Underworld - the movie/ Movies in parts

[senocular]

2 Days and 4 theaters later, I finally got to see it. The whole power outage thing was a bit of an epidemic in these parts. Many theaters didn't have power and others didn't have the movies they said they would (namely, for some odd reason, underworld).


When I did finally get to see it, about 5 minutes in, it became apparent that when people's mouths moved and no voice came out, there was a problem with the film. At first, because the sound effects and bg music was still in place, it was hard to tell whether or not it was supposed to be that way (stylistically?) though it became obvious when 3 or 4 characters in seperate scenes each exhibited the same oddity.

So, got my money back and on to the next theater!

Score.


Now, what about the movie itself? To be honest, it had more story than I thought it would. It was quite involved and there was a lot of history and deception which all came back around and kind of revealed itself as the movie played through. There may, however, been some lack in the character development. I didn't quite relate to the characters so much as I was expecting to (selene (Kate Beckinsale) mainly). Her as a character and her relationship with the human (Michael) wasn't explored as much as it could have been, though given the state of the conclusion, it cries sequal - which of course relies on how well it does in the theaters. But you know, its not a love story, its a sci-fi action/adventure/thriller kind of thing, right?

All in all, however, I liked the movie. It proved to be a good fix for Matrix Revolutions as there are som obvious connections to be made between underworld and the Matrix movies. I wouldnt go so far as to say underworld was mimicing the matrix, though, as the clothes and style seen is very reminicent of such vampire/wererwolf movies - the dark gothic look isnt reserved for the matrix movies alone and it cant be attributed to them either. Not to say that the movies stands only as a fix. As a vampire movie it stands well on its own.

It made $22 mil this weekend which isnt bad (number 1). Its biggest competitor right now is Once Upon a Time in Mexico which is getting mixed reviews and has already been out long enough to make underworld look like a decent choice for movie goers. Underworld iteslf, however, is also getting mixed reviews. Its holding about a 2 1/2 star (of 4) average rating from critics, though casual reviewers seem to be content - atleast getting what they expected.

I wouldnt mind seeing it again, though probably wont go to the effort of doing so. I would like there to be a sequal however.

I would like show my appreciation for those butt shots of Kate walking into the vampire manor. :beam:

[nobody]

I wanna see this movie soooo bad. Take me Sen.

[senocular]

Lets go! :beam:

[nobody]

Yay! Pick me up at 7, babe.

:love:

[senocular]

sure you want me and not S-A-R-A-H???

HUH???

[ahmed]

lol.. hi-jacked at first reply :P

[BadMagick]

I LOVED this movie. Saw it Friday night, and it was everything I thought it would be, and more! Like Sen said, it had a lot more story to it than people would think.

I dunno that you could really ask for more character development than you got. Some people weren't as important to the main story of it all, so you don't learn as much about them - but the main characters develop well I think. It all ties together in my opinion.

Yeah, the leather stuff screams Matrix, but I don't think it was trying to copy the Matrix at all.
Matrix = sexy ... leather = sexy ... Kate Beckinsale in leather = hotness that's way off the sexy scale.
I don't think it's Matrix like at all. I think it was just to make Kate look incredible, and she did.

I also thought the cinematography was AWESOME ... there was color in the movie, but most of it was dark; black and white with some color splashes here and there. It really added to the mood of the story.

What can I say? I want a sequel, the DVD is going to become part of my collection, and Kate Beckinsale is permanently my desktop wallpaper.

Got 5 -6 -7 -8 dollars? Go see the movie!!

[nobody]

Originally posted by senocular
sure you want me and not S-A-R-A-H???

HUH???

Don't worry, you're sexier. I just say that for attention, I actually secretly want you. :beam:

No more hi-jacking from me though

[thoriphes]

I haven't seen it yet :(

My friends decided to do homework instead of go out last night. :(

I need my Kate :(

[nobody]

thor, I'll be your kate.

