Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

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 | Werewolf | Prequel | Prisoner

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:

While filming this movie, Michael Sheen was asked by Ron Howard if he could record a quick moment of dialog for Frost/Nixon (2008). Sheen, covered in fake blood from the days filming, went to his trailer and recorded the dialog, he asked someone to take a picture of him doing it and sent it to Ron Howard, who had it framed and displayed.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Lucian's final fight with Viktor and he steps out on the ledge above all the lycans, they are all clothed like they were before the battle started. When they transformed into their wolf forms, all their clothes would have been ripped off.

Quotes:

Lucian: I've lived by their rules my entire life. I've protected them. envied them. and for what? To be treated like an animal. We are not animals! Is this want you want? We can be slaves, or we can be... LYCANS!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Twilight Saga: The 400 Year Old Virgin (2009)

Soundtrack:

Board Up the House (Renholder Remix)

Very EPIC -- at a smaller scale.

In a nutshell:

The GOOD: The storyline is great. It's a very appropriate prequel for the Underwolrd series. DEFINITELY for fans, and also for anyone that want to start getting into the series. There's a BONUS at the end.

The acting is believable and somehow very emotional. Although, nothing Oscar-worthy, it's really worthy of your time.

The special effect is quite amazing. Looks like those 1980's horror flick. Very classic, in a way.

The tone is everything! I really love the moody tone of the movie. Very effective in this type of movies.

The BAD: Although I mentioned some goods there are a few bads. Everything just wasn't enough.

The castle looks very small. Hence, really takes away the epic feeling to it.

The war was also quite small. Walking into the theater, I was hoping for an epic war between the Vampire and the Lycans. But no, the fight focuses on the main characters.

I was also expecting more for the special effects and costumes. Especially in this era of movie-making. The filmmakers should've gone a step further in bringing us the realism of the picture.

OVERALL: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a great movie to catch. Full of drama and action. Definitely worth the money and time, especially for fans.