Last night I joined Tom, James, and Jeff to a boy’s night out viewing of Underworld: Evolution. With Underworld: Evolution, the sequel to the 2003 cult hit Underworld, director Len Wiseman once again proves that vampires, werewolves, guns and leather are potent ingredients for dynamic entertainment.
Underworld: Evolution begins with a scene in the early 1600’s that provides some interesting background material to the first movie. It then moves to pick up right where Underworld left off providing an interesting flashback sequence that serves as a recap of the story so far while advancing the storyline in this film. I need not discuss more of the plot here. Examined in the hard light of day the plot for this type of film is never too deep, but that isn’t the point. Wiseman provides just enough mystery in his story to frame what is predominately an action film. And it works.
Many of the actors from the first film make a reappearance, if only briefly. The 1600’s sequence was interesting in that viewers were able to get a little taste of Underworld‘s villain Viktor (Bill Nighy) in a scene that also involved the other two vampire leaders Amelia and Marcus. Amelia (Zita Görög) was short shifted in Underworld, paraded on screen briefly to look pretty and die. In Underworld: Evolution she was able to perform in a few fight scenes giving her somewhat of an action heroine backstory. Scott Speedman was back as Michael Corvinus and I really enjoyed his role in this film. Speedman does a good job of being an everyman, a good joe who grows easily into the role of hero. One of the really nice touches to this film is the fact that he removes his leather jacket before morphing into his alternate persona, thus saving his jacket from an Incredible Hulk style demise. And of course there is Kate Beckinsale.
Of all the recent starlets turned action heroes Kate Beckinsale’s performance of Selene in the Underworld franchise is my favorite. Kate Beckinsale makes leather and fangs look haute couture. I became a Kate fan with her debut performance in Much Ado About Nothing and, while I haven’t enjoyed all of her films (Pearl Harbor), I have enjoyed each of her performances. She is a complete natural at inhabiting the body of a black leather clad, gun toting, fang bearing vampire hunter. Nothing about her performances in the Underworld films seems forced or silly, she takes a role that could be completely campy and turns it into the Indiana Jones of vampire/werewolf films.
The look and feel of Underworld: Evolution has changed little from the first film. Present is the same predominately black palette with hues of blue which corresponds well with the deep blue eye color that appears when the vampires vamp it up. Shiny black weapons mimic the shiny black leather outfits of those who wield them. Cool slow motion special effects give the battles a Matrix/Max Payne feel. In fact all the special effects were quite good. Most impressive was the creature that Marcus morphed into after being unintentionally awoken by the ingestion of lycan blood at the end of Underworld. The presence of a winged vampire creature could have easily turned into a cheesy effect but it wasn’t, it was great. The way the mechanics of flight were rendered was terrific. The music is hard and grinding, fitting perfectly with the mood of the film without being a distraction and the sound quality and effects were crisp, clean and action packed.
This film earns every bit of its ‘R’ rating with more visceral fighting scenes and a few flashes of skin. During a particularly well acted scene of intimacy I found the voice of Pedro, from Napoleon Dynamite, speaking to me: “You think its kind of warm in here?…I think they have the heater on or something…You don’t feel like your head is burning or, or anything?”
Despite being panned by critics, if you enjoyed Underworld you will most certainly enjoy Underworld: Evolution. The movie met and in some places exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed it even more than I did the first one. The action is great, the storyline has some intriguing twists, Kate Beckinsale is stunning and there are plenty of hairy werewolves if that is your thing. I had a great deal of fun watching this movie and look forward to seeing it again on DVD.
I thought this one was just as good or even better than the first.
The fight scenes sure were a lot more exciting.
I loved it. I also think it was better than the first one which I also liked a lot. I really liked how they brought back so many people from the first film. I also enjoyed how the story picks up right after the first one leaves off. Not a two years later sort thing. I can’t wait for the hopefuly exteneded and uncut 🙂 DVD and here’s to hoping for an Underworld 3 !
I had a hard time remembering the characters because for me it has been two years. I thoroughly enjoyed dinner, too. I called the rib place to see where they order their wet wipes and if they were flushable. Thanks, Jeff for laughing at my jokes; hang around enough and they get repeated.
glad you enjoyed it as much as i did!
i’ve heard that Wiseman can see doing a trilogy with this .. so a 3rd is a good possibility! 🙂
Angela, that’s good news. I hope a third movie happens.
Tom, James, and Carl, Thanks again for the great company. Getting a chance to have some good eats and talk pop culture with you guys before hand was a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed talking Battlestar Galatica with James and you. Wouldn’t a Battlestar movie be wonderful. I don’t know if my heart could stand the tension of a two hour Battlestar movie though. 🙂
Good news Angela! I would like to see one more with Speedman and Beckinsale.
Had a great time with all you guys last night. Hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time. I am still laughing at your jokes Tom which is a clear indication that something is indeed wrong with me. I even managed to endure all your Battlestar talk….frakkin sci fi nerds… 😉
I prefered the first one. Think they over did it on the whole story line with this one. But maybe I’ll go see it again and change my mind.
Did love the look of it though, and I agree, Marcus did look creepy and cool
I am glad that James has some great guy friends to go out with. Sounds like you all had a really fun time.
We did indeed Jules. If James didn’t tell you about the wet wipes then he needs to pass that story on to you…course its probably more of a ‘you had to be there’ type of story…
Keri and I are going to the movie tonight. I did like the first one, but I always get too nervous and jumpy at these kind of movies. Hopefully, I won’t have to hide my face from the gore too much!
I concur on all points. Bloody lovely, it was.
This is a sidebar. My daughter read this. Kate has a son, about 7 years old, who was having a problem at school with a bully. Interventions by adults hadn’t helped, so he took a picture of her from the movie and said, “This is my Mom.” and never had another problem.
That’s hilarious Pat!!! On another side note, I was listening to the radio on my way home from work last night and they were playing clips from a radio interview with Kate and Scott that included talk of the love scene…Scott was evidently wearing a discreetly placed sock during the scene and talked about how difficult it was to film with Kate’s husband, director Len Wiseman, just 15 feet away.
That story is very funny! My six year old had a very difficult time earlier in the school year with a bully. Next time I’ll know what to do. I’ll dress up and have a photo shoot!
I can’t imagine how they do those kinds of scenes! Can’t imagine James directing me. Makes me giggle, the thought of it is sooooo absurd to me. I would want him to be way too jealous to ever allow that! I guess it’s a good thing we aren’t a Hollywood couple!
Jules, you just need to go get some glamour shots done with fangs and some weapons and the kids should leave your darlings alone.
Yes, its no surprise that Hollywood couples don’t last.
hi
hi i love the movie but i didn’t watch the 2
but thats okay
ps i am frome morroco so ************