Review of Underworld (2003) by Denise A — 19 Jul 2012

I loved this idea, loved it, I love vamp and werewolf movies, brooding, dark, gothic and violent, just for adults, the way it should be, its just a litte too CGI heavy for me. The Lycans are just not believeable and look waaay too plastic which is such a shame, also the ending with the vamp/werewolf hybrid is very flat (a skinny 'Incredible Hulk' springs to mind).

The main problem with this is the quite dreadful CGI effects. I realise it would be hard work to create all those werewolves real time but at least make an effort with the computer work guys. The motion capture is really quite awful throughout the film looking more like large rats scampering all over the walls and ceiling.

Up close its not much better really with poor facial designs and bad hair work in my personal opinion. Such a contrast to the vampires which do look exquisite facially with their pale skin, piercing eyes and slick hair. Easier to achieve granted but I REALLY wish they had gone more down the road of real time effects for the werewolves. Imagine what this film could of been with 'Werewolf in London' lycan effects! its painful to think what it could of been.

I like the fact they tried to do something without CGI with 'Corvin's' hybrid character but its just looks too plain, nothing thrilling a tall plus they just seemed to spray him all black..that's its, nothing more!?.

The film still reasonably rocks and comes close to a new 'Crow' style flick (if it had some harder tunes in there). Beckinsale is gorgeous and Nighy is excellent as the skinny gaunt 'Viktor'. Close to greatness but just misses, but because it's vamps and werewolfs I just cant say no hehe.

Kudos for handling two major horror franchises together in a face off with relative success, unlike 'AvP'. Its just a shame it does feel too much of a hybrid of other sci-fi/vamp films. 'The Matrix' does stand out to be honest, didn't wanna go there but you have to really.