Underworld: Evolution (DVD)

The first Underworld grew on me on DVD, which made Underworld: Evolution even better for me when I saw it in theaters, but now that it comes to DVD this franchise is growing on me more than I would have ever imagined.

The Underworld franchise is by no means perfect, it actually is quite flawed, but it is undoubtedly unique. Everyone loves a good vampire story and there is always room for a werewolf tale here or there, but if you take the two and smash them together, add guns and Kate Beckinsale and you have a winning combination if you can just manage a somewhat decent story. Fortunately that is exactly what Underworld: Evolution is... a decent story, a decent story with a kick-ass ending.

Truth be told Evolution actually begins to drag the first time you see it, and the mundane and boring moments in the beginning are all forgotten as the film ends with a spectacular fight sequence that really saved it in the theaters. Now, on DVD, it is a slightly different story as the slow moments can be filled by checking your email, nodding off for a few minutes or just thinking about what that smell in your kitchen is. Either way, this is, once again, a film that just gets better on home video.

As for the special features it pretty much sticks to the script of the first release which means a commentary track, some behind the scenes featurettes (lots of them actually), a music video and several previews including one for an upcoming "Ultimate James Bond Collection," but oddly there isn't one for Evolution.

On a whole, the special features are by the book, although the one thing I do like is how director Len Wiseman reiterates how he is not a huge fan of CGI. I say this because I think this plays a huge factor in my liking of these films. CGI has ruined several films of this kind, see Van Helsing, and I think the use of makeup and various other special effects certainly helps this film.

Underworld: Evolution is certainly a film I think you should pick up, along with the extended version of the first one if you haven't done so already. It is a fun franchise and if everything works out nicely I would like to see a third film to round out the franchise.