Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Reviewed by: Ryan Rotten
Rating: 7 out of 10
Movie Details: View here
Cast:
Billy Nighy as Viktor
Michael Sheen as Lucian
Rhona Mitra as Sonja
Kevin Grevioux as Raze
Steven Mackintosh as Tannis
Directed by Patrick Tatopoulos
Review:
Welcome to the most cut and dry Underworld of the trilogy. A prequel that eschews the convoluted intrigue of the first two films, gets down 'n dirty (furthermore bloody) by slamming claw against steel, and defies expectations. Carried by the performances of two seasoned actors and a first-time confident director familiar with the universe, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is the best of the series, a rip-roarin' good time for fans eager to dig into this origin story that sheds light on the instigating factors behind the feud between the Lycans and the vampires.
To be honest, after seeing this, I'd say the bloodsuckers had it coming. When Lycans picks up - with a voiceover intro from not entirely absent Kate Beckinsale - the vampires are sitting cozy in a rugged, mountainside fortress (shades Lord of the Rings' Helm's Deep) under the reign of Viktor (Billy Nighy). Viktor fathers - at arm's length - the upbringing of Lucian the first Lycan, a man/beast hybrid who can transform at will. He enslaves the dutiful Lucian (Michael Sheen) and forces the young man to create more like him (a simple process of capture, bite, and collar, repeat). With an army of Lycans, the vampires can now use these creatures to do the grunt work and serve as guard dogs from the true werewolves that live in the surrounding woods. But, bearing shades of "Frankenstein," Viktor's runaway creation will ultimately turn on him.
Unbeknownst to Viktor, his daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), has been shagging Lucian. This forbidden "Romeo & Juliet" affair, thankfully, isn't seen blossoming in Lycans - it's already happening. Nix the Twilight-esque courting process, Lucian and Sonja have no time for such shenanigans. When we first find Lucian sneaking beyond the confines of the castle walls, it's because he's off for a dangerous quickie with Sonja on a mountaintop. There's always bound to be eyes watching somewhere, however, and it isn't long before this relationship creates mucho conflict between Sonja and Viktor, then Viktor and Lucian...then Lucian's army and anyone who happens to sport a pair of fangs and wear cool battle armor.
Love, loss, revenge, triumph... It's well-tread ground but repackaged in the Underworld universe, it fits quite comfortably. It allows Tatopoulos and screenwriters Danny McBride, Dirk Blackman and Howard McCain to present what they've teased since the first film: A crowd of vampires and werewolves tearing each other apart. Of course that's the pay-off as Tatopoulos devises a number of brutal action set-pieces throughout the film to get you warmed up, from a werewolf sneak attack to a Lycan prison break during which the vampire Death Dealers turn their massive crossbows into the castle for a Wild Bunch-esque slaughter that finds prisoners being harpooned through the chest and face. When the big brawl comes, it is admittedly pretty cool to witness hundreds of werewolves charging into battle.
Without some advancement in the special effects, none of this would have worked and thankfully Tatopoulos and his team, on both the practical and CG front, pull it off. Ross Emery's photography captures the gloomy visual aesthetic of the series which, in fact, helps ease the digital-looking nature of the loping lycanthropes who, here, bound through the trees, burrow in the ground and scale rock walls. (Although I find it funny that during their "down time" they're just lounging around in a cave somewhere.) It should also be noted that, three films in, the "transformation" sequences have gotten much better as well.
As for the harmless, overwrought drama, all actors take to their characters with passion. Both Nighy and Sheen almost seem to be trying to outdo one another in regards to chewing up the scenery. The award goes to Nighy, however, who sells every line and lends Viktor some unexpected shades of weakness. Sheen, meanwhile, leaps back into the skin of Lucian with a wild-eyed glare and unwavering strength - even when he's taking a whipping that almost matches what Jim Caviezel suffered through in The Passion of the Christ (bet you didn't expect that to get mentioned here, did you?). Mitra's Sonja is a welcome addition to series. Stubborn. Sexy. A believable match for Lucian. And it's great to see the hulking Kevin Grevioux reprise his role as Raze, a dude who - before he becomes a Lycan - proves he can knock out a werewolf with his bare fists.
