A 4th UNDERWORLD Movie Is Getting The Greenlight After The Strong Performance Of 'UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS'

THE SHIELD was THRALL WORLD’s best television experience EVER (narrowly edging out BABYLON 5) and the writing was MINT.

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Bill Nighy doesn't drink...wine.

(Screen Gems) Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux, David Aston. Directed by Patrick Tatopoulos

Every story has a beginning. For the ongoing war between the Vampires and Lycans (werewolves), we have seen only the middle. This is where it began.

Most fairy tales begin with “Once Upon a Time.” So, once upon a time the vampires were in charge of everything. Human lords paid them tribute and vampires kept Lycan slaves to do the heavy lifting and also to protect them during the daylight hours when they must sleep.

Victor (Nighy) is ruler of the Vampire coven. His daughter Sonja (Mitra) is like him haughty and a member of the ruling council, although she doesn’t seem to take her responsibilities seriously. It’s a serious time for the Vampires; the original pure-blooded Lycans who are more beast than human are on a rampage, and they have far greater numbers.

One of the pureblood Lycans has had a baby who has retained its humanity. While Victor executes the mother, he spares the baby who grows up to be Lucian (Sheen), who was part of the central action in the first Underworld. From his blood Victor creates a number of – clones? – Well, a lot of bare-chested guys that get hairy when the moon is full. Victor controls them by means of silver bondage collars that kind of fit in with the whole S&M motif – the vampires are awfully fond of leather corsets, bustieres and trenchcoats. 

Lucian has also fallen in love with Sonja and the two are carrying on a torrid, illicit affair that is forbidden by Vampire law (which sounds like a title for a new series on the CW). When Sonja impulsively goes out to save a group of human nobles who were attacked by the bestial Lycans on the way to a meeting with the Vampire council, Lucian rides out to save her and is forced to remove his collar to fight his cousins. Although he saves Sonja, he is punished for breaking the law of never removing his collar.

Lucian is befriended by a human slave named Raze (Grevioux, who also appeared as this character in the first Underworld) who is turned to werewolf by Victor, who has Raze bitten by a pureblood. Seeing that his people are being brutalized by the Vampires Lucian undergoes a change of heart. He decides, Spartacus-like, to lead his people – and incidentally the humans too – to freedom. Sonja helps him escape but in the process their love for each other is exposed – and Victor is forced to do something so horrible it will set events in motion that will reverberate around the world for a thousand years.

This is the kind of movie that needs to be a wild ride, and for some of the movie it accomplishes that. There are plenty of nifty action scenes, vampire and werewolf chow downs and transformations galore. There’s also a great deal of blood as you might expect.

You don’t see this kind of movie for the acting, but there are actually some fine actors involved. Nighy is having a grand old time going over the top like he’s summiting Everest. It’s actually fun to watch him wrap himself around dialogue that would do a Roman epic proud. He can make even the tritest lines sound positively Shakespearean and he doesn’t disappoint here.

Sheen has been coming on lately to deliver some awesome work of late in movies like The Queen and Frost/Nixon. He is reprising a role from earlier in his career; it isn’t the most glamorous of his career but he nonetheless gives it his all and makes Lucian heroic, if a bit bland. He certainly looks far more hunky than in his turns as Tony Blair and David Frost.

Because this is all about vampires, most of the movie takes place at night and inside a creepy, dark castle. Dark is the operative word here; dark as in underlit. Between the dark sets, the black wardrobe and the pale skin, sometimes it feels like you’re watching the film through black gauze.

There’s not a lot of emotional resonance here which is a bit odd since at the center of the movie is a forbidden love story, but in the long run that’s okay. After all, we’re talking vampires and werewolves here, right? That’s just a recipe for awesomeness that shouldn’t disappoint and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans doesn’t. There’s enough fun that the movie fulfills its purpose and leaves me wanting another go.

WHY RENT THIS: Bill Nighy chows down on the scenery like he hasn’t eaten in days, and he seems to be having a great time doing it too. Sheen has been doing the best work of his career lately; he puts a brave face on and does exceptionally well in a part that doesn’t necessarily deserve it.

