A heckuva good flick

Rating: 10/10 (19 September 2003)

Maybe I'm getting jaded in my middle age but I don't quite get as wrapped up in flicks as I used to.
Not so with UNDERWORLD. This is a very engaging flick. Sure, it's evocative of Matrix and its clones but you know what? Here's a case where a second-generation flick is BETTER than the ones that inspired it!
Maybe the secret of UNDERWORLD's success is that it is NOT a Hollywood flick? The team of Brit, German, and Hungarian filmmakers have succeeded in making a big budget, FX-heavy flick that does not have the oppressive obnoxiousness of flicks like The Matrix or the incredibly awful Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (the REAL Worst IMDB flick of all time!).
Hidden away in Hungary, the filmmakers were free to make an interesting flick and not have to deal with studio execs and focus groups.
I agree there is not a lot of overt character development. But what there is is subtle and nicely done. Michael, for example, is shown as a caring person even during the subway shootout. This IS the guy who will bring an end to the persecution of the downtrodden werewolves, despite being drawn unwilling into their conflict. Selene is withdrawn, literally dead inside because of her centuries-old grief for her family. Had she been wisecracking or even smiling, THAT would have been out of character. Victor is a truly scary depiction of a noble yet ruthless superbeing. Hopefully directors, writers, and stars of more tradition comic book flicks to come will take note, learn, and finally give a real performance rather than just do a Nicholson ham job.
One note about Selene's bodysuit-- it's 35 years since Diana Rigg set the model. Nice to see it carried on.