In Underworld, Beckinsale plays Selene, a vampire warrior whos devoted herself to hunting down Lycans since she believes they slaughtered her family. The vampires scored a major victory a few hundred years back when they disposed of the Lycan leader Lucian. Now the vampire warriors have hunted their enemy to the brink of extinction. Or have they? Selene discovers a gathering of the wolfen creatures and suspects that they are gearing up for an attack. Caught in the crossfire is Michael (Scott Speedman), a human that they Lycans think may be the key to their rejuvenation if they can turn him. The handsome human also catches Selenes eye. A human-vampire romance is scandal enough but when Michael is turned by the Lycans, Selenes affection for him really challenges centuries of prejudice.
The concept for Underworld is actually intriguing and could have allowed for considerable pop culture fun if the filmmakers had been up to the task. A horror film version of Romeo and Juliet could have been a success in a vein similar to TVs Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But the filmmakers have failed to do their homework. They display little knowledge or affection for the Bard. (And is that a bust of Shakespeare that Selene shoots up so unceremoniously?) Nor do they pay heed to all the classic vampire and werewolf lore. Since when do vampires have a reflection? Since when can a sword kill a vampire? Their ignorance of such traditions could be tolerated if they had created new traditions to take the place of the old. The key to films like this is consistency. You can create new rules but you have set these ground rules and then abide by them. Plus there are just stupid things like newfangled weaponry. Vampires can be killed with special daylight bullets and werewolves can be knocked off quickly with liquid silver ammo. But these highly lethal means of slaughter are introduced and then not used by the combatants. Apparently, the filmmakers didnt want to give up shooting endless rounds of ammo. So the what were you thinking? question that arises is why bother to create a one-shot means of extermination if you have no plans of letting the characters make use of it?
But thats essentially the whole problem with the film, nothing is thought through. The production design offers monochromatic colors and a gothic look for these assorted creatures of the night, but the film never manages to convey a sense that this world exists as a kind of parallel universe to that of the humans. Blade did a much better job of setting up a sense of these two worlds existing side by side. Similarly, the crosses and double crosses that occur and fuel the plot dont make much sense or hold much interest.
As for the actors no one shines or seems to be having much fun. Beckinsale may look great in her shiny, skin-tight rubber suits, but she doesnt have what it takes to sell this action fare. Her character claims to love killing but Beckinsale is too prim and too preoccupied with posing for the camera to convey this. Nor does she convince us why Selene would fall for Michael.
At the very least an action film should dazzle you with action. The opening fight has appeal but the film simply keeps replaying this first battle without innovation throughout the rest of the film. Wheres a good Hong Kong action choreographer when you need one? Most of the action is loud, over-sound designed and monotonously repetitive.
Underworld (rated R for violence and some language), despite an enticing trailer, quite simply sucks. Ill take an episode of Buffy or Angel over this any day. -----
