Underworld (Unrated Extended Cut)

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Product Description
Selene a beautiful vampire warrior is entrenched in a war between the vampire & werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires she falls in love with michael a werewolf who longs for the war to end. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 08/28/2007 Starring: Kate Beckinsale Michael Sheen Run time: 133 minutes Rating: Ur

Customer Reviews: Read 139 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

West Side (Transylvania) Story December 7, 2004
112 out of 131 found this review helpful

Boiled down to the fine little dish of steak tar-tar that it is, "Underworld" is the answer to the two horror flick questions you had as a kid:

1)If Dracula and the Wolfman went mano a mano and fang-to-claw, which one would do the thrashing?
2)If Dracula and the Wolfman checked into a cheap motel, got roaring drunk on a case of Night Train, and had a baby, what would it look like?

You get the answer to #1 early and often, which is pretty much what this Transylvania Station is all about. And by the end of "Underworld" you get #2 as well---and trust me, when it's hopping about like an ugly green Mini-Hulk (right down to its one-size-fits-all-monster trunks) you'll wish you hadn't.

You want to know what you're getting when you lace up your thigh-high attitude boots and strap on that trenchcoat for a little midnight fun in Len Wiseman's uber-stylish little monster mash "Underworld"?

Think West Side Story: only here, instead of the Jets and the Sharks angling for a rumble on the other side of the tracks, we have Vampires and Werewolves. Oh, and in "Underworld" nobody breaks into song. Both sides just want to rumble, and the girls just wanna have fun. In the meantime, while not the sharpest stake in the vamp-hunter kitbag, "Underworld" finds its groove, and serves up a bloody two hours of unabashed techno-cool that drinks you dry, trashes the apartment and howls at the moon.

We get dropped into the middle of a war that Celine (the impossibly tasty Kate Beckinsdale)---our supple full-body-suit clad vampiric Death Dealer and narrator---tells us has been "raging for centuries."

On one side of the tracks: the sneering, brutally hip Euro-trashy leather-trenchcoat & hip-sunglasses wearing uber-high-maintenance Vampires. They have posh high-rent neo-Victorian digs, drive around the streets in Jaguars and Maseratis, and have managed to switch up the silver bullets in their glocks and MP-5 submachine guns for something more lethal: liquid silver nitrate, which makes it tougher for their hairy buddies to pull the bullets out. Advantage: Vampires.

On the other side of the tracks: the Salvation Army surplus-wearing tear-your-scalp-off-and-wear-it Werewolves---erm, I mean Lycans, short for Lycanthropes. The Lycans are strictly low-rent, hang out together in what looks like an abandoned public lavatory, and take a bath once every full moon whether they need it or not. Whereas their blood-sucking cousins from the East Side look like they'd be hanging at crazy underground raves when they're not boring each other to tears talking like the Merovingian, the Lycans are strictly the mosh-pit set. Oh, and from what I could tell, there's not a single werewolf girl. C'mon guys---haven't ya heard of "Ginger Snaps"? Bummer. Advantage: Vampires.

That said, the boys have been pumping the rent money they've saved up into super-science research, giving them bullets that encase super-photoelectric magnesium charges (perfect for giving that oncoming vamp a little taste of Club Med sunlight). They also have the upper hand in figuring out how they can mix the bloodlines, bringing the war between Vamp and Lycan to an end. Advantage: Lycans.

And finally, mixing it up with our fanged-kissin' cousins, we have perplexed med student Michael Corvin (played by the annoying Scott Speedman who cashes a check) stalked by Lycan heavies and tagged by Selene, who wants to know why the werewolf army is so eager to get their hands on him.

And that, pretty much, is "Underworld": two hours of movie built around jaw-droppingly gorgeous set-pieces and bouts of total war between locked-and-loaded squads of Things that go Bump in the Night.

Just a note: you'll want to get the Unrated Extended DVD: it fleshes things out, beefs up some supporting characters, and ends with an extended battle sequence---and it's loaded down with plenty of extras you can sink your fangs into.

Plus, the sleeker transfer shows off Wiseman's technical mastery in spades. Wiseman uses sound-stages and CGI to anchor the film's look, and tethers all of it to the fog-shrouded cobbled streets and ancient alleys of Prague: the City itself takes on a bleak and brooding character. The movie looks gorgeous: whether it's the gloomy red-velvet and dark mahogany halls of the mansion, the sleek, sterile Underground, or the industrial ruins of the Lycans, Wiseman and cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts make every scene tell. The sequence where a locomotive full of vampire diplomats chugs into a deserted rail-station---with the baying of werewolves in the distance---is jaw dropping.

