Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Director:

Patrick Tatopoulos

Writers (WGA):

Danny McBride (screenplay) and
Dirk Blackman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Slave | Werewolf | Prisoner | Prequel

Cast

Michael Sheen	...	Lucian
Bill Nighy	...	Viktor
Rhona Mitra	...	Sonja
Steven Mackintosh	...	Tannis
Kevin Grevioux	...	Raze
David Aston	...	Coloman
Geraldine Brophy	...	Nobleman's Wife
Leighton Cardno	...	Fearful Lycan
Alex Carroll	...	Young Lucian (as Alexander Carroll)
Elizabeth Hawthorne	...	Orsova
Jared Turner	...	Xristo
Jason Hood	...	Death Dealer
Mark Mitchinson	...	Nobleman
Tania Nolan	...	Luka
Craig Parker	...	Sabas

Also Known As:

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans (USA) (working title)
Untitled Underworld Prequel (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for bloody violence and some sexuality.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44577) | Germany:16 | Australia:MA | UK:18 | Ireland:16 | Japan:R-15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:M18 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Brazil:16 | Mexico:B15 | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-15 | Denmark:11 | Austria:14 | Netherlands:16 | France:U (with warning) | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Sketch Films

Trivia:

WILHELM SCREAM: Heard when werewolves climb the wall and attack the vampire guards.

Goofs:

Continuity: After his group of slaves is sent to be bitten by the captive Lycans, Raze is the only one of his group back in his cage without a collar, but no point is made of this.

Quotes:

Coloman: The accused has committed high treason against the coven! She has consorted with animals, she has abetted in their escape...
Sonja: I have saved this coven many times over!
Coloman: You have killed your own kind! And you've commingled bloodlines, resulting in the thing germinating within you. Your past glory does not excuse your present guilt,neither does your station as a council member. The punishment for these crimes is death, how vote you?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: (#8.19)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Board Up the House (Renholder Remix)

Best prequel I've seen and worthy successor

I came back about an hour ago from the 3:45 showing here in Toronto. I've seen the first two movies, and I have to say I'm glad they brought back Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy; the second film just wasn't quite the same without those two. Lucian is the character you love to sympathize for and Viktor is the character you love to hate.

I'm so very glad the story was more focused on Lucian as it's a nice change from Selene and Michael being in the spotlight (not to mention Michael Sheen's arguably superior acting ability). As for Rhona Mitra, I won't say she was better than Kate Beckinsale but I can't say she was any less of an asset. Not only did she look great, but she executed her lines superbly. I will however say that I find Sonja's character much more interesting than Selene's. The chemistry between Lucian and Sonja was much better than that of the chemistry between Michael and Selene.

The story was much more intriguing, emotional and tragic than that of either of the previous two expeditions (this being of course subjective), as many who recall the flashbacks presented within will agree. It was also faithful to the material, and it's good that they didn't compromise for the sake of "improving" the story.

Overall, I can't think of another prequel that brought such raw emotion to the table, and regardless of the fact that Len Wiseman was not directing this one (though he was at the helm in other ways), you wouldn't know by watching it as it did a good job maintaining the same feel as the first two. The score also added to a lot of the emotion.

In regards to the possibility of a 4th movie: if they choose to continue on from this prequel as I think they should, they should bring in Amelia as she is one of the few characters that has yet to be explored fully.