Why Underworld Worked
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- #underworldmovie #katebeckinsale #michaelsheen
In 2003, we got an entire franchise based around vampires at war with werewolves. Here's why it (the first film anyway) was such a success
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What got me into Underworld the first time is Selene landing from that jump in the first scene. Still the most badass landing ever. No superhero movies have topped that
Yes!
SPOT ON. No posing, no oh look how good I am, look at what I done - just jump, land, walk away like she step down 2 or 3 stairs. I loved the Underworlds film from the second I saw the trailer when the first one came out - ok 4 and 5 were sub standard, but 1, 2 and 3 were damn good films. Still watch them to this day. And helps that Kate is just so damn sexy.
I love to watch her, so fluidly going from landing to walking.
I replayed that scene in this video many times God I love underworld.
Funny enough, the little "glitch" from the wire work (where Selene essentially "jumps/bounces" out of her landing) just makes it look so much more better. It just highlights how Selene doesn't need a "superhero landing" and is just like "well, off I go to be a badass now."
Came for Kate Beckinsale in a tight fitting leather outfit and stayed for the dark Gothic aesthetic and kept coming back for the vampire vs werewolf story... and also for Kate Beckinsale in various tight fitting leather outfits.
You forgot tight-fitting Leather and RUBBER outfit. ;)
Yes😊
Nailed it 👌.
That's fair
💯%
"This movie is so happily convinced of its own coolness, that you can't not get invested" is *absolutely. Spot. ON.* I've always loved this film as one of the best vampire films out there!
So many of these early 2000s movies happily put all this stuff in there to go 'look how cool we are' like Charlie's Angels. It was easy to make fun of at the time but now I have to respect the bravery lol
The film is running on the rule of cool turned up to 11
@@melissaharris3389Like John Wick as well
Yeah. Blade and Underworld are _the_ vampire movies for me. There's _nothing_ that comes close to them.
Sure, Bram Stoker's Dracula is a good movie, but it's just not as _cool_ as these two franchises. :D
Imma go watch Underworld now :D
@@cy-one Also... better soundtracks. 😁
I still think Rise of the Lycans is one of the very few prequels that got it right. They focused on Lucian and Viktor, which showed a very good understanding of what fans wanted.
Yeah I was especially surprised at it when I rewatched it recently
if they ever do a reboot, it should've been to continue that saga on the Lycan's side now that we have a somewhat of a hard stop when it came to the vampire. Honestly, idk why Speedman does not want to reprise his role since he is integral to how the story had developed.
my favorite movie of the franchise
I am inclined to with everyone else on this thread of replies. Though it is awesome to see creatures that normally either suck blood or tear up their victims use guns. And everything about how well they wrote Selene, if Marvel and everyone else trying to write good female badasses.
I have to agree with you there. None of the Sequels including Evolution match up to this one.
Ahhh, I miss the 2000’s dark aesthetic. I loved these movies. Well, the first three. But it really made me debate within myself, do I want to be a werewolf or a vampire? Lol.
Vampire seems like the better option in this universe in the short term, but once you get the hang of suppressing the full moon's pull, werewolf probably would be better
The 2000s aesthetic doesn't get the respect it deserves, but I think it will eventually, just as the horror films of the 1930-40s are now considered classics.
Vampires always seem to have the upper hand
Lmao! I always felt the same way. Both of them seemed equally good
@@BetterWithBob plus they both have immortality. So, I would lean more into being a werewolf that way. Lol. I don’t think I’d be one for the aristocratic life. Maybe? See it’s a little hard.
Selene wasn't just sexy, she was likeable. While looks play a part what i loved most was the character. I rooted for her, I wanted her to succeed. She is cool, calm, and collected even in intense situations. Just a well-written badass character. While I did not like the last entry and the thing with killing Micheal off-screen. This is one of my favorite movie franchises of all time. I even liked the movie that took place in the past. Kate Beckinsale wasn't in it, but it was still a good movie. The franchise had consistent lore and an identity of its own. It was created to tell a story, not push propaganda.
Rhona Mitra is pretty badass too. I loved her in "Doomsday" - a pretty cool post-apocalyptic B-Movie.
Back when they could actually write a strong empowered woman and not just a man being played by a woman.
@@jebes909090Except that's exactly what Selene is. She's a dude and Michael's the chick.
@@MegaKnight2012 no, shes still feminine. She can still be vulnerable . Shes just hardened by like 100's of years of hunting wearwolves to get revenge. Theres nothing wrong with a female character being a kick ass person.
@@jebes909090 How? How is Selene still feminine? Make her a male and Michael a female and it changes nothing, except the "werewolf" is now a female, which would have been a more interesting aesthetic for Underworld, as they didn't have women turning into Lycans until the fifth and last movie. The girls I knew when it came out didn't think Selene was feminine, neither does my sister, now I've shown her Underworld. She staunchly agrees with the opinion I had as a young teen that Selene's a dude played by a woman.
Two things:
1. Viktor is absolutely great, and the way he is acted, or overacted if you will, adds so much, to me it sells the idea that he is an ancient being, still stuck in the past, having to overact even to put on a persona in a way, to maintain an image of a proper vampire that should be, manners and cadence. The delivery is absolutely amazing.
2. In a weird way Craven's casting works to the favor of the character. To me, he is this new age coven leader that is barely holding onto his power and can't really maintain the image of a proper vampire that Viktor is. It's really great when you compare the two.
