5/5 Underworld: The saga begins
  by Jim Gateley (Sunnyvale, CA)
5 of 5 stars for the vampire and werewolf movie Underworld. I've seen this movie several times and continue to be amazed and the plot and visual look of the movie. Wow. I keep finding new subtle things in the movie overlooked in my first viewing. This movie is the starter for a 3 movie collection. Telling some of the history and moving forward with this story. Underworld and Underworld Evolution move the story further in time while the third movie tells the history of how we got here.

The story is about two races of beings, the upper class Vampires and the worker class Werewolves. In the old times, the races lived together in harmony, now they are at war. This story focuses on "a human" who we later learn has characteristics of both races and his blood is valuable to both races. Of course, our lead character (Kate Beckinsale) needs the help of a sleeping vampire lord. A very impressive movie with stunning visual look. Once you finish Underworld, keep on going with Evolution and Rise of the Lycans. Highly recommended and added to my list of favorite movies.

5/5 AN ENTHRALLING VAMPIRE EPIC 9 OUT OF 10
  by ACEMAN1 (Ripon, California)
When the people of today rave about cinematic failures like Twilight, you can't help but wonder, "What the hell is wrong with you people?" Why aren't you people watching 'real' vampire films that are actually entertaining, like the Underworld trilogy? You mean to tell me you'd trade awesome characters who are armed to teeth for emo pansies like the Twilight characters? Shame, shame. There were some people (Including moronic critics) who said that the Underworld series is boring, and yet they raved about Twilight. Here's my opinion for why I think the Underworld series is infinitely superior to Twilight in every way.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Centuries ago, a conflict began between aristocratic vampires called Death Dealers and Lycans (Werewolves who can become human again) which still continues into modern societies. We are then introduced to the sexy Death Dealer, Selene who centuries ago was turned into a vampire by the leader of the vampires; Viktor, who raised her like his daughter. And then after an intense gun battle scene, we are introduced to Michael Corvin, who is being hunted by the Lycans over the fact his bloodline goes back to the Corvinus (The father of both vampire and Lycan bloodlines) line, which means he is the only person in existence who can be both a vampire and a Lycan. So when Selene investigates why the Lycans are after Michael, both are pulled into a dangerous adventure full of hidden secrets, forbidden love, and a lot of intense, bloody action scenes. The plot for the most part is good, but it doesn't seem to go as far as it could have.
MUSIC: The music in this film is great, and never fails to set the mood and entertain. I have no gripes with this area.
ACTION: This film is loaded with many gun and sword fights, which come with many explosions and lots of blood and gore. Any action fan should have no problem enjoying this film because it rocks. You won't find this action in a pansy, emo, sappy, teen drama vampire tale like Twilight! A true splendor of awesome bloody violence.
ACTING: Some people said the acting and dialogue in this film is bad. What bad acting and dialogue? These actors are great, unlike the 1-dimensional, cardboard actors of Twilight. Kate Beckinsale is a great actress and pulls of her role as a vampire action heroine very well. I have no gripes with the other actors either, as they perform their roles superbly as well.
OVERALL: Forget cinematic monstrosities like Twilight which are an insult to vampire films, and watch Underworld instead! This is an awesome action epic that both girls and guys alike can get into. If you're an action fan or a fan of 'real' vampire films and you're tired of the stupid Twilight craze, pick this one (Along with the other two) up as well.
THE GOOD: Lots of bloody mayhem, great acting, great music, and a fairly good plot.
THE BAD: Plot doesn't go as far as it could have.

4/5 One of my favorites
  by S. Letang (Germany)
This is one of my favorites and best vampire movies. There are a few flaws to the movie but can be over looked. In one's opinion vampires are stronger or just as strong as Lykens. Some of the elder vampires seems frail in this movie. But that can be over looked with cool scenes and a great story line.

4/5 Under World
  by Star Bux
LYKANS versus VAMPIRES:

The Vampires like to read and write, wherefore they are rich.
Whereas the werewolves (the Lykans), like art (especially, in the
form of graffiti, or tattoos). The Lykans, are essentially illiterate.
They hang out in the subways, where the graffiti is, and the males
might walk around without any clothes on, like professional
football players in locker rooms. Werewolves find clothing
cumbersome. The Lykans ("like us but not us"), are barbarians
compared to the Vampires, the Aristocrats, the "sophisticated
connoiseurs". The vampires live in ornate luxury, but their primary
passion is books. When she looks in the mirror, the steam rises,
and she writes the name of her "protector", Victor, on the surface of
the mirror. Whose child she is defines her, rather than her own
image in the mirror, which she seems to ignore, as if she doesn't
see it. The Vampires abhor graven images. The Vampires are "the
Jews who are Jews", whereas the Lykans are "the Jews who are
not Jews". See, Exodus 20:1-6, KJV.

