior lycans had an affair with the daughter of the Grand Dragon of the KKK, or rather, the lord vampire, who, as it turns out, is the best thing in this film. HA! You can guess what happened once he found darling daughter shaming her blood. From there, the plot attempts to establish that miscegenation is a revolutionary act, one that will ultimately lead to a better race. YAWN. However, this garden-variety liberal noise is buried by self-conscious poses and variations in grey. You know, the important stuff. Kate Beckinsale does a wonderful job of, well, scowling, and, er, everyone else looks cool, I guess. The digital transformations of the lycans only makes one yearn for Rick Baker, while the soundtrack is so nice and trendy. In the end, Underworld is another reminder as to why horror films are on the bottom of the genre food chain. I'm done.
  
  

• Give me Blade anyday!
  By A319SKSB556033 on 2004-02-15
  Take Blade and add most of The Crow and The Matrix and you have this. The latter two I didn't particularly enjoy and Underworld was just as dull and messy as the trailer made it out to be.

  Amidst a clutter of cliched sets, impossible to differentiate from each other, and heavily overused lightning and rain (I'm sure there are OTHER ways of creating a gothic atmosphere) an uninteresting and meandering plot slowly fizzles to life. Apparently Vampires and Werewolves have been fighting for years but a couple of them want the war to end. But with no indication of who is good and bad and the lack of a clearly defined hero there's no way to engage with the characters and no reason to care what happens to them.

  The SFX are of the jumping thru the air in slow motion while spinning and shooting and doing the laundry variety. Nothing you haven't seen a zillion times before. It wasn't interesting the first hundred times I saw it and this movie is no exception.

  As you might expect from a movie of this sort, the music is nothing but someone murdering a thrash metal guitar. It's just noise and chaos that matches the incoherent blur onscreen. Many elements of this film lead to exciting possibilities but they've all been thrown away in favor of easy trash. Technically efficient it may well be but Underworld is a failure on every other level.

  And what's with the title. At no point in the entire movie is there interaction with the 'real' world. Just a load of running around in sewers and darkly lit mansion corridors. The sense of having an insight into a world that is not meant to be seen by human eyes is non-existent. Even the kidnapped human acts as if the discovery of Vampires and Werewolves is nothing to out of the ordinary.

  Highlyclichedlookinggothicmovieworld would have been a more appropriate title.

  The one star is purely for Kate Beckinsdale in a leather outfit.

  I have the DTS Region 3 edition of this movie. It has a great DTS soundtrack (wow, now can really appreciate the mind-numbingly loud sound effects and awful music). And the 2.35:1 anamorphic picture is super. But no matter how good looking it is, Underworld is still terrible.
  
  

• 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. ;-)
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Romeo and Juliet of the Underworld
  By A39WM5BQ54J8XY on 2004-01-07
  I have never been much of a vampire movie buff, but I truly enjoyed this one. Perhaps it is my own lack of imagination that has led me to believe there aren't many angles left to explore for this genre, but this movie version of Kazimieras G. Prapuolenis' comic strip "Underworld" may have just proven me wrong, having explored whatever angles were left. I've never read the comic strip, so I can't say whether or not the movie sticks with the strip; but the movie is riveting nevertheless.
  
  Underworld had my attention from the very beginning all the way to the end. Considering the fact that this story could easily have enough material for a mini-series, the director masterfully and mercifully edits the story and footage; crafting a well-made movie without lulls or unnecessary scenes, which keeps the story moving at all times. There is a Romeo & Juliet type surprise, but it will not be evident for most of the movie.
  
  One of the great things about this movie is that it has a dark, Gothic feel to it that pervades the cinematography of entire movie, which provides the perfect setting for a vicarious ride into the Underworld.
  
  Now for the story: the Lycans are werewolf rebels, the Vampires are immortal overlords and there is a great deal of lamentatious history between the two of them. There are over five hundred years of animosity between the Lycans and Vampires, most of which is covered in parts of the movie's dialog or storyline.
  
  Seline (Kate Beckinsale) is jaded and nonconforming; yet she is incredibly beautiful and soon discovers a softness underneath her hard exterior. Believing that the Lycans murdered her family when she was a child, Seline devotes herself to exterminating all Lycans from existence with extreme prejudice alongside the other members of her Lycan-killing vampire clan, the Death Dealers.
  
  One day, she encounters a situation where a human becomes involved in the struggle. Up to this point no human has ever been made aware of the happenings in the Underworld. Having been bitten by a Lycan, the human, named Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), is purposefully left alive. He has been targeted by the Lycans for reasons unknown to him or the vampires. But the Lycans know, thanks to the dark master of the Lycan horde, Lucian. Lucian is known only through legend and thought to have died long ago, but he is back; and he has a deviously diabolical plot to get revenge on the vampires. In particular, his undying and justifiably livid grievance is with Viktor (Bill Lighy), a brazen, arrogant, and stoic supreme Vampire overlord who has been in a medically induced slumber for two hundred years. You will find out what that grievance is in the movie.
  
  There is also connection between the character Kraven (Shane Brolly) and Lucian that I will not divulge. But he is a power hungry, aristocratic vampire with ambitions of securing a place of power within the hierarchy vampire elders; and is willing to do whatever it takes to do it.
  
  So how did all the contention start? Watch the movie and find out.
  
  Although some may feel that the relationship between Seline and Michael was not explored deep enough, I think it was developed just enough; further development of their relationship would have made the film too long. Aside from that minor quip, which is not my complaint, I think most people who watch it with an open mind will enjoy the movie. For some, this has the making of a cult classic, and I think I may just be one of them (and I do not particularly like this genre).
  
  

• Underworld Evolution [Blu-ray]
• Hellboy (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]
• The Fifth Element (Remastered) [Blu-ray]
• Spider-Man - The High Definition Trilogy (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 / Spider-Man 3) [Blu-ray]
• Bram Stoker's Dracula [Blu-ray]