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• 1080p High Definition

• The Hybrid Theory Featurette

• Audio Commentary with Len Wiseman

• The War Rages On Featurette

• Music Video

• Making Monsters Roar Featurette

Special Feature Rating:

Vampires and werewolves and lots of guns, oh my! What more could a horror/action movie fan want? Quite a bit, unfortunately. In Underworld, filmgoers were introduced to a war between Vampires and Werewolves, where a Vampire "Death Dealer," Selene (Kate Beckinsale), fights to save a human named Michael (Scott Speedman) from becoming a pawn in a scheme by the Werewolves to create a powerful Vampire-Werewolf hybrid. Underworld Evolution returns the primary characters who survived the first film, continues the story, and provides historical backgrounds on the Vampires, Lycans, and the war that rages between the species, all the while charting new territory and increasing the action violence several times over from that seen in the first film.

After some historical background on several characters from the year 1202 A.D., including Marcus and William Corvinus and the now-vanquished Vampire leader Viktor, the film returns to the present day as Selene and Michael seek out the Vampire Marcus who, unfortunately for our heroes, has been awakened and seeks their deaths. Selene and Michael's relationship is complicated by the obligatory romance, and only with their combined powers will they defeat their toughest enemy yet.

Underworld: Evolution is entertaining enough fare for a sequel of this nature, but like so many sequels, the film tries very hard to top the first one in style, yet doesn't quite live up to the pace and freshness of the world as first imagined in the original Underworld. This film follows up on the story nicely and logically, feeling like a middle part of a trilogy that progresses the story and delivers excellent action and stunts, but whose tone drags a bit and ultimately doesn't live up to the power of the bookends. Obviously, there isn't a third film yet, though one is in the works (entitled Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) that is said to be an origins story rather than a sequel to the events of Underworld: Evolution.

Story Rating:

Even in the dark conditions, the intricate detail on the armor worn by the characters at the beginning of the movie is extremely high, all without sacrificing black levels. Excellent black levels are crucial to this presentation, as it is perhaps the darkest film I've seen, with generally only a blue tint or completely lifeless earth tones about the picture in the midst of the blacks, and I am pleased to report that they are perfect, deep and inky, without a hint of grayness or artificial brightening. The make-up is first rate and it's distinctive style looks great on this disc. Marcus' in particular is stunning. A few shots of pale Vampire faces appear soft, but background detail is generally tight and excellent. From grimy white tiles in an abandoned warehouse where Selene and Michael go to escape the sunlight to the texture, stitching, zippers, and other parts of clothing, detail is remarkably high in both the foreground and in the background, and the image is sharp and clear with no signs of edge enhancement or other distractions. Film grain is present, but barely noticeable and definitely not a distraction. Although an early MPEG-2 release from Sony, Underworld: Evolution's video transfer hold up very well.

Picture Rating:

The bloody, opening confrontation between Vampires and Werewolves is a thing of sonic marvel. It truly sounds as good as any action movie soundtrack I've ever heard at the better multiplexes I've been to. Every speaker is full of awe-inspiring sound effects and music. The subwoofer kicks into overdrive for every breaking down of a door, scream and howl of a Lycan, clang of a sword, and footstep of a horse. Surround speakers carry as much activity as the fronts for a crisp, realistic, and frightening experience. Later, gunshots ring out with a powerful authority and accuracy. Even the deep voice of Marcus rattles the subwoofer a bit when we first hear him speak.

Sound Rating:

Overall Rating:

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