Underworld (2003)
An immortal battle for supremacy.
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Erwin Leder, Sophia Myles, Richard Cetrone, Robby Gee, Zita Görög, Kevin Grevioux, Ildiko Kovacs, Danny McBride, Wentworth Miller, Mike Mukatis, Todd Schneider, Brian Steele
Director: Len Wiseman
Running Time: 125 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 15
Action, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
You might not realise it, but for centuries a vicious war has been waging, unseen, between vampires and werewolves. Ever since the werewolves (known as 'lycans') lost their leader Lucian, however, vampire 'deathdealers' like Selene (Kate Beckinsale) have been merely mopping up the remaining lycans, and will soon have none left to kill. Yet when Selene chances upon an unusually large and organised band of lycans who seem, for reasons unknown, to be pursuing a human named Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), she intervenes on the human's behalf (in breach of the vampires' covenant). Discovering Lucian (Michael Sheen) to be still very much alive, Selene senses a new threat against the vampire coven, and so reawakens the powerful vampire elder Viktor (Bill Nighy) for help and advice. Which is where things really start getting complicated...
By opening with Selene in black, brooding gargoyle-like atop a gothic tower, before leaping down to the grey streets below, 'Underworld' adopts an image common since the late eighties (in films like
It's Got: Moodily gothic atmospheres, wonderfully baroque sets, a cross-species romance (of sorts), a very complicated mythology, and a wonderfully menacing performance from Bill Nighy as a fascistic aristocrat with attitude.
It Needs: Characters with more, er, character (although the staggeringly comprehensive complexity of the plot makes up for this to a degree).
Alternatives: Blade, Blade 2, Interview with a Vampire, Queen of the Damned
Summary: Some people will think that a film about vampires and werewolves is inherently silly, and should be watched only for its visceral thrills (which 'Underworld' certainly has). Yet at a time when mainstream American discourse would have us believe that in war everything is black and white, 'Underworld' represents an important voice of reasoned dissent in its suggestion that war is in fact a morally messy business, with complicated and often misunderstood causes - which makes 'Underworld' not just a kick-ass monster free-for-all, but also a vampire film with unexpectedly political bite. http
Review Date: 22nd September 2003
External Links
Official Web Site
Underworld at the IMDB
Comments5 Comments |
| that movie is ****. If you want to see vampires go see interview with the vampire or Jonh Carpenter's vampires. 2/10 |
| Comment by:- Ricardo | | 21 July 2004 | ip: logged |
| ricardo... you have got to be one of the dumbest mexicans. go watch one of your mexican movies that train you how to mow lawns or pick corn Ed: So did you like the film? Have you seen it? What was the point of typing that? He is quite entitled to his opinion, which was relevant to the film, unlike your piece of gratuitous, racist abuse. As it happens, I have a feeling Ricardo is no more Mexican than you are really called Billy Joe Bongster. So I did think of removing your comment completely. Then I remembered - I have the last word here. So valuing your freedom to be an idiot and looking forward to seeing you starring on the Darwin Awards I decided to leave it in place. Just this once. |
| Comment by:- billy joe bongster | | 28 July 2004 | ip: logged |
Kool film. I really liked it. Beckinsale in bob haircut and latex kool also. I liked the plot and the mood (gothic, dark, wet etc) and very few superfluous scenes. |
| Comment by:- Ninja turtle | | 18 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| movie was good but i was really axpecting vampires vs werewolves but it seems some are ploting stuff together and some are really against each other kinda confusing maybe i need to watch it again |
| Comment by:- Low_Ryda | | 17 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| The movie was pretty pathetic. -__- all the screen writer did was rip off Whitewolf ( Strike One - Plot), the character were awful and the acting was disgustingly bad ( Strike Two - Acting/Characterizations) and then last but not least the action sequences weren't even all that great (Strike Three - Sucky fighting) PS Sony got themselves sued for stealing White Worlf's story (Strike Four - Got caught) |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 27 December 2004 | ip: logged |
