Subscribers! Add a note to this movie and/or put it into one of your private movie lists.
Notes:
Vampires as a secretive clan of modern, aristocratic sophisticates whose mortal enemies are the Lycans (werewolves), a shrewd gang of street thugs who prowl the city's underbelly. The balance of power is upset when a beautiful young Vampire and a nascent Lycan - deadly rivals for centuries - fall in love.
Thriller - This is a dark and violent drama, which is expected in a vampire
movie. There are some excellent action scenes, but there are also
many very slow scenes.
PROFANITY: 3 F-words, 2 S-words. Just a couple of others. SEX/NUDITY: A man's butt is barely seen in the shadows. Non-sexual scene. VIOLENCE: Lots of gun battles and killing. Nothing especially graphic. DRUGS/ALCOHOL: None ACTION: The only action is the many gun battles. COMEDY: None
The above rating is an average of the critic reviews below.
(Close new window when finished with Full Reviews)
James Berardinelli, Internet CriticFull
Review Above Average "Had Underworld been shorter, it would have
been more fun. As it is, there are dead stretches in the middle where it seems
to be spinning its wheels. The big battle at the end is fun, although I felt
cheated by the final scene, which promises a sequel. Fans of Blade and
other gloomy, bloodthirsty action movies will probably be entertained. Underworld
captured my attention sporadically, but not consistently.''
Roger EbertFull
Review Average "This is a movie so paltry in its characters and shallow in
its story that the war seems to exist primarily to provide graphic visuals.
It's so impossible to care about the characters in the movie that I didn't care
if the vampires or werewolves won. I might not have cared in a better movie,
either, but I might have been willing to pretend.''
TV Guide OnlineFull
Review Below Average "But handsome though the film is — the Budapest
locations are particularly atmospheric — the story is strangled by speeches
about bloodlines, customs, alliances, feuds, battles and ceremonies: It's like The
Mahabharata for monster-movie geeks, without the authentic epic power.''
NewsdayFull
Review Above Average "Like immortality, it never ends: Vampires-vs.-werewolves
epic is also so overdone it's almost a good time. Less, however, would have been
more. It's also so over-the-top, it's fun. Well, close anyway. At 90 minutes, Underworld
would have been a cobalt-blue-hued, faux- mythic vampires-and-werewolves tale
with nonstop action. At a tad over two hours, it's a cobalt- blue-hued,
faux-mythic vampires- and-werewolves tale with nonstop action that you wish
would stop. For God's sake."
Note:
The rating
above is our interpretation of what the critic would give this movie based on
their review. We are not affiliated with these critic's in any way.
Be sure to read the
DETAILED OPINIONS
The positive and negative comments made by moviegoers are very
helpful when selecting a movie that's appropriate for you and your family.
OPINION OVERVIEW The following is the original "What's Worth
Watching" write-up for this movie.
Moviegoer Opinions:
It appears many fans of this type of movie were more forgiving than my prediction predicted. These opinions are actually quite good, especially for this type of movie. (Horror movies usually receive very mixed moviegoer opinions.) Only a small percentage didn't care for it. It's easy to see that the opinions get lower as the audience ages, but gender didn't seem to make much difference. Guys enjoyed it a little more, but not all that much more.
I would say, if this looks like your type of movie go see it on the big screen. The visuals are outstanding. Chances are quite good that you will find Underworld enjoyable.
Cinema Review Prediction: (before moviegoer opinions are collected)
I sent my daughter to this movie screening since she's a big fan of this type of movie. I figured she could provide a much more accurate prediction than I could.
She didn't care much for it. She said it was often too slow and not very involving. It has lots of great action and the sets are incredibly realistic, but the story just doesn't entertain.
If you're a big fan of this type of movie and have got to see it then you should probably do yourself a favor and save a few bucks by seeing it at a matinee. It will be easier to feel you've gotten your money's worth. (I WAS WRONG - SEE MOVIEGOER OPINIONS ABOVE)
For centuries, two races have evolved
hidden deeply within human culture – the aristocratic, sophisticated Vampires,
and the brutal, feral Lycans (werewolves). To humanity, their existence is no
more than a whisper of a myth. But to each other, they are the lifelong mortal
rivals, sworn to wage a secret war until only one race is left standing.
In the midst of this ongoing struggle,
a Vampire warrior, Selene (Kate Beckinsale), discovers a Lycan plot to kidnap a
young human doctor. After shadowing Michael (Scott Speedman) through the city,
she forms an unprecedented bond with him, and when the Lycans make their next
move, Selene is there to try to fend off their vicious assault.
As she races to save Michael and
unravel the Lycan plot surrounding him, Selene discovers a secret that has
terrifying repercussions for both tribes – a plot to awaken a new invincible
species of predator that combines the strengths of both creatures and the
weaknesses of neither, which threatens to tip the balance of power in favor of
the werewolves, who have been on the losing end of the struggle for centuries.