[SureShot]

Thsi movie does look pretty good and I Hope to go and see it on Tuesday night. I was a little worried that it would be to "matrix like" for my tastes but if what you say is true Sen than it should be a good ride.

Kate is so beautiful - even if the movie sucks I know I will at least get my money's worth ;)

Great review :thumb:

[pom]

It comes out on Wednesday in France... :(

[senocular]

I just read the $22 mil this "low-budget thriller" made from its opening weekend is about how much it cost to make. Thats promising for a sequal.

To go along with this, Ive heard complaints about the FX in the movie - not being up to par with todays standards. Granted, they may have not been the best, but they certainly sufficed in bringing across the message of the movie, especially being as story driven as it was. With the amount of money it saved, Im sure it was a valid sacrafice, especially if it means sequel - and possibly a sequel with a bigger budget.

on that note, do you feel that the 2-part or multi-part movie trend coming on? Consider the matrix sequels and LOTR. Each 'set' were made more or less at the same time which saved time and money, however the result is 2 (matrix not including the first) or 3 (lotr) seperate movies. Save money filming, increase profit margin releasing. This isn't the case with underworld because the sequel wasnt made with the first (that I know of) BUT it is the case with Kill Bill. Notice that it is being promoted as Volume 1 (of 2). Same film in two parts? Make one long movie and divide it in 2 to get twice the profit? Seems like a plan. Will we see more of this?

[SureShot]

I think we will too sen.

I heard that will kill bill it was intended to be one film but because of the length and the unwillingness of tarentino to cut the film down he suggested they do a 2 part movie and they accepted. Smart move seeing as his movies never bomb. With LOTR - it was always going to be 3 movies no matter what and I am sure they saved a TON of cash by filming them all together.

It's all about the benjamins...

[senocular]

LOTR actually started out as 2 ;) Luckily they shopped around and got 3 out of the deal (details are on the fellowship extended DVD) which Im quite happy of.

Yeah Im glad tarantino didnt cut back on kill bill. Cant wait to see that one, 1 or 2 parts. Its all good. Whether or not it was planned might not matter too much if it makes it big. With the success of the matrix sequels, LOTR and kill bill (should it be which it should) then the trend might become an intentional reality of greater frequency.

we'll see :)

[BadMagick]

I think the multi-movie collection is a trend, and I don't see why anyone would stop it ...

Spider-man is coming out with another addition to the collection this summer (july 4th 2004), and I'm sure there's more in the making. Why not? When people like movies, really like movies, why not give them more?

I'd like to see a sequel of 'Maverick' but I don't think it'll happen. When movies have such a fine story to them (in the case of Spider-man multiple stories because of the comics), you should run with them. LOTR is a GREAT story. I saw the first, I wanted more. I saw the second, I want even more.

It's all about making money ... I mean, giving people the best enjoyment when the go to the movies.

[thoriphes]

I'm alright with sequels as long as they don't start coming out with ones like "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: 2"

[asphaltcowboy]

They are planning to do a 4th Indiana Jones movie...
it better be good otherwise they'll have me to answer to :P

[thoriphes]

Yeah, they're also working on .... a fourth Die Hard
a sequel to Boondock Saints
a third (and final?) Matrix
a third X-Men...from the ones i'm looking forward to.

[reverendflash]

Originally posted by thoriphes
Yeah, they're also working on .... a fourth Die Hard
a sequel to Boondock Saints
a third (and final?) Matrix
a third X-Men...from the ones i'm looking forward to.

don't forget the Red Dwarf Movie!

and the "last" Star Wars Movie...

;)

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[senocular]

Well sequels are nothing new. What Im talking about is taking what is potentially one movie and dividing it into two and releasing it more or less twice (or more for that matter). If even a moderately successful movie, it's more bang for the buck.

[reverendflash]

well, isn't that what LOTR, Indiana Jones, Matrix, and even Star Wars...