Michael Corvins is bitten by a Lykan, but though he be a "Jew
who is not a Jew", he is not of the synagogue of satan. He is a
caring physician. Physician, heal thyself. The head Vampire wants
Michael Corvins destroyed, for he sees Corvins as an abomination.
This individual who is able to read and write, but also likes art,
graven images, such as those found in medical textbooks. In
contrast, the Lykan scientist, uses schematics, and visuals to help him
aid in his research. He peers through microscopes and looks at blood
in vials, and a tree diagram with collected photographs, on a wall.
You never see the Lykan scientist reading a book.

In a sense, the hybrid, Corvins, is like a Roman Catholic who also
reads the Bible (KJV), for himself, and seeks to end the feud
between Catholics and Protestants. Why cannot we have both, a KJV
and a Rosary, he seems to say to them. But for the head vampire, the
paintings of Michaelangelo upon the Sistine Chapel, are blasphemy,
whilst the Lykans do not wish to learn to read "Shakespeare"....Too
hard, for them. The Vampires surround themsleves with Gothic
Architecture, but no art, aside from diagrams found in books, which
they are forbidden to look at, for to peer into the past is forbidden.
Crucify the old man. Graven images are snares. Lykans and Vampires,
don't get along.

The Vampires are fanatical about religion, maintaining,
striving after, PURITY, whereas the Lykans feel that rules
and rituals get in the way, especially if you do not
understand them. Catholics do not read the Bible (KJV),
and Protestants do not meditate upon the Rosary, but it would
be too simplistic to say the Lykans represent Protestants and
the Vampires represent Catholics. For the Lykans are into
tatoos, art, and the Vampires are not. Rather this is a case
of "a plague hath both your houses, they have made worm's
meat of me" (from Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet).

To fight the world, you need to clothe yourself, with special armour.
OF means FROM, or BELONGING TO. There is no "belt of truth", that's
Wonder Woman's thing. The loins of a man are at his sides, above his
pelvis, and below his rib cage. Gird up the loins of your mind; Gird your
loins with Truth, (A cummerbund is a loincloth): See, Ephesians 6: 11-16;
1 Peter 1:13-16, KJV. Can armour be worn underneath clothing, like
underwear? Yes, if it is invisible.

Under the surface of the world, there is a war going on...The Church is
in the world, but the Church is not of the world. Will there be peace?
A KJV Bible in one hand, and a Rosary in the other, is like a vaccine
that must be taken twice in order to be effective. But who can tell which
is the One True Rosary? Michael Corvins, the good physician? His blood,
is it True Blue? The Lykans tell him, he's one of them, after all, his blood
looks red, there in that vial, mixed with water. But some things are
invisible. God is Love. See, Leviticus 17:11; John 6:63; Hebrews 11:27, KJV.

This movie echoes a sentiment found in Fritz Lang's work, Metropolis:
Without the heart there can be no understanding between the hand and the
mind.

5/5 Great Reference Movie for showing off BD & Sound
  by K. A. Jones (Nashville TN)
Hello

I've watched all three movies in SD and HD on the Dish. We have the newest title on BD and after reading the reviews of both BD and DVD version I decided to grab this in Blu-Ray. The reviews I've read both pro and casual pretty much sum up my thoughts, this is a very good transfer in both image and sound. Let me break it down into two groups....

Image and visual - With the "Underworld" series don't expect a dazzeling colorful display. Instead it's a world of darks and grey with a touch of gothic appeal. While for some that may not be such a good thing it does show a great deal of contrast involving blacks against skin tones. And this is where this movie shines above all others. It has a great blend with surprising detail in this contrast especially with Kate Beckinsale dressed in black leather, with pitch black hair and a pale skin face. But it's all thruout the movie from the buildings, stone, chains, the rainy weather; the whole Underworld experience really shows up well with it's black & grey theme.

Sound - I was really surprised how well the DD 5.1 track did on this. Most will say, "oh well it's a gun battle here and there and what do you expect". Well that's just it, there's allot more. It's basically everywhere from the rain falling, to metal locks turning, splashes of water while running thru it, chains clanging and so on. One particular scene involved one Vampire with two whips lashing out at a Werewolf coming at him. It was if the whips were snapping back & forth side-to-side. And yes there are gun battles and plenty of them. The low end gets about an average workout but this is not Saving Private Ryan. It would've been extra icing if there was a DTS track.

Overall I would grade this close to "Reference Quality" for showing off BD and Sound. The high level of contrast with blacks and skin detail makes this a BD Standout. Sound wise a excellent choice for those who enjoy action and want it loud. Highly Recommended