Movie Info:
Writer: Len Wiseman, Kevin Grevioux/ Danny McBride
Director: Len Wiseman
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Bill Nighy, Sophia Myles, Tony Curran
Rating: R
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: September 19, 2003/January 20, 2006
DVD Release Date: January 13, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.99

I couldn’t wait for this set to come out. Admittedly, I am a vampire junkie. I love vampire movies. When Underworld first came out, I wasn’t too familiar with werewolf movies (unless those cheesy Werewolf in London movies count). The marketing made me want to see this though, if not for the element of vampires. Then again, maybe it had something to do with a hard as nails, Kate Beckinsale, in leather. Whatever it was, I couldn’t wait to see the first film. When Underworld first came out, I bought it on eBay only to be sad to see I was duped and was sold a bootleg. Still, without buying it, I have seen this movie a good 50 times thanks to television and DVR. While vampire stories can occasionally get old and feel tired, Underworld works not only because of the story, but because of the stellar acting and the above average directing that comes with it.

There are a couple of elements that work for this series. First, there is the love story. It’s almost a twisted Romeo and Juliet in some ways. Forbidden love takes many forms and from the looks of it, this is the worst kind. The back story, between Selene (Beckinsale) and the people that made her the death dealer she has become is also interesting. Then, there is the raw force and emotion that comes with the hatred that the two clans of species feel towards one another. While many of them do not understand the hatred, it is powerful and in a way the story doesn’t matter to them because these feelings are the way things have always been. So much could have went wrong here, but Wiseman made sure that it didn’t and the final result says it all.

As much as I love this series so far, I do recognize that these movies are not for everyone. Vampire and fantasy movies can be an acquired taste. There are phenomenal ones that do the genre great justice and then there are the less than flattering ones that make us all suffer. I won’t name names on which I think fall into what category, I will just say that Underworld and it’s associated franchise are a great addition to the world of film. I have yet to meet a vampire fan that did not like these movies though I am sure there are a few out there. If you don’t like the genre you may still like these films, for the action, if nothing else (not too much feeding takes place and it is done tastefully for the most part) but I would recommend renting these films before you do purchase if you are unsure whether this double feature is for you or not.

The Underworld/Underworld Evolution Plot
In Underworld a war has been raging for centuries between the Vampires and the Lycans (werewolves). Selene (Beckinsale) is a Vampire, also known as a Death Dealer. It is her job within the coven to find and exterminate an ancient class of werewolves known as Lycans. She is hell bent on doing her job well because Selene believes that as a child these monsters murdered her family. Selene is unlike the other vampires. She is more willing to look for the truth and question what she sees rather than taking it for granted as many of the other vampires do.

The Vampires have been led to believe that they won the war against the Lycans long ago when semi-leader Kraven (Shane Brolly) killed the leader of the Lycans, Lucian (Michael Sheen). Selene seems to think that Lucian is alive though and that the werewolves are plotting something that has to do with a human by the name of Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman). She doesn’t know what they want with Corvin, but the race is on to find out before it costs the Vampires their war.

Through her investigation, Selene learns a good deal about Michael, who is nothing more than a confused victim throughout the majority of the movie. She also learns the truth about the two species and what really happened to her family. In the end, what happens on this night is something that will forever change the way that she looks at her species and the man that made her what she is.

Underworld Evolution begins with a flashback of the three Vampire elders, Markus (Tony Curran), Viktor (Bill Nighy), and Amelia (Zita Gorog) arriving to see a village destroyed by the werewolves. Upon arrival they capture William Corvinus (Brian Steele), Markus’ brother. In present day, Selene takes Michael to hide and plans to return to confront Kraven, knowing his plans to kill Markus and take over. Kraven’s plans are never realized though because Markus is awoken by Singe’s blood which turns him into a hybrid, allowing him to wipe out the entire mansion. It does not take long for Markus to pinpoint the location of Selene and Michael and when he does it is his mission to track them down.

Selene learns that the pendant that she has is of importance to Markus, though she does not understand why. She realizes that she needs to find out, so she takes Michael to Andreas Tanis (Steven Mackintosh), an exiled vampire, hoping that he can help. Selene learns that Markus and his brother William were the first vampire and the first werewolf. Markus was bitten by a bat, which led him to become a vampire and William met the same fate with a wolf. Markus made Viktor and his Army as a means of stopping William from destroying the world. Now it’s up to Selene to make it to Alexander Corvinus (Derek Jacobi) and convince him to do the right thing, even though the odds of him killing his own son are slim.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
Both Underworld and Underworld Evolution look absolutely fabulous. As good as they look, I am really looking forward to their move to Blu-ray because I can only imagine the quality that will be offered. In the case of Underworld the film offers a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Underworld Evolution steps things up a bit by offering 2.40:1. In both cases you receive anamorphic widescreen. The color is very artsy relying heavily on the dark and crystalline blues that make up the majority of the palette. Every little detail is represented nicely and the films have never looked better.

In terms of audio, both movies offer Dolby Digital 5.1 in English and French. The sound is dynamic and full bodied without being too loud. The action sequences sound fabulous, the dialogue is crystal clear, and the music sounds just great. There are no issues with sound distortion. Everything here worked just fine, with no complaints to report. In addition to standard audio, the English version of the audio also offers Closed Captioning. Subtitles are offered in English and French.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
There are several special features spread out between the two Underworld movies. Starting off with Underworld there is an awesome commentary with Len Wiseman, Kate Beckinsale, and Scott Speedman. I’m not normally too into commentaries, but this one was relaxed and pretty interesting to listen to. I am glad that I sat through it when normally I attempt to skip them altogether. There were previews for Underworld, Hellboy, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and Spiderman 2. Some outtakes were added to offer up a few laughs of flubbed lines and a few television spots were thrown in for good measure. The only other feature on the Underworld is “Fang vs. Fiction” which is a fun 47 minute piece on vampires and werewolves. Fans of the genre might not find out too many new things here, but it’s certainly worth a look.

Underworld Evolution offers a few more special features and plenty of trailers and previews. Previews are for When a Stranger Calls, Ultraviolet, Marie Antoinette, The Benchwarmers, Silent Hill, The Three Burials of Melquades Estrada, The Boondocks, Underworld, London, Click, The James Bond Collection, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. A music video by Atreyu, “Her Portrait in Black” is included and offers plenty of shots from the film.

Another commentary is done by Wiseman and some of the cast and crew. Again, it’s a good A series of featurettes are included and you have the option to play them all at once or run through them randomly. The featurettes include “Bloodlines: From Script to Screen”, “The Hybrid Theory”, “Making Monsters Roar”, “The War Rages On”, “Building a Saga”, and “Music and Mayhem.” All of the features are worth watching at least once. They offer information on the story, the music, and the production details of the film. The final offering is actually on the outside of the DVDs on the package. It’s a $10 coupon to go see the newest Underworld movie, Rise of the Lycans. The coupon is good until March 7, 2009.

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
If you like vampire movies or movies dealing with Dark Fantasy, this should be right up your alley. The acting with Speedman and Beckinsale is not only spot on, they’ve got great chemistry. The supporting cast also allows you to feel a range of emotions, too. Both films are worth watching and owning whether you have seen them or not. This two disc set is offered at just the right time, with the release of Rise of the Lycans right around the corner. If you have never seen the Underworld movies, I highly recommend them. If you already own them there is no reason to go and pick them up, but if you don’t have a copy at home this set comes highly recommended.

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: Sony Pictures, Underworld, Underworld Evolution, Vampires, Lycans, Selene, Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Dark Fantasy