Bill Nighy is such an underrated actor. When he brings ham to the acting table, he brings the whole hog.
Victor is amazing. The movie needed a vampir elder who is stern, serious, and has the integrity needed to protect and sustain the breed. He needed to be ferocious and driven, with the right values in place.. like a stern father protecting his brood
Bill as Viktor in the Underworld series and as Davy Jones in PotC is fucking amazing.
Side Note: I want to see him and Charles Dance in one film or show, doing a staring contest trying to see who's intimidating who.
“What’s this ruckus?” is one of my favourite things to say. Especially to my nephews haha
Yeah he has no understanding of either character or performance. Both are so heavily grounded in the material and style and he somehow thinks the opposite. His criticisms of them are empty and lost a lot of confidence in his evaluation and perspective.
They showed respect to the story, characters and audience
Exactly!
The Underworld Franchise (especially the first 3) are all time classics, in my opinion. I will always love them.
Full agree, those first 3 films are great.
Bro, then you must play Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines. Trust me ;)
Wait what!? There are 3 films?
@@OverG88 actually 5 films.
@@OverG88🤨
Also shout out to Michael Sheen for going through the regime for getting absolutely shredded as an older gentleman for Rise of the Lycans. He did it before Hugh Jackman did it for Wolverine several times over, and it blows my mind every single time.
I mean, he was only mid-30s right?
That makes It even more amazing! Early middle age starts from the age of 34
@@8440kso at 38, I'm basically dead 🤣
''older gentleman'' Michael was only 34, not 55+. How was he an ''older gentleman''
people acting like age 30 is ''middle age'' will never cease to astound me. It's insane how early on people begin to feel like old seniors in need of a retirement house and help of a nurse.@@michaelbashford2733
Not gonna lie, I was very disappointed when I didn’t saw Michael coming back to the franchise… like you said, it was an interesting character and complemented very well to Selene’s arc story.
And yes, his hairstyle was absolutely wonderful 🤣
They totally failed with Michael's character. They could've done so much with it. I feel cheated. I also feel that Lucian should of had better story too. I would've like to see how powerful the two were
Yeah, I imagine Lucian, at least post-Underworld 1 timeline, had a much better story. But the whole cheating scenario left that destroyed, I mean he injected himself with something so why wouldn't he end up another hybrid? I imagine they might've reused this idea later, not "hybrids" but "if the hybrid was more werewolf" which to me is what the enchanced experimented son in Awakening was kinda like. Michael on the other hand, they screwed up first when not even letting him cameo in awakening instead pasting his face on another body, not even asked to return. The idea of him dying and that being "sad to where Selene isn't even sure she cares to not die" shown in Blood Wars just made me think "ok, but seriously, can't even do CGI and a similiar lookalike for a battle in which he lost?"@@patdawg1980 Other than there not being a 6th movie, even if 5 (and the prequel or 2) all work as conclusions, these are really the only issues I even have with this franchise. Otherwise I love it, especially extended 1/OG and Evolution.
Also it's criminal that their daughter was reduced to a throwaway line in the last movie. Enough time had passed that they could have used anyone to take up the role. They could have had all 3 start a new clan/house that takes over. All kinds of potential wasted by abandoning those characters.
Now I want to rewatch them all again.
It sucked that Lucian basically would've needed the tv series effort (that neve rhappened) at the time, because of the relationship situations involving Len Wiseman, Kate Beckinsale, and of course Michael Sheen. And they really screwed up when they chose to continue the franchise, both with Michael and the daughter, Eve. The latter could've just been recast, and they should'nt have imposed his face for the very little "Michael corvin screentime." They didn't even contact Scott Speedman, like, what? I don't even have a problem with a "major player" dying, heck everyone whom dies are major players in the world, or there lackeys. IF he had to die they could've done way better.
A small detail that I enjoyed in the first movie was the action between the vampires and lycans was paced in a way that we could see what was going on. Then, when Michael was first starting to turn (he tries eating that potato stuff in that village) we see what it looks like from the perspective of normal humans. Selene is a blur and those cops had absolutely no chance!
I will always say that the BEST part of Underworld was that it knew what kind of movie it was and didn't treat itself as cringy. Same as Resident Evil or Pirates or Mummy. When that type of movie treats itself TOO seriously or on the opposite tries to lampshade itself that's where they fail. Though to be fair, the fall of niche action/horror movies started from the top when executives decided that every movie should cater to widest audience possible. I miss the old days.
I miss when 'pulpy' and 'campy' movies took themselves seriously and didn't try to force a joke on us every five seconds. Those were the days. As a young wannabe goth girl in high school, Selene was THE BADDEST BITCH. Also, I adored the prequel but didn't care much for any of the sequels.
Unless you're doing a comedy you have to commit to the seriousness... Something lots of modern films can't do
I had the exact same feelin. The sequels got very messy and added in loads of uninteresting crap. The motivations and the conflicts weren't interesting. I felt like the prequel was good though.
I'm glad there's at least one person out there that shares my opinions on the entire franchise. I enjoyed Rise of the Lycans but gave up after Evolution. It was awful and the series went downhill from there...
It's like you're in my brain. This franchise is one of my all-time favorites. The lore, the vibes, the action, the romance, the music. It's my teenage tastes in a nutshell. I especially loved everything you said about what makes Celine a great byronic heroine and Michael the perfect counterpart. It's baffling how toxic the overall culture was in the 2000s for women yet the media still gave us peak female leads who were more than just empty girlboss shells and male love interests who could balance sensitivity and power.