"Underworld" also gets the most out of its talented stable of actors. There are three centers of gravity in the film: Beckinsdale, who doesn't need her bodysuit to command her lines (though I'm glad she wore it). The Lycan overlord Lucien (the gifted Welsh actor Michael Sheen) steals every scene he's in, and brings complexity and command to a role that could have been a throwaway in lesser hands. Finally, there's the Vampire King Viktor, played by the great Bill Nighy (who also played Shaun's Jag-loving stepdad in "Shaun of the Dead"). Nighy is a kind of demonic embodiment of immortal Puritan rage, and acts like a champ through all that make-up.

Even the supporting actors turn in strong roles: Shane Brolly (Kraven) whines and pouts and lisps and turns in a convincing performance as a spineless worm; Sophia Myles (Erika) comes off as a naughty little vampire cat-girl; Kevin Grevioux owns this film and puts the smack down as Uber-Werewolf Raze; and Hungarian actress Zita Gorog rocked my world---without uttering a single line.

In the end, this batwinged black-lipstick wearing looker of a flick charged into the goth club of my choice, served me an extra-bloody steak tartar , smacked me around, bought me drinks, and talked Shakespeare after. Would a Lycan by any other name be just as hairy?

1 out of 5 stars

don't buy into the studio BS May 17, 2004
46 out of 72 found this review helpful

I liked the movie, but it really ticks me off that they release the DVD and then a month or two later they release an "uncut version" Don't support this kind of actions for the greedy studios. Buy the original version. Let this "uncut" version fall dead on its face and show that consumers won't take this from these greedy studios any longer. (The only exception being the Lord of the Rings extended versions) Vote that you find this review helpful if you agree.

5 out of 5 stars

excellent vamp vs horror film September 5, 2004
40 out of 47 found this review helpful

Blade was interesting, but to me it failed emotionally. You just do not connect with the film on the personal level. The effects were super, but that was the main impact..."wow what amazing effects". You feel like breaking out in a chorus of Peggy Lee's Is That All There Is. Special effects alone cannot make a movie great.

Underworld makes that jump, great FX work, but also gives you characters you really care about, ones that you really love to hate. A strong plot line designed to hook you and keep you, just does that. With the emotional involvement, there is a greater impact, a movie that will demand repeat viewing. Instant Cult Status.

The movie grabs you from the opening and never lets up with the pace. Firm direction and with a driving score, the movie reaches for perfection. You have a 1000-year-old war between Lycons and Vampires, and it's all coming to a head. It's a well thought out and executed premise and Kate Beckinsale shines! She is an amazing talent. I first adored her work in Cold Comfort Farm as Robert Post's child Flora. When you compare that gentle, deft bit of humour with this kick a*** vampire hunter, it proves what an overlooked talent she is. With Van Helsing out now (and I am sure this movie led to her landing the role), she is finally getting a spotlight she so well deserves.

A gloomy, atmospheric ambiance to the whole movie is maintained all the way through, adding a strong foundation for the otherworld premise. I am sure some will nitpick things, as all vampire film faces, but kudos for the vibrant energy and sheer edgy feel to the film.

It leaves you hanging, clearly open for a sequel...one can but hope it maintains this high quality.

Kate rocks...you don't need to know anymore! It has about 13 minutes of footage not in the original. A great battle scene and some backstory on Michael. Rounds out the film nicely without dragging it down. A great pounding soundtrack, too!

4 out of 5 stars

An interesting take on vampire and werewolf mythology August 15, 2004
16 out of 17 found this review helpful