WHY RENT SOMETHING ELSE: This is a very, very dark movie. No, not the tone; the lighting. It’s downright hard to see sometimes. Some of the CGI is a little weak, and the dialogue is a bit pretentious.  

FAMILY VALUES: Gore, gore and more gore. And then, a little more gore. Oh, and some violence. And then gore. Did I mention there is a lot of gore?

TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Michael Sheen was asked to re-record some dialogue for Frost/Nixon during shooting and did so, covered in fake blood after a days shooting for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. A framed picture of the event sits in Ron Howard’s office.

NOTABLE DVD EXTRAS: The Blu-Ray edition has an interactive map feature called “Lycanthropes Around the World” that traces reputed werewolf sightings from around the globe.

FINAL RATING: 6/10

TOMORROW: Six Days of Darkness Day Two

Here are quick reviews of the films released in 2009 that I have seen. This list will be updated until the end of the year, naturally.

01. ANTICHRIST

Premise: After the death their son, a couple go to a cabin in the woods where the man works with his wife’s grief.
Verdict: Lars Von Trier is perhaps the most pretentious director of our time and it shows here. The film looks beautiful but it does not save it from being mediocre. Look out for in-your-face symbolism. RATING: C

02. BRUNO

Premise: Bruno, a homosexual, travels to the United States to become the greatest Austrian superstar.
Verdict: The film is funny at times but it feels way too scripted. RATING: C

03. A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN 3D (NOVEMBER 8, 2009 UPDATE)

Premise: Greedy Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve night.
Verdict: This is an overall excellent film. It is fun, engaging, dark and grim, and the 3D effects are outstanding. My full review.  RATING: B+

04. CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE

Premise: Chev Chelios must find his real heart after being implanted with a fake one, while trying to stay alive.
Verdict: This is over-the-top goodness. It is hilarious and fun as hell. RATING: B

05. DISTRICT 9

Premise: A government agent in South Africa is exposed to an alien race’s technology may just be their only hope of escape.
Verdict: After the disaster that is Star Trek, this film gives us a science fiction film worth watching. RATING: A

06 DRAG ME TO HELL

Premise: A young woman is stricken with a curse and she fights for her life to destroy it.
Verdict: This is a completely overrated film. It is funny at times and there are no genuine scares. The ending can be seen a mile away. RATING: C

07. FUNNY PEOPLE

Premise: George Simmons is dying and he needs a friend, someone to open his acts for him.
Verdict: The film is unfunny, overlong, and your typical Judd Apatow crap. RATING: F

08. THE HANGOVER

Premise: Three men head to Las Vegas with their soon-to-be-wed friend for a night of debauchery. When that friend disappears, the three men must retrace their steps to find him.
Verdict: Zach Galifianakis makes this hilarious film what it is. There is a minor contrivance that is annoying but it is still great. RATING: B

09. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

Premise: Harry Potter is taking lessons with Professor Dumbledore, in the hopes that they can unravel the Dark Lord’s past and determine how he can be defeated.
Verdict: Half-Blood Prince a beautiful-looking film. It is funny, entertaining, and contains great performances. This is by far the best Harry Potter film to date. My full review. RATING: A

10. THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL

Premise: A young college student is paid to babysit for a couple but all is not what it seems.
Verdict: This is an homage to 1980s horror films. It is boring for three-quarters of the film and is slightly contrived. This is not a great horror film, no matter what professional critics say. RATING: D

11. I LOVE YOU, MAN

Premise: A soon-to-be-wed man, who has no real friends, needs to find a best mate.
Verdict: I Love You, Man is a good comedy and bro-mance film. RATING: B

12. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Premise: A group of Nazi killers and a young woman act on a similar plot to kill Hitler.
Verdict: The film is overlong, repetitive, disjointed, and pretentious.  It is perhaps one of Tarantino’s worst films. RATING: F

13. IN THE LOOP

Premise: Simon Foster, Minister for International Development, unwittingly backs military action for a war. Hilarity ensues.
Verdict: This is the best comedy I’ve seen all year. The entire movie is laugh-out-loud funny. RATING: A

14. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS

Premise: Exactly as the title suggests, the film is about monsters battling aliens.
Verdict: This is a DreamWorks Animation film. I prefer their films over Pixar but this one is just a let down. There are some good moments but overall it is just mediocre. RATING: C

15. OBSERVE AND REPORT

Premise: After a mall is plagued by a flasher, head of Mall Security Ronnie Barnhardt is on the case.
Verdict: Observe and Report is a dark comedy that is often compared to Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, except loads better. RATING: B

16. PUBLIC ENEMIES

Premise: The story of famous thief John Dillinger.
Verdict: This is a solid film. It is not Michael Mann’s best, but it is solid. The cinematography is great but the sound design is pretty bad as the volume level fluctuates during dialogue scenes. Johnny Depp gives a great performance. There are some historical inaccuracies, however. RATING: B

17. STAR TREK

Premise: As a reboot of the Star trek franchise, the film follows the adventure of James T. Kirk.
Verdict: This is one of the worst science fiction films I have ever seen. There is a lame villain; a horrible score; it is contrived; Kirk is a douche; and there is an extremely retarded astronomical threat. RATING: F

18. TOY STORY IN 3D (NOVEMBER 8, 2009 UPDATE)

Premise: When Andy receives a new toy, cowboy toy Woody is threatened and attempts to remain Andy’s favorite.
Verdict: This is a fun film for all ages. The animation still holds up today. Seeing the film in 3D is a great experience and I wish many would have had the chance to do so. RATING: B

19. TOY STORY 2 IN 3D (NOVEMBER 8, 2009 UPDATE)

Premise: Andy is stolen by a toy collector. Buzz and the gang attempt to rescue him.
Verdict: Toy Story 2 is a fun film for all ages. The animation still holds up today. Seeing the film in 3D is a great experience and I wish many would have had the chance to do so. RATING: B

20. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

Premise: The Transformers race is dying out and a device located on earth is the solution. The Decepticons and Autobots race to find it.
Verdict: Revenge of the Fallen has a great blend of action and comedy. Do not expect a coherent plot, however. It’s Michael Bay! My full review. RATING: B

21. TRICK ‘R TREAT

Premise: An anthology of stories based on Halloween is presented in Trick ‘r Treat.
Verdict: This is the best horror film released this year and perhaps the last five years. It has a perfect blend of horror and comedy. The film is a great directorial debut from Michael Dougherty, writer of X2: X-Men United. My full review. RATING: A

22. UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS

Premsie: This is a prequel to the Underworld series that focuses on the origin of the vampire and lycan feud.
Verdict: The film is pretty mediocre. It is not as good as the first two films but it is decent fun. RATING: C

23. WATCHMEN

Premise: Someone is killing costumed heroes and must be stopped.
Verdict: Watchmen is a solid flick. It has excellent visuals and the action is great but the acting is pretty stale. The plot may be confusing to some. RATING: B

24. WATCHMEN DIRECTOR’S CUT

Premise: Someone is killing costumed heroes and must be stopped.
Verdict: The Director’s Cut does not add anything worth seeing. RATING: B

25. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (NOVEMBER 8, 2009 UPDATE)

Premise: Young Max has a falling out with his mother. He leaves home and ventures into a forest where wild creatures make their home.
Verdict: Director Spike Jonze creates a beautiful and vivid world. The film does a great job depicting how many of us were as children.  RATING: A+

26. ZOMBIELAND

Premise: The zombie apocalypse has finally arrived and a small group of survivors travel to the one place that is zombie-free: Pacific Playland.
Verdict: Zombieland is a great zombie comedy, though it does not surpass 2004’s excellent Shaun of the Dead. As you watch this, look forward to a great cameo. RATING: B

What we read while trying to remember who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year…

• Josh has written about Michael Pollan in the past. In the NY Times Magazine’s food issue, Pollan offers some “rules to eat by”, a preview of his forthcoming eating manual. He goes against type and suggests eating only heavily processed foods. Just kidding… Also in the food issue is a piece of the fascinating Calerie project.

• Putting aside our affection for superlatives, we’d prefer it if Esquire had named Kate Beckinsale just “Among the Sexier Women Alive” instead of going all-out. Nevertheless, she knows how to rise our lycans, if you know what we mean. (And no, we can’t believe that was the THIRD Underworld movie and there’s already a fourth in production, either.)