The 2nd movie is more of a set up for the 3rd...

or am I smoking the wrong plant again?

;)

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[BadMagick]

Originally posted by senocular
Well sequels are nothing new. What Im talking about is taking what is potentially one movie and dividing it into two and releasing it more or less twice (or more for that matter). If even a moderately successful movie, it's more bang for the buck. You mean kinda like Metallica who released Load and Reload?

That should have been 1 CD set for sure, Reload sucks bad after like track 5 or 6. But that's a different story...

I think Kill Bill looks stupid anyway, and I did notice that it said volume 1 of 2, with volume 2 coming out very shortly after volume 1. I don't like that idea at all.

You could have split up LOTR into like 2 movies for each one if you wanted to. We'd have had 4 movies by now, 6 by time it's all over. Sequels are awesome ... but this movie by volume thing I think is a buncha poop. Make one movie, make it 4 hours if you want, but ... volumes are stupid, especially when it's Kill Bill that you're talking about, or Load and Reload by Metallica

[Kajinku]

Other sequels... Shrek 2, Gladiator 2, Mission: Impossible 3.

[thoriphes]

While I was waiting at a bus stop, I overheard these two people talking about Underworld. Then this chick blurts out what happens in the end of the movie during the conversation. I wanted to elbow her in the face. :(

[SureShot]

Originally posted by Kajinku
Other sequels... Shrek 2, Gladiator 2, Mission: Impossible 3.

I cant wait for shrek 2 - I loved the first one :)

And Sen - thanks for correcting me, I was sure it was supposed to be 3 right from the get go, but I have been known to be wrong... many many times :)

[asphaltcowboy]

Originally posted by senocular
Well sequels are nothing new. What Im talking about is taking what is potentially one movie and dividing it into two and releasing it more or less twice (or more for that matter). If even a moderately successful movie, it's more bang for the buck. I think the reason (certainly in Kill Bill's case) is that it was just too long. Bollywood release a lot or very lengthy (3.. sometimes pushing 4 hour movies (with a short interval of course)). That's quite normal. The fact is, western audiences simply don't have the patience. Is Tarantino particularly profit-orientated?
Originally posted by thoriphes
While I was waiting at a bus stop, I overheard these two people talking about Underworld. Then this chick blurts out what happens in the end of the movie during the conversation. I wanted to elbow her in the face.serves you right for eavesdropping :P

[senocular]

Originally posted by asphaltcowboy
I think the reason (certainly in Kill Bill's case) is that it was just too long. Bollywood release a lot or very lengthy (3.. sometimes pushing 4 hour movies (with a short interval of course)). That's quite normal. The fact is, western audiences simply don't have the patience. Is Tarantino particularly profit-orientated?

Yeah it doesnt sound like thats the case with Kill Bill, but it could reinforce the fact that such an approach could be a profitable one as did(is) Matrix and LOTR.

[RenaissanceGirl]

Some movies are stretched into several movies because the stories are just to big to cram into one movie. LOTR and the Matrix are good examples of this. Even the LOTR books were too big that Tolkien had to break it down into three parts.

But other than that, many sequels are made just to suck every penny out of a plot or idea. This is true for many Disney sequels.

Sequel aside. I saw Underworld last night. I liked it. It reminds me of Blade.

[pom]

Originally posted by SpeedRacerX
While I was waiting at a bus stop, I overheard these two people talking about Underworld. Then this chick blurts out what happens in the end of the movie during the conversation. I wanted to elbow her in the face. :( I feel your pain: the same happened to me for 'The Sixth Sense' :trout:

[comicGeek]

Sen, I take it that you like LOTR the extended edition? Well you should anticipate the coming of the LOTR-TTT extended edition. If you are a fan of the book, like I am, you may find the extended editions worth the buck. Extended editions contain the juicest parts! :thumb:

PS. I think they are planning to have a LOTR marathon showing the extended edtions of LOTR-FOTR and LOTR-TTT before they show the final part The Return of the King at 10PM on December 17? I forgot about the site where I read this. It would be quite a feast! :)

