Forum NewsForumsHTF Chat Hardware ReviewsSoftware Reviews HTF Events
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum Forum Search: 
 
Web Search: 
 
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum



Reviewed (10/11/08)
Home Theater forum blazes ahead with reviews that are designed to help you make the right viewing choice! This week Ken McAlinden reviews Albert Lewin's MGM adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, a highly awaited release that gets notable recommendation. Todd Erwin gives us two reviews of the recent "Indie" releases, Harold, starring Spencer Breslin -and- Dororo, a live-action comic book adaptation directed by Akihko Shiota. TVShowsOnDVD this week include 30 Rock: Season 2, The Sarah Silverman Program Season Two Volume One, Lil' Bush: resident of the United States Season Two, and Mission Impossible: The Fifth Season. Finally, new Blu-ray reviews include Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Poltergeist.
 
TV and HDTV Programming (10/11/08)
Warm up your cool fall season with new premiers this week that include Little People Big World (PICTURED, 5th Season, 10/13, TLC); Samantha Who? (2nd Season, 10/13, ABC); My Own Worst Enemy (10/13, NBC); Eli Stone (2nd Season, 10/14, ABC); Time Warp (10/15, DISCVRY); Parking Wars (2nd Season, 10/15, A&E); David Alan Grier's Chocolate News (10/15, COMEDY CENTRAL); Crusoe (10/17, NBC) and Real Simple Real Life (10/17, TLC). Season Finales this week include The Cleaner (10/13 A&E); The Rachel Zoe Project (10/14, BRAVO); Project Runway (10/15, BRAVO) and Destination Truth (10/15 SCI-FI). You can discuss all your favorite programs with other HTF members in our TV & HDTV programming forum

 
Forum Jump

Forum Sponsors


Post New Thread  Reply

 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-21-2006, 08:15 PM   #61 of 112
Patrick Sun
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Local Time: 06:35 AM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 38,527

I liked the production values, the special effects, the stunts, but I felt the story was a little on the light side, needed just a little more meat to it, but otherwise, a good followup to the first film, especially for fans of Underworld.

I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.



"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar!"
Patcave | 2006 Films | 2007 Films | Dragon Con 2008
Patrick Sun is offline Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-21-2006, 09:09 PM   #62 of 112
Doug Schiller
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 1998
Local Time: 11:35 AM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 2,034

I saw it this afternoon and enjoyed it. Probably as much as the first film.

One thing that seemed odd was the complete lack of werewolves except for one of the main villians (only for a short time) and some guard dog stuff.

Not that they were crucial to this plot, but they were almost equals in the first film so it seemed strange.
Doug Schiller is offline Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-21-2006, 09:36 PM   #63 of 112
Cory S.
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Local Time: 04:35 AM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 722

Send a message via AIM to Cory S.
Personally, I still say that the two films are really about Selene, more than about the bloodfeud between the Vampyres and Lycans.

But, I can understand some's frustration with lack of Lycans. At least, we got the Granddaddy of the Lycans in this one....



\"Don\'t be too proud of this technological terror you\'ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force\"

-Lord Vader Episode IV A New Hope
Cory S. is offline Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-21-2006, 10:23 PM   #64 of 112
Carlo Medina
Member
 
Location: Here
Join Date: Nov 1997
Local Time: 04:35 AM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 10,604

Just saw it and liked it (though I think I may still like the original more). The direction to go with a more intimate story (Selene's) is definitely obvious--and with Wiseman being her husband that figures.

I think people are going to like/dislike this (in comparison to the original) depending on whether they accept this direction or not. The original did present Selene strongly, but it also presented a lot of the werewolf/vampire story as well. That all went to the backdrop in this movie, with Selene moving front and center. Personally I was okay with that, but I can see that anyone hoping for an expounding of the "vampire vs. werewolf" mythos may come out disappointed.

I really am interested in what direction they will take Underworld 3...wonder if:
Spoiler:
Selene is now the elder, given that every elder has died and all the vamps/wolves didn't die with them...or if that whole myth about being tied to the "first of each line" is just that: a myth
Carlo Medina is offline Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-21-2006, 10:41 PM   #65 of 112
Brian Sheffield
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Local Time: 06:35 AM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 204

Spoiler:
I got the impression that the guy in the monastary confirmed that the whole "if the elder dies we all do" is just a fabrication created by Marcus to protect himself and his brother William.

Besides if it were true there is no way Marcus would've tried to slay his father
Brian Sheffield is offline Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-21-2006, 10:51 PM   #66 of 112
David Williams
David Williams
Member
 
Location: ...certain reaches of John Adams' mind...
Join Date: Mar 2001
Local Time: 05:35 AM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 2,408

I have to totally agree with Simon's comments. Loved the film, it really was a logical extension of the first film. Sir Derek Jacobi was a great choice to play Alexander Corvinus.