• Speaking of sexiest thises and thats, check out Deadspin/Jeff Pearlman’s humorous account of how Chiefs’ quarterback Elvis Grbac was accidentally named People’s “Sexiest Athlete.”  The last sentence of People entry was “His personality makes him attractive.” Unfortunately (and somewhat surprisingly), Tim did not spot a single Grbac jersey during his adventure at Arrowhead Stadium earlier last weekend.

• Speaking of Deadspin (we’re on a roll with the transitions), they detailed the seedy underground of NBA scorekeeping, where not everyone plays by the rules and the figures don’t always add up.

• In his review of Bored to Death, Tim mentioned how a bright yellow cover design (and a startling author’s name) led to the purchase of the funniest book he’s ever read. He did not mention that he often doodles possible cover designs for his hitherto unnamed and unwritten (and really unconceived) novel. Needless to say, he enjoyed this contest to re-design the cover of Vladimir Nabokov’s classic (and another very funny book indeed), Lolita.

• John S is obviously happy about the Yankees sweep of the Twins, but it’s good new for everyone (here meaning AL fans), since it means we no longer have to hear from TBS’ Chip Caray, who Joe Posnanski (and the rest of sane America) cannot stand. Speaking of the Yankees and American sports writers, Wright Thompson’s piece on the most expensive seats at the new Yankee Stadium is worth it for the pictures alone.

• And the final word on that Yanks-Twins series: This is the real reason Minnesota was so upset about Phil Cuzzi’s blown call down the left-field line. Who knows what Jason Kubel could have done with Mauer on second?

A 4th UNDERWORLD Movie Is Getting The Greenlight After The Strong Performance Of 'UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS'

THRALL WORLD observes that the 3rd movie (which was the pequel to the 1st) was suprisingly good after the trainwreck that was Underworld 2.

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Acest prequel urmareste originea vrajbei dintre vampirii aristocrati, cunoscuti si sub numele de Negustorii Mortii (Death Dealers), si fostii lor sclavi, varcolacii(Lycans). In Evul Mediu,un tanar varcolac numit Lucian era un lider puternic si ii chemase pe varcolaci sa se ridice impotriva lui Viktor, un rege vampir foarte crud, care ii inrobise. Lucian incearca acum sa distruga vampirii si sa redea libertatea varcolacilor.

I honestly didn’t want to see this movie.  The other 2 Underworld movies were pretty decent and entertaining.  I just didn’t see the point in another Underworld movie.  What is there to address that wasn’t in the others?

The movie title explains the plot of the movie.  Lucian (Michael Sheen) is the first of the Lycans.  He was found as a babe by Viktor (Bill Nighy, who also played Davy Jones) and was raised with the vampire coven.  Viktor stole blood from Lucian in order to create more Lycans.  This would be a perfect time to explain exactly what a Lyan is.  A Lycan is simply a werewolf that can transform back into human form.  Before Lucian the werewolves were unable to do this.  Anyway, to create a little drama, Lucian is in love with Viktor’s daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra).

Long story short, the vampires have enslaved the Lycans to be there own personal body guards during the day light hours.  But when Lucian is forced to make more of his kind and they are kept as slaves, Lucian releases all the Lycans from their jails and attempts a major break out.  A few of them survive while the rest are either killed trying to escape or are trapped to be enslaved again.  As Lucian attempts another break in to rescue not only the others, he also attempts to rescue his love, Sonja.  By this point, Viktor has learned that not only does Sonja love Lucian, but she is also pregnant.  Lucian is caught trying to save Sonja and both are chained in a basement to be punished.  Sonja is forced to watch Lucian whipped and Lucian is forced to watch Sonja die by sunlight.  This is what causes an all out war to ignite between the Lycans and vampires.  The movie then ends with the beginning to Underworld.

I like that the movie comes in full circle.  You can actually watch this one first to get the whole history and future.  The movie, itself, isn’t really that long.  It’s only an hour and a half long.  I wasn’t bored either.  The best thing about all the Underworld movies is how we can get a lot of back story without having to give up a lot of action in the process.  The effects are also amazing.  The transformation of human to werewolf looks real.  The action scenes are all blood, sweat, and just great to watch (especially if you have it on Blu Ray).  Rise of the Lycans gives you, not a basic, but the history of why the Lycans and vampires are at war.

