Vampires and Underworld: Evolution

I watched 2 movies last Sunday: V for Vendetta and then Underworld: Evolution.

The sequel to Underworld was a disappointment even though I went without much expectation, but to explain that you have to know a little bit about the story and my limited, game influenced knowledge of vampires. I am no expert (nor do I want to be) in the study of vampires, so please allow for omissions and incorrect information. Suggestions are welcomed: please post a comment if you have corrections to make.

(warning: lengthy with spoilers to Underworld)

Vampires, old and new

The image of vampires often depends on the literature. In the older days, folklore vampires were enemies to humanity. They were hideous, monstrous entities which fly into villages at night, killing livestock and villagers. In the recent years, vampires have been highly romanticized, thanks to movie makers and fiction writers. Gratified by an eternal life yet cursed with an insatiable hunger, intelligent yet tempered with dementia, swift and strong but turn to dust the moment they see sunlight, vampires have become a symbol of a conflicted personality, an excellent tool to inject tormented love and hate into a story.

Doomed to live forever in solitude, a "romanticized" vampire may be tempted to create a family of his own. The exact procedure differs from story to story, but it usually requires the victim to drink some of the vampire's blood, completing a bond between the two individuals.

The bond of blood

Blood is the essence of life. It is often the symbol of strength and knowledge. By consuming blood from a vampire one inherits the immortality and vampiric strength from the master. This means that vampiric abilities may dilute along the bloodline. In some settings, the chain of blood also guarantees obedience to the creator. The creator may require his creations drink his blood regularly to maintain dominance. The transfer of blood may have been an euphemism for sexual activities. Afterall, both are about the transfer of bodily fluids.... but this is suppsed to be a movie review so I would just leave it.

Underworld, the world beneath our own

As bloodlines grow into networks, vampires must feed carefully without exposing their tracks. The entire society must stay underground and remain hidden from the commons or an inquisition will begin to claim their heads. This is the core story of "Vampire: the Masquerade", a story-telling game of gothic horror by the game company White Wolf. Believe it or not, I first knew of the movie through a press release they issued. I doubt any of you would care, so I would just continue to the story of Underworld.

Underworld was first promoted as a Romeo and Juliet story in a gothic world. The Capulets are played by the "Death Dealers", a highly organized society of vampires and the Montagues by the "Lycans", a raging group of werewolves. For reasons not initially known, they have been fighting each other for centuries. Now the whole Underworld have their eyes set on a young human named Michael Corvin. When the story unfolds, it is known that Michael is a descendent of Alexander Corvinus, the father to all vampires and werewolves. Michael has been bitten by a werewolf and will be killed by any vampire. Selene, herself a vampire, need to fight against both sides to save his boyfriend.

While I am not very fond of the excessive CG scenes, I found the movie entertaining enough. The two main plots: a vampire in love with an enemy, and an experiment to create a stronger specie were merged nicely. The integration of vampire and werewolf myths and the futuristic society could have been better, but is not too bad. The photography was very nice.

Impressions on Underworld: 6/10

The Evolution that evolved into nothingness

The story of Underworld: Evolution starts right after the previous story ends. Michael is now a stronger (or so they claim) vampire-werewolf hybrid but the elder vampire Marcus has awakened. He is after Selene for Lucian's necklace.

Why do I not like it? I just need to ask one question: do you like it if a love story turns into a DOOM like shooting game? Apparently all the Death Dealers and Lycans have been wiped out in the last movie. Now it is all about Selene, Michael, some humans and Marcus the huge, mean monster with no personality. A dumb fight-or-die survival thriller.

In Underworld they made some effort sticking to the general vampire and lycanthrope rules while making a visually appealing Hollywood movie. All the impressions and contrasts have been lost in the sequel. Nor did they keep the contract of blood which made vampire stories so fascinating. In the Underworld, blood represents memory but apparently not strength. If this is true, how could the wise but fragile Corvinus have helped by letting Selene drink his blood?

In a Hollywood movie the amount of female body displayed is often inversely proportional to movie quality. Seeing Kate Beckinsales' pelvis does not help improve the rating; instead it reminds me how bad this movie is.

Impressions on Underworld: Evolution: 4/10