solid comic-genre movie, great casting and direction

Rating: 10/10 (10 January 2004)

I thought this movie was really great. If it wasn't under the shadow of the continuing Matrix trilogy I think it would have done a lot better in the box office. This was definitely more of a comic/graphic novel movie along the lines of the Crow than a horror/fantasy movie. I can see how die-hard goths and horror folks would have problems with it, but I think the detail, acting, sets, etc. all make it a really solid movie. Kate B. is a great heroine, strong and still feminine. More science-based than myth-based, I like the deal that vamps and lycans have viral blood diseases and aren't of magic/mystic origin.
My only complaint is that the action is really gun-heavy. I would have liked to see more of the natural talents of the vampires used (if any). Lycans seem really strong and go through a dramatic physical transformation, but aside from a few hints of enhanced strength, vampires seem only to have fangs and blue eyes when angry.