In an attempt to shake the series, we no longer have Selene decimating vampires and lycans...she was too busy being a US marshal in Antarctica (translates to Beckinsale filming 'Whiteout'). Wiseman, McBride and new director Tatopoulos thought to bring back fan favourites Lucian and Viktor in an episodic chapter that still feels all too familiar. Detailing how the war against vampires and lycans started, it divulges in the forbidden love story of werewolf Lucian and vampire Sonja. I shan't spoil what happens, because the original film already did so. Quite literally a full on expositional flashback in the first 'Underworld' illustrated this tainted romance, did we honestly need to have a whole film about it? Personally, no. I can't quite remove the concept that this was simply just a filler in a franchise that is now declining. Despite the pointlessness of this chapter, it surprisingly does have emotion and is by far the best written story of all the entries. McBride was able to capture the secretive intimate relationship with a sense of impending doom, evoking sympathy towards the main characters. Michael Sheen gives an excellent performance as does Bill Nighy against a mediocrely monotonous supporting cast. Can't quite determine if Rhona Mitra was good...just seemed like she was mimicking Beckinsale's previous performances. The medieval production designs enhanced the dark Transylvanian environment and were well suited. The creature prosthetics remain authentic and continue the franchise's dependency on them. Unfortunately, some horrific transformation effects and green screen do detract from the quality of this prequel. The action scenes were messy, plagued with quick cuts and the constant flashing of lightning which makes them unbearably difficult to watch. An 87 minute runtime also seemed like 120 minutes, indicating that the pacing does drag particularly during the first two acts. This prequel has good intentions, for everything it does right it also horribly misfires on other elements.

The worst thing about this film is the excessive lip enhancement procedure that actress Rhona Mitra had done on her face. Every time she was on the screen I was completely distracted by her trout pout. Producers should put a clause in actor's contracts, saying that any body distorting surgeries and/or procedures will be grounds to fire them. I know people have the impression that larger breasts and lips are attractive, but so many of these celebrities go to extremes. It causes them to look bizarre, weird and unnatural. In addition to her crazy physical appearance, I thought Rhona Mitra was just the wrong choice for the part. Overall she's a lousy actress. With a different actress, this film could have been so much better.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is the prequel to the previous two Underworld films. It tells the story about what led to the werewolf/vampire feud, with bloody energetic results.In core essence this is Braveheart/Spartacus, only in CGI laden horror/action form. Michael Sheen buffs up into Karl Urban, who as Lucian (bad ass Lycan) leads his species to a bloody revolt, and Kate Beckinsale has made way narratively for Rhona Mitra, who sexes things up. The action is pulse raising and the Gothic designs and atmospherics are first rate, while the battle royale finale is fit to crown any genre film of its type. Problems are evident, though. The constant flow of CGI blood becomes irritating after a while, and Bill Nighy (in spite of being a franchise regular) is still looking miscast! But it has proved to be a series with hairy legs and fangs that refuses to die, a popcorn munchers dream. So enjoy the spectacle and the screenplay homages, and I'll have a bag of tortilla chips and a choc ice please. 6.5/10

Have you watched the first 'Underworld?' If you have, you may well remember a bit of talking about a female vampire who fell in love with a male werewolf (sorry, 'lycan'). Well, that three minute monologue from the original has been turned into an hour and a half story. And this is it.So, if you've seen the first film, there's nothing here that will come as a surprise. But that doesn't mean it's a bad film. For a start (despite being made by a different director) it has the same look and feel of its two predecessors and most of the appropriate original cast members return. Special mention to Bill Nighy who steals every scene as the evil vampire 'Victor.' There's action, romance and plenty of mutated wolves mixing it with medieval vampires. If that's what you're looking for (and, if you like the other Underworld movies then you probably do) then this should tick all boxes.However, behind all the action and gore is a strong romantic story - your typical 'forbidden love' debacle between two clans, in some crazy way, almost like Romeo and Juliet. Despite the Underworld series all featuring this as a central theme, it continues the tradition of being 'Twilight' for the older generation (who definitely don't like their vampires with big hair and sparkly skin).Warning: this Underworld movie does NOT feature Kate Beckinsale (not unless you could the five seconds at the end). I've seen a fair few people moaning because it doesn't. You have been warned (although Rhona Mitra isn't that bad as a replacement in my opinion!).