UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION (DVD Review) - 28/5/06

Found this to be very flat when I saw this back in the cinema in January 2006; but seeing it a second time round on DVD, I really enjoyed it this time. The Region 1 (USA) DVD Cover is pictured above. This time around we get the added gravitas of Derek Jacobi as the head of both the Vampires and Werewolves with a nice return from Bill Nighy as Viktor again. Featuring a strong performance from Tony Curran as Markus and a nice side role for Steven Mackintosh as Tanis; we also get Selene's (Kate Beckinsale) furthered back-story and further threads of Lycan/Vampire history that broaden the scope far from the first film leading to new avenues and horizons. The action is pretty much non-stop and inventive and the blood flows quite copiously amidst the blasts of gunfire and explosions. Taking up more or less from where the last film ended more secrets and deceptions are revealed heading towards (inevitably) a probable third film. I say bring it on and look forward to a trilogy rounding out all the events featured.

Languages: English/French. Soundtrack: 5.1. Subtitles: English/French. Close Captioned. Region 1 (USA) - Colour. Anamorphic Widescreen: 2.40:1. Runtime: Approx 106 Mins. Special Features not rated. Rating: R. 2006 / SONY HOME ENTERTAINMENT / ISBN # 043396146884 / 14688 LAKESHORE/SCREEN GEMS. SPECIAL FEATURES: Director & Filmmaker's Commentary. Featurettes: The Hybrid Theory - Visual Effects, The War Rages On - Stunts, Bloodlines: From Script To Screen - Making-Of, Making Monsters Roar - Creature FX, Building A Saga - Production Design, Music & Mayhem - Music & Sound Design. Music Video by Atreyu "Her Portrait In Black". Preview Trailers. [Incidentally, the featurettes all combine to provide a near effortless rush of fairly seamless CGI; stuntwork, green-screen, models and what have you, to create an imaginative film whilst at the same time giving you some excellent background on just how they put all this together - Impressive! ]