Although the movie is really entertaining and interesting and I highly recommend it if you (like myself) like vampires or werewolves and really want a different perspective, but this movie really isn’t necessary.  If I remember correctly, this same story is told in the second Underworld movie.  I get that Lucian is made at Viktor for murdering his love and his own child.  That’s enough to cause this war between the two races.  Though I really enjoyed this movie and I am now considering buying the series on Blu Ray, it’s still not a necessary movie.

Despite that, movies are meant to be entertaining, so if you want some action, violence, a little romance, and a whole lotta excitement, I recommend watching this movie.  You won’t be disappointed!  Enjoy!

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
★ / ★★★★

I don’t find any good reason for this film to have been made. From beginning to end, I found the story uninteresting, the characters were one-dimensional, the special and visual effects were nothing extraordinary, and the pacing was very slow to the point of boredom. I don’t know how Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen got mixed up in this terrible mess. This prequel to the first “Underworld” installment was about how the Lycans/werewolves got the upperhand over the aristocratic vampires (led by Nighy). That’s pretty much it, really. For an hour and thirty minutes, they showed the romance between a Lycan (Sheen) and a vampire (Rhona Mitra), while also giving audiences one senseless action scene after another. It got exhausting really quickly and I lost interest twenty minutes into the picture. The only reason why I think this sequel was made was because the first two “Underworld” movies were successful. Having realized that success, the studios wanted more money even though they knew that the script was dead on arrival. One of my biggest problems was Nighy’s “moral dilemma” when he found out that his daughter has been sleeping with a werewolf. The movie tries to show that he cares for his daughter by looking agonized and sad in an empty room after he decides that she should be punished. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes (and laugh–or was it scoff?–a bit inside) because if he really did care for his daughter, since he’s the leader of the vampires and as a father who genuinely loves his daughter, he would do anything in his power to make her happy. Instead, I saw him as this tyrant who loves power more than his daughter; he deserves to fall hard on his face and suffer in every possible way. I felt like the director (Patrick Tatopoulos) and writers (Danny McBride and Dirk Blackman) thought that the audiences are stupid. It’s insulting in the least. Please avoid this mess of a movie at all cost.

I’ve seen the Underworld movies too many times to even count. Over the years, Kate Beckinsale has become a hero of mine. Not many women can kick ass in a skin-tight leather suit – thus, she’s one of my heroes. When I found out that they were coming out with a prequel, I was a little apprehensive. No Kate Beckinsale? C’mon! How could they possibly do this to me? Well, they did. And you know what? It was still effin’ awesome.

We don’t go to the movie theaters very often, so I knew that I would never have a chance to see the new movie in theaters (just like how I know I won’t see the Wolverine movie until I can get my hands on the DVD). So, I have been waiting for the movie to come out on DVD. Adam bought it yesterday, and finally (FINALLY!) we watched it tonight.

Wow. WOW! I’ve always been partial to the lycans more than the vampires, and this movie just confirmed my love for them. In the first movie, Lucian became my hero. For some odd reason, I fell in love with him. In the second movie when they revealed hints of his troubled past, my love grew deeper. Now that I know the whole story, he’s like a Gawd to me. Sure, I liked Michael too, but Lucian always remained my favorite.

Along with confirming my hate for the vampires, this movie set my hate for Viktor in stone. What kind of father burns his daughter alive? (Yeah, yeah, I know it’s only fictional…but still.) I remember being thrilled when Selene sliced his head in half in Underworld: Evolution, and now I have even more reason to enjoy that killing.

There was no Kate Beckinsale (well, barely any). So what? It was still enjoyable for me. And I still love Lucian.

År: 2009
Genre: Action.
IMDb Betyg: 6,6
Skådisar: Rhona Mitra, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux.

Handling: En historia som berättar ursprunget till den sekelgamla striden mellan en klan aristokratiska vampyrer och deras före detta slavar – varulvar som kallas Lycans.

