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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans -- Discussion, Review, Spoilers

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, what is your grade?

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Captain Craig

Captain Craig

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The third entry in the Underworld saga opens today. This is a prequel to the movies that have come before. It adds some depth to the tidbits we got sprinkled in the prior films and adds scope to what started the Lycan/Vampire war.

This prequel story traces the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian (Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Mitra), in his battle against the Vampire army and his struggle for Lycan freedom.

underworld-3-small.jpg


If your looking for Kate Beckinsales Selene you will be dissapointed as her character doesn't show until 16/17th centuries. This movie features Sonja, the daughter to vampire lord Viktor to whom Selene reminded him. This film is set more in 13/14th centuries (they never give you a date)

I saw a sneak of this last night and enjoyed it very much. The movie does ask you to assume or conclude a thing or two on your on. Those items can be discussed. The nitpicker in us all could point out that in the Underworld flashback with Sonja its clear she was blonde not brunette. You can make of that what you will but its not worth fretting over imo.

My grade: B+
 
I'm biased, of course, but I enjoyed the movie. Despite knowing the script by heart, and constantly comparing the sets to how I described them in the book, I actually got caught up in the story and was impressed by the look of the film.

And since I saw the movie in a refrigerated movie theater whose heating system was on the fritz, I can safely describe the film as "chilling!"
 
Since the first one was tiresome, I certainly haven't watched any sequels. So I can't talk about this movie.

But I do want to say a few words about poor Bill Nighy, who I just saw in Valkyrie. He also played the editor in State of Play, a nifty UK miniseries.
He played the raucous rocker in Love, Actually. He was Phillip in Shaun of the Dead and the Inspector in Hot Fuzz. He played Pellegrin in The Constant Gardener. He played Slartibartfast in the Hitchhiker's Guide movie. He played the older husband of Cate Blanchett in Notes on a Scandal. The man is a terrific actor, who is totally buried in the role. He can play outrageous and he can underplay naturalism. Please don't hold Underworld against him.
 
I want to see the movie, but is there a hint of Selene, and Micheal coming back in a future movie? And is that the same guy playing Lucean(SP)?
 
Just got back from seeing it. I thought it was pretty decent.

Have to go back and check something in one of the books though just to check one of the characters names.
 
Greg Cox said:
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Which character is that? Maybe I can help.
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I guess spoilers for the book in question (Blood Enemy)

While watching the film, I thought the name of Sonjas servant (the one who rode out to meet Lucian) might have had the same name as that female Lycan from Blood Enemy and wondered if it was supposed to be the same character.

Of course, I have a memory like a sieve and now can't remember either of their names:(

(And thanks:) )
 
John Clark:

Nope, not the same character. The female vamp you're thinking of is Luka. The female lycan was Leyba (or something like that). As far as I know, the similarity is just a coincidence.

BLOOD ENEMY has been pretty much rendered apocryphal by the new movie. I'm just glad I got to write the new version of the story as well! :)
 
Greg Cox said:
John Clark:

Nope, not the same character. The female vamp you're thinking of is Luka. The female lycan was Leyba (or something like that). As far as I know, the similarity is just a coincidence.

BLOOD ENEMY has been pretty much rendered apocryphal by the new movie. I'm just glad I got to write the new version of the story as well! :)
Click to expand...

Ah, Leyba - yep that's it, Ta:)

As for the new novel itself, it's on order for me.:techman: (Got and enjoyed the rest, so it was only natural for this one to go on the order list)
 
John Clark said:
[

As for the new novel itself, it's on order for me.:techman: (Got and enjoyed the rest, so it was only natural for this one to go on the order list)
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Great! Hope you like the new book. It was definitely a unique experience, writing a novel that completely contradicted my previous book! :)
 
Not bad, but it just felt unecessary to me. I thought the past had been handled fairly well in the first two movies.

That being said, it was good seeing many of the characters again and the storyline/action was good. I thought Rhona Mitra did a good job with the lead role. Bill Nighy overacted as Viktor as usual, but it wasn't too bad. Michael Sheen did a great job as Lucien. I also enjoyed seeing more Raze. I thought he was wasted in the first film.

Would really like to see one more Underworld film, set after Evolution, that wraps up the Selene/Michael storyline.
 
Cmndr J Crichton said:
I want to see the movie, but is there a hint of Selene, and Micheal coming back in a future movie? And is that the same guy playing Lucean(SP)?
Click to expand...

At the end of the movie in an epilogue type manner some stock footage of Selene with a brief voiceover is shown.
Can't say that it means that in any UW:4 that she and Michael are back.
IMO, there is enough material left to still do another prequel. One that perhaps ends with the enslaving of William in that puzzle box constructed by Selene's father. Which of course would mean any Selene shown would be that of a 10yr old girl and not Kate.
 
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