rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 2006
Directed by Len Wiseman; produced by David Coatsworth, Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Richard Wright; screenplay by Danny McBride
Starring Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Derek Jacobi, Shane Brolly, Bill Nighy, Tony Curran
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
'Underworld' is a dark movie, has some interesting production design and
cinematography, and a Kate Beckinsale who is nice to look at. Now we have a
sequel, 'Underworld: Evolution', that continues where the first movie ended.
I think this one is even darker, has less interesting production design and
especially cinematography, and Beckinsale is still nice to look at.
'Underworld: Evolution' wants to tell a story that deals, like the first
one, with the war between vampires and werewolves. The movie might have
worked better without a real plot since here it takes the first half to even
explain what it is basically about. Beckinsale is Selene, a vampire, in love
with Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) who changed into a mix of vampire and
werewolf in 'Underworld'. He has powers "that could be limitless". Their
villain is Marcus, the oldest of vampires, who wants to free his brother
William (Brian Steele), the oldest of werewolves. Why and how is for you to
find out. We also follow a character played by Derek Jacobi, at first not
very clear whether he is good or bad, who will turn out to be a crucial
character to explain the plot.
In a way 'Underworld: Evolution' is entertaining; at least I was not bored
in the first half. But after an hour or so we have seen enough of the same
dark stuff. Although it deals with vampires and werewolves it is nothing
more than a simple action movie with characters a little harder to kill than
men or women. If it is action they give us at least let us really see it; we
might be really enjoyed then. The final scenes at least bring hope to that
wish. If a third film will be made there is a good chance daylight is
present. Maybe then it can reach the level of the first two 'Blade'-films.
On the other hand, a third installment sounds quite useless to me as well.