Yeah it's a weird one, because Japan for example isn't exactly a bastion of female power, but Japanese media still produces some really interesting female characters, and they've never seen an issue with a female protagonist. I'd even say that the anime boom in the west greatly influenced female-led action, fantasy, sci-fi etc
Cry harder and self-victimize harder, Karen.
@@BetterWithBob issue with female protagonists in western media is, because they are written like garbage, there is nothing relatable. But in 80s, 90s and early 2000s female heroes were written likable and relatable no matter your gender. Last time i saw kinda relatable female hero was, maybe in hunger games, tho divergent also has kinda likable and relatable female hero. And funny thing, that last ones kinda were teenage love drama action written for teen girls as books originally. But yeah, movies i could name that have had geat female protagonists, there are quite handful of them pre 2010s. And later, there is close to 0. But yeah, like Underworld, 5th element, Terminator, Aliens, Star Wars, ( could even call Hermione from Harry Potter as a lead character, because she was one of 3 leads, but not the main ), And so as i meant Harry Potter, well, we have great female lead in Matrix also, and so on. Because those were geat female lead characters. And now we get a garbage characters written, no matter what gender or race or sexuality or whatever you give them, they are garbage.
The lore, that one was *built up and respected.* And, I love the romance. Way better than Twitlight or other YAs really.
The overall culture is a 1000x more toxic today for women than it was in the 2000s. Today the culture lies to their face 24/7, with zero respect.
I was intrigued by Amelia the moment she strutted onto the screen. I think the reason she didn't get featured more was because her actress is Hungarian and either didn't speak English or didn't speak it well enough. She also retired from acting shortly after the sequel to focus on raising her son.
That being said, in Underworld 4 Amelia's backstory was revealed. She was the most just and noble of the three Elders and secretly established the Nordic coven in addition to the coven in New York. She had a relationship with a vampire named Thomas and gave birth in secret to a son named David, who becomes one of the new Elders along with Selene and Lena(?). Granted most of this was told and not shown, but at least it was something. I'd still love a movie that further developed Amelia's character.
Yeah, that is actually 5-Blood Wars, just so people whom see this know. Considering Amelia was actually recast for the brief stuff in that film, I really wish we saw more of her even with a good flashback with Viktor and Charles Dance character too. It could've been a mystery behind building up a bit better that way.
That film does solidfy Thomas and David to me as being not fill-ins as they originally appeared in Awakening. Before it got a sequel, I liked the whole story and situation with the coven and how Selene saves David but I thought the new human cop/detective was more interesting, even though I can't seem to ever remember his name just looks and lines lol.
Yeah everyone l know was intrigued with her. And her lack of english would have further added to her exotic nature imo. It was a missed opportunity tbh
@@alispeed5095 If the lack of English knowledge was why she didn't do any more films, they could have added a backstory saying that Amelia came from Hungary, which makes some sense in a real life historical context. The evil Vlad Tepes of Wallachia frequently had fights with Austria and Hungary and slaughtered many of them during his reign of terror. He was known as Vlad the Impaler. He liked to watch his victims slowly die on stakes that were hammered through the anus and out the mouth. His favorite snack (which may be why the Irishman Bram Stoker based Dracula on him) was breadsticks dipped in blood. Ewww....
Damn, Underworld is such a gem. I actually enjoyed Kate in Van Helsin as well but Underworld is her best work for sure.
I still feel like she is one of the most bangable creature on this planet.
Selene is how to do a powerful woman correctly. Selene being a several hundred year soldier fighting an endless war gives her massive experience. She was bit by the then strongest vamp in Viktor, though almost dies twice.
She was really no stronger than the average Death Dealer, she just had a boost from their leader.
I always bring up Selene whenever i need to show what a proper overpowered female lead is like.
Today we see a lot of the warrior maiden on a revenge quest, while Selene falls into that category, she was done better than many were seeing now. Mostly becuase she has a full range of emotions and motivations, not just stoic, badass fighter mode. Yes she fearlessly fights in an ongoing war, punches out Kraven when he trys to intimate her, and takes all matters into her own hands. But she also has moments of vulnerability becuase they are moments she can be vulnerable in the world that has been set up; the scenes with Viktor and Michael.
She's the most powerful being in the universe in the latter movies and she defeats the "strongest vamp" in the first film in straight combat.
@@VaultArchive72 To be fair that was a pure sneak attack. She was down and out from Viktor's beardown. She had to bit Michael to get the power boost to win
@@jodieg6318 Don't forget there was a lot of lore building and foreshadowing for her power boots
think the main reason is that her plans also fails. she is not a total mary sue. without help from others she would not have been succesfull.
most female leads are just arrogant unlikeable and still pull of things they shouldn't be able without any help, what makes the audience actually grasp to the character/franchise.
this used to be done a hell alot beter these days
i was so obsessed with these movies, the aesthetic, the actors as a teen. i knew they weren’t considered ‘good’ movies, but they were just so much fun to watch. there was nothing i wanted more than a flowing leather trench coat!
23:18 and huge massive YES to that! I would love to see a prequel explaining Amelia’s story and how she became a vampire! The few scenes she was on screen I completely fell in love with her character (also the actress who plays her its just stunningly beautiful) 🖤
I would also like to see a prequel about Amelia. 😊
ya it was Viktor that turned her into a vamp
It's the only loose end in the franchise. The last two movies were useless. We need Amelia's story.
