Rating: Summary: "Blunderworld" Review: Wow, a Romeo and Juliet with vampires and werewolves... "Underworld" looked like it was going to be great, but it was a huge disappointment. The story has been overkilled so many times. The action lacks style. The special effects weren't very special. A kindergartner can draw better werewolves with his or her foot. I'm sorry, but do not watch this waste.
Rating: Summary: beautiful theme, if you can get past the mud Review: The trailer's theme of "which side will you choose?" actually prompted me to not waste the $10 + in the movie theater; I finally opted to rent the movie on DVD. Initially, I refrained from my attempt to turn off the player after 10 minutes, 20, 30; I had hoped that there was a good storyline in the end. Turns out, it wasn't so bad after all. I truly adored the Lycan attempt for peace by creating a hybrid species -- indeed, an attempt stemmed by the love between Lucian and Sonia, the vampyric daughter of Viktor. This melding is further paralled by the attraction (not really love) between Selene and Michael. Unfortunately, I felt the story is muddied by the mortal battling with guns (although the speciess-specific bullets were a cool idea), and the overemphasis on the war. Selene's handguns sounding like AK47s were a little much. More time should have been spent on the history of the war: what few scenes shown were done so rather sketchily, with a purposed blur. Kudos to Kevin Grevioux (Raze) for the genetic species idea (Kevin's genetic engr. background is indicated in the special features section) and to Michael Sheen (Lucian), who really has the only character that shows any emotion. The movie leaves room for a sequel; I might be willing to entertain, but perhaps may wait again for the DVD.
Rating: Summary: Booooooooooooooooo Review: This movie blows big bloody chunks. Don't believe what the trailers say about this movie. They make you believe that this film is about a on going war between Vampires and Werewolves...Lycans, with a Romeo and Juilet twist. All lies. The so called Vampires are just people with pointy teeth and the Werewolves...oops I mean Lycans are just weird mutants. The so called Romeo and Juilet love story is nothing of the sort, you get the idea that they kinda MAYBE *like* each other but nothing worth sticking your neck out over. They have zero chemistry, zero attaction and ZERO love. The plot is as thin as a greasy piece of paper, there's no real character development and you can hardly understand what the heck is going on cause all they do is show flashy images and people...oops I mean "vampires" and were-- "Lycans" SHOOTING each other up. The movie tries to be as action packed as the Matrix and fails and as cool as Blade and fails even worse. It barely even held my attention. I was going to give the movie two stars for the set and costume designs et al, but that's what's wrong with this movie and every other movie like it. Films that rely on cool backgrounds, camera tricks and costumes instead of great writing and acting. I will no longer give extra points just because some art director managed to put together a great color scheme for a big room where a bunch of boring events take place. I don't watch films for decorating tips I watch to be entertained and to lose myself in a great story, this movie provided none of that and therefore I took away my star, I only wish I could take the other one away too.
Rating: Summary: CHOMP.....! Review: What a Great Howler, or is it Hisser? AN EXCELLENT, SEVERELY UNDERRATED look into the contemporary world of the undead [although judging by their speed - we'ed never know]. "Cute" plot though almost Shakesperian in concept, gorgeous vampire hunter - err, she's a vampire and she hunts ... Lycos [werewolves]. Seems that 'the system' split a few centuries ago - one or other "Romeo & Juliet" moment gone horribly wrong [but that's very hush-hush] - the 'hairies' went their butch way, and the 'hissies' swooshed off to their mansions. The Lycos are kind of the wild biker-boy type today .... no "Where Gals" in site ..... the Vamps? Well, that's what they kind of do - Vamp - skulk, lounge and just look like coked-out supermodels - draining the odd glass of red liquid [biting is so passe] ANYHOO - Seline {Kate B.} out gal with brains and beauty feels that something's afoot and investigates why the Lycos are hunting a human [now there's a hidden agenda ...] during this course she specacularly resurrects her Mentor/StepFather/LORD of the Vampires {he's been hi-teched in the basement of the mansion for a few centuries alongside another VampLord - also dormant}. Transformations are good [they remind of Ancient Egypt the Anubis~Bastet dynasty] - and we are treated to a spectalular underground showdown. Costumes, Set Decor, Music - all superior! WORTHY OF A SEQUEL!
