The original Underworld came out back in 2003. The film gained popularity by its MATRIX style design, intricate plot, and modernization of vampires and werewolves. Vampires at the time were experiencing a renaissance in film popularity thanks in large part to the film BLADE and the television series BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. Vampires versus werewolves seems so natural and obvious that it's crazy to think that it took until 2003 for someone to bring it to the screen. The practical effects of the film proved far more convincing than Hollywood's big budget CGI of the time too. And let's not forget KATE BECKINSALE, MICHAEL SHEEN, and BILL NIGHY.
Blood Wars picks up where Awakening left off. Blood Wars boasts perhaps the most intense action sequences in the entire franchise and delivers everything signature to the series.
THE PLOT
The vampires are weakening. The lycans have been organizing and strategically targeting vampire covens. Only one major coven stronghold remains. Meanwhile Selene has been on the run from both the vampires and the lycans. The vampires, at their most desperate hour, call for a truce with Selene. They bring Selene in to help them battle the lycans. As Selene begins training the next generation of Death Dealers a coup d' etat occurs within the vampire ranks. Selene barely escapes with her life and flees to a remote Nordic vampire stronghold. When both werewolves and vampires converge upon her it becomes all out war!
WHAT I LIKED
The Action. I am definitely an action film aficionado. I am constantly in search of the next most intense action film. The Underworld movies have always had some quality action sequences but always fell a little short marrying the monster effects with the action. This film nails the action. All the action sequences grow and build upon one another.
Furthering the Saga. In this world of franchises reboots are quite a common occurrence. From most everyone I've talked to, Underworld Awakening was a low point for the series. That film came out in 2012. Five years later we've finally received the next installment. To get a reboot at this point wouldn't have been a stretch of the imagination. But no! Blood Wars owns up to the last film and is a direct continuation of the story started in Awakening. What I love about franchises is the continuation and evolution of the saga. Having experienced several reboots of my favorite franchises, disappointing reboots at that, I have to say that I am happy to see Underworld make lemonade from lemons. Or try to.
The British. Underworld has always possessed a neo-classical style. The Matrix inspired design and appearance coupled with traditional practical effects for execution gives the series a unique and wonderful quality. It's the series' signature. I thank the British-ness of it. It's as if Hammer Horror films were being made in this day and age. Kate Beckinsale is infinitely more badass and sexy with the British accent. Charles Dance fulfills the Bill Nighy void here once again and delivers a powerful presence as he always does. I love that Charles Dance is getting all these roles in genre films and shows nowadays. He's a tremendous talent that I love to see every time.
NITPICKS
Super Selene and Hero Zero Michael. I'm not sure what happened but somewhere along the line Scott Speedman either pissed somebody off or absolutely refuses to reprise his role as Michael. And that's a shame. Michael's disappearance from the last film is explained in Blood Wars and it's not good. It's doesn't make sense either. And Selene's character gets even more powerful, a movement of the character that I've been opposed to since the end of the second film. I'm all for badass female action heroes. I have no qualms with such characters. It's that once they made Selene as powerful as Michael, more powerful than the first vampire, and yet more powerful in this film, she just gets more and more boring. Selene and Michael were far interesting in the original film, and more compelling characters together, as opposed to Super Selene all by her lonesome. But in the end I still enjoyed the film.
THE VERDICT
For the fifth film in the series, Blood Wars tries to complete the story which began in Awakening. Or at least add the middle chapter in what appears to be the filmmakers striving for a trilogy arc. Kate Beckinsale is wonderful as always and Charles Dance makes a fantastic vampire lord every time. The stand out moments for this movie are easily its action set pieces, perhaps the best Underworld action in all the series. I don't know if the Underworld franchise will continue after this. If they can manage a third chapter to this story I will be there. It would be nice to actually have a proper trilogy in there somewhere.
Overall Ranking: 5 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 1 out of 10
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