700-800 A.D. - 1st reign of Amelia
1000-1100 A.D. - 2nd reign of Amelia
1300-1400 A.D. - 3rd reign of Amelia
1600-1700 A.D. - 4th reign of Amelia
1900-2000 A.D. - 5th reign of Amelia
Considering these are the reigns of Amelia, there is a lot of potential to not only show how she was turned, but perhaps even an entire movie (or show?) focused on one of her previous reigns, or at least taking place during one.
@@gronizherz3603 This would make a perfect streaming series. Each season is a reign. Begin and end each season with coming out of and going into hibernation; except the 1st season, that would begin with her turning and subsequently ending with first hibernation.
They have been talking about a TV series in the world but that hasn't been talked about in years.
Something I like about these movies is the very slim, light vampire lady doesn't break the ground when landing nor does she do a 3 point landing. Nope, she lands on her feet (platform boots, but still), and just casually walks forward like one would if they weren't in a supernatural movie but just walking.
For those of us who were teenagers when this came out it hit all the right points. If you liked this movie, chances are you also listened to Lacuna Coil and Evanescence, who were becoming huge at the time. We all loved Underworld, The Crow, Evanescence, Hot Topic, Resident Evil, Blade, Lacuna Coil, Nightmare Before Christmas and anything else Tim Burton 🤣
Underworld and van helsing was my childhood. I’m so glad more people are talking about how good they are
I think the underworld series up to and including the prequel were very underrated. The newer ones I watched once, but I didn't like them as much. Enjoyable action and decent plot, it punched way above its category.
Excellently put 😁
That is usually my way of determining a good film or not - re-watch. If I either fall asleep or straight up turn it off on a re-watch - yep crap film, and that was number 4 and 5. Number 1 and 3 - I have easily watch 100 times and still love watching them - wasn't that keen on 2 at first - but through reviews like this, I understand the film better and enjoy watching it - but 1 and 3 are the best by far.
I'm going to be honest about one thing ... I still rewatch this franchise. I love the esthetic, the soundtrack and is very reminiscent to my high school years, which were the best . Thank you for the video, I loved it ❤ ( also my nickname is Kravven and if I'm gonna have a daughter I'm gonna name her Amelia)
Aww that is awesome. I don't think any little girl wouldn't be delighted to know they were named after a vampire queen😅
@@BetterWithBob exactly my thoughts 😂
What a great analysis of the franchise, I am very glad to see it get some appreciation finally! To this day Underworld is my favourite vampire/werewolf representation in movies. The lore, the style, characters and plot just worked together so neatly. The only thing I really disliked was the handling of Amelia; felt very much like a cheap way to advance the plot without giving her the space she deserved. It also threw me off in terms of in-world logic; given that she was one of the elder vampires and we got to see what Victor and later on Marcus could do, it seemed very implausible that she would go down so easily. I'd love to see a continuation of the franchise feature her in some way.
Yeah they could have at least shown her going down fighting or something
This is THE BEST Underworld defense piece I could've asked for! Thank you, Bob, for giving it the much-needed respect it deserves, because I absolutely agree, it is equal parts style *and* substance! Yes, there was that lawsuit from White Wolf, and yes, it *clearly* borrows generously from The Matrix, but as you formally pointed out in your Fashion of Charmed video, this was just one of many styles that were considered "in" at the time, *everyone* was doing it. (And your comparison of 2000's vs. 2010's film franchise creating was ON POINT). 👏
I first-watched Underworld when I was 13, following the completion of the Twilight Saga. I was still very much in that vampire/werewolf mindset, so my mom let me watch the first movie with her on the Syfy Channel. Naturally, you can imagine my surprise when I learnt Michael Sheen played an attractive morally grey Goth werewolf in the series, but he's gone on since then to become one of my favorite characters in it. I *so* appreciated your defenses of both Selene and Michael, who I've both seen accused of being too serious or one-note, but your description of Selene as a Byronic heroine was PERFECT, and the fact that there are those who don't enjoy her despite that archetype reeks of double standard, because most often times, Byronic *male* characters are almost always appreciated. And though I will say Michael's character gets better in Evolution when he's more actively involved in both the plot & Selene, whereas in the first movie things just sort of *happen* to him, it definitely needs to be noted that most of the reveals wouldn't have even occurred without his presence to impose them (like the truth about Lucian, for instance), so he is, in reality, the driving force for much of the first movie. I hate how he got killed off in Blood Wars, though; I would've preferred the series end with Awakening so I could still imagine Selene and Eve finding and reuniting with him off-screen somewhere (but as of late, it's my head canon and I'm sticking to it).
Your callback over to Dracula 2000 at 1:45 was so unexpected that I admittedly screeched aloud, as I've been looking over that film as of late (having originally watched it as a pre-teen largely for Gerard Butler, my first celebrity crush following his performance as Erik/the Phantom), and realize now just how much of a pre-cursor it serves to the oncoming decade of Matrix copycats (Butler's look was literally dubbed by Entertainment Weekly at the time as "Neo from The Matrix played by one of the Bee Gees"). I would LOVE to see you discuss that earnestly-employed-some-cool-ideas-but-is-still-a-mess film at some point. 😉
I really liked Dracula 2000 for what it was, in fact, I might rewatch it for fun right now. the full movie can be found here on youtube for some odd reason, but I own it already so no need for that. I think the underworld films are my favorite vampire movies along with Van Helsing
I haven't actually seen it in full but I've seen plenty of reviews and read enough about it to get the gist of what it's like. It does sound like there are some very interesting ideas - Dracula as Judas made me go 'ooh' as a screenwriter - but it sounds like the rushed production affected it
@@BetterWithBobDracula 2000 IMHO is just a campy but fun horror movie aimed at teen audience. I've seen worse. I have no problem watching it again.
