Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Even though I wanted a third installment at the time, this was great to see more of how the universe started, especially with many of the original actors (Bill Nye and Michael Sheen) coming back to add to the back story. Great story and screenplay to match the original.

This is a great movie but I think another prequel should be made, a sequel to Rise of the Lycans. Based on where the movie left off and how Viktor met Selene. The Underworld sequels after evolution were very disappointing. They didnt feel anything like the first two movies or the prequel. I do not know why movie companies ruin movies this way by not keeping the same theme and vibe. When people think vampire movies or want vampire films they want them to be less modern, more medieval, dark, gothic and gloomy. Bring back Michael Sheen as Lucious, he is the best actor with a fully developed character.People do not like new actors and characters. They like the original actors, characters, theme, story line, and complex characters.

This film, set several centuries before the original two, tells us the story of Lucian; the first lycan who can take human form. He doesn't start off as a leader of a new race of powerful immortals; instead he and this new type lycan as kept as slaves by the vampires to protect them from the older type of lycan. Not everybody sees them as animals though; Sonja, the daughter of Victor the Vampire King, has fallen in love with Lucian. Lucian may be a slave but he is favoured by Victor… that is until he breaks the rules and leaves the vampire stronghold and removes his restraining collar… something Victor won't forgive even though Lucian did it to save Sonja. With Sonja's help he manages to escape with the other lycan slaves but Victor becomes aware of his daughter's treachery… if Lucian is to save her he will have to return to the vampire stronghold and ultimately face Victor in battle.At first I was a bit unsure about this film because it doesn't feature Selene, the series protagonist, and the fact that we know that certain characters must survive as they feature in films set later. Thankfully it was still gripping and impressively fills in much of the series' mythology. It was interesting to see a lycan as the main character and Michael Sheen did a fine job as Lucian. He is ably supported by Rhona Mitra who is impressive as doomed love interest Sonja and Bill Nighy who makes a welcome return as Victor. As anybody who has watched the previous films will expect there is plenty of impressive and rather bloody action but not so much that it gets in the way of the story. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who enjoyed the previous two films but it isn't essential to have seen them to enjoy this.

Have you watched the first 'Underworld?' If you have, you may well remember a bit of talking about a female vampire who fell in love with a male werewolf (sorry, 'lycan'). Well, that three minute monologue from the original has been turned into an hour and a half story. And this is it.So, if you've seen the first film, there's nothing here that will come as a surprise. But that doesn't mean it's a bad film. For a start (despite being made by a different director) it has the same look and feel of its two predecessors and most of the appropriate original cast members return. Special mention to Bill Nighy who steals every scene as the evil vampire 'Victor.' There's action, romance and plenty of mutated wolves mixing it with medieval vampires. If that's what you're looking for (and, if you like the other Underworld movies then you probably do) then this should tick all boxes.However, behind all the action and gore is a strong romantic story - your typical 'forbidden love' debacle between two clans, in some crazy way, almost like Romeo and Juliet. Despite the Underworld series all featuring this as a central theme, it continues the tradition of being 'Twilight' for the older generation (who definitely don't like their vampires with big hair and sparkly skin).Warning: this Underworld movie does NOT feature Kate Beckinsale (not unless you could the five seconds at the end). I've seen a fair few people moaning because it doesn't. You have been warned (although Rhona Mitra isn't that bad as a replacement in my opinion!).