Plot
Selene, an immortal vampire who is in the middle of a war against the treacherous werewolf Lycans, gets caught in a suspicious shoot-out in the beginning of this movie. Her partners are killed, one with bullets which harness ultra-violet light, and the other in a fight against a Lycan. She survives, and finds that a fairly large group of Lycans are gathered beneath the city. A gathering like this hasn't been seen in a long time. She also learns that the Lycans were following a human, and not for food.
Selene uncovers a plot which dates back to the very beginnings of the war. The Lycans, which she thinks began the ageless conflict, have found a way to combine the two immortal strains, and hope to use it to defeat the vampires. The key is Micheal, which Selene gets to first. However, he's bitten by Lucien, a Lycan who supposedly died centuries earlier. It turns out that the vampire left in charge, Kraven, left Lucien alive in return for the glory of 'killing' the Lycan. This allowed him to rise to power.
Selene, hoping to foil Kraven, awakens her mentor, Viktor. He has been sleeping for a century, and was scheduled for another century of slumber. Viktor created Selene as a vampire, supposedly to save her from Lycans. What we find out is that Viktor isn't the great man Selene thinks he is. He killed her family. He started the war with the Lycans.
In the end, Selene bites Michael, and the two bites mix in his blood stream. Together, they kill Viktor and become traitors.
My Thoughts
Of all the movies that I saw last year, this was #3 on my list. Only X2 and Return of the King rated higher on my list. This movie had so much going for it. A fantastic premise, super acting, and impossibly good music and shooting. It all blended together to make a seamless, breathtaking movie.
One of the greatest parts of this movie had to be Beckinsale's performance. It was so layered and nuanced. She showed Selene both as the dedicated, almost obsessed, death-dealer and the devoted disciple of Viktor. And then you see it all crash down as she learns the truth. This isn't the kind of movie you would think Beckinsale would do. Usually, its all fluff from her. But, she shows that she can pull it off. Wait till she shows up in Von Helsing with Hugh Jackman this year.
The other spectacular part of this movie was the creature effects and prosthetics. The way the Lycans moved and acted when transformed was seamless. All the visuals in this movie were stunning, and when combined with all the excellent performances, it made for one of the best movie experiences around. Trust me, this one was worth it.
Okay, even though I hate buying extra junk and different editions of movies, the extended version that just got released is worth it. I'm so blown away by this movie, with its layered story, fact-based telling (sort-of), and exceptional effects. There is nothing wrong with this movie, everything is so perfect. I can't say enough about it.
Underworld: Evolution
Cast:
Selene: Kate Beckinsale
Micheal: Scott Speedman
Marcus: Tony Curran
Alexander Corvinus: Derek Jacobi
Kraven: Shane Brolly
Viktor: Bill Nighy
Screenplay by: Danny McBride. Story by: Len Wiseman & Danny McBride. Directed by: Len Wiseman. Released: January 2006. My Rating: *****.
Plot
The film opens with a flashback to the beginning of the vampire/lycan history, explaining that Alexander Corvinus was the first immortal, and his two boys were bitten by two animals. Marcus was bitten by bat and William was bitten by wolf, thus starting the vampires and lycans. William became consumed with his transformation, and could not change back. He roamed the countryside creating more lycans, but more feral ones, unable to transform back. William created Viktor and Amelia, and with their help captured WIlliam and kept the lycans under control. Viktor was ambitious, and was only kept in line by the lie that killing Marcus would destroy all the vampires.
Fast forward to now, a short time after the events of the first, and Marcus has arisen. He first dispatches Kraven, in retaliation for his crimes. Everytime Marcus drinks, he captures the blood memories of his victim. Elsewhere, Selene and Micheal find a safehouse. Selene attempts to make her way back to the mansion, and Micheal mistakenly tries to eat real food. This leads to a confrontation between him and some police. Selene needs to bail him out, and in the meantime are spotted by a flying Marcus.
Marcus knows Viktor is dead, and with that he is now consumed with finding his imprisoned brother William. The location is held secret by only a few people. He attacks Selene and Micheal, and they narrowly escape into an abandoned mine. Micheal darkens the area for Selene to sleep during the day, and they consummate their relationship.
In the evening, the two head to a disgraced vampire who was the historian of the race. They get to his compund, and are met with lycan guards. And naked vampire women. Seems he has been working with the lycans, even developing weapons against the vampires. He tells Selene that William is being held prisoner in a place that Selene knows, and that two keys are needed to open the cell. Selene has one, and the other is in Viktor's chest.
Selene and Micheal head to the pier, looking for a strange ship. On it is Alexander Corvinus, the beginning of all the carnage. He has been watching for centuries, and actually has Viktor's body and the second key to William's cell. But, hot on their trail is Marcus. He attacks, and seemingly kills Micheal. He takes to key from Selene, injures his father, and takes the other key. He then heads to the site of William's prison.
As Alexander lays dying, he gives Selene a taste of his immortal blood, to fortify her strength. They then use his men and equipment to take Micheal and her to her childhood home. They go down, and confront the Corvinus brothers. Micheal, laying in the helicopter, seems to heal, and joins in the fight as they turn the tide and kill the Corvinus brothers. In the end, the two live on, unsure of what lays ahead.
My Thoughts
Wow. This movie moved from start to finish, just like the first one. It stuck to the same story as the first, and shed more light on the past of the war. The action was upped, the effects were better, and everything just popped. And, now, I really like Kate Beckinsale. I have for a while. The sex scene between her and Scott Speedman was the hottest sex scene without showing too much nudity. No nipples or bush, but just a sensual, scorchingly hot sex scene that made me very happy to see it. God.
Really, it was a hell of a movie, and word is that the next movie is going to be a prequel showing the start of the trouble with Lucien in more detail. No Kate, so it may not be quite as good. We'll see.
