Rating: Summary: Haiku Review Review: Vampires and Lycans fight themselves and the movie. Leave our myths alone.
Rating: Summary: "The war has begun." Review: This is a fantasy/horor film about the war between the foulest of denizens lurking in the underworld. Werewolves and Vampires have been locked in a battle that has lasted for centuries. If this movie is taken at face value and simply enjoyed as a violent, gothic horror story, then it is very entertaining. The problems arise when I noticed plot flaws and/or parts of the story that were mentioned early then completely forgotten by movie's end. Also, there are scenes stolen nearly frame-for-frame from "The Matrix." Kate Beckinsale, dressed in black latex and wet leather, could very well be Trinity's younger sister. While I first scoffed at this thievery, I then realized that although they were stolen, they were also pulled off professionally. I also noticed that the sun never rose during the course of the movie, which conjured images of another gothic-tinged film, "Dark City." Some of the acting is sub-par, but this film is not meant to challenge the Oscars for acting achievement. It is an action film with blood and violence and, to my absolute surprise, a good story.
Rating: Summary: For the Sake of Humanity! Review: In the world of cinema, there are always the awful films, but there are also those films which are not necessarily written poorly or are incredibly stupid, but are just as abominable. Underworld, starring Kate Beckinsale, is a film without purpose and a film that millions of dollars on which should not have been spent. Out of the goodness of my heart, I decided to lend myself to another for a few hours--I decided to watch this pile of garbage to be nice. I knew it was going to be boring and inane, but yet I agreed. To my chagrin, at the end of the first scene my eyes were already beginning to glaze over. "This soon?" I thought and wanted to die of boredom--thinking of the tedium of the hour and a half to ensue. All right, all right. I've made my point. I don't like this film. Surely there are people that do, and to you I say, "Whatever." Underworld does have nice special effects, but the effects are definitely ones we've seen before. The thing about this movie which is most unbearable is its inhumanity. There was nothing human at all in this film. Thus, I would say to the makers of this film, "You don't write about anything that is human, so why would you think any human would want to see this?" Well, I suppose there are a lot of crazy science fiction fans running around, liking all of this automaton crap. But I don't like it. I'd rather be a human. Anyhow, I implore you: instead of wasting your time watching Underworld, why don't you read a book, talk to a friend, help somebody out, learn to play a musical instrument, stare at the wall and use your brain for a couple of hours? Write an Amazon review! For the sake of mankind, don't waste your time watching Underworld.
Rating: Summary: war, action, and a little underplayed love story Review: I enjoyed this movie, why not I like movies about vampires and wearwolves. This one has a lot of familiar looks and action. For some it might be too familiar as it simulates a bit of matrix in its look and style. There is a tail about love and the cause for the war beginning that seems could have been played up more and you really don't quite get what its all about until you reach the end of the movie. All through the movie you do seem to be left hopeing for more action and chemistry between the two main characters, and yet you can almost understand the hesitations. The movie moves along quickly and smoothly enough though that any disappointment in the lack of chemistry displayed between them doesn't seem to bother you much. It doesn't drag on and on like some reviewers might make you think. the thing that kind of threw me was why no female wearwolfs. It could have had a little more original style and costumes, but it was still a good movie.
Rating: Summary: Spiffy effects, but boring movie Review: Not much originality in this film. Mostly it tries to emulate the look, feel, sound, and mood of some better films ("The Matrix", "The Crow", etc). Special effects are very good, but even that can't save a dull script and the slow pacing. There's an old maxim in the theatre that goes, "If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage." If the script isn't compelling to read, no amount of spiffy set dressing, effects, etc will elevate it to a higher level. Same here with "Underworld". It looks good, but the script anchors it down to sub-par level. A friend loaned me this DVD to watch, so at least I didn't have to shell out any $$ for this.
Rating: Summary: Underworld Is One Of The Worst EVER!!! Review: I bought this movie last night, BIG MISTAKE, I had never seen it but i read the online reviews and it seemed to get good reviews so i decided to get it. I only gave this movie one star because i had too, It was some of the worst acting i have ever seen, The Werewolves looked stupid/retarted. Kate Beckinsale was the only good thing about this movie and not because of her acting. If you havent seen this bore dont waste the time or your money like i did. Overall I can sum this movie up in one word.....SUCKED!!!!
