Underworld (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT MOVIE
Review: This movie was awesome. I could watch it 100 more times and still find it fun and enjoyable. I would highly recommend this movie for everyone's collection. You will not be disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Vampires and werewolves, not cowboys and Indians
Review: I watched this movie on cable, and when I went to pro.imdb.com to see if it had been released to theaters or was a direct to DVD release, I was surprised to see that it had opened in the theaters with twenty million, made fifty million total in the U.S., and added another forty-five million in DVD/Video rentals! I honestly thought, given what I perceived to be some imperfections, that it may have been a direct to DVD release.

While watching the film I was impressed by the lighting, the cinematography, costumes (although why Selene was often dressed like Catwoman didn't make much sense), artwork - in other words, the things that make a film look good. I was also intrigued by the concept of a vampire/werewolf hybrid.

However, if I hadn't read in the movie guide that this was a film about hybrids, I would have been lost. Vampires and werewolves looked the same to me. Perhaps there was a bulging of teeth that the vampires had that the werewolves didn't - truthfully, I don't remember. What I do remember was Lucian - as a human - biting another human and turning him.

There is an interesting twist in the storyline that I didn't see coming, and so I give praise to the writer(s) for that. However, the story sagged in many places.

This is a story about werewolves and vampires. Why did it look like they were cowboys and Indians, having long drawn out shoot-outs? Vampires and werewolves have extraordinary powers: *use them*! I understand that the vampires were shooting with silver bullets, which are anathema to werewolves and perhaps their best weapon (in that movie) against them, and that the werewolves MAY have been shooting the bullets made of concentrated daylight (neat idea - but it wasn't developed at all), but still: battles between vampires and werewolves would have made for more exciting action. When a werewolf attacked Viktor, and he caught it by its throat, there was real tension. The first real tension I experienced, in fact, regarding the feud between werewolves and vampires. That tension came far too late in the film. During the gunfights, there was no tension. For me, gunfights lost their appeal somewhere after The Lone Ranger.

Also, Selene goes to great risk to save Michael, whom she apparently loves, but aside from the fact that she's hot, and he's hot, I have no idea why they liked each other. Sure, this is a "monster movie", but if there's going to be a love interest that is *really* the center of the story (think about it - if Selene didn't have feelings for Michael, there wouldn't have been a story to tell), then we need to know more about it.

All of my complaining aside, I did enjoy the film; especially the intriguing plot twist and the climax. Interestingly, there wasn't much of a dénouement - just a climax. I guess the dénouement was Selene's voice-over telling us that there would be a sequel although, of course, she didn't use those words. And there will be a sequel.

The hybrid concept was terrific - and the result of that experiment was, for lack of better description, really cool. For that reason alone I'll see the sequel. I just hope it's not another round of cowboys and Indians.


Rating:
Summary: nice movie
Review: underworld was a nice gothic movie. that stars kate beckinale, and features loads amount of action. fans of kate beckinsale will love this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Vamps vs. werewolves
Review: What do you get when you take "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and make it more adult? "Underworld". It is the story ofg a centuries long war between vampires and werewolves. The vamps strongest warrior is Selen (Kate Beckinsale), who starts to fall in love with a mortal (Scott Speedman) who is caught in the middle of the war. I like the concept of a mature, realistic (considering the material) look at a war between the two immortal races. I also apprciate the producers not watering down the material to a 'PG-13' rating; the 'R' is mild but justified. The look of Budapest is old and gothic which set the right tone for this fairly dark tale with many secrets that need to be known. The actors do alright, it's the characters I had a little problem with. Beckinsale is a bit cold and distant for my taste, but I guess Selen is a pretty dark and brooding character. Speedman is sort of dumb and too passive, things just sort of happen to him, and he dosn't really seem to be very proactive. Len Wiseman took a serious approach to material that has been treated like a joke before ("Howling VII" comes to mind); thank you so much Mr. Wiseman.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: The film brings to the screen the story of a centuries old blood feud between vampires and werewolves (Lycans). Things get more complicated when a human doctor is caught up in the conflict, as he becomes the means for creating a vampire-werewolf hybrid, something that could tip the balance between the combatants.
Underworld is a highly entertaining, action packed adventure/thriller with significant elements of horror.
Kate Beckinsale (who is GORGEOUS!!!), Bill Nighy, and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are exceptional to say the least. All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)!
The plot, the setting, the special effects, the MUSIC, and the swordfights are all EXCELLENT! Underworld is a movie guaranteed to provide an evening's entertainment and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!
In conclusion, the film establishes a GREAT cliffhanger for a sequel, which I would definitely line up to watch!


Rating:
Summary: An elegant and sexy film for this genre
Review: If a film is good, I don't care if they try to impress me. Underworld is a fine example of such a film. Kate Beckinsale's character Selene moves in such a way as to guarantee that her full length leather coat will billow and swing perfectly. Her hair dangles in her face in a perfectly planned but seemingly accidental fashion. Her slow motion moves are a carbon copy of those we've seen in other dark and futuristic films, but I didn't care. I wanted to see more.

Michael Sheen-the actor who plays Lucian, the leader of the Werewolves-is perfectly cast. He has an amazing intensity and an elegant speaking voice. Whereas you might expect the leader of a pack of animals to be rough and barbaric, Sheen's Lucian is steady, controlled, and often soft spoken.

This is a very enjoyable film with a fairly original premise. I heard there were plans for a sequel. Sign me up.

James Green, author of "If There's One Thing I've Learned."