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For those who actually wanted to see some of the back-stories
alluded to in the first two “Underworld” films, you should
find “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” to be very helpful.
This prequel not only visualizes the beginning of the blood
feud between the Vampires and the Lycans, it also tells
the story of Lucian (Michael Sheen), a Lycan of unknown
parentage who would become the most powerful leader of his
clan centuries later. ***
For those who were never into the films to begin with,
you might find that this new film actually has something
to offer. It’s not a masterpiece by any means, but it delivers
exactly as it promises: It’s a supernatural action film
that gives us no more or less than a vampire underworld
and a Lycan uprising. If you were hoping for a fable that’s
just as complex as it is frightening, might I suggest you
stop reading this review? ***
One of the reasons I enjoyed this movie is that it
takes place in the Dark Ages. The first two films took place
in the present day (respective to when they were theatrically
released), where vampire and werewolf clans coexisted with
concrete structures, high-tech guns, and subway stations.
It was a blending that was too bizarre for its own good.
***
But in the context of immense stone fortresses, no
electricity, filthy dungeons, medieval weaponry, and dense
forests populated by peasant folk ... well, it just feels
right. It helps that practically every scene is engulfed
in shadow, effectively muting the visuals to shades of blue
and gray. The color scheme establishes mood so well that
it’s hard to dismiss it as mere eye candy. ***
The back-story: Centuries before he became obsessed
with the bloodline of Alexander Corvinus, Lucian was unceremoniously
born in a dungeon. The cruel Vampire elder, Viktor (Bill
Nighy), spared Lucian but killed his parents, making him
the first second-generation Lycan allowed to live. ***
When it flashes forward to Lucian’s teenage years,
we see him defeating a number of ruthless Death Dealers.
This impresses Viktor so much that he immediately devises
a plan: He will create a new generation of Lycans to guard
the Vampire coven from outside forces. With the help of
a silver-barbed collar, they will be “civilized” Lycans.
They will not be like their “wild” counterparts that roam
the forests as wolves, unable to assume a human form. ***
Now we get to the story proper. Unbeknownst to Viktor,
his headstrong daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), has fallen
in love with Lucian. Complicating matters is the fact that
Lucian is planning on escaping, and he wants Sonja to run
away with him; she loves him with all her heart, but there
are times when she feels duty-bound to secure the legacy
of the coven. ***
She’s willful and independent, much to the chagrin
of her father, who relies on his conniving right-hand man,
Vampire historian Andreas Tanis (Steven Mackintosh), to
keep a close eye on her. As he stealthily observes Sonja
and Lucian, it becomes clear that a Lycan uprising is in
the works, Lucian having won the support of his fellow slaves.
***
Now that I’ve described the plot, I realize that I’ve
been writing under the assumption that you’re familiar with
the “Underworld” series. If you’re not, if you’ve never
heard of Lycans or Alexander Corvinus or any other character
I’ve mentioned, chances are “Rise of the Lycans” will not
do very much for you. That’s the inherent problem with prequels:
They assume audiences are familiar with what will happen
later in the story. But since I am familiar with the film
series, I was able to enjoy this film, mostly for its stylistic
approach. ***
The story, I admit, is fairly run-of-the-mill, giving
us nothing new in the way of character development or theme.
Consider the fact that the feud between the Vampires and
the Lycans is essentially a commentary on intolerance and
cultural understanding; I’ve seen such commentaries before,
even as recently as another werewolf fable, “Blood and Chocolate.”
Still, “Rise of the Lycans” makes the most of what little
it has, so in that sense, the film succeeds. ***
Noticeably absent from “Rise of the Lycans” is Kate
Beckinsale, whose character apparently wasn’t born when
the story took place (or maybe she was--I can never tell
when it comes to Vampires). Rhona Mitra does a fairly decent
job assuming the female lead, however, and this is despite
the fact that she isn’t given much to do other than be Michael
Sheen’s love interest. ***
Sheen himself does an adequate job as Lucian, a character
I could never quite put my finger on in the previous two
films. Bill Nighy doesn’t stretch too far for his role,
but then again, he doesn’t have to; for the purposes of
this story, Viktor need not be more or less than a classic,
uncomplicated villain. One look into his obvious, piercing
blue eyes will convince you that the writers never wanted
to delve too deeply. ***
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