Film Review: UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING (2012)

Directors: Måns Mårlind & Björn Stein
Writers: Len Wiseman (screenplay/story/characters), John Hlavin (screenplay/story), J. Michael Straczynski (screenplay), Allison Burnett (screenplay), Kevin Grevioux (characters), Danny McBride (characters)
Running time: 85 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Action/Fantasy/Horror
UK Release date: 20^th January 2012

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 5^th January 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have seen the previous three films in this franchise and, I have to admit, the last one ‘Rise of the Lycans’ seemed to have lost the spark the previous two had. Maybe because the main lead, Kate Beckinsale, did not attend the party for that one. This time though she’s back and I hoped for a return to form for this beleaguered franchise. So what did I think? Well I’ll tell you after this very brief summary.

Humans have discovered that vampires and Lycans exist and they are pretty mad! Both species are hunted down and eradicated wherever they are found. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is captured whilst trying to escape with the man she loves, the vampire/Lycan hybrid, Michael Corvin. She awakes in a cryogenic tube, having been released by ‘Subject 1’; in a facility run by one Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea). She escapes and begins to track down ‘Subject 1’, who she assumes to be Michael. When she discovers it’s a young girl, Eve (India Eisley); and that Eve is very special indeed, things really begin to hot up. They are helped by another vampire, David (Theo James), who takes them to his coven, led by his father, Thomas (Charles Dance). The coven is attacked by Lycans, some of which appear immune to silver, and Eve is taken by them. Vowing to get her back; Selene sets off back to the facility where she had been held. A cop, Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) helps her gain entry; but what awaits her inside?

The effects, the fight scenes and the stunt-work is all of a very high quality and I can’t fault the filmmakers for that. All the performances are very good, although the audience is left in no doubt who the star of the show is. I did find it hard to connect with any of the main characters though; I guess as what a vampire would consider food; I found it hard to have much sympathy with them being wiped out. Eventually though I did become enwrapped and found myself rooting for the ‘good guys’ towards the end. Even so, I can’t say it’s a particularly good film; much relies on the audience being familiar with the world in which the franchise exists and so I guess, unless you’re a fan it won’t make an awful lot of sense (spectacular CGI and fight scenes apart).

SteelMonster’s verdict: NOT RECOMMENDED

My score: 4.8/10.

IMDb Score: 6.3/10 (based on 65,977 votes when this review was written).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1496025/

MetaScore: 39/100: (Based on 17 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 26/100 (based on 70 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 62/100 (based on 88,363 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/underworld_awakening/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Selene: The Vampire and Lycans clan have been at war for centuries before I was born, their endless conflict hidden from the human world. I was turned by a Vampire. And given the strength to avenge my family against the Lycans. And I was good at it. Then I found Michael Corvin, a human that was neither turned by Vampire nor Lycan, but a hybrid of the two. And everything changed. Allies turned enemies, and Vampire elders I had protected for now six centuries now wanted me dead. We retaliated, killed the elders, and for a brief moment of time, we were safe. But then a new darkness arose.

Eve: I dreamt of the day we would meet. Like a silly little girl. You're as cold as one already dead.
Selene: Yesterday, I was with your father. He was only a little further away from than you are now. I went to sleep. And when I awoke the next day, I learned that, overnight, 12 years had passed. And instead of the only man I ever loved, there stood a girl with his eyes. My heart is not cold. It's broken.

Dr. Jacob Lane: Your kind will never be as powerful as us. No matter how hard you fight, you won't win.
Selene: You don't know me very well.

LINKS:
(NOTE: All links were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/underworldawakening/
Trailer:

Film Review: IRONCLAD (2011)

Writer (Story)/Director: Jonathan English
Writers (Screenplay): Jonathan English, Erick Kastel & Stephen McDool (1^st Screenplay)
Running time: 116 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Action/Adventure
UK Release date: 4^th March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 29^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember hearing about this film before it came out and I have to admit I was intrigued. Of course it never showed at my local cinema and so I had the long wait until it appeared on TV, which, as you can probably guess, occurred recently. It’s an interesting film, based on fact, that is, at times, brutally violent but still kept me interested all the way through. I will give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

It’s Thirteenth Century England and King John has been forced by the nobility to sign the Magna Carta. This is a document that limits the power of the king and gives rights to the common people. According to the filmmakers, what he did next was to get the pope to give him the right to get back his power. To this end he hires an army from Denmark and goes about the land taking his revenge on those who had opposed him. Enter Albany, a man who believes in the rebellion and who wants to see that John is stopped. He gathers a small band of men, one of which is a Knights Templar, Marshal. They ride to Rochester Castle where they make their stand against John’s army. Archbishop Langton has sent word to the French and Albany hopes they will arrive before the castle falls. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Historically Inaccurate Films Division) will have me hung, drawn and quartered at dawn.

A film that didn’t have a big budget, but I believe they did a good job with what they had. There are some terrific fight scenes and an awful lot of gore (definitely not one for the squeamish). As far as performance go, well James Purefoy did a decent job as the moody, brooding Marshal, Brian Cox was great (as ever) as Albany and Paul Giamatti seemed to have a great time chewing the scenery as King John. Honourable mentions must go to; Kate Mara as Isabel, Derek Jacobi as Cornhill, Charles Dance as Archbishop Langton, Jason Flemyng as Becket and Jamie Foreman as Coteral.

I liked this film a bit more than most, but there are things about it I wasn’t all that pleased with. The love story between Marshal and Isabel I found pointless and even so, it was dragged out far too long. Talking of length, the film is about 20 minutes too long IMO (and I saw a shorter version cut for TV). Other than that I thought it was a decent piece of work. Admittedly a little too gory in places for some, but it was entertaining enough and one I have no problem in recommending… Although I feel some will disagree.

My score: 6.9/10

IMDb Score: 6.2/10 (based on 11,518 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1233301/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 44/100 (based on 55 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 39/100 (based on 8,288 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ironclad/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Albany: [Calls down to King John] You are no more a king than the boil on my arse!
[Turns to his friend]
Albany: What a tedious little man.

Marshall: Have you ever killed a man, squire? It is not a noble thing. Not even when it is for God!

Albany: We claim this castle in the name of the rebellion!

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ironclad.film?ref=ts
Trailer: