"Underworld"
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:08 pm
Okay, I saw it.
Lets start with an admission that I really like vampire flicks.
Really. Quite a lot. I mean it. Collect'em. On the other hand, I'm
not really enamoured of (for example) BLADE or some other
vampiric-type movies that are nothing but shoot-em-ups (no
judgement--just not my cuppa tea).
I liked UNDERWORLD. This might have something to do with the fact
that every single review I read was scathing. Me a bit of a rebel.
Also, that kind of thing lowers expectations. Nevertheless, my
enjoyment was real. The story flows, has a remarkably consistent
background, didn't get bogged down with gee-whiz special effects
(though that was a close thing, almost), actually surprised me a
couple of times and hardly ever snapped me out of the film with a "Huh???"
The hardly-evers come down to two, really--the bad guy vampire is such
an obvious creep (his name is even "Kraven") one wonders why anyone
with more than a few dozen brain cells listens to, much less trusts
him. And there's a moment--a kiss. Didn't see why it happened.
Which brings up the single greatest weakness in the script--the male
hero remains pretty much a cypher. I end up liking him, but I can't
say he ever becomes knowable. His likability, imo, stems from some
canny casting and direction, building on a single incident at the very
start of the story.
I'll explain. For six centuries, a terrible war has been waged
between Lycans (werewolves) and vampires. This is explicitly stated
in a voiceover up front--not a device I'm usually too fond of, but
this one works. Selene is a vampire who lives to kill werewolves.
Interestingly, she goes into battle and never seems to be enjoying
herself. Nice touch, and a cool bit of foreshadowing. In the middle
of a firefight in the subway--very MATRIX style--an innocent bystander
is shot. Michael (our male hero) immediately grabs her and pulls the
wounded girl to safety, examining her wound. Something about the way
he did it instantly registered Doctor, and sure enough that's what he
is. Most impressive was how Selene stared at this moment, captivated
for a moment.
Here is also my biggest praise--Kate Beckinsale does a magnificent
job. Not once did I stop thinking of her as Selene. Nor did I
question her actions--the laser-like intensity with which she
approached everything, the brittle tension as she tried to handle
problems, the smoothness with which she reacted. Very impressive.
Her waifish build--mentioned as a criticism by some--didn't bother me
at all. Yeah, she's slender. But her body language screamed Hunter,
a human-shaped feline sheathed in black leather/rubber!
Pardom me while I recall that image. Mmmmmmmmm.
Okay, I'm back! Now, don't go on thinking this is some great piece of
dramatic cinema. It ain't. What UNDERWORLD tries to be is an
exciting blend of drama and action with a cool, techno-goth feel. And
on that level, it succeeds. Got some flaws, but I liked it. And for
Kate Beckinsale's performance alone, I'm hoping for sequels.
Lets start with an admission that I really like vampire flicks.
Really. Quite a lot. I mean it. Collect'em. On the other hand, I'm
not really enamoured of (for example) BLADE or some other
vampiric-type movies that are nothing but shoot-em-ups (no
judgement--just not my cuppa tea).
I liked UNDERWORLD. This might have something to do with the fact
that every single review I read was scathing. Me a bit of a rebel.
Also, that kind of thing lowers expectations. Nevertheless, my
enjoyment was real. The story flows, has a remarkably consistent
background, didn't get bogged down with gee-whiz special effects
(though that was a close thing, almost), actually surprised me a
couple of times and hardly ever snapped me out of the film with a "Huh???"
The hardly-evers come down to two, really--the bad guy vampire is such
an obvious creep (his name is even "Kraven") one wonders why anyone
with more than a few dozen brain cells listens to, much less trusts
him. And there's a moment--a kiss. Didn't see why it happened.
Which brings up the single greatest weakness in the script--the male
hero remains pretty much a cypher. I end up liking him, but I can't
say he ever becomes knowable. His likability, imo, stems from some
canny casting and direction, building on a single incident at the very
start of the story.
I'll explain. For six centuries, a terrible war has been waged
between Lycans (werewolves) and vampires. This is explicitly stated
in a voiceover up front--not a device I'm usually too fond of, but
this one works. Selene is a vampire who lives to kill werewolves.
Interestingly, she goes into battle and never seems to be enjoying
herself. Nice touch, and a cool bit of foreshadowing. In the middle
of a firefight in the subway--very MATRIX style--an innocent bystander
is shot. Michael (our male hero) immediately grabs her and pulls the
wounded girl to safety, examining her wound. Something about the way
he did it instantly registered Doctor, and sure enough that's what he
is. Most impressive was how Selene stared at this moment, captivated
for a moment.
Here is also my biggest praise--Kate Beckinsale does a magnificent
job. Not once did I stop thinking of her as Selene. Nor did I
question her actions--the laser-like intensity with which she
approached everything, the brittle tension as she tried to handle
problems, the smoothness with which she reacted. Very impressive.
Her waifish build--mentioned as a criticism by some--didn't bother me
at all. Yeah, she's slender. But her body language screamed Hunter,
a human-shaped feline sheathed in black leather/rubber!
Pardom me while I recall that image. Mmmmmmmmm.
Okay, I'm back! Now, don't go on thinking this is some great piece of
dramatic cinema. It ain't. What UNDERWORLD tries to be is an
exciting blend of drama and action with a cool, techno-goth feel. And
on that level, it succeeds. Got some flaws, but I liked it. And for
Kate Beckinsale's performance alone, I'm hoping for sequels.
lol