@@BetterWithBob 17:10 Dont care - femturdism leads to ruin and nothing good ultimately. +
First of all, great video and 100% agree! Also so happy you featured The Mummy. It's one of my all-time favorite movies, so underrated and Evelyn is one of my favorite strong female leads ever... so unapologetically feminine and soft, yet so fierce and brave, with plenty of flaws. Rick and she make the perfect team, and it's one of the few examples where you can see the two genders coming together to perfectly complement each other. Something you don't really see anymore. :)
I feel like I have to defend Viktor for a second. Yes, he's bigoted towards Lycans (and humans as well, the only reason he's not as open about it like he is with Lycans is because he has dealings with them) and yes he hated the idea of his daughter giving birth to a hybrid of the two races, but he was still a father and he did love Sonia very much. It's clearly shown during Sonja's execution when he hears Lucian's screams that it was tearing him up. His body language also shows that with him clutching on to the bedpost. His mistake was putting his pride and the coven before his family. Doesn't excuse his actions but it does put them in perspective. Also, I have to say Bill Nighy kills it as Viktor. Couldn't imagine anyone else playing him.
Bill was amazing
He really elevated that character for sure
Bill Nighy is awesome but honestly Viktor is a hypocritical, power hungry, cruel, racist, pathological liar who placed his power over everything, even the coven. He was afraid of what a hybrid might be capable of and was willing to sacrifice anyone and anything to prevent one from being born, to protect his own personal power. Yes, his hatred for werewolves in somewhat understandable given how they were spreading like a plague thanks to William, and needed to be stopped, but everything else he did: murder Sonya, enslave Lucian and the Lycans, murder Selene's family, and attempt to kill Michael is unjustifiable.
Viktor was also a product of his time, when the clan ruler was a military patriarch responsible for keeping strict order in his subjects.
To be fair - everyone involved, they all done damn good jobs. I can't speak highly enough about the first 3 films.
I rewatch the underworld movies probably once a year. Loved the first few movies since they came out. Growing up as these came out was awesome. The last one was probably my least favorite but Underworld Evolution was by far my fav vampire movie for the longest time. The man-bat-pire known as Marcus was really unique at least to me.
An Amelia prequel would be AMAZING considering how she was the third elder and in theory should be on a level with Viktor and in the later movies she's actually a pivot point so it'd make sense to get her own movie
It'd be interesting to see her perspective because I get the impression she was more moral than Viktor anyway
@@BetterWithBob I believe it was stated in the novelization of Underworld that Amelia was actually the one who figured out how to clone blood, so they didn't need to hunt humans anymore. It's been a longgg time since I read the book, I don't even have it anymore, so I could be wrong, but for some reason I feel like I'm not.
I always a prequel showing the plague that gave Alexander, Victor and William their immortality and their transformations into the first vampire and lycan.
The practical effects and wire work carry this film for me. The actors are good, but when the Lycans are on-screen I can't look away. The combination of CG and practical was done so well.
Loving every single bit of this commentary. Your respect and insight on Selene's character and the influence of Kate Beckinsale's acting choices. Your defense of Michael as a softening and gentling foil to her. Your observations have so much genuine thought and emotional intelligence behind them!
There we go! Once again, I wholeheartedly agree with you here! While some of the follow up movies had much larger collection of flaws, at least the first one was just a bit shy of being a perfect blend of style and substance. For me it lands in the same category as Robocop as high action movies that are smart and treat the audience as such. I do believe that if the writer-director duo was more experienced or if there was someone as experienced as Paul Verhoeven involved -- Underworld could have been as perfect as Robocop. As is it is still several grades below it, but still Underworld rocks and gets bonus points for being in that category of smart action films.
Hehe unfortunately you've just got me now picturing Underworld in the style of showgirls - "man, everybody got Lycans and shit"
When I saw Underworld for the first time, I immediately rewatched it again. Then I watched the extras. I don't normally do that, but there was just something about it. Admittedly, the first movie was definitely the best, but I think that it did a fantastic job of doing what it intended to do.
Underworld was a film I had no idea about going in. I didn't even plan to go to the movies that day, was just in the area and decided to go in based on the poster. I was so pleasantly surprised that this is one of my favorite movies.
12:19, She actually bases her claims of lycans tracking Michael on actual evidence, but since Kraven is a traitor and Victor is hiding his own crimes from Seline, they both repeatedly attempt to sideline her.
I watched Underworld on TV when I was WAY too young to watch them and it rewired my brain as a child. No mater how bad the sequels get I will watch them at least once.
Plus, the monster designs and transformation sequences were amazing for the times that still hold up.
I'm super feral for Michael Sheen in this movie. Utter perfection.
I was 13 years old the first time i watched the first underworld film i absolutely loved it kate and scott are brilliant it's one of my favorite vampire films 🖤🖤🖤🧛♂️
Why do we have such similar tastes in TV/Movies? Your whole channel is gold 😂
Hehe thank you
Underworld is a very, very good film. It has an original story that is not tied to any other franchises and its internal logic holds up well. The idea that vampires and werewolves carry viruses that are fatal to most humans explains why after many centuries we are not overrun by such creatures.
