Terrible And Sad; Like watching a Video Game instead of a Movie !

Rating: 3/10 (7 May 2012)

2003's "Underworld" was a surprisingly well made action-horror-adventure movie. The effects were amazing and the action sequences were cool, slick and perfect, not seen since "The Matrix" (1999). It also had an interesting story. "Underworld: Evolution" (2006) was an OK sequel, again with great effects and action but the story was not as good as the original. I was afraid the third entry, a prequel without Kate Beckinsale, would be disappointing but it turned out more than okay; it was even better than the second one. Kate Beckinsale returns once again in "Underworld: Awakening". This movie totally destroys the franchise: everything is wrong here. Lets start with the story: It's hard to sympathize with Selene's character (Beckinsale) since she now starts killing innocent humans. You do not care for anything since the story reminds you more of just another weak "Resident Evil" sequel instead of "Underworld". We do not see the Hybrid character (Scott Speedman) in person, but digitally implanted images of him, since the actor himself did not return. Digital CGI is just about everything you see: CGI blood spurting away, CGI persons being blown away and even CGI smoke to cover the naked Kate Beckinsale in a hilariously stupid scene. As cool as the action was in the original "Underworld", as lame and fake it all looks here. For every decent effect or action scene there are a dozen bad and terrible ones.
"Underworld: Awakening" is a textbook example of what's wrong with today's movies: they start to look more like bad video-games instead of real movies. The story doesn't seem to matter at all, just throw in as many action and special effects as possible in the most cheapest way possible: budget restricted, average CGI effects. Shame on everyone involved here, this is an insult for all the fans of the series. Beckinsale still looks sexy in her tight leather outfit but that's hardly worth 90 minutes of your life. Watch the original one again instead and forget there ever was a fourth one.