Plot: What’s it about?
Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is a beautiful woman, one often clad in black leather and armed with two custom handguns. She needs the firepower too, as she is involved in a war with a clan of Lycans, also known as werewolves. She is a Death Dealer, a hunter who guns down his enemies without a hint of remorse. That seems like a dangerous profession, but she is able to stay intact, thanks to her vampiric traits. The rift between vampires and werewolves is deep, one that has been entrenched since anyone can remember. The vampires are sleek, refined beings, while the Lycans are often brutal, common thugs. The battle has raged for centuries, but now a new threat looms that could end the vampiric race. Selene has learned of a Lycan plot, one which targets a human and has the potential to be lethal for her people. She follows the human, a man named Michael (Scott Speedman), to find out more about the Lycans’ plan and why this human is such an important part of the crucial situation. As she tracks him, she finds herself attracted to him more and more, even when he is infected with the lupine virus. Just when it seems as though one side is certain to be erased, a new threat emerges that could doom both sects. Can Selene somehow neutralize this threat, or will both races be eliminated forever?
This movie has vampires, werewolves, and tight leather outfits, not to mention ultra hottie Kate Beckinsale. In other words, Underworld has a lot of potential right from the start, but does it live up to that potential? I knew it wouldn’t be the case, but I had hoped for more of a horror slant in this flick, given the nature of the premise. But Underworld is more of an action movie with romance elements, as the horror side is just the background. In other words, don’t expect graphic violence or bloodshed, as neither is present. That aside, Underworld is a solid picture and a blast to watch, even if the story is thin at best. The premise allows just enough development to be credible, but this movie is all about style, no doubt about it. The visuals shine here, with dark landscapes that teem with shadows, the perfect backdrop for this kind of material. As far as action, you can tell some cues were taken from other films, but that’s not unusual. The action is frequent and well executed, though more of it would have been welcome, to be sure. The real power behind Underworld is Kate Beckinsale, who seems to be an odd choice at first, but she more than proves herself. In the end, I found Underworld to be a more than solid movie, one that should please most interested viewers. This Superbit edition lacks the supplements and extended cut that can be found on previous versions, but if you want DTS, this is your lone option.
As I said before, she seems like an unlikely choice to be a cold blooded, ass kicking femme fatale, but Kate Beckinsale is awesome here. She handles guns like she’s a charter member of the National Rifle Association, even though she’d never fired one before this production. She must have had a great teacher or been a real natural, as she wields her weapons with skill and ease, which adds a lot to her role. All too often, actors seem awkward when handling guns and that lessens the realism, but Beckinsale has no such problems. So she pulls off the action scenes without flaw, but does her beauty still shine through. Of course and more than ever before, to be honest, as she is on her top game in Underworld. Even when she’s in the heat of battle, she looks incredible and it should be obvious, but tight black leather is always a plus. So while her casting was a surprise, she proves that a versatile performer can deliver in almost any role. I hope to see her in more roles of this kind, as well as more bold roles in general. Other films with Beckinsale include Serendipity, Van Helsing, The Last Days of Disco, Haunted, and Brokedown Palace. The cast also includes Scott Speedman (Dark Blue, Tv’s Felicity), Michael Sheen (The Four Feathers, Timeline), and Sophia Myles (From Hell, Mansfield Park).
Video: How does it look?
Underworld is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The original release of this movie looked excellent and as such, don’t expect a night & day difference when you compare these two versions. But as is often the case with the Superbit releases, slight improvements are present and if viewed with decent enough equipment, even the casual viewer should be able to notice the better visuals. The small details come through in more refined form, opening up the visuals a shade, while black levels reach starker, more accurate levels also. The other elements seem about the same, with a gorgeous source print, rich colors, and natural flesh tones all on showcase in this treatment. The improvements aren’t as massive as with some Superbit versions, but this is a sharper, more detailed presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is what fans have wanted, so is the new DTS soundtrack up to snuff? The video might not offer landmark improvements, but the audio sure does, thanks to a new DTS soundtrack. I know the original Dolby Digital 5.1 track was top drawer, but this DTS option takes it to a higher level and offers an enhanced, fine tuned, and more powerful experience, one of the best tracks I’ve heard of late. The mix is able to make better and more creative use of the speakers, which gives us richer and more dynamic audio throughout. And this movie has tons of audio potential, so you know this track flat out rocks. The surrounds kick so hard, you might have to straighten your pictures afterwards, its that powerful of a soundtrack. So all the good, none of the bad, and improved audio in every possible respect, this is what Superbit is all about. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
