Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Patrick Tatopoulos

Writers (WGA):

Danny McBride (screenplay) and
Dirk Blackman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Slave | Prequel | Collar | Pregnant

Cast

Michael Sheen	...	Lucian
Bill Nighy	...	Viktor
Rhona Mitra	...	Sonja
Steven Mackintosh	...	Tannis
Kevin Grevioux	...	Raze
David Aston	...	Coloman
Geraldine Brophy	...	Nobleman's Wife
Leighton Cardno	...	Fearful Lycan
Alex Carroll	...	Young Lucian (as Alexander Carroll)
Elizabeth Hawthorne	...	Orsova
Jared Turner	...	Xristo
Jason Hood	...	Death Dealer
Mark Mitchinson	...	Nobleman
Tania Nolan	...	Luka
Craig Parker	...	Sabas

Also Known As:

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans (USA) (working title)
Untitled Underworld Prequel (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for bloody violence and some sexuality.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44577) | Germany:16 | Australia:MA | UK:18 | Ireland:16 | Japan:R-15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:M18 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Brazil:16 | Mexico:B15 | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-15 | Denmark:11 | Austria:14 | Netherlands:16 | France:U (with warning) | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Sketch Films

Trivia:

Viktor (Bill Nighy), Lucian (Michael Sheen), and Selene (Kate Beckinsale) are the only characters/actors to appear in all three movies of the Underworld series. Each character has one movie in which they only appear in a flashback: Viktor and Lucian in Underworld: Evolution and Selene in Underworld: Rise of he Lycans.

Goofs:

Continuity: After his group of slaves is sent to be bitten by the captive Lycans, Raze is the only one of his group back in his cage without a collar, but no point is made of this.

Quotes:

Raze: [after beating the Vampires] Lucian, it is finished!
Lucian: [to himself] No, this is just the beginning.

Movie Connections:

Edited from Underworld (2003)

Soundtrack:

Steal My Romance

One of the Best Trilogies Ever

When the human son of a werewolf is born in a cell, the evil leader of the clan of vampires Viktor (Bill Nighy) spares his life and names him Lucian; forces him to transform other humans in the new breed Lycan; and raises him as a slave wearing a leash to control his ability. Along the years, Lucian (Michael Sheen) becomes a brave warrior with a great leadership over the other Lycans, protecting the aristocratic vampires during the daylight against the vicious and infectious breed of werewolves that are unable to take human form ever again. However, Viktor's daughter Sonja (Rhona Mitra) and Lucian are lovers and they secretly meet each other every now and then. When Lucian unleashes and transforms in a werewolf to save the life of Sonja in a battle against the werewolves, Viktor sentences him to be brutally whipped thirty times and then imprisons him in the dungeon. However, 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.

I usually do not like prequels and sequels of successful movies, but "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" is an excellent prequel of one of the best trilogies I have ever seen, and maybe the best of the three great movies. The tragic romance between Sonja and Lucian has elements of Romeo and Juliet and is engaging, providing a great justification to the beginning of the feud between vampires and Lycans. The cinematography is wonderful giving a stylish support to the outstanding screenplay. Rhona Mitra resembles Kate Beckinsale that makes a cameo in the very last scene, and shows a great chemistry with Michael Sheen. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Anjos da Noite – A Rebelião" ("Angels of the Night – The Rebellion")