Underworld Trilogy Blu-ray Review

The Underworld franchise has seemingly come full circle with 2008's Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. It's unclear if this franchise has a future beyond this chapter, but given the series' box-office popularity, I'd say this undead mash-up will remain a staple of the genre for years to come. If nothing else, we've likely see straight-to-video sequels. Just don't expect many of the original players to return for those (Beckinsale already opted out of the theatrically released prequel).

Here's a look at the popular vampire/werewolf franchise, from start to finish to prequel.

Underworld

Underworld was pitched as "Romeo and Juliet as vampires and werewolves." They should have called it "Much Ado About Nothing, with vampires and werewolves." It shamelessly rips off several movie ideas while attempting to put science behind the werewolf and vampire legends. In the end, it's too long, with too much happening, and the best thing about it is Kate Beckinsale in form-fitting leather.

White Wolf, the creator of the Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse roleplaying games has sued Sony, Screen Gems and Lakeshore for copyright infringement of this movie, citing no fewer than sixty points of unique similarity. If you ask me, the Wachowski Brothers, Anne Rice, James O'Barr and even David Fincher might want to sign on for that suit and make it a class-action job, as this film lifts ideas from The Matrix, The Vampire Chronicles, The Crow and Alien 3.

Centuries ago, werewolves and vampires were partnered. Well, the werewolves were their slaves, who guarded the vampires as they slept during the day. However, something went horribly wrong and a war erupted between the two. The war turned in the vampires' favor when Lucian, the leader of the werewolves, was killed.

Hundreds of years later, werewolves are almost extinct. Selene (Beckinsale) is a death dealer. No, she's not dealing cards at the blackjack tables in Vegas, she hunts and kills werewolves. She's got a good reason – werewolves wiped out her whole family. Now she returns the favor.

After a voiceover introduction in which she tells us how this war has gone on for centuries unknown to man, she and two other dealers end up in a gunfight on a crowded subway platform with two lycans (one of which is screenwriter Kevin Grevioux). The lycans were zeroing in on a human, and Selene is wondering why. So is the human, medical intern Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman, sporting a Scott Stapp 'do).

Back at the stylish, gothic mansion that serves as home to dozens of black velvet-wearing vampires, Selene tells Kraven (Shane Brolly), the leader of the group, that she thinks she found a den with dozens of werewolves, something that hasn't been seen in centuries. Kraven? Obviously Wiseman has taken a page from the J.K Rowling book of names-as-a-character-description.

Kraven will hear none of it and insists that Selene let it go, but she doesn't. What she uncovers is treachery on the highest order, and science of a considerably lower one. Grevioux, a hulking near twin of Michael Clark Duncan but possessing a voice like Ned from South Park, has a degree in microbiology and was studying for a graduate degree in genetic engineering. In the commentary track, he talks of trying to give the film a scientific basis. A for effort, D- for execution.

CLICK HERE to read the full Underworld review by Andy Patrizio.


Underworld: Evolution

If a movie featuring vampires and werewolves fighting with guns, claws, swords and teeth doesn't sound like engaging, messy fun to you, stop reading – you aren't going to like Underworld, let alone its extra-bloody sequel Underworld: Evolution.

For those who are down with all things either furry, bleeding, or covered in skintight leather, this is the film for you; a worthy sequel to its predecessor, and a much better ride on several levels. Where the original spent a good deal of time setting up the reasons for the battle between vampires and werewolves (or lycans, as they're called here), this one does a decent job of letting the battle simply play out. There are lagging sections of exposition, but nowhere near as many as the first film, and many of them are told in flashback, giving the audience a first-hand glimpse at the proceedings.

Kate Beckinsale reprises her role (and wardrobe) from the first film; a vampire named Selene who is known as a death dealer, charged with the task of ridding the world of lycans. At the end of Underworld, she learns of a betrayal that changes the path of her life, and this film explores the repercussions of that. The biggest of these is her relationship with Michael (Scott Speedman), a hybrid vampire/lycan who looks a lot like The X-Men's Nightcrawler on 'roids in his changed state.

Since vampires and lycans have literally been at each others' throats throughout history, their affair does not go down well on either side, and in the beginning of this film (which picks up right after the events of the original), Selene and Michael are on the run, and defending themselves against all comers.

At the same time, the lycan blood that made its way to Marcus, the last remaining vampire Elder, has transformed him into a super-charged, winged beast (think the flying creature from Jeepers Creepers after a couple hundred bowls of Wheaties), and he is out to exact revenge on everyone who has wronged him.

In the end, Evolution follows all sequel rules – more action, more nudity, more villains – but manages to be better than the original by keeping the action coming. Sure, there is some tightening that could have made the exposition flow faster, but overall this is a solid genre picture with killer action and plenty of satisfying death-dealing.

CLICK HERE to read the full Underworld review by Chris Carle.


Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, the third film in the vampire versus werewolf franchise, takes place over a millennium before the events of the first two installments and chronicles how the war between the aristocratic Vampires and the barbaric lycans began.

Although vampires, under the rule of the despotic Viktor (Bill Nighy), control the wilderness of eastern Europe, they live in fear of the mindless but more powerful werewolves. No matter how smart or slick they become, vampires still aren't much of a match for werewolves in the brute force department. That's why the vampiric death dealers must also rely on crossbows, swords and spears while patrolling their territory.

The advantage the civilized vampires had over the savage werewolves shifts when a captive female werewolf gives birth to a seemingly human child. The boy, who grows up to be the blacksmith Lucian (Michael Sheen), has the power to take the form of either man or beast at will. Lucian is raised by Viktor, but he's a prisoner in his castle and must always wear a "moonshackle" around his neck to prevent him from transforming into his lycan form. Viktor also uses Lucian's bloodline to create a new breed of slaves for the vampires to exploit.

If there's anything that Lucian desires more than his freedom, however, it's Viktor's beautiful but fiery daughter Sonja (Rhona Mitra). Lucian and Sonja carry on a secret love affair, tempting death if Viktor were to find out. Of course, he eventually does (otherwise, there'd be no movie). Springing his fellow lycan slaves from Viktor's dungeons, Lucian leads them in a rebellion against the vampires even as he hopes to start a new life with his beloved Sonja. Viktor, however, has a less happy future in mind for them.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a different beast than its two predecessors, which were basically The Matrix with fangs. Lycans is a fantasy film not horror or action, and the series' mythology is better served by setting the story in the Dark Ages rather than contemporary times. What seemed pretentious in a modern setting actually plays better within the context of a period fantasy film.

Technically, though, Lycans is just a notch above a SCI FI channel production. Graduating from designing the past two films to the director's chair, Patrick Tatopoulos does a serviceable job in keeping the story moving along and handling the actors, but he employs the same murky, monochromatic palette of the prior films and his staging of action sequences is hit and miss.

CLICK HERE to read the full Underworld: Rise of the Lycans review by Jim Vejvoda.

Underworld: 4 out of 10
Underworld: Evolution: 6 out of 10
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans: 5 out of 10
Aggregate Movie Score: 5 out of 10