Under medeltiden framträder en Lycan vid namn Lucian som en stark ledare för varulvarna i deras kamp mot Viktor, den grymma vampyrkungen som förslavat dem. Lucien får sällskap av sin hemliga älskarinna Sonja i kampen för frihet mot vampyrarmén.

Kommentar: Bättre än två första ändå samma standard.

Betyg:

Push is an oddball action film for me. I remember seeing the trailer for it during Underworld: Rise of the Lycans and thinking that (a.) the entire plot of the movie was presented therein and (b.) the entire concept sounded like it’d been done before, and probably better. Sadly, neither of those initial observations are incorrect.

The film starts off with a scene in the past to give some backstory to Nick’s character. Inevitably this is basically a throwaway scene since there’s pretty much no characterization in the entire film. It does give Djimon Hounsou cause to act all badass, which he is quite capable of handling. This is good, since it’s the only aspect his character has.

After this Cassie gives us some exposition that would have worked better if there was less talking and more development of said dialogue. This will become a recurring issue for me throughout the film. In the end I realized that the biggest flaw with Push is that it seems like it’s a film that’s in the middle of an ongoing series. It ends ambiguously enough for one to surmise that a sequel is possible, though unlikely due to the film’s box office performance. But it also seems to start as if the viewer already knows half of what’s going on and most of the time does little to explain itself and when it does, it seems grossly complex and downright boring. If it weren’t for the latter, I’d say the concept of Push would have fared better as a television series where it could take the time to delve into its mythology and actually develop the characters.

If all that weren’t enough to make the film downright mediocre, there’s Nick and his merry band of miscreants who are both bland and practically unlikeable. Nick ends up as the de facto leader of the group for reasons that never are explained and make about as much sense as anything else in the film. Most of his ragtag team seem to be picked from the least-likely-superhero list and all, save for Cassie, seem to get this more than Nick as they all are quite unwilling to help him out. Not surprisingly, Cassie proves the most helpful to both Nick and us, since she’s actually quite efficient for a 13-year-old, even though she downplays her ability to understand her precognitive powers. Dakota Fanning is cursed with the most dialogue, so if you’re listening closely to the pages and pages she’s given you might understand things in the film a bit more. However, she says a lot and she says most of it fast and as such half of that seems innocuous and is quickly forgotten.

All this would be well and good and easily enough overlooked if the action weren’t equally as boring as all the talking. Granted there are some nice fight sequences here and there, but as a whole for an action film, action is downplayed quite a bit. In fact, if you saw the trailer, you’ve pretty much seen the extent of it. I will say that Neil Jackson is given some nice moments, though; but it’s a let down that Chris Evans is shortchanged since he’s supposedly the big name hero or whatnot. Astoundingly, there’s also an incredible amount of talking during the few action scenes, which diminishes the level of interest they exude by several degrees.

What surprises me the most about Push is that not only did I not vehemently dislike it, but the movie raises so many questions and answers so very little that I find myself actually wishing for more. Don’t get me wrong, I doubt highly I could stomach a sequel as unengaging as this, but as I stated above the film feels like it is part of a greater whole and it pulls few punches with this. It’s unsettling that so little is given adequate exploration and explanation and I maintain that a better venue for it would have been a TV series where writers would have the chance to delve deeper into the characters and mythology. Except for the fact that what is explored seems like it’s been done before in a far less complex way.

Definitely not worth the price of admission — and since I didn’t pay any, I can’t complain. Certainly not the best thing I’ve ever watched by a long stretch, but it’s still not the worst two hours I’ve spent either.

Producer John steps into the fray to levy all his science fiction knowledge as a discussion gets underway about JJ Abrams’ reboot of Star Trek. The gents consider the potential behind the Deadpool solo movie, the merits of James McTeigue and his Wachowski rulers and the puzzling move to cast Keanu Reeves as Jekyll and Hyde. They examine the paradoxes of Timecrimes, why the Wrath of Khan holds up and why the Chronicles of Riddick do not. Finally, the trio let the world in on the most underrated works of science fiction, in their most humble opinions.

Download Episode 18

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Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills in "Taken."

