Underworld: Awakening

Caution: This Might Contain Spoilers!

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This is the fourth installment to the Underworld franchise. The war between Lycans and vampires has been raging for years because of an unexpected love. Years later, the war as turned into chaos as the leaders of the vampire clans, and the leader of the lycans, and the father of the two species, have all been murdered. Humans have suddenly discovered the two species and began a purge. Selene and Michael Corvin have been captured by the humans. Twelve years later, Selene awakes from a frozen hyper sleep in a science lab. She discovers that she has a connection to another test subject, a little girl, and sets out to try and discover what has happened the twelve years that she'd been asleep. 

This film was directed by Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein. From the moment I saw the previous I knew this film was going to be different from the others in the franchise. I was able to see this film in 3D which was a great experience. This film plays more with the 3D special effects very subtly (lighting and glass). However, this film relies more on action than story, and feels more like a filler film than anything else. This film keeps the gothic tone that is present in the other films. You can't just come into this film, and understand the plot. The plot is added on from the previous three films, and true fans will be able to pick it up quickly. However, this also hurts the film on its own merits. It's hard to feel for characters when there's no back story, and no heartfelt story in this one. The film would've done better with a lead in from the last film in the series (Underworld: Evolution) to the beginning of this film. The action in this film is great. It's very fast paced, and much more gorier than the other films. The vampire effects were great. This film really showed Selene's bad-assness and power. The lycan effects were great as well, even with the new super wolf. He's the giant version of a lycan who can't be hurt by silver. Which is why his death did not make a lot of sense in the end. The effects for Eve, the hybrid test subject, was great. Her change was much more subtle than Michael's, and the eyes were just amazing. All the characters, even the human, were bad-ass fighters and were unable to die. It would've been better if the characters weren't all super powered. 

Kate Beckinsale returned to her role of Selene. She's great in this role as always. She builds on the character's emotions and heart in a way that is fitting to the film. India Eisley played the role of Eve, the child hybrid. This her first major film appearance and she does great. She's not a whimpering child, and she's not a brat either. She gets to fight in this film-which is unheard of for child monsters unless they are the villain. She is also great pulling of the monster and the human side of her character. Theo James, David, was good in his role. He was the character who helped Selene make sense of this new world. He's another new actor making a major film appearance. Michael Ealy, detective Sebastian, is great in this film. He plays the typical detective, but he fills his character with heart that he makes him believable. Stephen Rea, Dr. Jacob Lane, was great as the villain. He is the lead scientist at the lab that held Selene and Eve captive. He's great in this role creating a villain who is a nuisance. Kris Holden-Ried, Quint, is good as the super lycan character. He's not given much opportunity to present his character outside of being a lycan, but he does make a presence in the film as a misunderstood villain. 

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars! It's a great action film to watch even if it doesn't contain much story. The cast was great together, and were fun to watch.

Answer to last blog: Actor Brian Bloom and director Joe Carnahan work on the film Smokin' Aces together (as well as The A-Team). 

Which other of the films, in the Underworld franchise, was not directed by Len Wiseman?

Underworld

Underworld: Evolution

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Underworld: Awakening