I have been a big vampire mythology fan for as long as I can remember. I love a good vampire movie. I'm not expecting Masterpiece Theater, I just want to be entertained, and entertained I was with "Underworld". I missed out seeing the movie when it was in the theaters but I'm glad that I did now that I have seen the extended cut. I'm not really a fan of Kate Beckinsdale film work but she does a great job as death dealer (i.e vampire) Selene. Selene is trying to figure out why the Lycans (i.e werewolves), the vampires' enemies, what they want in Michael Corvin (played by Scott Speedman of "Felicity" fame). The Lycans and death dealers are at war and have been for centuries. I loved the dark, moody atmosphere of the entire film. I thought it was amazing how the werewolves were actually costumes as opposed to resorting to the cheesy CGI most movies relies on nowadays (which I think is way too much). Kate Beckinsdale looked great in that skintight leather outfight and short dark hair. She reminded me a lot of Toni Halliday, the singer from the modern rock band Curve. The film is very sleek and stylish. I can definitely see where the comparisons of the movie to other films like "The Matrix" and "Blade" comes in (like on the fight sequences) but "Underworld" still holds its own. There really wasn't much of a plot the one big flaw I found with the film but I didn't care. It was a non-stop thrill ride for me. The acting was a bit on the overstated side but like I said, this ain't Masterpiece Theater. If you want Masterpiece Theater, then go watch some (awful) Merchant Ivory film. "Underworld" is a fun, non-stop rollercoaster ride (or at least I thought). The bonus features on the dvd is awesome. I especially dug the "Fangs Vs. Fiction" segment and watching the cast of the film talk about making the film. I loved the outtake reel. It is always interesting for me to see the actors goof up on their lines in movies. You don't see that very often except as bonus footage on dvds. I liked the 48 page comic book and the sketchings on the entire film. I am eagerly anticipating the sequel to "Underworld" where Selene becomes the hunted.

4 out of 5 stars

Interesting variation on "Romeo & Juliet" September 19, 2004
14 out of 21 found this review helpful

You're probably thinking, "how does he get "Romeo & Juliet"? This tale of cross species lovers has elements that borrow from Shakesphere. The themes are so universal that they could also apply to the prejudice that whites and blacks (or Asians)might face if they intermarried during the Civil War or anytime before the Civil Rights Movement. The first time I saw it I really, really disliked it. Why? It seemed as if it was too deriative. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say. When I went back to watch it again with a a friend I really enjoyed "Underworld" for what it is.

Selene (Kate Beckindale)is a Deathdealer--her job is to hunt down and kill Lycans (Werewolves). It seems the two species have been at war for thousands of years. At one time the Lycans were slaves watching over their masters the Vampires while they slept and protecting them in times of turmoil. That changed due to some pivotal event in the past.

Things change when Selene while on a hunt for two Lycans discovers they were hunting a mortal (Scott Speedman). They weren't doing it for food or sport. Instead Lucian (Michael Sheen)has some special purpose for this human. When Selene begins to suspect that Kraven (Shane Brolly)who leads the vampires might have betrayed her kind, she takes it upon herself to discover who this human is and what his importance might be to the Lycans.

Stylish and well directed by Len Wiseman from a story conceived by Wiseman (a former art director on "Stargate SG1", writer Danny McBride ("The Outer Limits" and a stunt co-ordinator/actor on many film projects) andactor/stuntman Kevin Grevioux (who also appears in the film as a Lycan), "Underworld" may borrow its look from "The Matrix" but the themes in the story are as old as the Greek tragedies. Is it a deep film? Hardly. Combining the story, stunts and a sharp visual sense makes "Underworld" more than the sum of its influences.

This deluxe set includes the unrated extended cut of the film. What that amounts to a new subplot involving the vampire Erika (Sophia Myles), back story information on Scott Speedman's character Michael and an extended grand finale involving the fight between the werewolves and the vampires. Featuring a new commentary track with stars Beckinsale, Speedman and director Wiseman, this edition is closer in final form to the film Wiseman wanted released. It had to be recut for reasons of pacing and theatrical exhibition. In addition to the original featurettes on the single disc DVD, we also get a 50 minute documentary "Fang vs. Fiction" discussing the history and lore of vampires and werewolves. There's also outtakes and some additional featurettes on the making of the film.

The transfer of the Extended Edition looks marvelous. Once again, it appears to be a high definition transfer and, while there's is occasional edge enhancement and halos, the overall look of the film is terrific. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound will give your speakers a work out as well. I prefer the two commentary tracks on the original DVD with the theatrical cut but the commentary track here along with the additional footage which adds more to the plot, documentary and featurettes makes "Underworld The Extended Edition" a must for fans of the film. While the look of the film borrowed quite a bit from "The Matrix" (which, in turn, borrowed from "Dark City"), Wiseman manages to make the overall look integral to this film. Overall, "Underworld" is quite an achievement for a first feature film. Evidently in November of this year Wiseman, Beckinsale and McBride will begin work on the first sequel for Screen Gems for a release set for mid-2005.

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