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Underworld (Full Screen Edition)

Underworld (Full Screen Edition)

List Price: $19.94
Your Price: $17.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Didnt expect to love it
Review: I didnt expect to love this film as much as I did, I passed seeing it in the theatre thinking it would be "cheesy" etc...but the story and acting etc was awesome! I even bought the soundtrack (which I sold cause it wasnt as good as the movie). The film has the definite "gothic" tone to it like films like "The Crow" and "Bram Stoker's Dracula". The Atmosphere makes this film what it is an instant classic!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Resident Evil meets The Crow
Review: This is a unique movie, not in terms of gore and blood,but in terms of the subplot. Werewolves vs. vampires is not totally unique, but this is the first movie that features a city full of them, with no human intervention. They control their environment and its like a gang war at a supernatural level. The werewolves are a threat, but there is someone who wants to mix the blood and create a super creature. Can he do it?

The movie is not reliant at all on the special effects which, by the way, are top-notch. The story line -- absolute power corrupts absolutely -- is spellbinding enough on its own. The idea of a vampire falling in love wiht one of the few humans that is left is patronizingly dull, but it works becuase the human is transformed via a wolf bite; and now he seeks to bridge the gap because he is in love with the beautiful heroine (if you can say that) of the movie, Kate Beckinsdale.

I have seen her role once before, It is the role that was played by the Russian chick in Resident Evil. Neither of these women feared anything, and despite being in need of breast transplants, still captivate the screen with their athleticism, courage and androgynous antics.

This movie deserves a sequel.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not a bad plot
Review: Well as always, no need to waste time on the storyline but rather jump straight into praises and critisms.
Firstly, the plot is quite a commendable one. Not a lame plot but quite nicely done up with explainations that make some sense. The usual fare is to leave viewers with the questions hanging over their head. However the ending here is rather abrupt. One wonders, is there some Underworld 2 in store? Afterall directors these days seem notoriously fond of waiting to see how the first one fares and if it gets the raves, out comes number two but if it flops they shelve the sequel.
Secondly, lack of chemistry between Selene and Micheal. That is probably the most serious failing the movie has. I mean it is touted to be the equivalent of the gothic romeo and juliet correct? Well seeing Selene abruptly step up and half kiss Micheal really leaves you questioning "Huh? Where did that bit come from?"
Thirdly, whats the deal with all the different accents? Perhaps this is not a serious problem to some but personally I find it weird to hear the British accent and the American accent all co-mingling. There was no mention of Selene being a British vamp or KRaven being from the US....honestly very puzzling.
LAstly, the effects of the movie were top notch. The transformation of the werewolves were good and realistic and they looked good not pathetic namby pamby dogs some movies portray them to be. The scene in which you see Viktor come back to life is good as well. But the scene when Micheal becomes the combination of both species.....one word....awful. Honestly, couldn't they have done it some other way?
Oh yeah, ok one last bit [ I know i said lastly already] usually vampires are portrayed as more powerful creatures and the werewolves second rate stupid animals. To an extent that undercurrent runs but however it appears the werewolves have the slight upper hand here over the vampires perhaps due to strength or size....for one I've never seen vampires rely so heavily on guns to the point they are virtually useless without it. All they do is stand around and hiss with their fangs exposed. The only vampire to portray the strrength is Viktor.
However its a worthwhile fare overwall. Watch.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Um, pardon me, but was this supposed to have a plot?
Review: Well, sorry, chaps, but it didn't. A huge dissapointment from a very promising concept.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Derivative and lacks sparkle
Review: I've been racking my brains trying to think of something positive to say about "Underworld", and I can think of three. Kate Beckinsale looks good in black latex, Scott Speedman has an air of vulnerability that suits his part, and there's an interesting story reversal at the end where we become less sure who the good guys are. That's it. And it's not enough to justify the cost of a DVD or a ticket.

The whole thing is just so derivative, mostly of "The Matrix" trilogy but also to a certain extent of the "Blade" movies. But it doesn't have the moments of flair that either of them have. It uses some of the characters from horror films, but it's not a horror film at all. After all, in horror films we identify usually with the human victims. Here the fact that vampires and werewolves kill humans is barely even mentioned. In fact there's not much point to them being vampires or werewolves given that their main weapons in the war against one another are good old fashioned guns and - ultimately - fist fights.

The basic premise of "Underworld" is that for centuries a war has been raging between vampires and werewolves, known in this movies as lycans because they don't have to wait for the full moon to change form, and they can run on walls and ceilings like the creatures in "Alien", another movie that this one shamelessly rips off.

As the movie opens one of the vampires Selene (Kate Beckinsale) realises that the lycans seem to have an interest in one human, Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), that seems to go beyond the next dinner engagement. The lycans want his blood, because they have a cunning genetic plan. Rescuing Michael, Selene falls in love with him, although we have absolutely no idea why or when this happens. We only realise it because people keep saying so.

As the initially bewildered Michael, Speedman is one of the best casting choices. Regular television viewers may recognise him from "Felicity" as the eponymous heroine's long time boyfriend, and his more sympathetic side he's a good departure from the usual guys we find in this kind of movie.

The current leader of the vampires is a creep called Kraven (Shane Brolly). The name alone tells you he can't be trusted. He allegedly killed the lycan leader Lucian (Michael Sheen) many years ago. He didn't of course. He's actually in cahoots with him. Finding herself not getting the support from her leader that she needs Selene awakens the creature that made her a vampire, one of the vampire elders Viktor (Bill Nighy). The scene is set for an all out war.

