January has the tendency to bring out the worst of movies. This known fact contrasts the large numbers that the box office makes during the month of December, especially in recent months with Star Wars making a return. However, with a cult following and a debatably long break between films, the Underworld series rears its head and makes a return, using this empty time frame to cater to its loyal cult following. Never one for the critical reaction and one solely for the fans, Underworld: Blood Wars makes its best attempt to keep the series going and continue what the previous films started.
While I enjoy the Underworld movies, my opinions of them vary. Being flawed films, I have respect for how the films establish their lore and continuity, and more importantly how the films stick by them.That much must be respected, and to add that the series has been going since 2003 based on the willpower of its fanbase is something to novel at. This isn’t Star Wars, and it doesn’t try to be. Quite simply, if you’re expecting substance over style here, then you’re going to be disappointed.
Blood Wars picks up following Awakening and almost immediately puts main character Selene (Kate Beckinsale) back to the basics of fighting Lycans. A former Death Dealer, she has been running from Vampire Covens, Werewolves, and humanity itself as she travels alone. Her daughter, Eve, is absent, with no indication of where she might be, and Michael Corvin, the father to Eve, is currently lost as well. She then receives a summon, alongside friend and ally David, (Theo James) to make peace with the Coven that branded her as an outcast. This is in order to help fight Marius, a powerful Lycan figure who is starting to worry the higher ranking members of the Coven.
In the fashion of keeping the finer details vague, the story does feel like what you would expect from the series at this point. While Awakening may have drifted a little too close being a Resident Evil-esque forray, Blood Wars feels more in fashion with Evolution, despite being a direct sequel to the former. Director Anna Foerster brings a sleek and stylish approach to the film, capturing the colder environment present. While not being revolutionary, Blood Wars is nice to look at, especially when there’s action on screen. Fast paced, violent, and fatal fight sequences may borderline on being cheesy at times, but when you’re dealing with Vampires and Lycans you can’t take yourself too seriously.
That doesn’t mean that the technical mishaps in the movie are forgivable, though, as there are definitely problems about. About halfway through the film, it becomes apparent at how fast-paced the movie is and seems to be rushing from plot-point to plot-point without much time to digest what’s going on. There’s a lack of patience, it seems, and it becomes clear that the people in charge could have let shots go for a second or two more to avoid it looking choppy. At barely over an hour and a half (with credits) there should be no excuse to try and cram everything into the shortest time frame possible, especially when past endeavors in the series have gone beyond that.
This, fortunately, does not squander the mythology and world building present in Blood Wars. Little tidbits of information are given, as well as revelations along the way that will surprise fans as the film enters the later part of its second act and third act. The reveals are well done and don’t ever jump the gun, but one such reveal raises more questions than it does solve them. This, ultimately, is the biggest flaw that Blood Wars holds, and seems to be a major plot hole. While there is definitely a possibility it could be rectified in a future film, the fact that it will possibly take an average of three years to maybe get an answer is dissatisfying.
The actors, however, do their best with the content given to them. The writing of the narrative is fine, but it’s the dialogue early on in the film that becomes rudimentary and dumbed down. Characters often repeat information after it has already been established in the film, possibly in hopes of filling in new viewers and refreshing what is possibly going to be important. This tactic is fine the first time, but as characters repeat their motivations, it becomes eye-rolling. “Yes, I know this already,” you’ll say to yourself, “Let’s just keep going forward!”
Both Beckinsale and James do well in their respective parts of Selene and David. Five movies in, not much needs to be said for Beckinsale, seeing as she’s more than capable of doing these movies in her sleep. James, however, has a somewhat larger role in the film, and as such his acting is just a bit better than it was in the previous film. David’s father, Thomas, who is once again played by Charles Dance, is respectively given more development this time around and does more than berate his son and Selene with insults. Even the primary antagonist, Marius, is an alright enough character to where Tobias Menzes simply has to show up and do his job to get the point of him across. While he starts off as a one-note villain, some events that transpire in the film will raise the eyebrows of some fans and make him just a bit more memorable.
It’s Semira, played by Lara Pulver, who is the most aggravating of the characters present, as Pulver attempts to be obsessed and power hungry, yet comes across as eye-roll inducing instead. Several lines given to the character are among the worst the film has to offer, and ultimately she becomes predictable and stupid in her actions. Not much can be redeemed from this character, and Pulver does nothing to help the performance either.
Even still, Blood Wars is a good amount of fun, however flawed it may be. The film attempts to fill in new viewers and may successfully do so, but technical flaws and narrative elements make up its shortcomings. That being said, it’s still good fun with solid action scenes and becomes rewarding to fans who have stuck with the franchise thus far, hopefully appeasing them in the process In the end, Underworld doesn’t need to be cinematic gold; it just needs to entertain and be fun.
