Romeo and Juliet done Goth

Rating: 8/10 (5 October 2003)

"Underworld" under the direction of Len Wiseman is an action Gothic romance set in the world of the House of the Vampires versus the House of the Lycans. This is novel translation of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" in the realm of vampires and werewolves. Oddly enough, this is not much of a stretch of the mythic imagination-- which is a good thing. The strong and stunning Kate Beckinsale plays Selene, a Vampire Death Dealer-- a vampire warrior who hunts down and kills Lycans (Werewolves). She is very good at what she does. Her cause is the genocide of the Lycan race. This war has gone on for almost the last 1000 years. In this mythology, the vampires are the aristocracy, and the Lycan are the indentured-- serfs for the vampire during the daylight. Over 500 years ago, the Vampire gained a decisive advantage with the murder of powerful Lycan leader, Lucian (a very good Michael Sheen), at the hands of the current Vampire Leader, Kraven (a somewhat effective Shane Brolly).
In the slick opening action sequence where Selene and her group of warriors battle the Lycan in a public subway station, signatures of the Vampire and the Lycan race are distinguished. The Vampire are lean, strong, quick, smart, and skillful. The Lycan are loyal, cunning, savage, and possessing great brute strength. This is a cultural war. Through the narrative we learn that the Vampire and the Lycan originated from the the same bloodline which were the original immortals, the Corvina's. The Vampire and the Lycan were the result of 2 different viruses infecting the original bloodline. Selene discovers that the target for this Lycan attack is a human, Michael Corvin (a bewildered Scott Speedman). Corvin is of the Corvina bloodline. The legend is that he can merge both bloodlines and be stronger than either Vampire or Lycan. Selene also begins to suspect that Lucian (Sheen) still lives. So she brings back a trusted Vampire Elder, Viktor (Bill Nighy). But in doing so she uncovers her own past betrayal.
Wiseman unveils the Vampire/Lycan mythology with style and expedience. Unlike "The Matrix Reloaded", the mythology is not talked to death by it's characters, rather it is unraveled through the plot of finding Corvin, and the attraction between Corvin and Selene-- the star-crossed lovers. The genesis of this war (which does not really give away anything) was a tragic similar romance a 1000 years ago. Wiseman and screen writer Danny McBride, create a fascinating world and an almost timeless tale. Kate Beckinsale in a real departure from previous roles is an awesome action hero. She plays it smart, intense, and charismatic. She performs the action sequences with a sleek, compact, theatric style. And she is always wearing a body formed leather suit-- another good thing. Scott Speedman is solid in support as Michael. The other person who really shines is Michael Sheen as Lucian. There is a sheer kind of joy in Sheen's controlled evil, and dark presence. He is excellent.
Credit Wiseman, Beckinsale, and cast in surprising us with some thoughtful entertainment all in an action movie that puts a new spin on the old Bard's classic star-crossed romance.