RESPECT. Review - 'Underworld: Blood Wars' - RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture

The 5^th installment of the Underworld franchise hit theaters January 6^th. Kate Beckinsale reprised her role as Selene in Blood Wars. Theo James and Charles Dance also reprised their roles as Thomas and David, two members of the Eastern Coven. New comers Tobias Menzies (Marius) and Lara Pulver (Semira) took on the role of antagonists this time around. Marius taking the crown as “the big bad” of the film.

Following her killing of vampire Elders in Underworld: Awakening, famed Death Dealer Selene has become a fugitive hunted by both factions (Lycans and Vampires) of a grueling war that rages on. The vampires are seeking revenge for Selene’s crimes, while the Lycans, armed with a new leader Marius, are seeking Selene’s daughter Eve, whose blood is the key to creating an army of vampire/Lycan hybrids that could end the conflict. Selene is rescued by David after she is attacked by a pack of Lycans and later the duo receives word that Selene has been granted clemency by the Eastern Coven in return for her training a new army of death dealers to defeat the growing Lycan army.

New director, Anna Foerster, chose to keep the classic blue/black tones the franchise is known for while attempting to introduce a new story line. However, Underworld: Blood Wars failed to deliver. Jump cuts and rough editing techniques in addition to the dark lighting made some of the movies bigger action sequences hard to follow. The pacing of the film also varied; at times it was painstakingly slow and at other times, especially toward the film act of the film, it felt rushed. The action of the film itself wasn’t that exciting compared to previous films and the script was almost solely reliant on exposition. The first half of the film had almost no action and was used primarily to set up the Sacred World; a new world that was briefly introduced but never fully divulged into. The same goes for the Nordic Coven, Marius’s background and why Eve’s blood is so magical.

There was so much Underworld: Blood Wars could have tapped into that would have made for a more interesting story plot/action wise. However, longtime fans of the franchise will be pleased with Selene’s plot line, action sequences and enhanced powers, along with another fan favorite’s true lineage revealed. Newcomers to the franchise may find this movie rather lax and leave with many questions. One question both longtime fans and newcomers alike will find themselves asking: will we see a 6^th Underworld movie? The ending of Blood Wars sure set us up for one.

What did you think of Underworld: Blood Wars? Sound off in the comments.

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