Rating: 
Summary: The Trailer Is the Best Part
Review: With all of the money thrown into the special effects of this movie, you'd think it would be pretty good horror/scifi. But it's not. The plot's thin (and predictable), none of the characters is developed (why does anybody do what they do in here? sure, there are some reasons offered, but it feels as if somebody made this stuff up at the last minute because somebody else said, "hey, you should have some characterization in here"), the acting is ok but uninspiring. Absolutely, yes, everybody in the movie looks fabulous in leather (and everybody's under 20 except the ancient vampire), so if you like your movies in the violent eye-candy style with plenty of blood and slow-mo fight scenes, then this may be for you. I felt like I wasted the $4 rental fee on it; I'd suggest you rent it first before you blow this much money on a second-rate movie. If you like horror, try Ringu (the Japanese original) ---- truly frightening, without reliance on buckets of blood or really any graphic violence. I haven't seen the Hollywood remake, but the original was amazing. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, I really liked George Clooney's remake of Solaris. I saw the original Russian version, which had a lot of 70s Russian cinematic tics (like long, slow, pointless establishing shots and the overdevelopment of extremely minor characters); Clooney's remake is startlingly faithful to the original, which may be why so few people liked it --- the pace was slow, too --- while paring down the truly incomprehensible plot offshoots. If you can free yourself from your Hollywood expectations of how fast stuff should happen on screen, the Solaris remake is very good scifi. Good viewing!
Rating: 
Summary: Matrix + Vampires + Werewolves in old Europe
Review: "Underworld" was marketed as a Romeo and Juliet story within horror elements of werewolves and vampires. The romance between the vampire (Kate Beckinsale - great in latex!) and would-be werewolf, or rather "Lycan" (Scott Speedman) is nearly nonexistent save for a few kisses and lingering stares.
The story is really a series of extended action sequences and the inner politics and scheming of the vampire elite and hunted lycans. I actually some of the plot ideas intriguing, with the racial homogeneity issues, and the history between the various characters such as Viktor (one of the vampire elders), Lucien (leader of the lycans presumed dead for centuries but conducting nasty bio-tech like experiments) and Kraven (the vampire who allegedly killed Lucien and now leads the coven, but has some shady dealings...)
Beckinsale as the assassin Seline is the most "human" of the groups, and her conscience leads her to some startling discoveries as she attempts to save Michael Corvin (Speedman) from both the vampires and the lycans.
The cinematography is effectively dark and gothic, with the Hungarian buildings, constant darkness and rain, and blue and gray lighting effects. The ending has a satisfying conclusion, while leaving us with a tease that there will be a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad film, despite any bad review's you may read.
Review: The idea behind a secret war between Vampires and Werewolves is something new at least, but throw away any ideas you may have about a battle of teeth and claws. Most of the fighting is done with high-tech weaponry. In fact the only actual act commited by any of the Vampires, that resembles what you would think a Vampire would do, occurs late in the movie. The Werewolves (Lycans) do tend to show their tendancies more. They "make the change" quite more often.
But this film goes past a mere sci-fi gory bloodbath. Although it doesn't really seem like one exists early, there is a plot. And it's not a bad one, but the film does tend to get pretty predictable. That would have to be it's main downfall.
If you can put aside the predictability and the lack of Vampires being traditional Vampires, then this film will go over quite well with you.
Rating:
Summary: It howls, it bites
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Werewolf and Vampires
Review: When i first saw this preview i was expecting a romeo and juliet story with werewolves, or lycans as in the movie, and vampires. i wasn't that. i thought that the story was good, the werewolves were trying to gain the upperhand in a war with vampires, but why did they make both sides so weak? if the vampires don't have guns they will be torn to shreds in a matter of seconds. they can't do anything but jump off buildings. why wouldthe werewolves, who i was voting for, ever transform. they had a better chance of killing some one if they shot them with their glow in the dark bullets. there is one good scene where a pack of the wolves kill a group of vampires on the train. lots of blood. there were also some ridiculous scenes, even for the movie, where seline standing in the middle of a narrow hall and can some how kill ten werewolfs, taking cover, shoting bullets that are filled with some kind of sunlight thing out of machine guns. she then walks away with out a scratch. i don't care if you are vampiric our not, you would be a pile of ashes at the end of the scene. there is also just one thing i should clear up. in original werewolf legend, the werewolves could transform at anytime not just at the full moon. if you can get by the few ridiculous moments then you should be fine with this.
Rating: 
Summary: Best vamp movie I've seen in a long time!
Review: Finally a vampire movie with an intriguing story to tell. I originally saw UW at the thearter, and let me say it was a whole lot better than what I had initially expected. The idea of vamps fighting werewolves was a fresh and especially interesting concept. Some people have complained about how dark the movie is. I believe that the darkness adds to the believability of the story. This is definitely not a gore fest or a martial arts type of movie. Am I the only one who's really tired of seeing vampires that are martial arts master? This movie leaves a lot to the imagination when it comes to the gore factor but not to much. This is definitely a good one to own, and I can't wait until the sequel comes out.