Setting the story in some unnamed eastern European country certainly helps with the suspension of disbelief.
Unlike Underworld, very few films have really shown why vampires and werewolves are so dangerous.
The story is actually set in Budapest, chosen partly because of its Gothic architecture, and the other part being for the Central Eastern-European location, Hungary neighbouring Romania and Transylvania.
Anyway, yeah.... Vampires are supposed to embody many adjectives we use to describe the night: dangerous, terrifying, inscrutable, alluring/seductive, etc. I hate Stephanie Meyer for bastardising them.
This is one of my all-time favorite movies and franchises. So glad to see that so many others feel the same.
My eyes got so wide when I opened TH-cam. So excited to watch this right now!! 🎉
Aw thank you ^_^
Great video, I just stumbled on it through recommendations. One of the best things about Underworld is it still has a "Hero's Journey". Not something we've seen for a few years now. These days character is an instant expert, sometimes the why of it isn't explained, they just are. Rey in the Star Wars sequels was the first where it became obvious to me. In the dimmer and dimmer past heroes had to face adversity, overcome it by learning and overcoming their own flaws and ultimately, for the most part, coming out on top. Even when they didn't "win" the journey itself was the reward. Hollywood has forgetten that.
Amazing video, always glad to see someone put respect on Underworld's name, as I grew up with these and they usually came out the weekend of my birthday they hold a place in my heart.
One thing in the video, you mentioned the rarity of the fact Vampires in this can procreate. The Vampires in Blade can also have children. Deacon Frost is looked down upon for being a bitten Vampire, and the reaper from the second one and his sister were born Vampires and had never seen the sun.
If ever there is another, it's Amelia I really always wanted more of. I love Selene for all you have said but I was always so sad about never having more of Amelia's story, also the vanishment of Erika and the supporting cast deaths that really would have been interesting to see pursued more.
Thank you for the wonderful retrospective. I loved the first three of these films... think I saw the fifth but not the fourth. The filmmakers created a wonderful metaphor for racial struggles. I'm reminded the X-Men was about people who are "different" not being accepted either. Lastly... Kate Beckinsale was incredible as Selene!
For me personally it was mainly the coolness factor, the style that drew me in, but above all else the fact that it was kind of believable. It had a sort of gritty realism and you could just daydream about something like this happening in your home town (speaking about the first movie mainly here). This movie together with Vampire - The Masquerade: Bloodlines is the version of the Vampire myth that I have always found the most compelling. And then Twilight came and ruined the whole genre for me :D
I agree with your point that the supporting cast for Underworld was criminally underutilized. Heck, while Ericka was missing from Evolution, she was killed in a "blink and you'll miss it" Lycan raid in Awakening at the beginning of the movie.
You hit on so many good points with this video. I still go back and watch my copies of Underworld when the mood strikes.
Underworld was the first vampire and werewolf movie I ever watched, I think I was probably about 14o or 15 when I first saw it and I was captivated by Selene and Lucian. I do wish Amelia and Erica could have gotten more screentime or backstory in the sequels (a prequel for Amelia would've been awesome) because there was a lot of potential for both characters in my opinion
Honestly watching underworld is an entire mood. They nailed slicing a part of a completely imaginary world and fully flesh it out to the point its completely believable.
“This Series has its fans”… ME! I am one of its fans lol. I always thought Michael and what he can do was one of the more underused parts of this world. Can he turn people into Hybrids like him? Marcus seems to think so in Evolution so maybe? What is the extent of what he can do? We only ever saw him fight when he was weakened/tired and even then he was matching the Strongest Vampires and Lycans. While Awakening is the objectively worst of the 5 movies it gives us both Theo James as David and Charles Dance as David’s Father Thomas who are some of my favorite characters of the whole Series. Seriously David’s Arc ranks up there with Selene’s and Lucian’s in terms of Best Character Arcs. Also, as Campy as it is that Showdown with David and Marius (played by Tobias Menzies) is Epic! Severely Underrated Series for sure!
I love these movies. I vividly remember seeing the first film in theaters with my sister and my jaw dropping to the floor near the end with Viktor 😉
Seeing them in cinemas must have been fun. I had to make do with TV and DVDs
@@BetterWithBob it was a memorable experience I’ll give it that. I had a chance to get the films on 4K last year and actually passed on it and I regret it now especially considering how expensive they are on eBay
You really nailed the brilliance that is this franchise, particularly the first. Though I would argue there is a lot more to Revolution and Evolution that I would love for someone like you to break down all the athstedics that make these other two entries special and unique
I now have an urge to go binge all the Underworld movies lol! I actually only ever saw the first 3 but you said the fandom kind of hates Awakening (at least, that's what I got, I apologise if I misunderstood) and a fandom all telling me NOT do do something immediately makes me kneejerk want to DO whatever.
Apologies, I accidentally posted before I finished, a thing you said that resonated with me (forgive me for paraphrasing): when people hate a thing for what it's NOT, not appreciating what it IS. I mean, in that way, people could hate pretty much EVERYTHING and I don't just mean movies. I hate this printer because I can't eat it. I hate this pizza because I can't use it to go online. While those examples sound ridiculous, where is the arbitrary line? Even if you dislike a thing, dislike it for what it is not what it's not even trying to be.