The production design is eye-catching and the attention to detail is to be commended. Tatopoulos succeeds in making Lycans look big. Without a doubt the team behind this latest entry knows the world inside and out and they've crafted an enjoyable living, breathing comic book-style romp. It still takes itself pretty seriously, but unlike the previous entries, you're not sitting through the action sequences preoccupied with trying to sort out the labyrinthine connections between all of the characters (a big flaw of Underworld: Evolution). Lycans whets the appetite for not more adventures of Selene and Michael Corvin (Beckinsale and Scott Speedman, respectively) but exploration of Lucian's journey. Furthermore, it launches what is hopefully a long directing career for Tatopoulos. This is an auspicious debut for the FX and production design vet.
Comments
Posted by: tank d on January 23, 2009 at 16:52:14
this is an awsome review im gonna catch this tomorrow
Posted by: arch on January 23, 2009 at 17:55:12
saw it just now. i too gave it a 7 out of 10 at the most. dont know if its better than the first two though. acting is great, but was disappointed in the movie being mainly in one area. guess thats just the way it had to be?
Posted by: Charley Brewster on January 23, 2009 at 20:31:17
Loathed the first two-unless Rhona drops her clothes-I won't even rent it.
Posted by: Relentless on January 24, 2009 at 00:12:03
I saw the movie today and it was pointless. If you have seen the first two movies there isn't anything new revealed in this film at all, unless you want to see one dark shot after another and horrible choppy editing when an action scene does take place in the dark and when it's usually raining.
Plus it seems Bill Nighy hasn't gotten rid of his speech as Davy Jones either. Everything that was revealed in the flashback scenes in the first and second film is all you will eventually get in this 92 minute film with a predictable plot and overall average acting.
I enjoyed the first two films but frankly this film didn't need to be made period. 3 out of 10.
Posted by: francesco on January 24, 2009 at 05:44:32
so u liked it? i have to wait till february 20th.
Posted by: ScratStitch on January 24, 2009 at 11:44:07
I haven't even seen the first two "Underworld" films, but I was still able to enjoy this one. The teenage boy in me got a big kick out of it, and Bill Nighy was completely awesome.
Posted by: rtboy214 on January 24, 2009 at 18:57:24
why is it called a trilogy just becuase 3 movies have been made so far. There might be a fourth and who knows maybe even a fifth. Just like Pirates of the caribean and spider-man were not meant to be trilogies. Watch the first movie of both and you'll see that there is no indication of any continuation. Studios see how much money they make and rapidly green light 2 more and say it was all part of an epic story all along. This movie is not part of any trilogy. It is a prequel.
Posted by: Ryan Rotten, Managing Editor on January 24, 2009 at 19:05:23
Because co-creator Len Wiseman calls it a trilogy: http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=9325
It was envisioned as three films. But yes, if successful, there's always room for a fourth.
Posted by: rtboy214 on January 24, 2009 at 19:09:32
so no matter how successful it is then there won't be a fourth cuz it's already a trilogy. But since there most likely will be a fourth cuz at the end of Evolution it sounded like there will be a continuation. So it's not a trilogy.
Posted by: Ryan Rotten, Managing Editor on January 24, 2009 at 19:23:11
It's all semantics, I suppose, and in the grand scheme of things, not really worth fretting about.
But right now, because three films actually exist and because the creators went into the series envisioning three stories - yes, I'll call it a trilogy. I'm not going to call it something else simply because another film MIGHT happen.
Posted by: chris on January 24, 2009 at 19:53:33
it was great can't wait for a forth movie. i hope they do another prequel showing william,and marcus,and their father that would be great,also a sequel to evelution would be nice.it was great!!!!
Posted by: GuyverV on January 24, 2009 at 20:28:29
this movie was awesome. i can't tell if i like this one or the first one better. but it was definitely worth checking out. i didn't miss kate one bit. not that she's not nice to look at, but the story in this one kept me distracted from her absence
Posted by: Justin on January 25, 2009 at 13:46:59
I thought this movie was the best out of the,, though a little short. I've alwasy been a big fan of medevil time warfare and the fact that it took place during those days made it that much better. Swords chopping and arrows poking people is way better than our primitive weapons suck as gun that shoot UV bullets. HA! I guess I'm just a big gore'a'phobe and loved it. It had an awsome story, though yes it was told of in the first two movies, it was one that I had been waiting for them to make since before the second movie came out. I gave it a 9 out of 10
Posted by: what happened to my underworld? on January 26, 2009 at 01:04:27
Just got back from seeing U:ROTL
HOLY CRAP!
