Underworld (2003)
Facts
| Directed by | Len Wiseman |
| Cast | Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly and Bill Nighy |
| Theatrical Release | September 19, 2003 |
| MPAA Rating | R (Restricted) |
About Underworld
Blade meets The Crow and The Matrix in Underworld, a hybrid thriller that rewrites the rulebook on werewolves and vampires. It's a "cuisinart" movie (blend a lot of familiar ideas and hope something interesting happens) in which immortal vampire "death dealers" wage an ancient war against "Lycans" (werewolves), who've got centuries of revenge--and some rather ambitious genetic experiments--on their lycanthropic agenda. Given his preoccupation with gloomy architecture (mostly filmed in Budapest, Hungary), frenetic mayhem and gothic costuming, it's no surprise that first-time director Len Wiseman gained experience in TV commercials and the art departments of Godzilla, Men in Black, and Independence Day. His work is all surface, no substance, filled with derivative, grand-scale action as conflicted vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale, who later became engaged to Wiseman) struggles to rescue an ill-fated human (Scott Speedman) from Lycan transformation. It's great looking all the way, and a guaranteed treat for horror buffs, who will eagerly dissect its many strengths and weaknesses. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com
Website Links
- Movie Review Query Engine - Directory of movie reviews.
- IMDb - Features plot summaries, reviews, cast lists, and theatre schedules.
- Art.com - Search for Underworld posters.
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User Reviews
Average user review:| Underworld Unrated Blu-Ray |
| original and entertaining |
Great show and great special effects. Kate in BluRay? a must have! October 31, 2008
| Great Job |
| What DO you get when you cross a Vampire with a Lycanthrope? |
UNDERWORLD is action-packed from the get go; you jump right in and it never lets up. Epic battles, high-speed chases, gun fights, impossible stunts, blood and gore (although less than you would think), and fantastic transformations keep you on the edge of your seat. The directing/cinematography/editing are excellent, cutting away from anything truly disgusting before you really see it; leaving the rest to your vivid imagination. The acting is impressive, with Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, and Michael Sheen all giving scene-stealing performances. The rest of the cast, including Bill Nighy, are equally good in there respective roles. And let me just say, the costuming for UNDERWORLD is marvelous: gorgeous dresses, fabulous leathers, skin-tight cat suits. I'd like to go shopping were the Vamps do!
UNDERWORLD includes all the universal Vampire and Werewolf lore - sunlight kills Vamps, silver kills Lycans, you become a Vampire or a Werewolf from a bite. Not too many surprises in this area (although these precepts are taken to new heights), making it easier to keep up with the plot. But added to the standard lore is the theory that there is a line of humans who carry a gene that enables them to survive a bite from BOTH a Vampire and a Lycanthrope. And this is what the Lycans are looking for.
Even if you aren't a fan of monster flicks, you will enjoy UNDERWORLD. It makes for a great popcorn evening at home. It is clearly too intense for the youngest members of the family, but tweens and up should be just fine.
So, what DO you get, when you cross a Vampire with a Lycanthrope? Apparently, something the Lycans want and the Vampires don't. And something bigger and badder than both...
July 26, 2008
| Enjoyed this movie in Blu-ray |
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