On the basis of this movie, director Len Wiseman seems to have no idea of pacing and no idea of how to make characters sympathetic. No-one cares who lives or dies. Lacking that foundation it doesn't really matter what's happening on the screen. Things might be moving fast, but all you can do is wait for the end to come. Some reviewers have been impressed by "Underworld's" visual style, which mostly consists of making everything very dark and very blue. Hard to believe that cinematographer Tony Pierce Roberts also shot Merchant Ivory's 'Room With a View".

In terms of special effects, the werewolf transformations, which are achieved in a digital cartoon-like style, are a little strange and rough edged. And, as is often the case, the movie tends to freeze in its tracks for them to take place. And to be honest the werewolves are a bit laughable anyway.

It's a movie for teenage Goths who believe the key to horror monsters is to look cool and strike poses. And even for them it will be a disappointment.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Almost Great
Review: What a wonderful leap from the normal "rules" of the genre. This story jumps us right into the middle of a centuries old conflict and weaves it's way back into the past to bring the viewer up to speed. The premise is unique and it works. A refreshing break from the traditional genre that has been overworked to the point of boredom. "Underworld" jump starts the outdated story to the future using modern technology to jolt the carnage from two insatiable groups of killers. The twists of politically motivated schemes boil down to the same ole' motivation; love and power. Familial conflict and monsterous actions even for the undead make for an interesting storyline. But in the end, the story runs out of gas, for trying to show the many fascinating, and grotesque transformations and mutilations. Too much emphasis is placed on the visual and the storyline is left to unravel and then the obligatory underdog David slays Golieth ending. This movie is so close to being a new classic that could have built a franchise to rival any available. Kate Beckinsale gives a performance that will convince anyone, like myself, who had doubts about her abilaties to carry a movie and play an antihero/villianess. The narration is tired and unneccesary but not so much that it detracts from the overall experience of the movie. A must see feature for any fan of the genre. Open your minds.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I completed expected less
Review: I thorougly enjoyed this movie and I didn't expect to. I went in knowing nothing... I feel as though everybody else seemed to know it was a vampire vs. warewolf movie beforehand. Anyway, perhaps that's why it was a surprising treat to me. I thought it was well done and far more enjoyable than the trailers or the poster makes one think. The poster reminds me too much of that Purple Rain guy!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The vampire-werewolf war gets really confusing
Review: Early on in "Underworld" the main character, the vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale), explains: "I am a Death Dealer, sworn to destroy those known as the Lycans. Our war has waged for centuries, unseen by human eyes. But all that is about to change." I would like to be able to say that this declaration encapsulates the film in a nutshell, but you would need a whole lot of nutshells to account for everything that gets poured into this film by director Len Wiseman and screenwriter Danny McBride (Kevin Grevious, who plays Raze, gets story credit along with these other two). Ironically, given everything that is thrown into the mix of this film, "Widescreen" touts style over substance. Once again I find myself thinking that I would have enjoyed this movie more if it had been in a different language and I was reading it without subtitles.

The idea that once upon a time the werewolves were the slaves of the vampires, compelled to watch over their masters when they slept during the day, but that the two groups have been at war for a thousand years is pretty good. Too bad the lead character is a vampire in the film because my sympathies are with the werewolves (lycans unite!). But in addition to the basic fact of the war there are political intrigues and machinations by both sides, interrupted by bloody battles. The war has been going on for a thousand years but we are picking up the story at the point where we have arrived at the next step in the evolution of immortals. These vampires and werewolves are the result of science, and you just know how science likes to put things together to see what wonderful new hybrid they can create.

"Underworld" is one of those films were you can have a contest to see how many connections you can make to other films. I would argue that "The Matrix" is the free space in the middle on this one, mainly because that is what immediately comes to mind when Selena makes her entrance in the film, jumping from the tower of a building to land lightly on the ground below. By bringing vampires and werewolves together many viewers will be reminded of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake novels, which is a bad point of comparison because that only brings the shallow characters of "Underworld" into sharper relief.

I hear there is going to be not only a sequel but a prequel to "Underworld," which just underscores in my mind the idea that this we needed to enjoy the war before we get to this pivotal moment when the rules of the game get changed. It takes a while to really understand the vampire politics and I do not know if I have ever seen a "vampire" movie that has so little to do with the world of the humans, especially one that requires so much exposition. At one point the word on this movie was that it was "Romeo & Juliet" with a werewolf and vampire, but although you can see where it could have been, it is not. It is rather amazing given everything that was thrown into this film to find something that was actually left out of the mix.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Eeeeh
Review: If I had been expecting this movie to be anything more than cool to look at... I would have been pissed.
The movie started just as advertised: hot chick in shiney leather with a big gun, adequately bearable, if not vastly erotic.
There are 4 kinds of movies. The first kind having a thorough and well thought out plot. The second consisting of bad cliches and painful dialogue. The third has no plot or any creative elements whatsoever. The 4th, however, is the rarest bird of them all. The 4th kind of movie actually manages to bring the plot backwards, so there is absolutely no hope in ever being entertained.

This movie was a 3 1/2

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: UNDERWORLD
Review: I thought this would be another cheap Blade/Matrix rip off.
It actually stands on it's merit, with another concept.
This is no Blade admitidly and Kate Beckinsale is certanily no Wesley Snipes! But let's face it she gives Carrie Ann Moss a run for her money on the looks department. Besides that she is confident in the action department, with the token twin handguns on display. I like the plot of werewolfs feuding with vampires,
the twist is good for what it's worth.
It's nice to see Bill Nighy as a super villian, escaping type from ghastly Brit comedies like Love Actually.
At the end of the day order a Pizza and drink a couple of Budweisers and enjoy the show!


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