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Underworld (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (70 - 72 of 127 Reviews)

Better than Expected.
Upon watching UNDERWORLD for the first time, I wasn't expecting to be very interested. I had read so many negative reviews and heard so many people say that it was a rip-off of ROMEO AND JULIET, that I just wasn't expecting much. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when the final credits started to roll and I was left sitting in my seat thinking, "What? It's over already?".

As many have already stated, the film is about a vampire death-slayer (vampires who hunt wearwolves) who falls in love with a human who has been bitten by her most hated enemy, the werewolf overlord who was supposed to have been killed centuries before. The film starts off somewhat slow then rushes into a fighiting frenzy, then slows down, then rushes into a fighting frenzy, then slows down. The entire movie is paced this way. Some find it irritating. However, I felt that it added to the mood of the movie, the pace of the film accompaning the transformations that the characters undergo both physically and psychologically.

The lighting and costumes seemed to fit the dark underworld that is the setting for most of the film. The only time the tones lightened up were in flashbacks to centuries before when the wearwolves and vampires weren't at war, suggesting a more pleasant era.

The characters in the movie aren't allowed to develop much, except through narrative. However, I didn't find that this took anything away from the movie. Much like all franchises (as UNDERWORLD is sure to become), this film sets up everything that is to come in the next. This isn't a thinking person's movie nor is it a full blown action piece; in the style and tone the movie has more of a literary feel than anything else. My only complaint is that there wasn't enough conflict between the wearwolves and the vampires; so much time is spent on setting the tone, mood, and narrative that there wasn't much time left for action. Nevertheless, I still found that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and look forward to seeing it again.

Underworld Uncut - It's the extras that are worth the price
Underworld - you either love it or you hate it. No one seems to be on the fence. I am a die hard Joss Whedon - Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. But I have to admit, I loved this movie. I loved the dark world setting, the powerful music, the movie's pacing, and the plot twists at the end. Having said that, I did have to adjust to this new vampire and werewolf univerise that the director and his team had created. Werewolves running along the walls and being easily killed by vampires - not too believable. The bullets of silver nitrate and sunlight were. I thought Seline as the conflicted werewolf hunter was very believable. However, our doctor hero seemed a wimpy hostage until he went through the transformation at the end. If you love the commentary on the original DVD, then stay with that one. If you are a DVD collector and want to have the entire series (since the sequel comes out in December), then get the unrated new version, too. The funny outtakes, featurettes and comic book are worth adding to your collection.

Star Crossed With No Bite
Underworld ties together two of horror's most popular mythologies, and tries to put a new spin on what we've come to expect from the genre at the same time.

The film is set in the secret nocturnal and supernatural world of vampires and werewolves. These are two groups that have been at war for centuries, vampires are a secret clan of modern aristocratic sophisticates, while werewolves are a cunning gang of street thugs who prowl the city's underside. A romance develops between a female vampire warrior and her sworn enemy. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is known for her strength and werewolf-hunting prowess. While Michael (Scott Speedman) is a peace-loving human who's recently been bitten by a werewolf, and wants to end the war.

First time director Len Wiseman, has made a very stylish and good looking film, that is unfortunately not as good as it could have been. As I said, the film is visually striking with great sets, a cast that tries its best with the material, and some cool stunts and special effects. All of these positives cannot save the story. I had heard the film "borrows" a bit, from films like The Matrix, Blade, and The Crow, but I was unprepared for just how much. A little imitatation is flattering...but it seems as though someone decided to mix successfull elements from the past--and hoped enough of it would work. The "Romeo & Juliet" plotline works only so far and then, falls apart.

The DVD features two audio commentaries. The first commentary from Wiseman, writer Danny McBride, and writer-actor Kevin Grevioux is good enough. Despite the film's problems--it's worth your time. Far better for me though, is the second track, given what's good about the movie. The commentary from creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos, visual effects supervisor/executive producer James McQuaide, and sound designer Claude Letessier is far more interesting than the other commentary track. There are 4 making of featurettes. Some of the production information found on these is repeated elsewhere. There's the fairly generic "The Making of Underworld", one on creature effects, stunts, and "sights and sound". Take your pick. Rounding out the disc's bonus material are a few storyboard comparisons, the Finch music video for "Worms of the Earth", from the soundtrack, theatrical trailers, and TV spots.

Underworld is worth a look for genre faithfuls who are curious. Too bad its borrowed ingredients overshadow its potential

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