Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5054 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-06-19
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 102 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Better action, a bit of sex, and gorier R-rated violence make Underworld: Evolution a reasonably satisfying sequel to 2003's surprise hit Underworld. Looking stunning as ever in her black leather battle gear, Kate Beckinsale is every goth guy's fantasy as Selene, the vampire "death dealer" who's now fighting to stop the release of the original "Lycan" werewolf, William (Brian Steele) from the prison that's held him for centuries. As we learn from the film's action-packed prologue, William and his brother Marcus (Tony Curran) began the bloodline of vampires and werewolves, and after witnessing centuries of warfare between them, their immortal father Corvinus (Derek Jacobi) now seeks Selene and the human vampire/lycan hybrid Michael (Scott Speedman) to put an end to the war perpetuated by Victor (Bill Nighy), the vampire warrior whose betrayal of Selene turns Underworld: Evolution into an epic tale of familial revenge. This ambitious attempt at Shakespearean horror is compromised by a script (by Danny McBride and returning director Len Wiseman, Beckinsale's real-life husband) that's more confusing than it needs to be, with too many characters and not enough storytelling detail to flesh them all out. Aspiring to greatness and falling well short of that goal, Underworld: Evolution succeeds instead as a full-throttle action/horror thriller, with enough swordplay, gunplay, and CGI monsters to justify the continuation of the Underworld franchise. If you're an established fan, this is a must-see movie; if not, well... at least it's better than Van Helsing! --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
Bloodthirsty vengeance is measured out in buckets, not spoonfuls for this hard-hitting vampire movie sequel. The story picks up right where the first UNDERWORLD left off, in the midst of a war between Lycans (werewolves) and vampires, with the gorgeous death-dealer, Selene (Kate Beckinsale), on the run with her vamp-wolf hybrid lover, Michael (Scott Speedman). The film then leaps back three centuries earlier, revealing the separation of two ultra-bad brothers, one vampire and one Lycan. The Lycan gets locked in a hidden tomb/prison and the feud begins. In the present, the winged vamp brother Marcus (Tony Curran) is determined to find his Lycan sibling and free him, which would wreak unimaginable havoc on the world. Selene's got to stop it, and the result is mayhem. Kate Beckinsale looks great with her jet-black hair, skin-tight leather bodysuit, red lips, and glowing blue eyes. Director Len Wiseman obviously has a great love for this alternate universe; he keeps the action humming, the blood running, and the cast well stocked with seasoned British actors like Sir Derek Jacobi, Bill Nighy, and Steven Mackintosh. The sex and violence may still be a bit intense for youngsters, but for the vampire crowd, it's a moveable feast of generous, still-twitching proportions.

Customer Reviews

not a bad sequel
This is a sequel to the 2003 film Underworld, and in order to try and stop any confusion I would honestly suggest that you watch the original film before watching this one.

The film starts with a history lesson about the lives of Marcus (Tony Curran) and his twin brother William (Brian Steele) - the original vampire and werewolf. The sons of the immortal - one bitten by a bat, the other by a wolf. It shows the what happened to the two brothers and how Viktor (Bill Nighy) gained control over the vampire clan.

Selene's (Kate Beckinsale) voice over gives the situation now - "For six centuries I was a loyal soldier to the vampire clan. But I was betrayed. The war was not as it had seemed. In one night, the lies that had united our kind had been exposed. Kraven (Shane Brolly), our second-in-command, had formed a secret alliance with Lucian (Michael Sheen), leader of the werewolf clan, to overthrow Viktor, our leader. But Kraven's lust for power and domination had failed. Viktor was not the savior I had been led to believe. He had betrayed us all. Soon, the hunt will be on for his killer. I have but one ally left: Michael (Scott Speedman), the human descendent of Corvinus (Sir Derek Jacobi). Neither vampire nor lycan, but a hybrid. It's only a matter of time before we're found. My only hope now is to awaken Marcus, our last remaining elder, and expose the truth before Kraven tries to murder him while he's still in hibernation. Kraven knows he's no match for him awake."

We know from the original film that Marcus was 'sleeping' due to take Amelia's (Zita Gorog) place in charge of the vampires, when werewolf scientist was killed over his casket, and the blood of the werewolf feeds the vampire son of Corvinus, creating another hybrid creature part vampire, part werewolf like Michael.

Marcus seizes his opportunity to be reunited with his imprisoned brother and Selene and Michael must attempt to stop him from releasing his uncontrollable sibling.

This was an enjoyable film, with a good number of extras. Not quite as good as the first film, but not far off really. Definitely worth watching in my opinion.

There is to be a third film in the series, Underworld Rise of the Lycans, but Ms Beckinsale's character Selene and Scott Speedman's Michael will not be appearing in it, but Michael Sheen (Lucian), and Bill Nighy (Viktor) will be in the prequel.

Enjoyable, but confusing at first !
Sexy, leather clad Selene (Kate Beckinsale) and hybrid Michael (Scott Speedman) return in the second instalment and epic conclusion of the Underworld saga.

Whilst I have never pretend to be the smartest tooth in a vampires mouth I certainly feel that I am not the dullest, but for the first third of this movie I was beginning to get totally bemused as to what exactly was going on, who was who, and whom had allegiance to whom. But I do urge the viewer of this film to stick with it, as all those questions and internal confusion in the back of your mind are all answered remarkably well before the end of the movie. However I get the feeling that those of you with the mind of a `Frankenstien's monster' will either turn it off in utter bewilderment, or just sit there open mouthed through the gore fest.

The main plot of the sequel answers many unanswered questions, and introduces a host of new characters implied or mentioned only in brief in the first movie. Marcus (Tony Curren) has risen from his sleep - if you remember the blood dripping into his tomb within the vaults of the Great Mansion at the end of the last - and sets out to find his brother William, the original werewolf. But first he has to get hold of the two-part key to the prison in which William has been imprisoned, one part of which is held by our heroine Selene and the other by a mysterious figure with his own small militia - who turns out to be none other than Alexander (Derek Jacobi), the father to both Marcus and William.
As well as a lot of history being revealed and graphically shot at the start of the movie , Bill Nighy also returns as Victor, and the real reasons for him leaving Selene alive after slaughtering her family become more evident as the movie goes on. Len Wiseman and Danny McBride certainly did a terrific job in the writing of the story line.

There is a lot of blood in this movie - which I guess goes in tandem with Vampire and Werewolf movies these days, but I never felt it was too far over the top - though watch-out for the helicopter scene at the end of the movie, something you can see coming a mile off.

The only disappointing thing for me was some of the occasional shots and special effects of the werewolves, and I felt myself remembering the original Howling movie and American Werewolf In London on occasions. But this was certainly never enough to ruin the Underworld experience.

A dark and sinister, thoroughly enjoyable 102 minutes, and I certainly wouldn't mind a pound for every set of contact lenses used in production !

Enjoyable
I like the Underworld films. I heard of them years ago and have to say that they sounded rubbish, but a friend said watch the original and i did. I liked it. So when the sequel came out, i was first in line to see it and i loved it.

Underworld Evolution is a rubbish film, but it is enjoyable rubbish. The plot is so silly that you can't help but enjoy it. One good thing is that the action sequences are brilliant. They're big, bad and gory.

Plus Kate Beckinsale is HOT!!!! Find someone who looks better as a moody vampire. Scott Speedman is underused again, his super powerful yet keeps getting his ass kicked, but you let that go for the utter enjoyableness of it all.

This is well worth your attention if you liked the original, but whatever you do, don't pay full price.