From a nurse at Pearl Harbor to a Lycan (werewolf) hunting “death dealer” Kate Beckinsale makes the transformation with convincing ease, but unfortunately one actor does not make a movie.
Underworld adds a new spin to the vampire and werewolf myths with a modern mix of Romeo and Juliet and Blade.
The vampires lead their lives as a secretive clan of modern, aristocratic sophisticates whose mortal enemies are the Lycans, dwelling underground and fighting for their chance to stay alive. The Lycans once served as slaves to the vampires but have found themselves searching for the one human that would give them strength beyond that of any immortal.
A vampire, Celine (Beckinsale), stalks the Lycans, killing any in her way, but her plans are halted when she falls in love with a pivotal human turned werewolf (Speedman).
Cue the Capulets versus the Montagues.
As the war rages the audience is treated to spectacular special effects as the latest movie magic takes the, human to werewolf, transformation to whole new levels making Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” look like child’s play.
Effects, along with Beckinsale’s spectacular performance, are the highlights, but the lengthy dialogue in this film and the sub par acting surrounding the lead character’s take a lot away from this flick.
Shane Brolly plays Kraven, the head of the vampire house, and cannot seem to pull off the tough guy act as he comes across uptight and uncomfortable and in no way a leader. Also Bill Nighy who plays Viktor, one of the vampire elders, is just unacceptable as the bad ass he is supposed to be.
Aside from the acting there could also be a little more blood and a little less guns. I mean, come on, these are vampires and werewolves and everyone is carrying around an Uzi! Werewolves eat people and vampires suck blood, but we aren’t blessed with much of what we expect to see from these blood lusting fiends.
Underworld is intriguing and an interesting twist on tales we have heard our whole lives and worth the watch, but don’t expect anything more than what you saw in Blade and Blade II.