Rating:
Summary: It can't get much worse than this
Review: When I first heard about this movie-and saw the previews, my plan was to let it pass me by, but since it starred Kate Beckinsale, I decided to give it a try when it came out on dvd.
What a mistake-this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen-the plot and storyline are pathetic--and if there are any redeeming qualities at all it's the visual special effects--but they're not really able to save this clunker. The move does have some gore--but no fear factor. Avoid if at all possible!
Rating:
Summary: The best vampire/werewolf movie in a long time
Review: only one word can wrap up Underworld, BREATHTAKING! Theres action, a catchy story, awesome actors, cool effects, and just the perfect movie. About a war between two immortal species, i was hooked. I'm a fan of a lot vampire movies like "queen of the damned" "blade 1&2" "dusk till dawn" and a whole lot more. The effects in here make you feel like you are in the movie. Also the only thing they could change is the soundtrack. they should add some gothic, hard metal artists such as korn, maybe even moody. this movie kicks ass, and if theres a sequel, then WOW!
Rating:
Summary: Worst vampire movie ever.
Review: There are certain genre conventions with vampires and werewolves. Like the fact that they are hard to kill. At one point in this movie a vampire passes out from blood loss due to a stab wound from an ordinary knife. Please. While this is the most egregious disappointment, it is certainly not the only one. The movie plays more like a Hong Kong gunfest than a vamp or werewolf movie. Werewolves were only identifiable when they (rarely) chose to wolf-out. Vampires weren't really identifiable at all, except perhaps for the one occasion when a vamp bit someone. And why are werewolves running on walls and ceilings?! The only good things about this movie are the leather outfits.
Rating:
Summary: A high-budget version of a direct-to-video release.
Review: UNDERWORLD is not a good movie. This isn't a completely bad thing, as the film contains enough entertaining aspects to make watching it worthwhile, especially for fans of vampires as depicted in the popular roleplaying game, VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE (soon to be VAMPIRE: THE REQUIEM). Shortly before UNDERWORLD's release in the theatres, the film's producers were sued by the makers of VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE on the grounds that UNDERWORLD represents a direct steal from that game and its many supplements, novels and assorted accoutrements. Legal troubles aside, UNDERWORLD's DVD release is a slick package with quite a bit under the hood. Though not a jam-packed, double-disk release, UNDERWORLD has director and writer commentaries, a series of featurettes, and a robust selection of trailers for other genre releases. Not bad for what is essentially a direct-to-video sort of film. To be fair, UNDERWORLD isn't lazy. Director Len Wiseman, whose biggest screen credit previously was as Assistant Props Manager on INDEPENDENCE DAY, really wanted to make a glossy, sexy actioner with vampires and werewolves in it. And to his credit, UNDERWORLD looks very good. Star Kate Beckinsale is dangerously appealing in her black leather outfit, and she's surrounded by an appropriately Goth-looking cast. The film was shot in Eastern Europe for budgetary reasons, though the crumbling look of Prague and Budapest don't hurt the film's atmosphere at all. When UNDERWORLD gets moving, it sizzles. Certainly Wiseman has stolen more than a few tricks from masters of action like John Woo and the Wachowski Brothers, but that's standard practice these days. Bullets fly, plaster shatters, bodies are punctured, and (as mentioned) it all looks great. It's when UNDERWORLD slows down, and one has to pay attention to the story, that things falter. Screenwriter Danny McBride, a former stuntman who once penned an episode of OUTER LIMITS, has ideas, but can't get them to fit into any sort of coherent pattern. The raw outlines are there - vampires want to kill all the werewolves, and the werewolves want to kill all the vampires - but whenever the screenplay gets down to specifics, nothing adds up. Heroic Kate Beckinsale, as the vampire Selene, is inexplicably drawn to bland cipher Michael (Scott Speedman), who is in turn sought by the leader of the werewolves. Apparently Michael's some kind of genetic catalyst who can bind vampire and werewolf DNA together. Or something. Meanwhile there are double-dealings going on in vampiric society, a quasi love triangle between Selene and the acting head of the vampires...and that's enough. There's more, but that's enough. UNDERWORLD is overstuffed. The immediate consequence of this is that long stretches of screen time pass where a lot of talking takes place, but the story fails to move forward. Wiseman and McBride want the tale to be mysterious, leaking out detail by detail, but are forced to regurgitate huge chunks of exposition near the end of the film when time runs short. The movie is a lot more fun when it's just being flashy, and that's really where UNDERWORLD's ultimate appeal lies. Audiences wanting a smart movie about vampires are urged to look elsewhere. Those who want beautiful images and a handsome cast flying around on wires kicking butt are in for a treat.
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