I first saw this movie on late night TV in the UAE (jet lag had me watching) and it has certainly become one of my favorites. The sequels are not quite as tight as the first movie but the world building and lore make up for it IMO. Thanks for making this video!
Thank you for watching :) It's been awesome to hear all these stories from people about where they were when they first saw it
I can't wrap my head around how Michael Sheen went from sexy af Lucian to Pillsbury angel. Don't get wrong, I love Aziraphale, but damn!
That's the difference between early 30s and early 50s for ya
@@BetterWithBob Very true! Still Bowie didn't seem to age and James Marsters still doesn't look his age so maybe it's age and genetics.
i think another thing about underworld is that it is tonally consistant across pretty much all movies. you get what you are expecting. it also aged well due to pretty limited cgi.
I see Selene as the classic old school detective and Michael is the Mary Sue and it works because they both play it so earnestly. The whole cast does. Yes, this could have EASILY slipped into winking at the camera territory ( which don't get me wrong, I love camp too) but I'm glad they didn't because it is so wonderfully moody with the old buildings, stormy weather, deep shadows, and heavy fabrics, but edgy in a so early 2000s way lol.
Truly all the performances were so much fun because they all really went for it which was great, especially given the amount of lore and character development the story wanted to get through. And honestly, I think that's what is so excellent about this film in particular. I don't get bored of the action because they do enough shoot/punch/explode to be fun but to also keep the plot moving. So many action movies just stop the plot to blow shit up, and that's fine for some of them, but it's basically ALL of them now and it get so BORING.
Underworld was PRECISE! Not a moment wasted. Straight up pleasure!
Very nicely put
This movie franchise has been my favorite since I was a kid I absolutely love it to pieces I’m so glad you did such an amazing job with this video!
Thank you. Underworld often gets bashed for not being afraid of who it's target audience is and delivering on its promises. Something that seems to have been lost in modern cinema. I like high art horror also franchises like underworld. Nothing wrong with that. Underworld for what if shakespear with Vampires and werewolves. Evil dead for over the top and unapologetic direction. Resident Evil for camp camp and more camp with fan service.
I love/d this film it went with the likes of The Mummy which is another favorite of mine.
On top for everything you said i also like the fact that the Sun remains a threat and Moon for Michael is a threat....most modern vamp and werewolf film come up with a reason to get around both.
The fact that the oldest werewolf can charge at will helps sell just how old and powerful they are.
Great video and I am going to rewatch the complete franchise, it helps that remembers me the massive crush I had on Kate Beckinsale. To be honest 2000s films and movies are way better than 2010s. I recently revisited a lot of movies of all kinds plus some I havent seen in the moment and I was in shock of the good they were in general.
The original Underworld is by far one of my favourite movies of all time. Both for Selene, and for Lucian. Lucian in particular. He is by far the best character in the whole goddamn series.
I have probably watched Underworld 20+ times maybe even more. The first 3 movies are great. Michael and Selene working together was so enjoyable to watch.
Underworld occupies a similar place as Repo: The Gentic Opera for me: both are unapologetically what they are and did exactly what they set out to do. There's plenty to dig into if you wish to dig deeper into it but they movies made by moody gothy kids for moody gothy kids, but the sincerity of early 2000's concept and fantasy media is hard to not find compelling even if the subject manner or genre isn't your cup of tea. But it's my cup of tea, and it's yummy!
ohhh Repo is a delight
@@BetterWithBob think you might do a video on Repo??
I think those of us who watched Kate B grow up cheered for her in this role. I still rewatch it whenever it comes on. Between the great production values and what was going on behind the scenes, this stays at the top of my favorite vampire/werewolf films.
Michael Sheen has been a delight to watch over the years. Rise of the Lycans also rocks.
The only Underworld film I was disappointed in was the last one. The rest all built on the lore, adding to the story in a logical way that fits in universe. The characters were complicated, they all had their reasons for doing what they were doing.
Before watching, I'd say it's:
Gorgeous lead, talented main cast, sympathetic classic monsters like Vampires and werewolves, a pretty good plot from what I remember and it never goes too over the top.
Need to rewatch these movies.
The idea of the abomination, a vampire and werewolf mixture, I think was an idea of WoD. The underworld is great for me, especially the first three movies. But reading through V:tM and W:tA of WoD lores are fascinating as well. Mabuhay!
I loved these. Selene was a fantastic character, not just a cardboard cutout, like so many newer heroines are. Plus the world was well-thought out, not just an (admittedly cool) aesthetic. Great video. Great reminder to re-watch these!
You mention Gabriel- please do that one as it’s so forgotten and deserves so much more love
Soooooo many good movies in the nineties and 2000’s
Thank you for your work. You've done a great job in talking about this movie
Thank YOU for watching :)
I think what makes Underworld work so well is that Underworld made the conscious decision to make sure every single action that was taken by a character in the movie had a motivation that was present (if not clear) in the movie - and this was a guiding principle in the EDITING process as well. This seems like a "Duh." statement, but it's always been a hard thing for movies to get right because so often you get a cool scene that seems... off... because it's not explained in the movie. But it is explained in a cut scene. (Star Wars IV: A New Hope has a bunch of this, for example.)
That makes the movie quite tight, with few holes to poke at or loose threads to pull at. Either you go with the initial premise or you don't. If you do, this is a good movie (not GREAT, but definitely worth buying a hard copy of). If you don't, this is just a bad movie - but you can respect it because it commits to the bit from start to finish.
