Underworld: Evolution – stylish Vamp action sequel surprisingly satisfies!

Director - Len Wiseman
Starring – Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Derek Jacobi

Abstract:
Selene (Beckinsale) and Micheal Corbin (Speedman) are on the run from vampire hoards angry that they killed revered Immortal Ruler Viktor (Nighy) who is, in fact, a lying git.
Also the pair is locked in a race against time to stop recently resurrected Elder/Medieval warlord vampire Marcus releasing from eternal imprisonment his brother William –a destructive, psychotic Lycan Elder… thus potentially leaving him free to destroy all and sundry – but where is William, and will they get there in time?
Add to this the developing romance between Selene and Michael and the result is a slick, modern, sexy sequel with a satisfying ending, with enough of a chink left open for a third instalment.

Review:
By the end I’d been reminded of many films: Blade for some of the styling, Matrix Revolutions for the developing love-story and equally ‘honest’ love scene, and Terminator 2 for it’s take on the future and what lies ahead (not to mention the Lost Highway style shot of rolling tarmac and disappearing white road markings!)

There is a lot of leather and PVC for the more modern vamp fans, but this is countered by intelligent costuming of the older generations of characters, and the language in the film is ‘oldy-worldy’ and carries sufficient gravitas to convey the depth of history and culture of the warring Lycan and Vampire factions as set in the first movie.

The most refreshing thing about Underworld: Evolution is the sheer Britishness. Not only because of the casting of so many British actors, but the ‘modesty’ and down-to-earthness of characters like Selene, Viktor and Alexander Corvinus (Jacobi) – even the swearing is very British! So you may feel a closer affinity with the Underworld movies - more so than the Blade Trilogy or Van Helsing, for example.

The CGI throughout is very impressive – the mutations from human to vampire/werewolf forms are outstanding and the interaction of the CGI characters and live action is so smooth, it really doesn’t have the cartoon-ness as seen in some of the Blade scenes and the first Underworld. It is worth seeing this movie on the big screen while it’s still on, as it is quite dark,yet fast-moving and unless you are the proud and lucky owner of a wall mounted, fully loaded 42” plasma TV I don’t know if you’d get the full effect at home.

You don’t have to have seen Underworld to enjoy Underworld: Evolution, though whether you saw the first movie or not, this will make you want to (re)watch the first one.

I think it has taken this second movie to fully establish the Underworld series and a ‘must view/must own’ addition to any cyber/vampire fan’s collection, and it does leave you wanting more, so here’s hoping that the rumours of a third (possibly a prequel) for 2007, and a possible fourth instalment (second sequel) are true!

LWW