The Underworld series

Well, that's the history of every horror adjacent film series, isn't it? The first was good, the second was the first with a real budget, the third goes off the rails, and from there, it's some remake of same basic concept. This has been going on since the Universal Monster films in the 1930s.

I liked one and two. The backstory can get a little overbearing at times.
 
Anyanka Bunny Slayer
Anyanka Bunny Slayer
1 & 2 were the best...I couldn't make it halfway through #3 it was massively annoying.
HowiMetdaSlayer
HowiMetdaSlayer
Agreed 1&2 then skip the rest
I really liked the first one in the cinema, but my liking for it faded until I got the Unrated Version of the first which did not cut out the dialog that made so much more sense of the scenes (I'm convinced that a lot of scenes get cut at random by editors who have to justify their job without actually doing real work at editing, just random snips here and there where people are talking). I still watch the Unrated Version from time to time and like it a lot.

As for the others I saw once long ago, and I think one (featuring the history of how the war began between vampires and lycans) I saw only partially and on a TV. I don't remember any of them that well. I think they were watchable--once. At least some were. I do recall thinking at times that I felt like I was watching a video game as Selene unleashed more ammo than she could've possibly been carrying into a flying vampire that kept shrugging it off (as just one example).
 
AlphaFoxtrot said:
Well, that's the history of every horror adjacent film series, isn't it? The first was good, the second was the first with a real budget, the third goes off the rails, and from there, it's some remake of same basic concept. This has been going on since the Universal Monster films in the 1930s.

I liked one and two. The backstory can get a little overbearing at times.
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@thrasherpix
The 3rd one the Prequel Rise of the Lycans is actually pretty good. Probably the best in the series after Underworld. Basically because of Michael Sheen as Lucien the Freedom Fighter and Bill Nighy as Viktor chewing the scenery as the Villain. They were the 2 most interesting characters in the Lore and it adds to the story rather than simply redoing the same story over and over again.

This does lead to problems for Films 4 and 5. Basically it ignores all that and is saying the Slavers are the good guys and the ones fighting for freedom are the bad guys 😄
 
Re: Sequels: I mean, that's not too hard to do. At the end of it, these are all shapeshifting mutant immortals living in closed societies and infected with animal DNA. It shouldn't be too hard to write a story where some start becoming more animalistic and dangerous. Or just have another C. Descendant bit by another animal. It's not actually a vampire story, after all.
 
I liked 1,2 3 & 4 of the Underworld series. Super-cool kinetic style over any meaningful substance. And I really only rate the 4th one because it lacks Scott Speedman's incredibly wooden presence dragging everything down. In a series that so full of flash, ultra-violence and impressive casting over, y'know, quality writing, there he is, standing there looking vaguely bewildered by the knowledge that two mythic species are warring over his bloodline; this utter plank of a actor.
I rank 2 over 1 for the sole reason that he dies in it, at least for a little while, plus the fights are way cooler.


Although the 5th one lacks him as well but by this time the (scant) worldbuilding was a complete mess; it has the same energy of the Resident Evil movies of the era, they just pulled out random ideas without thinking of what came before or what would follow.


Daft guilty pleasure. I own all the dvds, own a Selene poster and Selene/Faith is a crack!ship of mine.
 
thetopher said:
I liked 1,2 3 & 4 of the Underworld series. Super-cool kinetic style over any meaningful substance. And I really only rate the 4th one because it lacks Scott Speedman's incredibly wooden presence dragging everything down. In a series that so full of flash, ultra-violence and impressive casting over, y'know, quality writing, there he is, standing there looking vaguely bewildered by the knowledge that two mythic species are warring over his bloodline; this utter plank of a actor.
I rank 2 over 1 for the sole reason that he dies in it, at least for a little while, plus the fights are way cooler.


Although the 5th one lacks him as well but by this time the (scant) worldbuilding was a complete mess; it has the same energy of the Resident Evil movies of the era, they just pulled out random ideas without thinking of what came before or what would follow.


Daft guilty pleasure. I own all the dvds, own a Selene poster and Selene/Faith is a crack!ship of mine.
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Tbh as a film I think the 4th is worse than the 5th, (though both are terrible) they were literally writing the script (multiple script writers) while the film was being made.

The 5th was different in that by that point, its obvious the Franchise was done and it was obvious Kate Beckinsale did not want to be there. In justice she wasn't the only one, Tobias Menzies and Charles Dance were clearly turning up just to collect the pay checque 😄


@AlphaFoxtrot I should add that the actress who plays the Vampire Alexia is Tony Heads daughter
 
I've never seen 3, I'll have to watch the next it airs on basic cable, probably some Saturday after Mummy '97 but before Constantine on either TNT or TMC.

To me, It was mostly, a prequel film is a pretty good sign that they only signed the principal actors for two films, so let's recast everyone for a DTV cash grab set so far back, it won't have any connection to the first film. Sadly, my cynical appraisal is now considered a positive in HBO'S annual report.

*HBO wanted to a television series set in the Dawn Age of Game of Thrones, which is this supposed to be this time where the real events are preserved, but are so heavy with myth and legend, that they are almost forgotten.
 
B
Btvs fan
Its free on Amazon prime
I didn’t know there were movies beyond nr 3! That is when I checked out clearly. Before that I really enjoyed the movies and the lore of movie 1-2.

Gonna have to look up the other movies. Surely Beckinsale left the franchise by then?
 
Taake said:
I didn’t know there were movies beyond nr 3! That is when I checked out clearly. Before that I really enjoyed the movies and the lore of movie 1-2.

Gonna have to look up the other movies. Surely Beckinsale left the franchise by then?
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No she's in both. Though she clearly like Harrison Ford in RTJ in the 5th
 
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