A Screen Gems Release
Story - $10.00
Acting - $10.00
Directing - $10.75
Production Design - $10.75
Special Effects - $10.75
Score/Music - $10.75
*"REEL" VALUE - $10.50 = A bit more money, story, and some additional talent make UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION a sequel fans can sink their teeth into!
SYNOPSIS: Vampire Death Dealer Selene (BECKINSALE) seeks out Marcus (CURRAN), king of the Vampires, in the hope of bargaining for her life. The Werewolf-vampire hybrid Michael (SPEEDMAN) wants to aid Selene in her quest but she declines his offer as he faces the bigger battle of trying to control the werewolf raging inside him. When Marcus descends upon Selene, intent on destroying her, a battle ensues and Selene discovers that she has been betrayed by her own family and she sets out to seek her revenge.
Selene seeks out Adrian Tanis (MACKINTOSH), official Historian of the Covens, for help unraveling the web of lies spun by Marcus and Viktor (NIGHY). Intrigue deepens when Tanis reveals the identity of the first true Immortal: not Marcus or Viktor as was believed, but Alexander Corvinus (JACOBI), father to Marcus and his twin brother, William. Corvinus, like an omnipresent god working behind the scenes, has been tracking everyone’s movements and cleaning up after their wars, intent on keeping his descendents confined to the shadows of human society.
Side by side, Selene and Michael battle the horrifically strong and determined Marcus, who is determined to release his imprisoned brother William from captivity and use his bloodlust to achieve world domination. Each confrontation unearths new revelations, casting a harsh light on previous events and cutting through the darkness of painful memories buried deep within, escalating into a final battle that will forever change the world of vampires and lycans forever.
REVIEW: Filmmaker Len Wiseman’s love and knowledge of the genre is clearly evident in this sequel to the 2003 box office hit “Underworld.” Actors Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman are back reprising their roles, and this time Speedman’s character gets to go just about toe-to-toe for the number of action sequences Beckinsale has in this film. Speedman remains the quiet ant-hero, is in great shape, and is covered in almost most as much makeup as Beckinsale is clad in latex. He gets to “claw and fang it out” with the oldest vampire and the nastiest werewolf, and the duo are going blow for blow in the film’s climax. At times Beckinsale comes off as the Audrey Hepburn creature of the night, but when it comes to the action she has the hustle and muscle of a Sigourney Weaver, but with a few more wire moves to her credit. When Selene and Micheal become romantically entrenched, Speedman and Beckinsale share a highly choreographer erotic screen moment together that actually works to add another dimension to their characters.
The story is enriched with a bit more Shakespearian tragedy. If the first film was “Romeo & Juliet,” UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION feels like a hybrid of “Macbeth” and “Hamlet,” with a few allusions to Edgar Allen Poe thrown in for good measure. Elevating that dramatic aspects of the film are such talented actors as Derek Jacobi, Steven Mackintosh, and the returning Bill Nighy, who is featured in the thrilling opening period piece.
UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION is the horror genre equivalent of a “Die Hard” film. The filmmakers plug a lot of holes left unanswered in the first one, but not all of them. In fact, they raise a few new issues that could all be wrapped up nicely in a third film, and I can’t see why the audience demand wouldn’t be there. There are tons of great special effect shots, and most of the computer-generated work is used to enhance the physical effects and the visual composites need to create the locations of the Underworld universe. Wiseman does a breathtaking job in creating the film’s opening period piece, and cleverly weaves narration and visual in the bridge that connects the opening to the present.
The compelling visual elements and the fast-paced nature of the film result in any shortcomings you might find with the film for hindsight. Beckinsale has several clichéd lines, and Wiseman shots them in away that makes them feels like something from a James Bond film. Speedman for all his biting and clawing still comes across a bit subdued when he isn’t wearing the makeup and, other than one scene where he has a conflict in a bar, he still seems to be taking a back seat to Selene’s character. Finally, Wiseman reveals a bit more of his idea about vampires being able to learn things from the blood they drink from other vampires. There’s something about the way he presented the notion that it reminded me of what happens when one immortal kills another immortal in the Highlander series.
For all it’s babes, bullets, claws, and fangs, UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION is a skillfully crafted action/adventure genre tale that is sure to find favor with the Immortals, Goths, and normal folk alike, and easily earns the FEARSmag “scream” of approval.
CREW: Director, Story By, Executive Producer – Len Wiseman; Screenwriter, Story By, Executive Producer – Danny McBride; Producers – Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, David Coatsworth, & Richard Wright; Director of Photography – Simon Duggan; Visual Effects Supervisor – James McQuaide; Production and Creature Designer – Patrick Tatopoulos; Costume Designer – Wendy Partridge; Score – Marco Beltami; Armourer - Rob Fournier; Swords and Weapons - CAS Iberia; Visual Effects - LUMA PICTURES, NTROPIC Visual Effects, FURIOUS FX, CAFEFX INC., KRYPTON, FRAMESTONE CFC, SUB/PAR PIX; Miniature Effects - FANTASY II FILM EFFECTS INC.
CAST: KATE BECKINSALE… Selene; SCOTT SPEEDMAN… Michael; TONY CURRAN… Marcus; SHANE BROLLY… Kraven; STEVEN MACKINTOSH… Tanis; DEREK JACOBI… Corvinus; BILL NIGHY… Viktor.
* Based on the regular $10.75 ticket prices of a Manhattan theater.
Reviewer: Joseph B. Mauceri
Score:
Related web link: EnterTheUnderworld.com