Underworld

Theatrical Release Date: 2003 09 19 (USA)

UPC: 043396007024

Studio: Columbia TriStar

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Violence, Adult Language, Gore]

Summary: A young man who has pledged his life to helping others finds himself in a pitched battle between two gangs of supernatural villains in this blend of horror story and action thriller. Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) is a medical student who is heading home after a long day of school and work when he unexpectedly finds himself in the middle of what appears to be a rumble between two well turned-out street gangs. What Michael doesn't know is he has witnessed a skirmish between two deadly underground communities, unknown to the mortal world, who are battling for supremacy -- the Death Dealers, a tribe of vampires, and the Lycans, a band of werewolves. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is a leading member of the Death Dealers who hears through the grapevine that the Lycans have plans to capture the aspiring doctor who witnessed their battle. Certain something is in the air, Selene begins following Michael around the city, and she finds herself growing emotionally attached to him. As Selene becomes more attracted to Michael, she becomes more convinced that the Lycans are planning a major attack against the Death Dealers, although vampire kingpin Kraven (Shane Brolly) is certain she's crediting the Lycans with more intelligence than they can muster. As Selene shadows Michael, she finds herself wanting to protect him, but her longing becomes a handicap when he's attacked by Lucian (Michael Sheen), the leader of the werewolf community, and the man she wants to save has now become a sworn enemy. Underworld was the first feature film from music video director Len Wiseman. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Action

Features: Director and writer commentary
Technical commentary
Creature effects featurette
Music video by Finch "Worms of the Earth"
Making of Underworld
Sights + Sounds featurette
Stunts featurette
Storyboard comparison
Bonus trailers
TV spots

Underworld

Format: DVD

Release Date: 01/06/2004

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 121 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
1. Start [:14]
2. Selene the Death Dealer [:36]
3. South Terminus Shootout [1:53]
4. Viktor's Tomb [11:41]
5. Wolves at the Door [10:04]
6. Saved From a Watery Grave [5:20]
7. Selene's New Pet [4:29]
8. Michael's Escape [2:00]
9. In League With Lucian [3:17]
10. Chronicles [1:24]
11. Bitten By a Lycan [2:17]
12. The Awakening [2:22]
13. Viktor [8:35]
14. Why Selene Hates Lycans [3:10]
15. "You Must Be Judged" [5:08]
16. The Council [5:02]
17. "I'm Helping Me" [1:50]
18. Safe House Attack [2:09]
19. Full Moon Rising [2:38]
20. Selene's Conspiracy Proof [:31]
21. Sonja, Condemned to Death [2:04]
22. Kraven the Hunter [8:10]
23. Raze the Avenger [3:59]
24. Michael's Rescue [3:53]
25. "Viktor Killed Your Family" [4:52]
26. An Endangered New Species [2:16]
27. First Cut's the Deepest [6:17]
28. "Soon, I Will Become the Hunted" [2:58]

Jeremy Wheeler

Pitting werewolves and vampires against each other is something that every movie monster-lover can appreciate any day of the week. In Len Wiseman's stylish, but flawed directorial debut Underworld, this concept is explored and fleshed out with epic intentions, but not so epic results. First off, anyone expecting monumental battle scenes between the two creatures better stop where they are, because there will only be a full plate of disappointment here. Moments of bloody hand-to-hand monster brawling are fleeting, with all of the action relegated to quickly cut, lame John Woo-style gunfights. It's a problem that lies at the heart of the film -- instead of embracing the horror elements of these two iconic creatures, the filmmakers opt to sweep it under the rug and dress the modestly-budgeted 23-million dollar flick up as an action-fest whose explosive elements and style are as derivative as they come. Unfortunately, it seems that most of the money went straight into the gothic production design, while other sections were greatly hindered by the budget restraints -- namely, the creature effects. Created and crafted by Patrick Tatopoulos (the same hack behind 1998's Godzilla redesign), the werewolves (aka: lycans) are a lame bore, with huge muscular necks and little hyena heads with no fur to be seen, the design is awkward and unapologetically ugly, save for the few imaginative transformation scenes. Surprisingly, the film shines in the one place no one would expect -- the script. With the endless amounts of vampire lore floating around, Underworld's inventive approach is refreshing and far more interesting than the bullet-ridden shoot-'em-up scenes -- though the style of the flashbacks leaves much to be desired. In contrast, the acting is strictly a mixed bag, with lithe star Kate Beckinsale and clan heads Lucian (Michael Sheen) and Viktor (Bill Nighy) bringing class and freshness to the piece, while others like Shane Brolly as Kraven stink up the screen with their semi-Euro trash accents and laughable diction. There is a well-developed base here that will serve the sequel Underworld: Evolution well -- but as it is, this one will forever fail to live up to the concept it built for itself. Too bad too, because the world needs more werewolf vs. vampire films! ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Zita Görög  Actor 
Kevin Grevioux  Actor 
Richard Cetrone  Actor 
Terry McKay  Executive Producer 
Tom Rosenberg  Producer 
Gary Lucchesi  Producer 
Richard S. Wright  Producer 
Paul Haslinger  Composer (Music Score) 
James McQuaide  Executive Producer 
Robert Bernacchi  Executive Producer 
Danny McBride  Screenwriter 
Len Wiseman  Director 
Len Wiseman  Screenwriter 
Skip Williamson  Executive Producer 
Henry Winterstern  Executive Producer 
Kate Beckinsale  Actor 
Scott Speedman  Actor 
Michael Sheen  Actor 
Shane Brolly  Actor 
Bill Nighy  Actor 
Erwin Leder  Actor 
Sophia Myles  Actor 
Robby Gee  Actor 
Wentworth Miller  Actor 

Country: USA