Customer Reviews

Underworld (Widescreen Special Edition)

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(79)
3 star:		(57)
2 star:		(45)
1 star:		(44)

 

 

Blade was interesting, but to me it failed emotionally. You just do not connect with the film on the personal level. The effects were super, but that was the main impact..."wow what amazing effects". You feel like breaking out in a chorus of Peggy Lee's Is That All There Is. Special effects alone cannot make a movie great.

Underworld makes that jump, great FX work, but also gives you characters you really care about, ones that you really love to hate. A strong plot line designed to hook you and keep you, just does that. With the emotional involvement, there is a greater impact, a movie that will demand repeat viewing. Instant Cult Status.

The movie grabs you from the opening and never lets up with the pace. Firm direction and with a driving score, the movie reaches for perfection. You have a 1000-year-old war between Lycons and Vampires, and it's all coming to a head. It's a well thought out and executed premise and Kate Beckinsale shines! She is an amazing talent. I first adored her work in Cold Comfort Farm as Robert Post's child Flora. When you compare that gentle, deft bit of humor with this kick a*** vampire hunter, it proves what an overlooked talent she is. With Van Helsing out now (and I am sure this movie led to her landing the role), she is finally getting a spotlight she so well deserves.

A gloomy, atmospheric ambiance to the whole movie is maintained all the way through, adding a strong foundation for the otherworld premise. I am sure some will nitpick things, as all vampire film faces, but kudos for the vibrant energy and sheer edgy feel to the film.

It leaves you hanging, clearly open for a sequel...one can but hope it maintains this high quality.

Kate rocks...you don't need to know anymore!

Blade was interesting, but to me it failed emotionally. You just do not connect with the film on the personal level. The effects were super, but that was the main impact..."wow what amazing effects". You feel like breaking out in a chorus of Peggy Lee's Is That All There Is. Special effects alone cannot make a movie great.

Underworld makes that jump, great FX work, but also gives you characters you really care about, ones that you really love to hate. A strong plot line designed to hook you and keep you, just does that. With the emotional involvement, there is a greater impact, a movie that will demand repeat viewing. Instant Cult Status.

The movie grabs you from the opening and never lets up with the pace. Firm direction and with a driving score, the movie reaches for perfection. You have a 1000-year-old war between Lycons and Vampires, and it's all coming to a head. It's a well thought out and executed premise and Kate Beckinsale shines! She is an amazing talent. I first adored her work in Cold Comfort Farm as Robert Post's child Flora. When you compare that gentle, deft bit of humour with this kick a*** vampire hunter, it proves what an overlooked talent she is. With Van Helsing out now (and I am sure this movie led to her landing the role), she is finally getting a spotlight she so well deserves.

A gloomy, atmospheric ambiance to the whole movie is maintained all the way through, adding a strong foundation for the otherworld premise. I am sure some will nitpick things, as all vampire film faces, but kudos for the vibrant energy and sheer edgy feel to the film.

It leaves you hanging, clearly open for a sequel...one can but hope it maintains this high quality.

Kate rocks...you don't need to know anymore!

I watched "Underworld" at the cinema quite a long time ago, despite the fact that the critics had dissed it. I think that critics have a tendency to believe that every movie should give food for thought, whereas I believe that some films that only offer good entertainment should be given a chance, too. At that time, and after some gruelling exams, I was in the mood for some uncomplicated fun, and "Underworld" gave me just that.

I hadn't heard from the director, Len Wiseman, but I must say he did an excellent job with this dark action film that features vampires and werewolves (lycans) fighting a 1000 year war against each other and amid the humans. The story is entertaining and original, something that you will appreciate even more if you have the chance of watching this dvd with the extended cut.

One of the main characters in "Underworld" is Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire and a Deathdealer (that is, someone who hunts and kills lycans). Selene discovers some lycans hunting a mortal, Michael (Scott Speedman), and gets curious. Why are them after him? Of course, everything the lycans want, Selene will have, so she decides to find Michael. By choosing to do so, she will discover a vast conspiracy, the truth about her past, and a forbidden love.

