Like watching The Matrix with vamps and werewolves

Rating: 7/10 (22 January 2004)

While certainly not the best or the worst of its type, Underworld borrows a great deal from a number of other recent sci-fi and horror flicks -- costumes and action sequences from The Matrix, scenery and set design from Batman, and the not-so-original story pieced together from any number of romantically-influenced action/drama films (think Baz Luhrman's version of Romeo and Juliet after you substitute vampires and werewolves for most of the otherwise human cast).
On the other hand, production qualities are very good, and the reasonably talented and mostly believable cast is not entirely unknown. Besides, watching the very attractive Kate Beckinsale parade around in a series of leather and latex outfits is not a terrible way to spend an evening.
Traditionalists may be offended that the writers have taken certain liberties with the usual vampire and werewolf "rules" (at least direct sunlight still fries the vamps), but I believe most supernatural monster fans (including myself) can just let these things slide, and enjoy the movie for what it is.