Dirk V
Reviewer

      Kate Beckinsale is the best reason to watch “Underworld.” Beckinsale plays the vampire Selene, and gives a superb, diverse performance. She gives great emotional performances with her affection for Michael, a newly turned werewolf, and her torn devotion to her pseudo-father, Victor. Beckinsale also excels during the action sequences in the film. Clad in black leather, Selene prowls the streets ruthlessly killing werewolves. Her role in this film could land her more tough female leads, which she can convincingly portray.
 
      The rest of the film, however, does not really enthrall the viewer. The main plot is a variation on “Romeo & Juliet”: Vampire meets werewolf; vampire and werewolf fall in love; other vampires and werewolves are not happy.
 
     In the film, vampires and werewolves have been involved in a blood feud for the last 600 years, of which few know the real reasons why it began. The current story line involves the werewolves’ search for a human, Michael, whose blood can unite the vampire and werewolf bloodlines, thereby creating a super vampire-werewolf hybrid. The older vampires are abhorred by the thought of mixing bloodlines, and seek to destroy Michael, whom Selene decides to protect.
 
     Visual effects in the film are well done. The stunts and battles are realistic and impressive looking, and the werewolf transformation was one of the more realistic versions I have seen since 1941’s “The Wolf Man.” The dark rainy set, reminiscent of “The Crow” and “Blade”, enhances the mood of the film. However, it really does not help to define the story.
 
     Overall, the film lacks a clear direction to make it a good movie. It tries to walk the line and contain equal amounts of drama and action. By doing so, with its weak plot, it never really manages to capture the viewer’s imagination. If it had more action and less plot, like “Blade”, or more plot and less action, like “Interview with a Vampire”, then it may have been a more successful and entertaining film.