This whole video perfectly sums up why I love this movie, and franchise as a whole. I so hope that we get a new entry at some point.
Fingers crossed for an Amelia prequel!
Unashamedly, this was my favorite movie when I was a teen. Thanks for reawakening the joy it brought. You have a new subscriber.
Many thanks to you for your lovely comment :)
I'm happy that you covered Underworld. It was one of my all time favorite movies to watch, I enjoyed all the movies after the first as well. Looking back on it, and watching your video with your points and explanations, really makes me appreciate how grounded it was and didn't stray too far into fanatical supernatural things. It stuck to it's guns and didn't try to do anything just to please the audience, or to catch a certain crowd's eye. To me everything really seemed to fit, make sense. I really wish we had more movies like Underworld these days. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch all of them all over again for the....4th time.
Underworld was my favorite movie I'd watch with my sister when we were going through our "dark urban fantasy" phase in high school: GOSH we thought it was the coolest thing ever, haha. Glad to see it still holds up.
My dad used to subscribe to scriptwriting magazines because he was trying to write a couple himself. I remember flipping through one once and read that a script had been sold that was billed as a Romeo and Juliet story with vampires and werewolves. It wasn't long after that this movie came out.
This was the movie that made me fall in love with vampires amd even start writing my own vampire novel i swear i can watch all the underworld movies on repeat constantly.
Great presentation. I liked even the first time I saw it (I was a big film snob at the time) And I never really considered the "original franchise" aspect of it, making it even better indeed. Loved that the third is completely diferent as far as surroundings and gadgets . - And thank you for reminding me that I need to watch the fifth one.
I rewatched the third recently and was surprised at how interesting and creative it was - Viktor busting Sonja by biting her and seeing her memories was a real "ooh, good storytelling" moment
I just realized with this video that Micheal is the blue print for how to write compelling and compassionate male characters who don't devolve into the hyper masculine action hero power fantasy when the story feels like it. I wonder if there are more people who have really noticed how different his character is from the norm of male lead/side characters.
Interesting and enjoyable video. I hope you'll make a video for the whole franchise. As for Amelia, there was a somehow arc and closure in Blood Wars.
It was going to be a series wide video or at least on the first three, but then I realised I could talk more about them individually
We needed more Amelia. That was a badass vamp.
Underworld is my FAVORITE Vampire/Werewolf series (movie or TV)! I loved all of them!
The 2000's were a legendary decade for film, possibly the best decade ever.
The prequel Rise of The Lycans will always be my favorite. Made me wish the lycans from the first movie weren't killed off as quickly as they were.
Love this franchise, wish we could get more
Plz more underworld I totally forgot this series existed. I was obsessed with this series as a kid and you have rekindled my love ❤ thank you so much, great video, I didn’t realise Underworld was such a good movie
I was born in 2000 so I wasn't aware of the controversy because I was a kid but now that I'm grown up a lot of people seem to like these movies and have really high opinions of them. My dad bought the first two, and I like them the most
Your little jab at Jacob caught me off guard. Good one. He really must be stopped XD.
We really love the same movies. I love that
It's so eerie sometimes to consider there are others with my exact taste 😅
Love video essays like these where they help me understand WHY I gravitated towards certain arts, media, or anything else. Cheers!
Thank you very much 😊
i. love. this. film. so much so that i have the box set of all the films. (i watch Rise Of The Lycas 1st when i have a Underworld marathon.) i havnt come across anyone who appreciates the films as much i as do.
unlike you, i love Bill Nighy as Viktor. his presence, his delivery... just brilliant.
as for Erika, i wish she was in other sequels. i was hoping she was going to pop in AWAKENING or BLOODLINES. there's so much more to her to explore. she a survivor. i know it will never happen, but iam hoping for a final film where she has her own convent needs help for what ever reason... especially with the introduction of Eve.
i have been invested in these films since the release of Underworld & have loved everyone of them. it's just sad that the the box set i own doesn't include commentaries. to me it's the best part of watching DVD s.
glad i came across your thumbnail. thank you for such entertaining video. i look forward to others.
As an angsty teenager in 2003, I watched it for the lore, the Matrix-esque style, and ended up loving it for the romance that was completely unexpected to me. As soon as they got rid of Michael, it lost a lot of appeal to me. I think I need to re-watch the series again, it's been so long :)
Scene we are talking about vampires can you do the charmed episode bite me
I Absolutely Love The Underworld Franchise!
I actually feel like Kraven was *appropriately* cast and well acted for meta reasons. He was an out-of-place caricature who felt like he belonged in a different but contemporary vampire film, and the general disdain most of the other vampires had for him reinforced that this wasn't a repeat of those movies, with everything short of a nod and a wink to the camera. His characterisation was a fourth wall break for audiences at the time. Part of Kraven's role was as a backstabbing minor villain, but he was also there as a villain in a meta sense - he's the kind of vampire we'd seen too much of at the time and this movie was about breaking free of that pattern.
Saw Underworld for the first time at 15 and I was sold. I just never stopped rewatching it every year. Everything about it just really stuck with me. It will always be a classic!🖤
I loved the first 3 Underworld movies. Particulalry the first and especially the second. And this is how you do a strong female protagonist. It is crazy to think at how really great these movies were. A strong female protagonist that appeals to both men and women? what in the world is this? I didn't like where the story went in Underworld 4 and 5. They were disapointing and it makes the werewolves the generic bad guys. When the war back in the first 3 Underworld movies were more grey then black and white.