Underworld Awakening: Movie Review

Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Sandrine Holt, Theo James, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Stephen Rea, Charles Dance
Director: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein

Kate Beckinsale returns to the franchise as Selene with this latest outing in the Underworld series in 3D.

Following on from the events of the second Underworld film, (and ignoring a little Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) the human race has discovered the Lycan and Vampire races and decided, in true philanthropic fashion, to wipe them out.

Along with the love of her life, Michael, Selene is trying to escape "The Purge" and on the eve of getting out, she's knocked out and parted for him. The real kicker is she wakes up in a lab, thinking it's the next day - but it actually turns out to be 12 years later.

As if that wasn't bad enough, she's freed from the lab by something called "Subject 2". Believing that to be Michael, she tries to track him down as she's connected and able to see through Subject 2's eyes.

Only the surprises don't end there - and Selene finds herself with a new reason to fight to survive.

And there's a lot of things to fight against - both Lycan - and worse.

I've been a fan of the Underworld series - and not just because of Kate Beckinsale in a tight leather catsuit. It's been a good mix of action and story with a mythology being set up which feels natural and quite cool.

So I'm really disappointed to say that Underworld Awakening feels like such a massive blow on that front; it's great to have Kate back but the relative plot that there is in this film feels like it's been jettisoned by those in charge to lead as another set up for an action sequence/ shoot everything in sight. Granted, I kind of knew that was what to expect in this film but there's so much overkill of these scenes that it outweighs anything else. That's not to say though that some of the action sequences aren't impressive - Beckinsale oozes cool calm iciness as Selene as she gives it her all - and some of the fight sequences really do work, giving a sense of adrenaline and some overall goriness. However, the 3D isn't as successful with most of the film plunged in darkness, it's a little murky to watch.

Too much of the film seems like a set up for these scenes; granted, you don't go to an action fantasy film for reams of exposition and high end dialogue but a lot of this makes it feel as if a video game were being played out in front of your eyes - it would easily translate to a computer setting - the get out of the building alive sequence would be followed by a chase sequence; it's very formulaic and as a result, bitterly disappointing.

The film ends on the possibility of another showing up soon - and given the box office success of this latest, it seems inevitable. However, while I'll be back for another outing, I'll be desperately hoping some more effort's been put into the story and not just catering for a good solid action boy's night out.

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