Search Movie Review Archives

Ever notice how leftovers develop an unsavory taste the third time you serve them? They may still look good but you know something is definitely wrong. "Underwhelmed", oops, "Underworld-The Unrated Extended Edition" has been warmed up way too many times. Borrowing from other films, literature, etc. is fine if these elements are somehow forged into something unique. If "Underwear", oops, "Underworld" had come out in 1995 the look borrowed from "Dark City", "Matrix", "Blade", "The Crow" and every other science fiction/fantasy film made in the last ten years might have been groundbreaking but here it's like revisiting a film cemetery looking at the tombstones of the past. ***

"Guido, we have to rub out the Lycans family. They're hairy, have no taste and smelly. Past the pasta". Like a reheated version of "The Godfather" crossed with a monster movie, "Underworld-The Unrated Extended Cut" introduces us to two warring families Seline (Kate Beckinsale) hunts down Lycans (a fancy way of saying werewolves) as part of an ongoing war between the two species. She's what's referred to as a Death Dealer. Perhaps if she chooses to quit her night job, she can find something in Vegas. She becomes involved with a human who's being hunted by the werewolves. Unfortunately, before Seline reaches him, he's already been bitten by a werewolf. It's clear that the werewolves need him for a specific reason -- that remains a mystery until the final scene in the film. ---

Unlike the Lycans in the film, "Underworld-The Unrated Extended Cut" doesn't transform into anything special with the additional footage. It does restore a back story to Scott Speedman's character and reintegrates a subplot involving a vampire Erika played by Sophia Myles. The additional footage adds more meat to an already slim high concept story. We also get a new battle scene towards the end of the film which actually improves the film. ***

The overheated 45 minute documentary on vampires and werewolves provides almost as many entertaining moments as the film itself. Originally broadcast on AMC, "Fang vs. Fiction" provides an interesting overview of vampire lore and wolf in human clothing. The 48 page mini-comic book will probably attract the most attention as it will, no doubt, become a collectible. If you want camp, you get even more of it than before in this extended version. We also get the extras found on the previous version as well. We also get the outtakes, visual effects featurettes from the previous edition including an examination on the transformation scene from human to werewolf. ***

The "Making of" featurette provides a thumbnail glimpse into the complexity of making a movie like "Underworld". The design featurette provides the nuts and bolts of everything from costume designing for the picture all the way down to the production design for many of the main sets. The storyboard comparisons will be of particular interest to film geeks as it allows one to see the process of imagination to creation. We also get a brief featurette on the various creature effects in the movie including the CGI and physical effects used to portray the werewolves. The "Stunts" featurette allows us to look through the crack in the door between reality and fiction. ---