Underworld (2004)
Starring Kate Beckinsale (as Selene)
Scott Speedman (as Michael)
Bill Nighy (as Viktor)
Michael Steen (as Lucian)
Shane Brolly (as Kraven)
(3 stars)

In the monster movie genre, things can get pretty cliché, I mean, how many versions of Freddy Kruger or Excorcist do we need? But now and again, a gem comes along. For this reviewer, Underworld was that. Very reminscient of Blade, but with more monsters, no official "Vampire Slayers" and with the added twist that ... *gasp* the main character Vampire is a girl, and one that would rather kick your butt than to look at you, it stood a chance in our review schedule.

For six centuries, a war has been raging throughout the world, between Vampires and Lycans (werewolves). Now, here in the 21st century, they center themselves in America, and the war has come to its climax. Selene and her fellow Death Dealers (vampire warriors), have victory in their grasp, until they are caught by surprise by the introduction of a human into the midst of their battleground. Selene finds the human, Michael, irrestistible, and even more, she is intrigued by the Lycans' interest in the man. Why are they so obsessed with him? How will she finally ward off the wanted attention of Kraven, the leader of her Vampire Coven? Will she emerge from this new battle, over Michael, unscathed, even though she breaks the covenant by "awakening" the great Viktor, early? Even though she is suspicious of all who surround her? What will she trade for the truth to be gained of her past, her people, the beginings of the Vampire-Lycan war, that secret guarded strongly, sometimes unknowingly, by Kraven, the Lycan leader Lucian, her beloved Viktor, and even, yes, the curiosity Michael?

All this intrigue, Underworld gives. Despite the feeling of an overlong music video ala MTV-meets-the Matrix, depsite the niggling suspicion that we are dropped into the middle of an already running series, it is a fun romp, suitable for a dark October night. The one-disk DVD includes some iffy extras: many makings-of, that are fun, if you're in the mood, and a strange video by the band Finch; the rather pricey two-disk special edition I am sure includes much more. Nonetheless Underworld makes for a good 2 hour escape from reality; if you're looking for something dark and action-packed, it stands quite well next to its predecessors.

Keep the silver bullets and garlic handy, alongside the popcorn, and enjoy this fun addition to the mythos of the Vampire and Werewolf.

(Note: As of this date, we have not seen the sequel, but it looks to be very good. We will be seeing it as soon as possible. Until then, check out the following great site concerning the movie; or, if you're starving for even more, some of the movie-based books available. :)) Enjoy.

Underworld Links
News on the sequel, Underworld: Evolution

Underworld at
Amazon

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