Style over Substance works for Underworld

Rating: Null/10 (28 September 2003)

Underworld has great style. From the film stock used, to the lighting and wardrobe, it just looks cool.
Also, hearing and seeing Kate Beckinsale as our lead "death dealer" doesn't hurt matters. She looks and sounds amazing, and you'll be itching just for another opportunity to get a glimpse.
The story is fairly trite and typical, with lore and history thrown in to justify character actions; some of the interchanges assume knowledge we, the audience, just don't have, and other interchanges assume feelings the characters don't exhibit -- except in that forced "we're supposed to kiss in this scene" sort of way. *Thankfully* the film doesn't devolve down this spiral, but it does succumb to the pull on occasion.
Editing is generally tight, with good shot composition, but the occasional, really embarrassing edit here and there -- both film and sound edit. One such scene hits about 20 minutes into the movie. It only lasts about 30 seconds, but definitely spoils the "reality stops here" line when you walk in the theatre.
Beckinsale delivers a solid performance. She's perfect for this role -- sexy, strong, empathetic and quite impressive. Even in the unreality, you believe her. Michael Sheen as Lucian also delivers an excellent performance. Kudos also to Bill Nighy as Viktor, creating a strongly stoic, traditional Vampire Lord we expect (not like the wimpy lord in Blade 2).
Scott Speedman as Michael Corvin was forgettable...really, anyone could've done this role...
Except the truly noteworthy Shane Brolly, as Kraven. Brolly so completely overacts the part of Kraven that his presence was laughable. Seriously. From his first scene, it was so terribly apparent Brolly belonged in an acting class -- and NOT on film. Kraven was sorely miscast.
All in all, Underworld is a fun ride. If you like vampires, the lore, the look of the film, and Beckinsale (and if you don't, there's something wrong with you), you'll enjoy this flick even though it is style over substance. Let's hope director Len Wiseman can pull together a tighter story in the proposed sequel(s), and really make this a worthwhile franchise.