Best scifi fantasy vampire film I've ever seen

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2009)

I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this film. After seeing other vampire films like the Blade trilogy or 30 days of night I was really disappointed with them. It was hard for me to find an enjoyable vampire/werewolf movie until this came along then I decided to give it a shot. I was happy with it, I really liked the idea of vampire vs. werewolves. When I saw this film I had no interest in Kate Beckinsale what so ever although she was fun to watch kick butt on screen. Unfortunately there were some problems that I had with her character Selene and Scott Speedsman who plays Michael Corvin, which I will talk about momentarily. I was more interested in the characters Viktor (Bill Nighy), Kraven (Shane Brolly), and Lucian (Michael Sheen). Lucian was my favorite I sympathized with him way more than any of the other characters on screen. Even though in the beginning of the film we get the impression that Lucian is the bad guy; as we get further along in the film you begin to realize that he is in fact the hero and a victim. You understand his reasons for doing the things he does. I was really interested in learning more about Lucian's past so I was really happy when Underworld Rise of the Lycans was released but thats another review.
Now here come the things that I hated. First off let me just say that I absolutely can't stand when the writers of a film try to force a relationship between the two main characters in a film. I can't stand it. A perfect example of this would be Neo and Trinity from the matrix films and this one. Usually when I watch a film and the writers decide to throw in a love story I have to ask myself this one specific question What are the characters reasons for liking each other? what do they mean to one another? If this question isn't answered then we have a problem. The relationship between Michael Corvin and Selene in this film was so rushed and forced that I didn't believe for a second that these two were so into each other not to mention the character Michael was so undeveloped it was ridiculous. it was hard to even call him a character he was more of a plot device, there was nothing to really like about him. Michael and Selene fell in love because the plot needed them to, there is no attraction between these characters. Having the two main characters pointlessly hook up only gives the writers the excuse to write a pointless sex scene in the sequel(see Underworld Evolution).
Other than this I thought this was a really good film. Its a movie you would watch on a rainy day when there's nothing else on TV.