Brad_Harmer Reviews

Underworld (2003)

The Matrix Re-Vamped

[7/10 · 11 May 2004]

Movie Review: Underworld

Directed By: Len Wiseman

Written By: Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman and Danny McBride

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly and Bill Nighy

As soon as you have seen the first five minutes of Underworld, you realise that this is a film that owes The Matrix and Blade a huge debt. While this should have been immediately obvious from the trailers and movie posters featuring Beckinsale in skin-tight PVC, twin pistols and a Trinity style haircut, it is also in the mise-en-scéne and execution of the cinematography. All out gun battles are frequent, and all that is missing is the bullet-time. This raises the question: why have vampires and werewolves fighting, and then have them firing guns at each other?

The fact that this is a fictional world (allegedly of its own devising, but I will come to that), is a plus in many ways, but it hits a trap that many fantasy/horror/sci-fi films fall into in. The director and writers are obviously well at home with the world that they have created, but they rarely (if ever) take the time out to explain this world and its apparently complicated political situation to the audience. This is a major flaw, and it is not until almost halfway through the movie that the audience has any idea what is actually going on.

Apparently, the writer saw this movie as `Vampires and Werewolves do Romeo and Juliet'. Let me state right now that this film bears little resemblance to the Shakespeare play, and that it is only the `Star-Crossed' lovers that remain. A tarnished representation of one of the greatest love stories of our time, perhaps. However, the romantic sideline seems crammed in somehow, as though the filmmakers realised that there needed to be some substance to pace out the next confusing gun-battle. A major flaw of which is that the vampires and werewolves look virtually identical, so that it often hard to see who is shooting who.

What is interesting is that the role-playing games company White Wolf Inc. attempted to sue the film for copyright infringement. There certainly is a striking resemblance to Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Don't worry, any knowledge you may have of the games' setting won't help you any, through the mysterious plotline. That said, if they had just got the licence and made a Vampire: The Masquerade movie, the film would likely have been immeasurably superior. That could have become/been a high class cult-movie. Underworld, however, looks destined for the £5.99 rack.

Overall, Underworld is a flawed, if enjoyable, action-romp. Probably best enjoyed when in a no-brainer mood. Beckinsale is as lovely as ever, and the promise of her in a PVC suit is probably the major incentive for teenage boys to watch the film. There are several nice action set-pieces throughout the film, but the overall effect is confusing and disjointed.

STORY: 6/10 DIRECTION: 4/10 PERFORMANCE: 4/10 OVERALL: 5/10

RECOMMENDED TO: Teenage Goths, people who play White Wolf RPGs and drunken twenty-somethings bored in Blockbuster.

DON'T WATCH WITH: Mum, Werewolves or hardcore White Wolf gamers.

The Man Who Sued God (2001)

If there's one thing I can't stand it's grovelling

[7/10 · 11 May 2004]

Movie Review: The Man Who Sued God

Directed By: Mark Joffe

Written By: Don Watson and John Clarke

Starring: Billy Connolly, Judy Davis, Colin Friels, Wendy Hughes and Bille Brown.

The very concept of the movie and the bold title alone would seem to be enough to trigger off a political and religious minefield. As it is, the concept is very carefully handled to be inconclusive and theoretical. Connolly is careful to point out that he is not suing God himself, but rather the very idea of an Act of God as an insurance get-out clause. Connolly, after being told by the insurance company that lightning striking his boat was an act of God, takes the logical course and attempts to sue God.

This, at its core, is a very simple romantic-comedy/family-movie with very simple laughs. There is no deep or intelligent humour to this. All the laughs either come from swearing laced outbursts from Connolly, or from people falling over. This is simple, yet effective, and Connolly is on high-form throughout. Your mother will really love this film, especially if they are fans of Connolly, as mine is. Connolly is not only an outstanding comedian, but also a formidable actor, as he proved in Mrs. Brown and continues here.

The inevitable romance in this romantic comedy is seemingly dropped in from out of nowhere, with the deus ex machina clanking loudly towards the end. There is no real build up or detailed characterisation for why the two characters should finally become an item, we are merely meant to accept it as it is. This is ultimately unsatisfying.

The character development for Connolly himself is well handled, and the way he changes from an extremely annoyed lawyer turned fisherman into a calm, cool and collected gentleman is handled well. His relationship with Arthur (the dog) provides much of the humour and sentimentality for the character, as does his relationship with his ex-wife (Wendy Hughes), Anna Redmond (Judy Davis) and his brother, David (Colin Friels). The writing and performance on all sides is excellent, and commendations to all involved.

Ultimately, this is something of a love-story by the numbers, but the very idea of a man suing God gives the old story and plot something new. The ludicrousness of the case and the larger than life characters make this film worth viewing. Also the political and theological hot-bed it opens up with leave you with something to think about and discuss long after the movie has ended.

STORY: 8/10 DIRECTION: 5/10 PERFORMANCE: 8/10 OVERALL: 7/10

RECOMMENDED TO: Mothers, aunties and people who like Connolly.

DON'T WATCH WITH: Catholic priests, insurance workers or God.