This week’s DVD releases are anchored by a prequel to the popular “Underworld” franchise and an action-packed thriller featuring Liam Neeson.

Taken
3 stars
DVD contains rated and unrated versions of the film. The rated version received a PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language
20th Century Fox
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Liam Neeson takes his transition to action hero one step further in director Pierre Morel’s ludicrous-yet-entertaining drama about a former spy who wages a vendetta against Paris’ criminal underworld.

Sure, Neeson played tough guys in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” and “Batman Begins,” but he’s never been as ruthless as he is as Bryan Mills, a U.S. operative who left active duty to spend more time with his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). His plan is derailed when Kim goes to Europe for a summer vacation and promptly gets kidnapped. Thankfully, Bryan’s unique set of skills make him just the man to track down her abductors.

Neeson is a charming actor, and his performance is enjoyable and believable, even when the movie’s plotting is over the top. In fact, everyone involved in the picture, particularly Morel, deserves a hand for elevating the material beyond its genre roots.

In “Taken,” the bad guys are nasty and one-dimensional, the good guys aren’t always good, and the pacing is breathless. If that doesn’t have you sold, you must not be a fan of Hollywood action flicks.

The movie is available on multiple DVD configurations, including a two-disc extended edition. Extra features vary.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
2 1/2 stars
Rated R for bloody violence and some sexuality
Screen Gems
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and UMD for PSP

You know a franchise is lightweight when a prequel minus two marquis stars is better than all previous entries. But, hey, the “Underworld” series wasn’t meant to be “Citizen Kane.” It’s a lark about the ongoing battle between werewolves and vampires.

“Rise of the Lycans” is a departure from previous efforts because former stars Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman are missing in action, placing the focus squarely on Lucian (Michael Sheen), one of the first werewolves.

The movie considers his early days, as well as his love for Sonja (Rhona Mitra), daughter of the powerful vampire king, Viktor (Bill Nighy).

Because Viktor is an underworld snob, he has enslaved Lucian and all other werewolves, forcing them to work at his command. Sonja is more progressive, but her father’s rules still create a strain between she and Lucian.

That leaves viewers with a picture that mixes gothic horror with “Romeo and Juliet,” and the result is surprisingly entertaining. There’s nothing inventive or surprising about “Lycans,” but it isn’t nearly as dull as its predecessors, and the special effects are wonderful.

The film was directed by Patrick Tatopoulos, a first-time helmer who oversaw the visual effects for the first two movies, and he does a credible job with the slight material.

The plotting is too fluffy and closely tied to the previous movies to merit a hearty recommendation, but “Lycans” is still a solid choice for anyone with a soft spot for vampire drama.

The movie is available on multiple home video configurations including the Underworld Trilogy set, which contains all three of the movies in the franchise. Extra features include an audio commentary and several behind-the-scenes featurettes.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Assorted “Star Trek” releases: The new “Star Trek” feature film has prompted several video releases, including Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection and Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy. The latter set includes Blu-ray releases of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” and “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.” The former includes those three features plus “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier” and “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.” Other “Trek” releases include the Best of Star Trek: The Original Series and the Best of Star Trek: The Next Generation, each containing four episodes from their respective TV series.

“Taking Chance”: HBO movie starring Kevin Bacon as Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a military veteran who volunteers to escort the remains of a fallen Marine back to his hometown.

“Wise Blood”: Criterion Collection release of director John Huston’s 1979 drama about a recently discharged military veteran who tries to open the first Church Without Christ in a small town.

Disney Animation Collection: The Mouse House is trotting out three new discs containing classic shorts. The titles are “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “Wind in the Willows” and “The Reluctant Dragon.” Each disc includes the title movie plus a handful of other shorts.

“Seth McFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy”: A collection of 50 irreverent animated shorts from the creator of “Family Guy” and “American Dad.”

“High Hopes”: Direct-to-DVD feature about a group of friends who plot to steal a case of fenced marijuana and return it to the government for a reward. Jason Mewes, Corin Nemec, Lacey Chabert, Andy Dick and Edward Furlong star.

“The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin”: Every episode of the British sitcom about a stressed out executive is available on this four-disc set from E1 Entertainment. The series stars Leonard Rossiter, Pauline Yates, Sue Nichols and Geoffrey Palmer.