I was so disappointed... I loved the first two - yes I realize this is a 'prequel' - but come on... the editing is bad, the direction while competent was nothing to be praised - the blue tint to everything wears out its welcome after the first 10 mins and lasts the entire film, even in daylight shots ITS STILL F'ING DARK!!! - we never really get to see any real cool Vampire action till the end - Rhona Mitra was nice but I never bought the whole father daughter thing - it all just seemed so wasted! The sets are great, such a nice change from all the green screen crap of other movies - I love real sets... I just wanted to see more of them... this movie is shot so tight and in close it its hard to watch - the editing is so quick and the shutter FX during ALL the action almost gave me a seizure ... The acting is OK, its over the top stuff that fits this movie, Billy Nighy & Michael Sheen just chew up the scenery - and I laughed every time Kevin Grevioux spoke... UGH!
Overall was very disappointed when it was over... very sad... and the tacked-on Kate shots at the end seemed like a half-hearted apology for the torture of the 90 mins you just spent watching the film...
The only plus to the night was seeing TAKEN - freaking awesome flick!
NUFF SAID!
Posted by: cable82 on January 29, 2009 at 12:24:28
Loved this movie...it was great. A lot better than the second but just as good as the first. The tone and imagery of the movie went very well with the subject and the detail of the world was very medieval...the castle, mirky forests, swordplay etc. This would make a great anime. The acting wasn't bad. It was on par with the first one. Kevin Grevioux can't help the way he sounds either. That is his real voice. The lycans looked better in this film and Rhona Mitra makes one fine looking vampire! I recomend this movie. Good action, good story. The way a vampire/werewolf movie should be made.
Posted by: chris on January 29, 2009 at 19:00:33
i hope if they do another film it is underworld the begining,and the story is about marcus,and william turning into what they become and a brothers love for one another william starts to change and victor wants to kill him william ask's marcus to protect him and marcus swears it. i don't know it could be a great story.what do you think???????
Posted by: drmario on February 2, 2009 at 14:32:08
saw it loved. I have yet to see the first two movie though. I actually saw the first 15 minutes of the first underworld, but i honestly could not get into it (not sure why)despite the amazing graphics and action sequence. I have to say i loved this movie, acting was beyond phenomenal (though i agree with the Davy Jones voice thing), the music was heart pumping, it was dark but not too dark, and the ending just gave me chills. Overall i think this movie made me want to watch the next ones. 8.5/10
Posted by: richard cavellero on February 3, 2009 at 17:56:25
I was surprisngly decent but still not good.
Posted by: Erica Gee on February 4, 2009 at 00:28:19
The movie is great. I just can't see where any of the negative reviews/comments are coming from.
~Loved your review. Specifically, your movie description of "Sonja shagging Lucian" gave me a good chuckle. ;)
Posted by: El_Nastro on February 4, 2009 at 01:43:46
"Lycans"?
It's not enough that vampires are no longer scary disgusting monsters, they have to gay up werewolves too?
Seriously..."lycans"? What's wrong with "werewolves"?
Posted by: Sean on February 8, 2009 at 06:38:00
This movie definately is worthwhile and should be watched. Why? The answer is simply because it takes you back into a prior storyline, something that was missing in the previous Underworlds versions. In the past two films, we had known very little as to why or how certain things are, and we were forced to question, for example: Why Viktor was hidden in the first place.
This version gave us more details and we got to learn more from the other main characters of the film.
This movie will give you an in depth storyline that will help you understand the full Underworld of how everything all started, that I believe if there was to be a 4th Movie, then you must understand how it all started in order to go on.
9 out of 10, just because some shots are a bit too dark.
Acting was a plus.
Posted by: gman716 on February 10, 2009 at 12:37:10
This movie is a must see. To fully understand the Underworld Movies watch this one first. Then the other two movies will make a whole lot more since.
Posted by: chris on February 10, 2009 at 19:02:57
i beg them to do a begining story,please i want to see the very start of it all,then the kraven,selen,victor,lucian story.
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