If you are fond of unconventional action movies, and don't think they need to be realistic, you are likely to love this movie. If that is the case, try to watch it soon, because the sequel will be released on January 20, and from what I could see in the trailer, "Underworld: evolution" will be great. So, don't wait, GO and buy or rent it now :)

Belen Alcat

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.

This is a slick film. From the filming locations to the wardrobe worn by the actors, this film is definitely about style. The plot centers around a beautiful female vampire named Selene. Selene has spent the past few centuries hunting down and killing Werewolves. She lives for the kill and hates them with a passion. But fate is not always kind, and sometimes takes us on a very difficult path. As luck would have it, Selene falls in love with a handsome Werewolf.

This is not your typical, gothic Vampire flick. The Vampires and Werewolves in Underworld make good use of human technology to help them in their quest to annihilate one another. This movie is similar to your common action film in that it is full of high tech firearms, computers, hip clothes, and fancy cars. But it differs in that this one actually has an interesting plot. Kate Beckinsale is very sexy as Selene. She looks terrific in her black leather outfit. I highly recommend this movie.

Are you hungry for blood? Underworld is the latest attempt at re-vamping the myths about Vampires and Werewolves on screen. It presents us with a gothic tale of the "race-war" between the two species and takes a different look at the origin of both myths. In Underworld, the bloodlines of both species began as a "virus" that infects the blood, rather than the usual evolution derived from ancient mysticism and legends. This changes the perspective of the audience from the opening of the film and forces us to re-think anything we previously understood about lycanthropic and vampiric legends. It's a unique start.

Kate Beckinsale (Serendipity) leads the tale as Selene a vampire "Death Dealer" whose sole purpose is to execute all the "Lychans" she encounters, in the attempt to exterminate the race of Werewolves forever. The Werewolves, or "Lychans," are led by Michael Sheen (Mary Reilly) as Lucian, whose convoluted back-story is the basis for the mysterious plot of Underworld. The third and most unique character is Michael Corvin, played by Scott Speedman (Dark Blue,) a handsome human, whom the Werewolves believe holds the key to end the war.

Underworld's writing is the product of a team of authors: Danny McBride, Director Len Wiseman, and Kevin Grevioux (who also starred in the film as a Lychan.) Their combined ideas formed the script with the intent of making it a full-fledged mystery, designed to unfold as the film played out. It was for that reason they deliberately did not reveal too much information at the beginning of the film. Unfortunately, there is so little information revealed in the beginning, that it causes the viewer to be a bit more than perplexed. Without the benefit of a back-story and with all the new mythology being introduced so fast, so immediately, the audience has to struggle for a grip on who actually should be the hero. Although Kate Beckinsale's character Selene is introduced first, it becomes quickly apparent, that either she is an "anti-hero" or there is something distinctly amiss with her psyche. Therefore, we start to search for an alternative hero, or at least someone to identify with. Using our past knowledge of Vampire/Werewolf legends and stories, we try to glean what could possibly be the reality of the situation. However, all the rules have been changed in this film, so our archives of knowledge on Lychans and Vampires have been declared null and void. Consequently, detecting which species is supposed to be the one to "root for" is indistinct until much later in the film. The problem with this is: at the beginning we miss a lot of the action sequences while pondering and trying to discern which species to identify with. The endless perplexity we experience detracts from the initial scenes while we try to integrate the new rules this script has postulated. If we weren't so busy contemplating heroes, we could better enjoy the action-packed sequences and spectacular effects!

The effects are truly something to behold. Various combinations of CGI, live action and Animatronics created new and original Werewolf transformations and Vampire agility in all manner of action sequences. There were definitely some action shots in this film that set a new precedent. Inspired by the constraints of their budget, the effects crew's ingenuity was brilliant. They came up with some amazing alternatives to standard action/effect sequences. This also affected the cinematography. To make certain shots happen, both effects team and cinematographer had to make suggestions and alterations to accommodate each other and incorporate the Director Len Wiseman's vision of bringing a graphic novel to life. Each scene is blocked and storyboarded and colored-he favors "blues" in particular-to look as if it were straight out of a comic book. The whole visual effect is stunning.

