UNDERWORLD (2003)

SHORT REVIEW: This film is like a super model. Sure it’s corrupt, stupid and ultimately needless, but at least it’s pretty. Just because it's goofy doesn't mean it's horrid. I cannot recommend this film because its way too silly. On the other hand, I can't condemn the thing because it’s well done and fun to watch. Films such as this are a pickle for me to review. This is a story about a vampire woman trapped in the middle of a battle between vampires and werewolves. Get this plot-twist; she falls for a werewolf guy! Imagine! It's like Romeo & Juliet meet Count Chocula. The plot is so stock it comes with a barcode. Luckily, the allure of the movie does not reside in the fantastically ridiculous story. This is a visual film. In most cases, rich stylization of the likes that make this film of effective is usually a movie's undoing. From the color choices to the effective use of lighting, I was attracted to how the film looked more than what the film was doing. That said, the vampire vs. werewolf deal, while silly, does hold some inherent interest for my geekier side. The performances in the film are notable considering what the actors are doing and saying. Kate Beckinsale is a good actress, and works well in the roles she has been popping up in. Unlike her role in the terrible Van Helsing (2004), her lead performance as Selene in this movie has the benefit of being a developed character. Beckinsale offers a brooding and attractive performance that manages to hold the whole piece together. Her interactions with Bill Nighly as Viktor (the ever present "original" vampire) are some of the best scenes in the whole film. Nighly presents a somewhat realistic portrayal of his character, which is saying something since this whole piece is a circus of goofiness. Writer/Director Len Wiseman has built a potent movie that does a remarkable thing - it doesn't stink. This movie is easy to disrespect and disregard because it is what it is, vampires fighting werewolves. In the end, it is well done and if this kind of film is your deal, it is worth the rental costs. RELATED REVIEWS: Underworld: Evolution (2006) Blade: Trinity (2004) Dracula 2000 (2000) Categories: film, movie, DVD, review, Underworld, Kate Beckinsale, vampire