Spoiler:
Carlo wrote: Selene is now the elder, given that every elder has died and all the vamps/wolves didn't die with them...or if that whole myth about being tied to the "first of each line" is just that: a myth

Well, obviously not all vampires & werewolves died because Selene mentions in her voiceover at the end of the movie that the clans have been thrown into chaos with the deaths of so many in command. But something has obviously happened to Selene... either Markus' blood no longer animates her and Corvinus' does or she's become some kind of uber-vamp/hybrid and Corvinus' blood offers her more protections from her inherent vampire weaknesses because even Markus had to hide from daylight.


My only problem with the movie, and I'm not sure it's a problem... perhaps the creators are saving the answer to my question for the prequel (after the first Underworld they said they wanted to make both a prequel and a sequel). My question:

Spoiler:
How did Alexander Corvinus become an immortal? Was it something he was born with or something he acquired?



"Only two things are infinite––the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not so sure about the universe." ––Albert Einstein
David Williams is offline Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-22-2006, 06:10 AM   #67 of 112
Simon Massey
Member
 
Location: Doha, Qatar
Join Date: Aug 2001
Local Time: 02:35 PM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 1,519

You know despite enjoying both Underworld films, despite the open nature of the ending to the second one, I really got the sense they had taken the story as far as it could go and that any sequel or prequel would be pretty pointless. That was not the case for the first one where the point of the story they had got up to really did warrant a sequel.

For me the focus of the films has been on Selene and, to a lesser extent, Michael, and I felt they had taken them as far as they could go with the second film. I am sure you could easily make a sequel or prequel about the Lycan/Vampire feud, but unless they come up with a decent story for Selene which is more than just the fact she is now stronger, etc, then it will be a waste of time.

Still, they managed to make a good part 2 IMO so perhaps they will do so for 3 as well.



My DVD collectionhttp://www.intervocative.com/dvdcoll....aspx/simassey

When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm, there's a golden cloud, and the sweet silver song of a lark,
Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain, Though your dreams may be tossed and blown,
Walk on, Walk on, with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone,
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!
Simon Massey is online now Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-22-2006, 06:25 AM   #68 of 112
Ken Chan
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Local Time: 04:35 AM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 3,303

My primary motivation for seeing both movies is Kate Beckinsale. So I have no problem with focusing on Selene. On the plus side, we get to see more of her (didn't have the presence of mind to check if the shots allowed for a double). On the minus, no variation in her outfits (that was not in quick flashback) -- just that one really good one.

Funny bit with her more-excessive-than-usual gunfire into that one werewolf near the very end.

I did particularly like her tearing up when
Spoiler:
she discovers that she can be in sunlight. So I guess this opens the door for the third installment, where she kicks ass in the daytime. Perhaps in a bikini?


I was mildly disappointed with the first one, so going into this with diminished expectations, it was fine. I'm not sure if the level of gore was supposed to be comical, but I (and others in the audience) took at as such, and enjoyed it.

Quote:
One thing that seemed odd was the complete lack of werewolves except for one of the main villians (only for a short time) and some guard dog stuff.
There were all the ones at the beginning, and at the end,
Spoiler:
when the strike team all get turned because they were bitten by William.
Dispatched fairly quickly, though.

As for Corvinus
Spoiler:
he tells Markus that they're an oddity of nature or something. So I guess that means he just happens to be immortal, and his sons that were bitten could become the first of their species. And the one that was not bitten can pass down the magic gene to Michael; I'm not sure if the third died of natural causes or not.


What could potentially happen with
Spoiler:
a child of Michael, the vampyre/lycan hybrid, and Selene, blessed with the blood Corvinus? When she asked Corvinus what she would turn into, my thought was, "Will I still be so unreasonably hot?" Of course, if transforming into a creature would cause her to burst out of her outfit, that might not be too bad when she changes back.
Ken Chan is offline Quote this post in a PM Send Support Ticket
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
sendpm.gif
Home Theater Forum
Home Theater Forum
Old 01-22-2006, 07:20 AM   #69 of 112
Cory S.
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Local Time: 04:35 AM
Local Date: 10-11-2008
Posts: 722

Send a message via AIM to Cory S.
Spoiler:
With Cornvinus, it was explained in the first film that a plague ravaged his village and basically killed everyone. But, somehow, he was able to survive the plague and whatever the virus was, it mutated his blood and transformed him into an immortal.


The only sequel that I see is if:

Spoiler:
The remaining Lycans and Vampyres join forces under a leader we have not meet before, maybe the 2nd in command in Amelia's coven, take on Selene and Michael simply because they believe that they were the ones responsible for Lucian, Viktor, Markus, and Amelia.


But even with that, it's not a terribly interesting sequel. Wiseman, the director in interviews this past week, seems more keen on doing a prequel than a sequel which I think has more potential because as Simon mentioned, they've taken this particular storyline as far as it can go. Selene knows the truth now and in a way has regained alot of what she lost because of this bloodfeud. She has love now and she's able to walk in the light now. I could see her and Michael living in a mountain cottage never to be heard from again.

If I were Wiseman, I'd end it here and not even do a prequel. What I would do is cut the two films together and see how it would work as one on DVD someday.



\"Don\'t be too proud of this technological terror you\'ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insigni