Despite the initial legend confusion in the opening of the film, Underworld does prove to be unique, interesting and plot-driven. Everything, from its super-fast pacing, spectacular effects, dark characters, sets, costumes and lighting, proves to be well worth watching. This film holds its own as a decadent, elegant, action flick, amidst the sea of pointless re-makes and story-starved-sequels in the action genre. Taken as a whole, Len Wiseman's distilled and surprisingly sanguine-less, cerulean vision can slake the blood thirst in any fan, hungry for action!

Ms. Beckinsale does a great job as usual. The two main vampire men in the movie were terrible however. The plot is good, the acting is exceptable, and the action is good. It just doesn't strike you as a great movie, entertaining yes, watch once or twice and forget it.

Move over, Blade: there's a new girl in town. Kate Beckinsdale plays a vampire assassin who kills werewolves in an ongoing, ages-old feud between the two groups of nightime dwellers. Although she is a member of a clan, she doesn't really feels she fits in, and spurns the affections of the young and handsome next would-be leader of her clan. The only one she has complete respect and adoration for is her ancient sire. Things start to change when she finds out more about the true reason the two groups are fighting, and falls in love with a human caught in the crossfire. This relationship lends a Romeo & Juliet aspect to the film.

Set in a modern Romanian city, Underworld is an orgy of extremely violent action between the decadent vampires and the Spartan werewolves. Supercool, with great acting, gorgeous sets, and KB in a skintight leather suit with kool boots, Underworld is a classic that I am proud to own.

The first thing I must say, flat out is : It's about time / Great concept for an action movie! Even as a kid, I had to wonder if vampires and the mythical werewolves ever had ... problems with each other. It's an age old thing, really. Vampires symbolize ageless, immortal power, sensuality, and dark gracefulness. They are that element of human nature that is dark refinement, ageless refined, sexually eloquent power. The werewolf is pure, insane, beastful rage released. It is that element of human nature that symbolizes rage, brutality, enforcement - aggression and violence. So it's very cool to have a movie playing off the symbolic equivalents of the differing psychologies of the audience members. Some people in the audience for this movie are obviously vampiric, others show a wolfish element.

It's a great ride, too, with very Matrix-esque action sequences that pull you along at great speed, catapulting you into this "underground" world.

My one complaint was that the "wolves" are not very... well, wolfish. They are more like deformed mutants, really! I was very let down with that, since I was expecting a full, head on contest between real werewolves and vampires. It's more akin to say that this movie is like the vampires versus the weird mutated humans who don't look wolfish at all. The sad part is I've seen humans that DO look like wolves (A "wolfish" grin, etc.) so I think they could've done better.

Still, it sure is fun, and a good action ride! At least they have the vampires right.

If you liked this movie, check out these other modern versions of the myths:

Jin Roh the Wolf Brigade
Interview with the Vampire

Because of it's low ratings I held off on watching this DVD until I just had some time to kill. I was pleasantly surprized by the film. I'm glad I finally saw it.

THE CONS
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Both the vampires and lycans seemed too human and not power enough. The vampires don't seem to be able to fly or move very quickly or see in the dark. The lycans seem to be more dangerous as humans than as wolves. Both seem to need guns and special bullets to get by.

Neither genre seemed to carry the usual atmosphere. Vampires are usually erotic while werewolves are usually portrayed as chaotic.

The film has so many twists and turns that in the end I didn't really care who lived and who died (except I did care about the human).

PROS
----
The dark sinister atmosphere of the photography is downright creepy.

I quickly stopped viewing this as a horror film and began seeing it as a "who done it". It is a good "who done it". It had me playing mental games as I watched each twist and turn.

The film had enough action to keep me intertained.

FINAL RESULTS
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I'm glad I watched it, but I don't think I'll buy it.