Rating: Summary: I liked it !!! Review: Great movie. Superb action. Nice character !! If you like the Matrix or Blade then watch this movie. THe story is about lycans (werewolf) and vampires. The only thing that I dont like is the 3 bodyguards of the elder vampire at the ending, they really look stupid.
Rating: Summary: Monotony anyone? Review: Exciting. Romantic. Gothic. The previous words describe everything Underworld is not. It seems the director and costume designer spent alot of time renting last year's action movies from Blockbuster.If i had wanted to watch the Matrix or Blade i would have. A note to all of you: BEEN THERE. DONE THAT. I unfortunately watched this movie in theatres. Twice. At first, i admit i wasn't totally bored out of my mind. It was still better than The Matrix Reloaded. On the second viewing, a few things caught my attention. The sheer number of times the vampires stalked about their mansion against the *exact* same background music, and the incessant shots of Kate Beckinsale's face looking sad and misunderstood provoked two responses: a) rolling on the floor laughter at the lameness, hurling popcorn in every direction, and b) a growing rampant desire to start a picket line in front of the tickebooth. If this hasn't convinced you not to see the movie, then i've failed. Here's to hoping you have enough sense to stay the heck away from it... Cheers!
Rating: Summary: Classy Vampire Blood Opera... Review: UNDERWORLD looks great. Director Len Wiseman has crafted a fine looking film which...at this point...is Soap Opera. It comprises riffs from ROMEO&JULIET; DARK SHADOWS;"THE DEAD & THE RESTLESS"; a HOWLING or two, and maybe even Christopher Walken's PROPHECY trilogy. Since "handsome is as handsome does" what the film lacks in substance it tries very hard to make-up in PM style, but doesn't quite succeed.The VAMPIRE is Post-Modernist era anti-hero. He(here: She)is amoral; power-driven and desperately fearless with emphasis on desperate. DRACULA was fiendish, bloody incarnation of the Anti-Christ. The Vampire decadents in UNDERWORLD have more in common with New York demi-monde Yuppsters than sons and daughters of Vlad Tepes. Hence the flacid "poser" elegance of vampire citoyens lolling in drug-stupor ambience. "Thug" enemies, WEREWOLVES/LYCANs at least seem to have moxie driving their war of vengeance/survival. But who cares? Kate Beckinsale is excellent as Wonder Woman of Vampires, SELENE. The plot(and film) depends on her "sang-froid"; and viewer sympathy for puzzle regarding her origin as Killer-Warrior.By end of the film(which is 20 minutes too...fashion-show...long)this puzzle provides intriguing questions and gripping, very violent climax. UNDERWORLD, standing solo...despite explosively energetic battles and Batman/Gotham City-like backgound and art design is merely bloody eye candy. BUT: if it's Part I of a Trilogy(of the ilk of mentioned PROPHECY series which comprised a Second War of the Heavenly Host)something may be cooking:A WAR OF LUCIFER'S FALLEN LEGIONS. Who knows? In the case of this classy Vampire Blood Opera, stay tuned...(3 & 1/2 stars)
Rating: Summary: I loved it... Review: Excellent movie. This film kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end, and I wanted it to last longer. I walked out of the theatre with a big smile on my face. Sure it was kinda silly or stupid, but who cares. Some people claimed it was "trashy" or "cheesey". But that was part of the appeal. Get a DVD for myself on this one. It reminded me of Blade, The Matrix, The Crow, Queen of the Damned, and a few other movies I can't remember right now. If the dialoge was lame, so what! And Kate Beckinsale was so hot in this film, she was absolutely perfect!! This was a fun movie, I hope they make a sequel, and I hope this one makes some money to justify it.
