Excellent new entry to the series!

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2012)

I just returned from a midnight showing of the "Underworld: Awakening." I was very pleased with the film. NO SPOILERS, SO HERE GOES!
1) The film is high-energy and fast-paced just like the predecessors. 2) This film is a direct sequel to "Underworld: Evolution," and does not reference "Rise of the Lycans," at all. 3) If someone goes with you to the film who hasn't seen the original films, there is a brief introduction at the beginning that explains the majority of the first two films to bring people up to speed. 4) Action sequences are very good, shot at very good angles/perspectives, and multiple sequences are expertly edited to show all of the action.
I did not give a "10" rating because: 1) The CGI in the film is decent, and the Lycans do not look quite like the Lycans from the first three films. So, a little "different." 2) I won't give it away, but there is a scene near the end that could have indicated a bigger climactic scene than what the actual finale was. So, I was a little disappointed that it didn't happen, but, the finale itself was still pretty good. 3) There were a few scenes of photographs showing Celine in action, and to be honest, the photographs looked very cheaply made. Better detail could have easily been made.
I really consider this to be an excellent entry in the series, and perhaps the beginning of a new trilogy (if you consider the first three a trilogy). At 1 hr 28 mins, the movie flies by.