Kate Beckinsale is hot. Honestly, that’s why this reviewer went to see her new movie, "Underworld: Evolution."
Director Len Wiseman starts up "Evolution" just two hours after the first movie, "Underworld," ended.
"Evolution" follows the vampire Selene (Beckinsale) and her vampire-werewolf hybrid lover Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) as they race against time to expose truths, betrayals and the end of humanity.
The film keeps a bloody and explosive pace as it follows "the final battle" between Deathdealers and Lycans.
The movie unveils the history of the feud between werewolves and vampires as a vendetta between two brothers, each of whom was bitten by their respective animals and changed for all time.
Apparently family love and loyalty can break all genetic and destructive differences. Marcus, the vampire brother (Tony Curran) wakes up from his petrified slumber and wreaks havoc on the remaining members of his vampire clan. He kills them all in his gruesome and very CGI animated bat-human hybrid state. Marcus then hunts down Selene, seeking answers about the prison where his werewolf brother was "entombed for all time."
Selene and Michael, the hot yet deadly duo, fight their way to truth about Selene’s past and Michael’s future. Miraculously, they always survive their battles and escape with only minor scrapes and bruises. All of this, of course, sets the mood for some hot action sequences of the nonviolent kind.
The story line is predictable with a few surprises of the "can they really kill by using their bare hands to rip off the jaws of rabid werewolves?" variety.
The tone is always dark and moody. Even the sunrise appears to be on the blue side. In other words, it’s a perfect mindless action flick.
The film improves on the original by providing more background for the characters and introducing villains who are even more vile. However, the corny quotes are back, such as when Selene asks Alexander Corvinus (Derek Jacobi), immortal father to the dueling brothers, "What will I become?" and Corvinus answers with a grave, "The future." Laugh out loud.
The special effects are realistic, so you don’t doubt that humans really are transforming into four-legged wolves. Director Wisemen also upped the blood and gore, so be warned, it’s bloodier than "Kill Bill 2," but not "Kill Bill 1."
This movie will satisfy its strong fan base, but if you’re not into the vampire versus werewolf thing, don’t bother going. Otherwise, put on your black leather, and let Hollywood entertain you with glamour and gore.
This article appears in the Jan. 30, 2006 print edition of La Voz.