Rating: Summary: Vampires Can't Shoot Review: Underworld is a stylish, gory, action filled horror movie, based on three premises. The first is Vampires vs. Werewolves--an intriguing idea. The second is that the audience has been raised on videogames and wants that kind of constant action--debatable as to whether this is helpful or not, but it sure keeps the movie going so you don't really have time to think. The third, and most unfortunate, is that The Matrix is ripe for plucking. I admit to enjoying Underworld quite a bit, but the entire look of the movie (except, of course, the Werewolf transformations, which were inspired by The Howling) was hauntingly familiar--it's all Matrix, from the costuming to the choreography, the cinematography, the lighting....superbly done, but blatantly stolen. And with costuming and set design, I suppose that's forgivable, but relying on Matrix for more than that derailed the initial premise too much. Within the first ten minutes I asked myself a question I'd return to over and over: "Why are vampires and werewolves in human form shooting at each other--and missing?" I really wasn't expecting so much gunplay (and martial arts) in a Vampire/Werewolf movie, and I think the film was the worse for it. We've seen it all before, it advanced the plot not at all, and seemed grossly out of place for the genre. The real interest in Vampires vs. Werewolves would be how they physically matched up--and when the film did develop this, it was really unique, with Vampires more agile but incapable of flight or shapeshifting, and Werewolves slower but vastly more powerful. I personally had no interest in who could outshoot the other, and couldn't quite understand why that played such a huge part in the film. Furthermore, another unfortunate question popped up: "How do those guns contain a seemingly infinite number of bullets?" {See premise 2, above--only once in the movie did someone run out of bullets, only a few times was there reloading, but billions and billions of bullets, and lots and lots of missing...this was dumb as far back as Rambo.} Plotwise, though, the Vampires vs. Werewolves idea worked well, and was developed in an interesting and unexpected fashion. Acting was quite good, with a touch of overacting to be expected from such a topic, and the casting excellent. Kate Beckinsale, as Trinity, er, no sorry, as the vampire Selene, and Scott Speedman as Neo, oops, I mean Michael, are both gorgeous and convincing. I was taken aback a bit by Beckinsale's resemblance to Michael Jackson at his most feminine, though... Anyway, in spite of its flaws, it's certainly entertaining and worth watching, at least once.
Rating: Summary: Evil VS. Evil Review: This was an great story and it was backed with special Effects that was not over played. The thing that made this movie stand from The Matrix was the special effects accaully. This movie was not over played with two hours of bullet time or panscan (the effects where the fighters jump up and freeze in the action) fight sequences. There was alot of slow motion fights though(not the same as panscan).The story line drove this movie quite nicely. The story line is not good vs. evil but evil vs. evil. This movie was filled with alot of curve balls but some parts where predictable also. This was still an entertaining movie and one of the best films,in my opinion, of 2003. The start of the movie starts with in your face action which pulled me in from the start. The action is great and only stops for a little bit to make the story line cohesive. The special effects of the transformation of the wherewolves where well done and not over blown. The vampires did not have much to change but I felt that it was good enough for the feel of the movie. In Short: This is a film for more of the "Goth Thriller Action" fans. I loved it and thought it to be pretty original in its own right. People who may enjoy this movie: People who like The Crow, Blade, Spawn (Todd McFarland), and maybe some Matrix fans.
Rating: Summary: Just a great flick Review: I have always been a Vampire lover since I was kid watching creature feature. Loved the Werewolves also. I was so looking forward to seeing this that I just knew I would be let down. Not! My wife thought it was silly to rent this and she was miss skeptical going in. We were both rivoted from the start. Don't get a snack or you may miss something! This is a cult movie in the making. I am so criticle on movies, some of my friends think I just I just don't like them. Well, I normally don't. But I just loved this. I love movies that keep you thinking, that have strange twists and that are not predictable. I thought the story was great, acting was good, special effects good, and the ending awesome. I don't buy many DVD's unless they are for the kids, but this one I will buy. I can't wait for part 2 and yes, it will be one I actually go the theater to see. For me, that is saying something. I mentioned loving the old creature feature flicks when I was a kid, this is not at all in that fashion. My kids were sleeping while we were watching this and I wanted my 4 year old son to be able to see this later. No way. Has some horrific scenes that would cause nightmares for months. Probably need to be 10 and up. To sum it up, if you are a Vampire-Werewolf lover, this is the best flick in the last 30 years. Get it!
Rating: Summary: A Pretty Good Flic Review: I'm really torn about how to reccomend this movie. On one hand, it's so derivative of movies like The Crow and The Matrix that at times you aren't sure which one you're watching. On the other hand it's a very entertaining movie to watch and very nicely done all around.
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