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Bought Underworld and Other DVDs Last Night...Follow

#1 Jan 08 2004 at 5:51 PM Rating: Good
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So I bought Underworld and some other DVDs last night to cheer up my flu-stricken wife.

Underworld - I loved and hated this movie. Some parts were terrific, other parts were completely horrid. Here's my opinion, feel free to agree/disagree/correct me!

The Bad:

- The guy who played Kraven gets my vote for "Ireland's Version of Ben Affleck" for his acting abilities. Dreadfully bad acting. The stench of his acting is worse than all the decayed body parts found throughout the film.

- Poor directing, specifically, the love between Selene and Michael was poorly developed and not believable. I can believe the mutual attraction/lust, but the deep love we couldn't buy.

- Ripping off The Matrix in tone, style, characters (Selene is clearly a vampiric version of Trinity, Michael is "the one" like Neo, etc.

- Some elements of the script made no sense in regards to traditional vampire lore. In Underworld, Vampires are not undead, but immortal, ergo the idea that Victor had a daughter and that Lucius knocked her up (origin of the whole war between the vampires and lycans (werewolves). I guess for the story's sake we have to buy this, but they still depict the immortals as pretty undead (ergo, the reawakening of Victor). It just doesn't jibe with vampiric mythology (at least from what I've grown up reading or seeing in films) that vampire women cannot bear children.

The Good:

- Kate Beckinsale looked hot and did a great acting job despite the poor direction/script.

- Scott Speedman did a decent acting job as well. Only thing that bugged me was his similarity to Scott Stapp of Creed. I hate it when Creed songs start going through my head.

- Bill Nighy was exceptional as Victor. The right mix of royalty and scary. Always liked him since his funny role in "Still Crazy" as the has-been lead singer of the band, "Strange Fruit".

- Special effects were outstanding. Note to self, don't watch movies with graphic grossness while eating dinner...

- The overall story was pretty cool.

- I imagine the overall theme and tone of the film had to be a goth's wet dream. I wouldn't know from personal experience.

- As it was blatantly obvious by the end of the movie that there will be a sequel, I hope they can bring back Bill Nighy. If not, I hope the director overcomes his critical flaws or that the producers get another director. Also, as Kraven is surely to return in the sequel, I hope he'll take a refresher course in acting.

The other DVDs I picked up were "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (hell, it was on sale), The Simpsons Season 1 and 3 (already have Season 2). I'll post a review of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" after we watch it sometime this weekend...
____________________________
'Lo, there do I see, the line of my people, back to the beginning, 'lo do they call to me, they bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave...may live...forever.

X-Box 360 Gamer Tag - Smogster
#2 Jan 08 2004 at 6:31 PM Rating: Good
I dont have a lot of time, otherwise I would be more indepth about it.

I get the same vibe from League you get from Underworld.

It has its good and bad, as most flicks do.

Overall, you should enjoy it.

Even more since it was on sale :)

oh, and you should enjoy the vamp chick, quite the cool charcters
#3 Jan 08 2004 at 6:51 PM Rating: Good
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2,196 posts
Quote:
oh, and you should enjoy the vamp chick, quite the cool charcters


Heh, my main motivation for buying the DVD was for Peta Wilson (vampire chick)!! Smiley: grin
____________________________
'Lo, there do I see, the line of my people, back to the beginning, 'lo do they call to me, they bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave...may live...forever.

X-Box 360 Gamer Tag - Smogster
#4 Jan 09 2004 at 8:35 AM Rating: Excellent
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3,473 posts
LXG was a good movie, I really didn't like the inclusion of the "American" influence, that character was never in the comics, and hence, should not be in the movie.

Underworld is still one of my fav movies of last year. I'm a big fan of all kinds of vampire movies (No i'm not Goth). The only problem I had with this movie was the lawsuit that was filed by White Wolf, trying to get this movie to stop coming out, because it is a direct rip off of one of their novels, plus the whole interaction with the vampires, how everything is set up, seems to be referenced in WW's Vampire: the Masquerade RPG.
#5 Jan 09 2004 at 6:46 PM Rating: Good
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2,196 posts
Quote:
LXG was a good movie, I really didn't like the inclusion of the "American" influence, that character was never in the comics, and hence, should not be in the movie.


I'll have to track the graphic novel down to read it! Maybe they felt they needed to have an American literary figure represented.

As an FYI for anyone even remotely interested in our discussion, here are the LXG characters in the movie:

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

Alan Quartermain by H. Rider Haggard

Captain Nemo from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

Dorian Gray from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Mina Harker from Dracula by Bram Stoker

Quote:
Underworld is still one of my fav movies of last year. I'm a big fan of all kinds of vampire movies (No i'm not Goth). The only problem I had with this movie was the lawsuit that was filed by White Wolf, trying to get this movie to stop coming out, because it is a direct rip off of one of their novels, plus the whole interaction with the vampires, how everything is set up, seems to be referenced in WW's Vampire: the Masquerade RPG.


That's interesting, I didn't know about the lawsuit. I played maybe the first part of Vampire: The Masquerade pc version but I couldn't stand the voice acting. And for the fact that the game scared the **** outta me. Smiley: blush

**Update**

We watched LXG last night. A fun movie, however I think they were cramming too much into a movie that was less than 2 hours long. The pacing was a bit rushed most of the time. I liked all the actors, even the kid who played Tom Sawyer. I think in regards to his inclusion he was there to represent the future hero, whereas Quartermain (Connery) was the past's hero (sort of a changing from the old guard to the new guard thing).

It was better than I expected, but it probably could have done some things better. I think my favorite character was Dorian Gray - very amusing and well acted. It would be cool if they can work him into the sequel, but I'm not sure that will happen. The ending definitely practically shouted for a sequel - however, will Mr. Connery oblige and return will be a question.

Another distraction was how Mina could move around during the daylight while she was a vampire...it would have been nice if they could have explained it (for instance, as a scientist, she was able to use some concoction she whipped up in her lab to survive in daylight or something). Otherwise, why not stay true to Bram Stoker's characterization of vampires? I guess that's why Dorian Gray and Dr. J/Mr. H were more interesting characters as they had some kind of vulnerability. Heck, even the Invisible Man longed for a cure to have him become visible again.

Although I thought the Nautilus was a spiffy ship, I guess I'm old school and will always think of the Nautilus as it was portrayed in the Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Overall, the acting was much better in LXG, however, I'm more interested in seeing an Underworld sequel more. I'll still rent/buy LXG 2 if it comes out, anyhoo.


Edited, Sat Jan 10 18:23:57 2004 by Smoggy
____________________________
'Lo, there do I see, the line of my people, back to the beginning, 'lo do they call to me, they bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave...may live...forever.

X-Box 360 Gamer Tag - Smogster
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