Movie Review: Underworld

    

Underworld
2003, 116mins, R
Director: Len Wiseman
Writer (s): Danny McBride, Len Wiseman
Cast includes: Kate Beckinsale, Shane Brolly, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen

Released in 2003 to a spout of nasty critics, Underworld is a competently made and enjoyably played action movie that goes on for a little longer than it should. At the time director Len Wiseman had never made another movie, and so is incredibly lucky to have attracted such a talented cast on his first outing behind the camera. Kate Beckinsale may well have been his wife, but bagging Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy really is an unexplained wonder.
The screenplay by Danny McBride starts off by examining the character and story of Selene (Kate Beckinsale) a vampire warrior who is utilized by her kind to help destroy the Werewolf or Lycan threat. The film proceeds with a frantic ball buster of an action sequence as Wiseman promptly destroys as many things as he logically can with automatic arms, before the plot really thickens and things get a little deeper. Selene discovers that Kraven (Shane Brolly) a vampire lord, and Lucian (Michael Sheen) leader of the lycanthrope have conspired together concerning a human named Michael (Scott Speedman) who is due to show his real self at the next full moon. Disturbed by these agreements Selene promptly wakes up Vampire ancient Viktor (Bill Nighy) but things only escalate and Selene has to take things into her own hands.
The best thing about Underworld is without a doubt the action sequences and gothic styling’s that inhabit the movie. Wiseman may have for the most part made a shallow film but it looks superb and when certain flaws confront you, they seems alot less important considering the quality of the sets and carnage of the action. Die hard Vampire lovers may struggle to appreciate the film (fanboys usually do) but for the general public Underworld represents a decent action thriller.
The performances are mixed, Beckinsale looks wonderful in her leather grip suit, but bar the finale she never really exhibits much in the way of acting. Scott Speedman is much the same, only even during the films final scenes he’s pretty bland. At times he does manage to convince with a primal ferocity, but then maybe the effects are actually doing more than he is.
Shane Brolly isn’t great as Vamp plotter Kraven, though again he sort of comes to life as the story unwinds and conveys menace well enough. Bill Nighy is wonderfully hammy as Viktor and indeed a little scary in places. As Lucian Michael Sheen is the best member of the cast, indeed at points I engaged more with that person that any of the leads. I was saddened as the character fades from the story in parts, but when he’s there it’s as good a turn as the film boasts.
The film has one of its best action sequences at the beginning and one at the end. Each is adrenaline pumping and requires little thought from the viewer, which whilst initially sounding dubious is actually a rather god thing. Wiseman use’s the camera and editing process well during these scenes, nothing to original but they still look good on screen.
McBride’s screenplay suffers a bit from dull patches, the film doesn’t always mesh and Wiseman shows his inexperience with the patchy pacing. The lines are delivered with a straight face, which really is a marvel in itself as some of McBride’s writing is hysterically poor. One also wonders if the story could in itself been trimmed a bit but then again this is the start of a saga.
The score composed by Paul Haslinger is much the same as the rest of the composer’s work. It’s loud, bassy and in more than one place feels rather computer generated. That said it fits nicely enough with the project, but represents little change for Haslinger. Pre-Underworld Haslinger hadn’t done too much outside of TV bar surf drama Blue Crush but since then he’s composed for Into the Blue, Crank and Vacancy which combined really to add up to in effect, Underworld.
We also get a hearty supply of heavy metal. But thankfully it’s not used to often as when it is, the mood often snaps completely.
It’s not unfair to say that teenage boys are likely to be the biggest consumers, the heavy action, pumping soundtrack and sexed up Beckinsale should ensure they love the whole affair. I doubt anybody over 17 will rank Underworld among 2003’s best efforts but at the same time everyone should be able to have fun with it.