[senocular]

Originally posted by comicGeek
Sen, I take it that you like LOTR the extended edition? Well you should anticipate the coming of the LOTR-TTT extended edition. If you are a fan of the book, like I am, you may find the extended editions worth the buck. Extended editions contain the juicest parts! :thumb:

Yeah I have the FOTR and TTT regular DVDs and FOTR Extended and I plan on getting TTT extended when it comes out ;)



PS. I think they are planning to have a LOTR marathon showing the extended edtions of LOTR-FOTR and LOTR-TTT before they show the final part The Return of the King at 10PM on December 17? I forgot about the site where I read this. It would be quite a feast! :)

You probably read it here, I posted it a while back :beam:

[senocular]

Heres another one:

On the Run: Trilogy 1

found it on yahoo... the first release of a trilogy made at once
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808495990&cf=info

"gregs preview" states:
Trilogy Note: (6/23/03) Belgian director Lucas Belvaux made this film concurrently with two other movies, forming a trilogy (hence the title).

could be catching on!

[senocular]

and heres an article from gazette.com explaining exactly what I mean (though with more information)

http://pm.gazette.com/fullstory.php?id=1056

[senocular]

ON DVD IN 3 DAYS! (Jan 6)

:love:

[pom]

Originally posted by senocular
Heres another one:

On the Run: Trilogy 1

found it on yahoo... the first release of a trilogy made at once
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808495990&cf=info

"gregs preview" states:

could be catching on! Hey, that was a success (as far as the critics are concerned) in France. Un couple épatant / Cavale / Après la Vie :) Funny.

[thoriphes]

Originally posted by senocular
ON DVD IN 3 DAYS! (Jan 6)

:love: :love:

[senocular]

TODAY! :!:

[thoriphes]

Meh, i'm not in a hurry :-/

but sen, for a limited time only, it's like $15-16 everywhere I look ;)

[senocular]

hehe Im getting it tonight. Im not too excited about getting it, but I have a gift card for BestBuy Ive been wanting to break into for a while now. This gives me an excuse to buy something ;) The movie is no LOTR but its cool enough :)

[senocular]

Underworld: Evolution
The sequal. Coming out the beginning of next year.

I havent seen any trailers yet, but Yahoo! Movies has some photos and whats this? Viktor is back??
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808640591&cf=pg&photoid=585978&intl=us
Dont get me wrong, I love Bill Nighy, but didn't his character in the last movie ... have a face malfunction?

[sWo0p]

lol underwolrd its a little old now but still verykewl

[SunDog]

maybe its flashback?

[blindlizard]

YES! Kate Beckinsale in skin tight leather again! http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/screen_gems/underworld__evolution/kate_beckinsale/evolution5.jpg

[senocular]

kate beckinsexah :love:

[simplistik]

maybe its flashback?

lol underwolrd its a little old now but still verykewl
For those of you who don't get it :P he's posting in about the SEQUEL to Underworld. He just decided to use his original post instead of making a new one.

And those photos make me curious as to what's goin on. I thought Michael became this all mighty being and Victor was killed.... :sigh: confusing...

[senocular]

I hear some of it involves a flashback. And I imagine Michael can change like werewolves can. I also heard Viktor might be resurected somehow (Dracula came back enough times, right?)

[sWo0p]

are you realy that coopt about this movie???? then you must like Blade to? :stare:

[blindlizard]

Hey, Blade was a good series, the last one wasn't great, but that guy from Van Wilder that was in it is really funny.

[eilsoe]

Funny this thread pops up today, I just bought and saw Underworld last night :P

[eilsoe]

and I just found out the 2nd one is out... off to check the prices!

[eilsoe]

aww it's not out yet... :(

[simplistik]

Mmmmm... resurecting this thread... much like some of the characters in this movie:

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/underworldevolution.html