When a franchise starts promoting minor characters to top billing, it’s usually time to jump ship – and considering the first two Underworld movies were far from classics, it’d be easy to expect this medieval-set prequel to be a dead loss. However, in Underworld: Rise Of The Lycan’s case, we’re talking about minor characters played by top-calibre actors like Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy, and they’re both impressive enough to turn this amped-up horror-actioner into something more watchable than you might expect. Set at some undisclosed time in the Middle Ages, the plot essentially fills out the backstory of the first movie’s vengeful werewolf Lucien (Sheen) and his vendetta against evil vamp overlord Viktor (a splendidly reptilian Nighy). Starting out as a favoured slave of the vampires, Lucien also ends up conducting a secret cross-species affair with Viktor’s daughter Sonja (Mitra), but his rebellious nature soon sees him thrown in prison. Before you can say “I’m Spartacus”, he’s breaking out and setting off an uprising, leading to plenty of frenetic violence and some hilariously splashy gore.Read full review
Excellent start to the Underworld series. The origin of the fued is well established in this film. The viewer feels the Romeo and Juliet, or Cleopatra and Mark Anthony theme in this story of an immortal love affair. This chapter goes back hundreds of years to explain the origins of the Lucian (Michael Sheen) and his love, Viktor’s daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra). It is an action-film; however the character development of the Vampires Ruled by Viktor (Bill Nighy), the aristocratic, and wolflike Lycans as slaves is a good foundation to the saga. I would definitely view this film before the other two. I would also recommend at least one more film to bridge this film to the first Underworld.
Okay, it's Underworld, 3 years later (the prequel) and centuries ago. Basically it's the flesh-out story of Lucian & Sonja, Viktor's daughter, that we learned in bits 'n' pieces in the first two Underworlds. First I was a little freaked at Rhona Mitra's resemblance to Kate Beckinsale from the first two movies, but of course it was Selene's resemblance to Sonja that caused Viktor to adopt her in the first place. Second I was surprised that Michael Sheen reprised his role as Lucian because he looked like a younger version of himself. I thought that until the end credits. Bill Nighy is great as he was as Davy Jones in POTC. I haven't seen Twilight, but it's good to see immortals that are older actors and/or don't look like they should be walking a Calvin Klein runway. Oh, and it was a good movie.Read full review
We're going to have to rate this third Underworld as AVERAGE(with the other two rating EXCELLENT with TWO THUMBS "WAY" UP). We are definitely fans of the Underworld films, but this release did not quite do it for us. Personally, I played it three times the first day we rented it and just could not get a feel for it(and couldnt even watch it 100% through). It offers a lot of the same graphics, special effects, and blood but the acting cast is just not the same. I think that is what kinda ruined it for us. We feel it couldve been ANOTHER Excellent Underworld if the same leading acting cast was in it, but this new cast just didnt do very well. It was a toss up as to buying it or just renting it for $1.00. Being that we werent aware of the new cast, we were considering it, but after watching it, it was a $1.00 decently spent. Rent It or Buy It? If yur a BIG Underworld fan, RENT IT first! Our Overall Rating: 5 out of 10 Feel free to browse any of our other 240 Movie Reviews we have writting for folks just like you! If you enjoy good movies, check out our Reviews for our recommendations! THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! CHAOTICZ SpecialtiesRead full review
This Underworld Prequel was an absolutely astounding and very surprising piece of artwork. This film genre has truly taken hold since the first film came out. The Gothic timbre was totally top-notch. The film starts off with narration from our more familiar character, Selene (Kate Beckinsale). During the Dark Ages, the story begins by tracing the origins of a centuries old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the werewolves (Lycans). A young Lycan named Lucian (Michael Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle against the vampire supremacy and his struggle for Lycan freedom. When the human son of a werewolf is born in a cell, the evil leader of the clan of vampires, Viktor, spares his life and names him Lucian. He then forces him to transform other humans into the new breed - Lycan, and raises him as a slave wearing a leash to control his ability. Lucian becomes a blacksmith as well as a brave warrior with respect as a leader over the other Lycans inside and outside the castle walls. He protects the aristocratic vampires against the vicious and infectious breed of werewolves who are incapable of taking human form. However, Viktor's daughter, Sonja, and Lucian are lovers who consumate their love without her father's approval. This will definitely be to her detriment. Lucian takes his collar off and and transforms into a werewolf to save the life of Sonja in a battle against the werewolves. However, Viktor sentences him to be brutally whipped thirty times and then imprisons him in the dungeon. Sonja saves Lucian and he escapes with other prisoners to the woods. When Viktor discovers that Sonja is pregnant and in love with Lucian, he locks her up in her room to force Lucian to return to the castle to rescue her, in the beginning of the feud between the two bloodlines. After it's all said and done, Viktor and the council commits Sonja to death. She is tied up and exposed to the sun, which basically turns her into a crispy critter. I'll have to hand it to the costume and production designers of this film. I'm sure that they are more than proud of this profound peek into the dark side of fantasy film-making. Viktor (Nighy) is the main vampire in charge and he shows it with his bluish gleaming eyes. Lucian's friends include many such as Raze (Kevin Grevioux) and Kraven (Shane Brolly). Kevin Grevioux helped write the original 2003 Underworld story and is seen here again helping Lucian in prison. Younger versions of Lucian and Sonja are also in the film played by Alex Carrol and Olivia Taylforth. Sonja (Mitra) is perfect in this film and Lucian (Sheen) is her love, almost akin to the tragic story of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but there is one problem. Lucian happens to be a Lycan while Sonja is a pure blood vampire. I don't want to let you in on all the wonderful action in this film, but it is well worth the wait to see if you missed it a the theaters. I'm going to give Rise of the Lycans a 5/5 mainly due to the great action, excellent editing, and a followable story-line. I hope that we can see another Sequel soon from the same directors. We already have Lucian signed up for an Underworld 4 and hopefully Bekinsale will be there as well. IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEWS, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW BY VOTING, THANKS.Read full review
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