Film review: Underworld - Rise of the Lycans

Tagline

Every war has a beginning

plot

The Underworld saga started in present time. Vampire/death dealer Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is mixed up in the everlasting war with the Lycans/werewolves. In her hunt to kill every last one of them, she comes across Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) who is apparently an important key for the Lycans. Lucian, leader of the Lycans, thought to have been dead for centuries and sworn enemy of Viktor, leader of the Vampires, has plans for Michael. During her attempts to find out why Michael is so important to the Lycans, she falls for him and does whatever she can to keep him alive. Meanwhile, she finds out that what started this war isn’t what she’s always believed it was, and her world starts to fall apart. She kills Viktor, who was like a father to her, when she learns the truth. Selene can’t prevent Michael from being bitten by a Lycan, which transforms him into one of them. Michael almost dies in a fight and Lucian tells Selene to bite him and make him the first hybrid to walk the earth. They go into hiding together.

In Underworld Evolution, Selene’s only hope to put an end to this mess is to awaken the only remaining Vampire elder Marcus. Of course he wants to destroy Michael. Selene and Michael escape and pay a visit to Tannis, the banished historian of the Vampire clan. He tells them more of the true story behind the Vampire/Lycan war and explains what happened to Selene’s real family. Again this is not the story Viktor has always told her. Selene was spared because she reminded Viktor of his daughter, whom he killed because she was in love with Lucian.

Underworld – Rise of the Lycans tells the tale of Lucian and Sonja, Viktor’s daughter. If you’ve seen both other Underworld films, or just read my summary, you already know what happens to Sonja. This doesn’t make the film any less interesting though! Viktor has captured werewolves to turn them into his slaves. They also guard the lair during the day. These Lycans are less volatile than the original Lycans, who can’t turn back to their human form. The Slavelycans are being kept human by a collar around their necks that stops them from transforming. Lucian was the first one. The story is based on his love for Sonja and escaping from slavery.

Acting

Bill Nighy was brilliant as Viktor in the first two movies and he doesn’t disappoint in Rise of the Lycans either. He looks mean, sounds mean and is definitely not someone I would want to run into in a dark alley. Micheal Sheen on the other hand…! His character has a larger role than in the other two Underworld films, and he manages to portray Lucian very convincingly. People have commented that Rhona Mitra, who plays Viktors beloved daughter Sonja, looks too much like Kate Beckinsale and is a bad choice for a replacement for that reason. Considering the story, she is an obvious choice – Viktor decided to keep Selene alive because she reminded him so much of Sonja, who was already dead by that time.

Verdict: Even with the lack of Beckinsale and Speedman, the film is very entertaining, though not the best in the Underworld saga. The graphics are a little dodgy in the beginning, but that didn’t bother me later on.

Imre