Underworld: Rise of the Lycans: Movie Review

When I first heard that they were making another Underworld movie without the leading lady, Mrs. Beckinsale, I was not so interested. After all, any sequels with different stars are usually indicators that it is destined for the straight to DVD graveyard and/or a huge disappointment. Then I found out that it was a prequel and that at least storywise it did not make sense to have her come back. When I heard that Rhona Mitra was taking the reigns, I was back on board. But all of this really means nothing in the end because the leading lady is not a lady at all. The character Lucian is the star here.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans explains the story only told through flashbacks and storytelling in the first two movies. It puts a new perspective on who are the good guys and who are the bad guys and why the war started in the first place. Viktor, the vampire leader, enslaved the Lycans (wherewolves) to be their bodyguards while the sun was shining over their empire. He forced human slaves to be bitten by Lycans to turn them and use them as slaves and bodyguards. They were treated cruely, kept in cages and forced to wear reversed spiked collars that would puncture their throats if they should ever transform into their hairy alter egos. Lucian was in love with Viktor's daughter, Sonya, and after being forced to watch her die in front of him at the order of her father who thought that the blending of the species was an abomination, revolted and started a war that would last for centuries. I enjoyed the movie because it answered a lot of questions and flushed out the characters even more. Even though I got home around 1am, I was impelled to watch the first Underworld again for the whateverth time. It was like watching a completely different movie. Things made more sense and you were rooting for what was once the "bad guy." If you liked the first two movies, you'd enjoy this one. Time to watch Underworld 2...