IMDb > Underworld (2003)
Underworld
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Underworld (2003) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 88 | slideshow) Videos (see all 11 NEW)
Underworld (2003) -- Selene (Beckinsale), a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael (Speedman), a werewolf who longs for the war to end.
Underworld (2003) -- Selene (Beckinsale), a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael (Speedman), a werewolf who longs for the war to end.
Underworld (2003) -- Selene (Beckinsale), a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael (Speedman), a werewolf who longs for the war to end.
Underworld (2003) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
Underworld (2003) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   59,208 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 20% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Len Wiseman
Writers (WGA):
Kevin Grevioux (story) and
Len Wiseman (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Underworld on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 September 2003 (USA) more
Tagline:
An immortal battle for supremacy. more
Plot:
Selene, a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael, a werewolf who longs for the war to end. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(501 articles)
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Eminem Starring in Shady Talez, a 3D Anthology Horror Movie
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User Comments:
Features on the 2 Disc DVD Make It the Way to Go more (773 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Underworld (Germany)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence/gore and some language.
Runtime:
121 min | USA:133 min (director's cut)
Country:
USA | Germany | Hungary | UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)
Certification:
USA:Not Rated (extended version) | France:-12 | Malaysia:18SG | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Iceland:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) (also director's cut) | South Korea:15 (cable rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Sweden:15 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 (original rating) | Germany:18 (director's cut) | Mexico:B15 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia)
Filming Locations:
Budapest, Hungary more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
A kiss between Michael and Selene (when she unchains him in Lucian's lab) appears in the trailer but was not included in the theatrical release or on the DVD, but it is on the unrated version of Underworld. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The shooting gallery scene: in close-ups of the statue targets, bullets are slamming into them at a high rate, as if from a machine gun. When the shot changes to show Selene, she is actually seen to be using a semi-automatic pistol, and firing at a much slower rate. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Selene: [voiceover] The war had all but ground to a halt in the blink of an eye. Lucian, the most feared and ruthless leader ever to rule the Lycan clan, had finally been killed. The Lycan horde scattered to the wind in a single evening of flame and retribution. Victory...
more
Movie Connections:
References Alien (1979) more
Soundtrack:
Judith (Renholder Mix) more

FAQ

What happened to Marcus?
What is the song that plays when Michael is in the police car and then again at the end of the movie?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more
39 out of 54 people found the following comment useful.
Features on the 2 Disc DVD Make It the Way to Go, 1 November 2005
Author: aimless-46 from Kentucky

The "Underworld" sequel will soon be out so now is a good time to revisit the original. Personally I enjoyed this film more than any high budget "mainstream movie" I have seen in years years. But I can see many of the problems others have pointed out. Although the small action scenes work very well, the more elaborate scenes are disjointed, confused, and somewhat silly. If you compare the opening subway sequence to the train station sequence in "The Untouchables", you see an illustration of why less is better; and "Underworld" expends more ammo for less effect than anything this side of a "Godzilla" film.

Along with too much aggressive confusion is the silliest head-splitting in cinema history. Similar to the way Tarentino dispatched Lucy Lie in "Kill Bill Vol.1" (i.e. a delay in the actual detachment-I don't know which film did it first but Tarentine did it way better), the effects editor overlooked the need to show a slice in the head before it topples off. Surely this was just simple incompetence and not deliberate, because there are ways to show this (i.e. a line) that would still make it a relatively shocking scene.

The story itself breaks too many horror genre conventions and fails to generate much real suspense (although the climax is somewhat surprising). But ultimately these problems did not interfere with my enjoyment of the movie.

This was because it is first and foremost a Kate Beckensale's vehicle, as emphasized by recent trailer for the sequel. It is likely that your feeling about the film will depend on your impression of Beckensale. She has never looked better and I'm just talking about her face which I could watch in closeup for two hours without the slightest complaint. She is increasingly an absolute ringer for a 1940-ish Loretta Young. An earlier comment noted that: "This 30 year old has the figure and face of a magazine model, with the bored flat expression to match. Pour this tight little body into a rubber suit with especially reflective pants and you have something to anchor your movie". All this is very true but add intelligence, subtlety and nuance not seen since Diana Rigg was playing Mrs. Peel. The film does not demonstrate her range (you have to watch "Alice Through the Looking Glass" for the best evidence of that) but it is one of those rare cases where you can't imagine anyone but her in the role.

The production design, lighting, and cinematography are all excellent and the DVD has some great features explaining these aspects of the production.

The film has a nice consistent look that fits very well with the story. I don't understand the comments that are negative overall, or what films these people are unfavorably comparing it to, can't be the garbage films that have been coming to mainstream theaters over the past few years. Bottom line, if you like the genre, appreciate stylish production design, and think highly of Ms. Beckensale you should make it a point to see this movie.

Was the above comment useful to you?
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