Underworld: Evolution

Who would of thought January would be a good month for movies? Two weeks ago saw the release of GRANDMA'S BOY, the funniest comedy to come out in the 2000s yet and this week brings UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION, a sequel that is *gasp* better than the original. Finding a sequel as good or better than the original is, pardon the old expression, like finding a needle in a haystack. It just doesn't happen very often, which what makes UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION such a treat. It's bigger and better the original. This is no doubt because the cast members are more suited in their roles than they were before and because with his second feature, Len Wiseman has grown as a director. Also improved are the special effects that appeared somewhat fake in the original film. If 'EVOLUTION' was only about special effects like mostly all action pictures today, it would be no good, but thanks to screenwriter Danny McBride and Wiseman, there is actually a good story behind the mayhem. Were there weak points? Just a couple. The chemistry between Selene and Michael seemed a bit off at times. 9/10

More gory and more enjoyable, this opus is much more action oriented than the first one. Obviously, the scenario is less interesting although quite correct. The special effects are better than the first, the actors play well and the action scenes are much more watchable. On the other hand, the film is a little short but it's still a very good continuation of a good saga.

I recently saw Underworld: Blood Wars in the theater and it inspired me to review the entire franchise. Two days ago I re-watched Underworld (2003) and today I watched Underworld: Evolution.

Well shame on me. I skipped right over Underworld: Evolution and didn't even realize or know. With that, I still was able to enjoy the three that followed this one (Rise of the Lycans, Awakening, and the recently released Blood Wars).

I didn't quite like Evolution as much as I did Underworld (2003) but it still held its own. This installment was about uncovering Vampire/Lycan history. More information and more secrets were revealed about both species. Again there were many bullets shot (so many rounds of ammo and so many guns) and again Selene (Kate Beckinsale) had to fight some ferocious beasts (both Vampire and Lycan).

A sound follow up and link to Underworlds to follow.

Just imagine if your brother was lupine, while you devoured blood, like it was claret wine, he loved to howl and bark, you just loved being in the dark, a psychotic and neurotic frater line.

Selene is being hunted for her blood, batty Marcus needs to find where William's stood, he wants to build the family, there's some new anthropology, to explain why they enjoyed their childhood.

It's only downhill from now on, as the franchise ruptures, the bloods gone, not quite knowing when to stop, perpetually draining a good plot, leaving a husk, a shallow spectre of what was.

Be nice to know what the point of it all is too, aside from megalomania.

Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman reprise their roles as leather-clad, ass-kicking vampire warrior Selene and vampire / werewolf hybrid Michael in this decent sequel. The story picks up where the original movie ended; now Selene and Michael are on the lam and determined to obtain exposition regarding the centuries-old war between blood suckers and bloodthirsty canines. Relentlessly pursuing them is thoroughly evil bad guy vampire Marcus (Tony Curran); Selene and Michael attempt to get some help from the legendary Alexander Corvinus (Sir Derek Jacobi), the man who got the ball rolling on this conflict so many years ago.

"Underworld: Evolution" is okay as far as this kind of entertainment goes. It depicts a bleak, stylized environment that refrains from many primary colours, going for the gusto in terms of action and gore, and trying to deliver a poignant moment here and there. The CGI can be ropey at times - as we all come to expect from this sort of thing - but there is fortunately some practical work as well (like Brian Steele in costume as the fearsome werewolf William, who's been imprisoned for centuries).

It really helps to have a largely British cast with such a tale; they lend gravitas where it might not have been delivered otherwise, and the actors all give it their best effort. Curran is a vivid villain, and it's a real treat to have Jacobi in a pivotal role in a modern genre crossover of a movie. Steven Mackintosh is a hoot as a seedy beast who's been the historian for the two clans, but was forced into exile. Some cast members from the original film, like Bill Nighy as Viktor, Shane Brolly as Kraven, and Michael Sheen as Lucian, appear briefly.

Director and co-writer Len Wiseman keeps the story moving forward adequately, spices it up with a bit of sex, and gives us a finale where Selene and Michael are fighting their adversaries side by side.

Not bad overall, but if one is NOT a fan of the first "Underworld", this sequel probably won't get them to change their minds about this series.

Filmed in Vancouver.

Six out of 10.