Rating: Summary: Underachiever Review: This is very ambitious film about vampires and werewolves. Apparently, vampires and werewolves (or "lycans" - apparently "werewolf" was too mundane a moniker for the filmmakers) have been warring with each other for centuries, right up to the present day. We get to see plenty of flashbacks throughout this historical war, and this sub-story is the best part of the movie. The rest consists of the modern-day adaptation of these creatures - vampires that make artificial blood, perform genetic experiments, and have computerized storage for the undead. In some respects this is interesting, since if these creatures did exist they would probably adapt in this way. But I was far more interested in the backstory, of which we see too little. There's a weak love story, brought down by Kate Beckinsale's knock-off matrix performance - we've already seen the pouty, emotionless hot brunette in latex, haven't we? - and an interesting twist involving who the real bad guys are. But for the most part it's harmless action, peppered with peaks of an interesting story that's not fully developed. I recommend renting, not buying. It's not going to have much repeat watchability. Although the concept is interesting, it's not pulled off in a convincing way. It could have been much better with a more dynamic female lead, a bad guy who wasn't such a weanie (Michael Sheen as Lucian).
Rating: Summary: The worst movie I've seen since Glitter Review: This is the worst movie I've seen since Glitter. And at least Glitter was good for a few laughs. I really enjoy horror movies (The Howling, Evil Dead, etc), and I enjoy a good bit of entertaining action (Blade), but this movie was neither scary nor entertaining. I've never written a review before, but seeing this piece of garbage pop up on my screen as a "Top Seller" really inspired me.
Rating: Summary: Can't Wait for the Sequel! Review: Granted that I have never played the Vampire the Masquerade and fully knowing that White Wolf is in the process of suing Underworld claiming that they ripped off a story they made years ago I still loved this movie. Interesting story, great special effects, nice acting and well planned out battle scenes. Their take on the struggle between Were Wolves and Vampires is most refreshing and original (Were Wolves being slaves of the Vampires then revolting centuries early). This modern tale of their battle is very well done. As a role playing game publisher myself and someone who plays role- playing games this is one that I, as a gamer, would call a gamers movie. I don't know how the lawsuit between White Wolf and the makers of Underworld will pan out but the seeds are already in the making for a sequel and I for one would love to see it. This is one of those movies you have to watch more then once. Why? Because you pick up on things more so the second time around. Over all, I would highly recommend this movie. Ten times better then Interview With a Vampire on so many levels and a movie that gives Werewolves respect when opposed to Vampires. A must have for all gamers who love the modern fantasy world. Chip Dobbs Visionary Entertainment Studio Inc. www.visionaryentertainment.com
Rating: Summary: A flawed but fun action horror pic! Review: This story tells about werewolves and vampires at war with each other and always had for a thousand years. A lovely young vampiress ( Kate Beckinsale) is in love with a new man ( Scott Speedman) who is a new werewolf but what they don't know is that they are natural enemies. An exciting, fun but kind of flawed action horror fantasy with nice atmosphere, fine acting, some gore, cool Dark City-esque sets, nice music but some major plot holes. You can ignore the plot holes and just enjoy the movie for entertainment. Also recommended: " Blade", " The Howling", " An American Werewolf in London", " Evil Dead 2", " The Crow", " Blade 2", " Dark City", " Vamp", " Freddy Vs. Jason", " Daredevil", " Fright Night", " Vampire Hunter D", " Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust", " Ninja Scroll", " Riki-Oh The Story of ricky", " Versus", " Bad Moon", " Silver Bullet", "From Dusk Till Dawn", " Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom", " The Matrix Trilogy", " Resident Evil" and " From Hell".
Rating: Summary: Where's the TEETH? Review: 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.
Rating: Summary: Pretty Good...Needs a sequel Review: The movie is actually better then I thought it would be and that is saying a lot. A movie consisitng of actual plot devices and characterization as well as characters that actually posess an IQ higher than 10, I must say that I am relieved. However the movie does have its draw backs. It tends to get the Romeo and Juliet/Ethan Frome feel and the clothes and weapons are Matrix rip offs. Otherwise the movie is excellent. With real dialoge, a plot, twists and turns, as well an opening for a sequel the movie is given four stars.
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