Underworld: 1 - 4 Box Set

Director Len Wiseman (Die Hard 4.0 Total Recall 2012) brings us a great gothic trilogy and a seriously iffy fourth entry. Although certain film critics maul them they have become huge fan favourites.
UNDERWORLD 2003
Kate Beckinsale is simply stunning in her skin tight outfits, as she starts the ball rolling on this trilogy. Some amazing stylish action scenes are slightly let down by a pompous storyline. But this was the first of the trilogy and the sequel and prequel iron out the glitches. But if you want a more satisfying film hunt down the directors Extended cut.
***1/2
UNDERWORLD EVOLUSION 2005
A more action filled sequel as the hunters become the hunted.
With a bigger budget, director Wiseman lets loose with all the stylish action and blood splattered mayhem to startling effect.
This may lack the story telling of the first film, but makes up for it in action.
****
UNDERWORLD RISE OF THE LYCANS 2009
This is a great prequel, charting the start of the long running war between the two breeds. Michael Sheen is brilliant reprising his role from the original, and also Bill Nighy is at his sinister best again reprising his role. Bloody great battles and better effects, plus a doomed love affair gives the film an added boost.
****
UNDERWORLD AWAKENING 2011
I always liked the previous three movies, although I have to admit I always thought they did take them selves way too serious and was really looking forward to this fourth chapter. But if the previous three Underworlds weren't to your Lycan, there's little reason to seek out this fourth instalment, even if it does see Kate Beckinsale back in the leather corset cum career straitjacket as gun toting bloodsucker Selene. In a direct lift from Aliens, 2012's vampire werewolf face off sees her awake from a 12 year cryogenic freeze to find not only that her hairy nemeses have the genetic upper hand but also that she is now a mom to raven haired cutie Eve (India Eisley). What to do? Why, launch a one woman assault on wolfman HQ of course, no doubt hoping we won't notice Swedish co directors Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein are now brazenly ripping off The Matrix. With no Michael Sheen this time around and Charles Dance stepping in for an AWOL Bill Nighy, there's a distinct sense of sloppy seconds to a film that's humourless throughout and, thanks to murky 3D (in the cinema release), visually dull to boot. OK, so gore hounds may relish the constant throat slashing, vein slicing and one ingenious moment when Kate rips open a stomach for some DIY heart massage. For everyone else it's more like a video game as Kate fights off wave after wave of Werewolves only to face a giant Werewolf that resembles an end of level guardian. Unfortunately for me the only point of interest will be the villain's henchman's uncanny resemblance to Coldplay's Chris Martin! Underworld Awakening was a huge disappointment and is the kind of sequel that could give the series a bad name.
**
This is a good collection only let down by the sloppy fourth chapter, but if like me you would rather forget Awakening existed you could always use it as a nice drinks coaster.
See if you like.......
Resident Evil 1 - 5.
Equilibrium.
Aron Flux.
Matrix Reloaded.
Matrix Revolutions.
Fright Night 2011
True Blood.

Director Len Wiseman (Die Hard 4.0 Total Recall 2012) brings us a great gothic trilogy and a seriously iffy fourth entry. Although certain film critics maul them they have become huge fan favourites.
UNDERWORLD 2003
Kate Beckinsale is simply stunning in her skin tight outfits, as she starts the ball rolling on this trilogy. Some amazing stylish action scenes are slightly let down by a pompous storyline. But this was the first of the trilogy and the sequel and prequel iron out the glitches. But if you want a more satisfying film hunt down the directors Extended cut.
***1/2
UNDERWORLD EVOLUSION 2005
A more action filled sequel as the hunters become the hunted.
With a bigger budget, director Wiseman lets loose with all the stylish action and blood splattered mayhem to startling effect.
This may lack the story telling of the first film, but makes up for it in action.
****
UNDERWORLD RISE OF THE LYCANS 2009
This is a great prequel, charting the start of the long running war between the two breeds. Michael Sheen is brilliant reprising his role from the original, and also Bill Nighy is at his sinister best again reprising his role. Bloody great battles and better effects, plus a doomed love affair gives the film an added boost.
****
UNDERWORLD AWAKENING 2011
I always liked the previous three movies, although I have to admit I always thought they did take them selves way too serious and was really looking forward to this fourth chapter. But if the previous three Underworlds weren't to your Lycan, there's little reason to seek out this fourth instalment, even if it does see Kate Beckinsale back in the leather corset cum career straitjacket as gun toting bloodsucker Selene. In a direct lift from Aliens, 2012's vampire werewolf face off sees her awake from a 12 year cryogenic freeze to find not only that her hairy nemeses have the genetic upper hand but also that she is now a mom to raven haired cutie Eve (India Eisley). What to do? Why, launch a one woman assault on wolfman HQ of course, no doubt hoping we won't notice Swedish co directors Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein are now brazenly ripping off The Matrix. With no Michael Sheen this time around and Charles Dance stepping in for an AWOL Bill Nighy, there's a distinct sense of sloppy seconds to a film that's humourless throughout and, thanks to murky 3D (in the cinema release), visually dull to boot. OK, so gore hounds may relish the constant throat slashing, vein slicing and one ingenious moment when Kate rips open a stomach for some DIY heart massage. For everyone else it's more like a video game as Kate fights off wave after wave of Werewolves only to face a giant Werewolf that resembles an end of level guardian. Unfortunately for me the only point of interest will be the villain's henchman's uncanny resemblance to Coldplay's Chris Martin! Underworld Awakening was a huge disappointment and is the kind of sequel that could give the series a bad name.
**
This is a good collection only let down by the sloppy fourth chapter, but if like me you would rather forget Awakening existed you could always use it as a nice drinks coaster.
See if you like.......
Resident Evil 1 - 5.
Equilibrium.
Aron Flux.
Matrix Reloaded.
Matrix Revolutions.
Fright Night 2011
True Blood.