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Underworld (Widescreen Edition)

Underworld (Widescreen Edition)

List Price: $19.94
Your Price: $14.96
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Rating: 2 stars
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: 4 stars
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: 4 stars
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: 3 stars
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: 4 stars
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: 4 stars
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!!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Pure Garbage
Review: Ack! I was so bored during this movie, pure waste of time and money heck I don't belive this movie deserves to praised like it has been. We start off with Kate Beckinsales[Selene] charater talking about the war with vampires and lycans [warewolfs]. The vampires spend most of the movie explaing why warewolfs are bad, blah, blah, blah. The transformation of lycans into warewolfs made my eyes hurt, and I had a head ache thought the movie, cause of that. The fight scenes are ok, but it has some cool weapons and cars. This movie could HAVE been way much better. If it would have taken place in a mid-evil setting with modern weaponary, and showen the fall of Lution [lycan king] instead of showing it in a book,"Underworld" would have a worthwhile movie. The acting is ok, and theres tons of blood, some badwords, and a suprise plot twist, that literally takes you by surpise, which I add is very interesting. I'll give an interesting spoiler; one of the charaters dies "Ghost Ship style" if you have seen that movie you know what I am talking about. Its one of the few actully likeable scenes. Another plot twist is when an another charater gets biten and has both vampire and lycan blood, another few likeable scence. So in a nutshell don't watch it only if you want to be bored and have half of your body fall asleep, I wasted a few good dollers on this movie and time that could been used to on something productive.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Brilliant with outstanding acting and action!
Review: Kate Beckinsale played her role of Selene with mesmerizing and witty balance. Perfect. Scott Speedman as Michael Corvin did an excellent job as well.

You have to pay close attention to what's going on. Underworld can easily throw you out of line sometimes. Yes, it's a battle between the vampires and the lycanthropes (werewolves), but there is deeper plot. Not everyone is who they seem. The end wraps up very nicely with no flaws (that I saw anyway). Perfect.

No wonder Underworld earned the title '#1 movie in America.' Music video director Len Wiseman made a great film debut. Don't let this one pass you by.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Lucian was the most interesting one, in this movie.
Review: Centuries old feud between 2 races,werewolves ( Lycans ) and vampires, that has resulted in undying hatred, torture, and death. The main character Selene finds out that the Lycans plan on using a human name Michael to create a super creature, with the combination of both Lycan and vampire blood running through his veins, to destroy the race of vampires, in order to make the race of werewolves ( Lycans ) stronger.While Selene is helping to keep Michael alive and out of "harms" way, from both Lycans and vampires, She and Michael form an unlikely bond. Now to my personal opinions..Kate Beckinsale did a nice performance as the grim face vampire warrior, Selene. Eventhough, Her emotional range was not showcase in this particular movie, except from going from grim to uninterested to thoughtful to teary eye....all emotions smothered under an ever present grim look. Her character still was still quick thinking. Poor Scott Speedman's character "Michael" had to spend most of the movie, on the run and clueless, until he got bitten by the leader of the Lycans name Lucian. And, For myself, that is when this movie got extremely interesting when Lucian ( Michael Sheen ) was on the screen. There was alittle bit of storyline in which I did wonder about the past histories of the characters Selene and Michael, before they unexpectly "met", But, An entire seperate movie could be made solely on the character Lucian and what he went through in his past, to become so angry, brutal, and ruthless. Michael Sheen had the standout performance in this movie, as the character Lucian. He took his character a step above the rest by not only showing that his character was hostile, but underneath all of that bitterness, there was simply a hurt man, who wanted his race of werewolves, who were consider weakand powerless to the vampires, to be stronger physically against their enemies, and for him to seek revenge against the brutal death of his bride and unborn child. Actor Michael Sheen also showed the deep passion Lucian had, sometimes only by the look in his eyes, you could tell depth, wisdom, and experience in his character. The Flashbacks of the tortured Lucian meant to me, that there was a storyline somewhere in this movie, instead of that senseless gun battle between Lycans and vampires, on a subway deck, at the beginning of this movie. Erika ( Sophia Myles ) and Kahn ( Robby Gee ) gave a good performance showing that their vampire characters had common senseand intelligence, without solving their issues with a use of the gun. Bill Nighy as Viktor was just as good as the elder stotic vampire, who wasn't as honorable and good hearted, as one might think. The deep voice muscular Lycan/ werewolf "Raze" played by actor Kevin Grevioux did a good performance in his character, eventhough, he didn't have much dialogue, you can tell the dedication and loyality that he had, to help his race and Lucian, get rid of all vampires.Shane Brolly ( Kraven ) protrayed his character as a shallow, arrogant, spoiled vampire, who would probably be better off as a runway model, than a vampire. I mean, no one could walk up and down those steps of his mansion with ease and an attitude, like Kraven could throughout the movie. All and all, Underworld was surprisely, a good movie. Except for the over use sometimes of the characters resolving their issues with the use of their guns, instead of just using their brains for once, and thinking of a better way to do battle with one another, The movie was very interesting to see. I think anyone who has an interest in seeing a vampire / werewolf movie done alittle differently from the normal, should atleast see this movie once, with an open mind.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Underworld- Just Cool
Review: Underworld, an action flick starring Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman can be called diverting entertainment. Though the plot of the film is rather incomprehensible, the film has enough style to be atleast watchable. Director Len Wisemen who is recently engaged to Beckinsale) creates a nice setting to the film, with the appropriate tone. The action scenes are pretty good, as well the visual effects which are passingly cool including the transformation of humans into werevolves.
Kate Beckinsale plays Selene, a vampire. The film takes place in London. There are mainly two striving groups, the vampires and the lycans a.k.a. werewolves. Scott Speedman plays a human who has been bitten and has transformed into a lycan. Unfortunately Beckinsale and Speedman fall in love, which is intolerable since they are sworn enemies.
Underworld is mild for the genre, since it isn't overly graphic, though there still is an abundant amount of violence. Mainly including much gunplay, impalements, bitings (some of which are bloody), whippings and fights among vampries/lycans. There isn't much profanity, just a few instances of the "f" and "s" word. Underworld is rated R for Strong Violence/Gore and Some Language. As for the acting, well it wasn't totally believe or convincing but then again you don't expect oscar-worthy acting in a film like this. I saw it in theatres, sadly not during opening weekend. This film is worth viewing in theatures, and possibly owning on Video or DVD.


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