Rating: Summary: Ugh! Save your money... Review: I went to see this movie fully expecting a gothic, edgy, beautifully shot horror movie. I ended up being HORRIFICALLY BORED! The scenery is OK when you can see it, the nicest scenes being in the Vampyre's lair. Of course, you rarely ever leave the Lair, and that is one of the problems. Werewolf (Lyken)transformations are not at all enthralling, especially if you have seen "An American Werewolf in London" (which actually has better transformation scenes then this movie) the story is muddled, sequences of events muddled, not at all even remotely believable. I saw "Blade" and enjoyed it, even if it was violent and a little dumb. Not so with this movie. I regret not going to see it Matinee. By the way, the costumes really aren't great (lot of Blade and Matrix going on, nothing at all original) and there were NO surprises whatsoever. My sister actually fell asleep. Kate Beckinsale should have done another movie; she doesn't have the inherent edgy viciousness that I think the lead actress should have had. She was wimpy and boring. Vampyres should be a little mean, no? Her human pet project was equally dull and disappointing. I went to the movies with anticipation, and came out of the theater disgusted. Take it from me...i see a lot of movies and can appreciate a good flick. This wasn't one. Beware!
Rating: Summary: Keeps you going till the end Review: I think the movie was pretty good. Plenty of action. The movie doesnt give up the plot until the end. That is what I liked most about it. I would probably go and see an Underworld 2 if made.
Rating: Summary: Great premise, Great execution, Edgy Movie - Quite good Review: 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.
Rating: Summary: Jealousy Destroys Good Art Creativity-It's only a movie! Review: First, let me say the "UNDERWORLD" is a contemporarry film for the times we live in. Our world literally falls into the dubious camp of Lycan or Vampyre. It just depends on how you view yourself. Having just completed reading the novelization of "UNDERWORLD", I can truthfully say that it surpasses the movie version par excellence revealing the holes in the script and directing. It is not enough to display the fact that history repeats itself time and time again in this film but more important the real interactions between lead actor Scott Speedman and lead actress Kate Beckinsale which came across in the film like a polite Japanese bowing ceremony. It was atrocious to say the least. I thought the meaning of going to the theatre was sadly to be entertained at the very best. Was'nt there supposed to be passionate kissing and heart-rending embraces plus holding of hands or a head snuggling against a shoulder? Could it be that the dirctor Len Wiseman wanted Kate Beckinsale all to himself and that alone prevented a good movie from being a fine art film. The allure of this movie ranged from the brilliant choreography, the fast paced action and excellent dialogue. Guns blazing in tune with the riveting story only brings the point home. The titanic fight scene between Viktor and Michael could have been more dramatic like the novel or the "Matrix". Will there be a UNDERWORLD2? Maybe if you replace the director with John Woo or Paul Verhoeven.
Rating: Summary: Fun Ride With Little Substance Review: I saw Underworld opening day, and i would say that there are definately some good points and some bad points. well start with the bad first...acting? terrible. some of the actors/actresses do a decent job (including the sweetest voice ever heard on a human being, Kevin Grevioux) but there are standouts that just make the over-all experience not so good. second, this film is marketed as an action movie, IT IS NOT AN ACTION MOVIE! its a horror movie. anyone who watches it would agree with me - other than the last sequnce, they make very little attempt to put real life into the overall action. (the final fight picks up to increase interest and heighten the climax) but other than that, paradigmatically, they dont really stick out too well. next point, CG HAIRLESS WEREWOLVES...they dont look cool, they look stupid. another example of how movies think they can take a classic formula and revamp it to make it better. the hairless werewolves are terrible. But other than a few of those points, i would say that the movie is overall a positive experience. its fun, its a good horror movie, with an interesting story and a good trope. it does borrow from a few movies, this is true, but that only bothers those that dont watch the horror movie genre. as for myself, i wouldnt call me a well versed horror buff, but i watch a good deal from that genre, and it doesnt bother me at all. this is what horror movies are based on, no one grasps this concept. you cant reinvent vampires, thats why they are vampires, cause its a traditional continuing theme. without borrowing stories and ideas, horror movies wouldnt be around. and as far as all the accusations of this being a Matrix rip-off...its really getting old when everyone accuses a movie of ripping off the Matrix just because there are flashing techniques, and characters in long leather trenches. this movie doesnt resemble the Matrix in the least, and anyone who accuses it of doing so, should honestly check their understanding of both movies. i personally saw very little paralells with the Matrix. but thats just me i guess... overall a good movie, with some low point, but definately worth seeing.
Rating: Summary: Cool, fun and one heck of a wild ride! Review: 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!!
|