'Underworld Awakening' Review (2012)
Selene is back and 'Underworld' is fun again
Photo: Screen Gems
Selene is back and fans of the Underworld franchise can thank God for that. No offense to Rhona Mitra and the extraordinarily lackluster Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, but this is a franchise that is, was and always will rely on Kate Beckinsale in patent leather doling out death on a ravenous horde of lycans and with Underworld Awakening that's exactly what we're offered. CG blood will be spilled, a werewolf's head will quite literally be ripped open and you better watch your Adam's apple because it is just as much in danger as the rest of you're extremities should you shift into a hairy beast when the moon glows full.
The cast includes Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, Stephen Rea and Charles Dance. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"Underworld Awakening" is a Screen Gems release, directed by Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein and is rated R for strong violence and gore, and for some language. The running time is 1 hour 28 minutes.
When an attempt was made to bring a prequel to the big screen, as a result of what I can only assume to be Beckinsale's unwillingness to return to the franchise, Rise of the Lycans sought to tell a story we already knew, essentially creating a feature length flashback and it was as bad as that description suggests.
Luckily, that's in the past and Screen Gems didn't give up on the franchise even though it appeared that would be the case. Then again, when the star of the franchise agrees to once again don the costume that leaves very little to the imagination what other choice do you have than to dust Selene off for one more go around?
Assigned the task of bringing the franchise back to the big screen we have the Swedish directing duo Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein (credited as "Marlind and Stein") and they fully embrace the mayhem that came before as the fight between vampires and lycans brings humans into the fold.
The opening serves as a flashback telling us Selene's story up to this point with several scenes from the first films converted into 3D as we learn humans have learned of the existence of vampires and lycans and have made every attempt to exterminate both species.
In response to the human reaction, Selene attempts to escape only to be captured and cryogenically frozen at a scientific research facility where tests are performed on her for the next 12 years in an attempt to find a "cure". The story essentially begins as she is freed from her icy coffin by a young hybrid (India Eisley) whose mere existence is of the utmost importance to everyone involved.
You can make story assumptions from there however you wish, but I won't reveal any more information, hopefully saving a few story surprises for the theater. But should the film perform well at the box-office, it would appear Screen Gems and Beckinsale aren't done with this franchise yet with an ending that leaves plenty more territory to be explored and blood to be spilled and I say bring it on
Selene's aggression and take no prisoners attitude was a welcome addition to this new film and I would love to see more. Underworld Awakening also embraces the idea Selene as a vampire more than the franchise ever has as her strength, speed and agility play a much larger role in her fighting style while always reserving choice opportunities for a bullet to the head ,and Beckinsale is once again a nice piece of eye candy in her character defining garb.
The supporting cast includes the likes of Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James and Charles Dance and don't be fooled by the actor playing Michael, the hybrid Selene falls for in the first two films, it isn't Scott Speedman as the credits at the end of the film don't even mention his character and anyone that has ever seen Speedman will quickly know it's not him. Then again, it doesn't really matter as his character is only briefly seen, though referenced throughout.
Underworld Awakening is a bloody fun popcorn feature filled with monsters, blood, bullets and bone-breaking gore. Yes, you're reading a review from someone that fully enjoys and was looking forward to seeing this film and as that someone I was entirely entertained.
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I also enjoyed the film. B+ for me! Kate Rules…and the new vampire guy is hot!
B+, Im glad that I've found a tribute that is from fans and not critics..If you go to see a movie because your told to then your opinion is null and void. I personaly got what I wanted from the film. The only thing holding the movie back was Michael not really being present and the mega cliff hanger (-_-). It was a good movie. And haters gonna hate.
The "mega cliffhanger" really makes me hope they make another one or this film will diminish slightly in my eyes. I hate it when there is a promise of more and then you don't get anything. Sort of like when a TV show you enjoy is cancelled after one season.
I’m sure that this film entertained some of those who went to see it, but I take issue with you congratulating Screen Gems for not giving up on the franchise.
Everything has a sell by date, and Underworld was already a derivative genre piece feeding off the cultural impact of the MATRIX. The last decade has seen a rampant addiction by studios to readily hash out sequel, after spin-off, after sequel of the same movie without introducing fresh product on to the market. Just because one can make another PIRATES OF THE CARRABIN film, that easy-to-please filmgoers will flock, doesn’t mean that it’s right. It annoys me that as audiences, we don’t demand more from genre films.
Already film attendance in America is dwindling. It’s no surprise that 60 percent of those buying tickets for UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING were over the age of 25. This franchise is catering to an older generation that has stayed with the franchise for nearly a decade. By not experimenting and diversifying, Hollywood is going to suffer when the maturing fanboy crowd moves on and there are no new franchises catering for today’s kids. There’s only so much UNDERWORLD and RESIDENT EVIL to go around.
I thought it was fun. I liked the first one. but did not see the sequels. I would give it a C+.
I think this move is a door to a new take on the series, this movie was a stepping stone of sorts.
This is a great movie but im kinda bummed out that michael was not in it because hes super hott and I hope hes in the next one .also I think it would be great at the beginning of part five if michael and saleane meet up and kind of have a slow sappy, romantic, kissing scene with every right there so for the first times she could see here parents together for the first times.also I think it's would been great if there was like a big action scene before eve gets properly introduced to her father