“Passengers”: Independent thriller starring Anne Hathaway as a psychotherapist asked to treat the survivors of a plane crash. But as her patients begin to slowly disappear, she suspects foul play. Patrick Wilson and Clea DuVall also star.

“S. Darko”: Direct-to-DVD sequel to the 2001 thriller “Donnie Darko.” The picture focuses on Samantha Darko (Daveigh Chase), younger sister to Donnie, who begins having disturbing dreams about the end of the universe.

“Speed Racer the Next Generation — Comet Run the Movie”: Three episodes from the “Speed Racer the Next Generation” animated TV series merged into one 63-minute feature.

Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at Forrest@ForrestHartman.com

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Plot Summary
The prequel story traces the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor, the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja, in his battle against the Vampire army and his struggle for Lycan freedom.

SFX Department includes:

Jason Durey … special effects supervisor

Jeff Flitton … special makeup effects artist

Richard Redlefsen … prosthetic makeup artist

Dean Clarke … special effects workshop supervisor

Guy Himber … special effects makeup: shop supervisor, Tatopoulos Studios

..more like this at GoreMaster.com

 S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale

Plot outline
The story picks up seven years after the first film when little sister Samantha Darko and her best friend Corey are now 18 and on a roadtrip to Los Angeles when they are plagued by bizarre visions.

SFX Department includes:

Michael Jones Everett… special effects

Robin Glaser … makeup department head

Chris Hanson … special makeup effects supervisor

…more like this at  GoreMaster.com

 Grudge 3

Plot Summary
A young Japanese woman who holds the key to stopping the evil spirit of Kayako, travels to the haunted Chicago apartment from the sequel, to stop the curse of Kayako once and for all and save a family who are currently being haunted by her malicious spirit.

SFX Department includes:

Yana Stoyanova… key special makeup effects artist

Greta Velikova… key makeup artist

…more like this at  GoreMaster.com

Are you looking forward to the Star Trek prequel?!

If you’re

A.Really into shows that go on forever with no sign of stopping

B. Have/are getting a BS in anything other than the liberal arts

C. William Shatner

then you’re probably really into the idea of the new Star Trek prequel. In spite of being the spine-tingling fantasy of every nerd who has yet to discover anime, this movie isn’t just advertised on the SciFi channel. No, it’s being promoted everywhere from MTV in between segments of College Life to Vh1 between segments of New York  Goes to Work. Granted, this is because the people in the new Star Trek movie are actually attractive, but that’s probably still not enough to get anyone into the theater who had a girlfriend even before he went to college and learned the magic of low standards + alcohol that so many sorority girls happily pair together.

In any case, whether you’re a proud Trekkie wearing your Worf forehead (whoops, was I supposed to make an obvious joke about Spock ears?) or part of the MTV demographic, I have a sneaking suspicion that you’re going to be disappointed by this movie.

Why?

Because prequels suck, duh.

Think about it. When was the last time you saw a good prequel? In the last five years, we’ve had:

1. Hannibal Rising – Turned a mass murderer gayer than the Queer Eye guys. Where did they disappear to, anyway?

2. Star Wars: The Saga of Suck – All three of the new ones were vehicles to showcase George Lucas’s unfortunately nonexistent writing skills. Your love  is like sand; this movie is like a waterfall of suck pouring down on my head without any sign of stopping.

3. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans – It wasn’t enough to show us two godawful movies about vampires v. werewolves, they also released a prequel to show us where it all began! Presumably in some guys pants, since the only interesting scenes in the movie are about blood-sucking that’s not all about the blood, if you catch my drift.

4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Pros: Hugh Jackman. Cons: Everything else.

5. Exorcist: The Beginning – Apparently what happened with this movie was that the producers realized they could never top the original, so they completely gave up and showed us a boring version of Indiana Jones instead.

6. Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins – Much like the show, this is just not necessary.

I’d keep going, but since I’m so obviously right, it could get pointless. To wrap up the smoking gun I left on the counter up there, the only reason Shatner is interested in this movie is because it will probably be the only version of Star Trek that sucks less than his.

NV/R,

Margo

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