Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (UMD, 2009)

This Underworld Prequel was an absolutely astounding and very surprising piece of artwork. This film genre has truly taken hold since the first film came out. The Gothic timbre was totally top-notch. The film starts off with narration from Kate Beckinsale.

During the Dark Ages, the story begins by tracing the origins of a centuries old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the werewolves (Lycans). A young Lycan named Lucian (Michael Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle against the vampire supremacy and his struggle for Lycan freedom.

When the human son of a werewolf is born in a cell, the evil leader of the clan of vampires, Viktor, spares his life and names him Lucian. He then forces him to transform other humans into the new breed - Lycan, and raises him as a slave wearing a leash to control his ability. Lucian becomes a blacksmith as well as a brave warrior with respect as a leader over the other Lycans inside and outside the castle walls. He protects the aristocratic vampires against the vicious and infectious breed of werewolves who are incapable of taking human form. However, Viktor's daughter, Sonja, and Lucian are lovers who consumate their love without her father's approval. This will definitely be to her detriment. Lucian takes his collar off and and transforms into a werewolf to save the life of Sonja in a battle against the werewolves. However, Viktor sentences him to be brutally whipped thirty times and then imprisons him in the dungeon. Sonja saves Lucian and he escapes with other prisoners to the woods. When Viktor discovers that Sonja is pregnant and in love with Lucian, he locks her up in her room to force Lucian to return to the castle to rescue her, in the beginning of the feud between the two bloodlines. After it's all said and done, Viktor and the council commits Sonja to death. She is tied up and exposed to the sun, which basically turns her into a crispy critter.

I'll have to hand it to the costume and production designers of this film. I'm sure that they are more than proud of this profound peek into the dark side of fantasy film-making. Viktor (Nighy) is the main vampire in charge and he shows it with his bluish gleaming eyes. Lucian's friends include many such as Raze (Kevin Grevioux) and Kraven (Shane Brolly). Kevin Grevioux helped write the original 2003 Underworld story and is seen here again helping Lucian in prison. Younger versions of Lucian and Sonja are also in the film played by Alex Carrol and Olivia Taylforth.

Sonja (Mitra) is perfect in this film and Lucian (Sheen) is her love, almost akin to the tragic story of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but there is one problem. Lucian happens to be a Lycan while Sonja is a pure blood vampire.

I don't want to let you in on all the wonderful action in this film, but it is well worth the wait to see if you missed it a the theaters.

I'm going to give Rise of the Lycans a 5/5 mainly due to the great action, excellent editing, and a followable story-line. I hope that we can see another Sequel soon from the same directors.

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