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Underworld: Evolution

EMAILPRINTScreen Gems Inc.

Underworld: Evolution reviews
36
8.4 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 231 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Action  |  Drama  |  Fantasy  |  Horror

Written by: Danny McBride
Len Wiseman & Danny McBride (story and characters)
Kevin Grevioux (characters)

Directed by: Len Wiseman

Release Date:
Theatrical: January 20, 2006
DVD: June 6, 2006

Running Time: 105 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for pervasive strong violence and gore, some sexuality/nudity and language

Starring Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen, Derek Jacobi, and Tony Curran

Underworld: Evolution continues the saga of war between the aristocratic Death Dealers and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves). The film traces the beginnings of the ancient feud between the two tribes as the beautiful vampire heroine Selene (Beckinsale) discovers that she has been betrayed by her own kind and seeks her revenge. (Screen Gems)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

70

Variety Joe Leydon

Overall package is potent. A few rock-the-house scenes of slam-bang derring-do -- are nothing short of sensationally exciting.

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63

TV Guide Ken Fox

True to its serial roots, this equally silly but undeniably entertaining sequel to "Underworld" (2003) picks up right where its high-grossing predecessor left off and offers more of the same.

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63

Philadelphia Inquirer David Hiltbrand

A monster chiller sequel that is visually spectacular but rather overburdened with story.

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60

Los Angeles Times Stephen Farber

Wiseman, a former art director and music video director, has a definite sense of style and pace, and the creature transformations are eye-popping. In addition, the cast raises the movie above the level of routine genre schlock.

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50

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

They're still fighting in this sequel. But this is a more visually inspired, muscularly made movie than its predecessor.

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50

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Designed with Underworld fans in mind. Others need not apply.

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50

Entertainment Weekly Gregory Kirschling

I especially like how, when Beckinsale's half-wolf, half-vampire friend Scott Speedman moves in for a kiss, you can hear the black leather of her dominatrix getup crinkle and crackle on the soundtrack like an old saddle. Sizzlin'!

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50

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

Writer-director Len Wiseman, now the star's husband, wisely moves this sequel to the countryside and wastes less time dispensing the same grog of grisly CGI combat and mythical mumbo jumbo.

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42

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

There's a ton of backstory behind Underworld: Evolution, which gets slightly denser and rowdier than its predecessor, but it's ultimately all in the service of a nigh-endless series of numbing, mechanical battles in which snarling protagonists and CGI monsters shoot, claw, and bloodily eviscerate each other. In other words, it's "Underworld," but more of it.

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40

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Unfortunately, there's little wit or genuine suspense to elevate the proceedings above the level of a cheesy comic book.

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40

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

The plot is so convoluted that missing even five minutes at a stretch won't make any difference in your comprehension of the story.

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40

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

It's not quite quick enough to be anywhere near as gloomily engaging as the cast's original outing.

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30

LA Weekly Chuck Wilson

With her long, black coat and midair karate-chop skills, Selene is more Matrix-y Neo than Count Dracula, which may explain why this movie is so brutally un-fun.

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30

Village Voice Ben Kenigsberg

There's no guiding power at work here; it's Evolution without a shred of intelligent design.

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30

The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis

The fascist undercurrents of this battle remain unexplored. Maybe one day, Hollywood will figure out that pouring acting-challenged starlets into black neoprene and sticking them in front of a blue screen do not a movie make. We can but hope.

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25

New York Post Kyle Smith

Underworld Evolution has antecedents in literature ("Dracula"), film ("The Matrix") and song ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"). How does it rip off so much, yet learn so little?

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25

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

The esteemed actor Derek Jacobi goes slumming as someone who pulls that metal badge from the chest of a cadaver. Shakespeare it's not.

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25

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Hartlaub

Humorless, confusing and not very fun to watch.

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25

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jennie Punter

Classic style over substance, with some gruesome-looking creatures and settings and non-stop shooting and biting (both the vampires and werewolves get their teeth into it). But, alas, at almost two hours, it is much ado about nothing.

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20

Empire James Dyer

But for all her slinky, undead-chic looks, Beckinsale can't carry the film on curves alone and there's not much else here worthy of attention. Evolution's action sequences are as horribly bungled as its plot, resulting in a string of repetitive confrontations that feel toothless even by the last movie’s standards.

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20

Slate Stephen Metcalf

Beckinsale is an elegant woman—before she was the Emma Peel of the undead, she was Jane Austen's Emma, and before she was Emma, she was passing A levels in German, French, and Russian literature—and all her stalking and seething keep the movie from being totally unwatchable.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 231 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Carlos F gave it a0:
Nothing new. Nothing better than the first one. Just Marcus character, but he's overacting. The lead actors are the same dumbs, Beckinsale and Speedman, who haven't much to say, but a lot to over act. The music is the same from the first movie, the plot is even worse and more derivative than the first one. It's basically action scenes, which were too predictable, and CGI creatures, which were completely unreal (I mean, what the f--- were that werewolves?). So, this a boring overlong movie. And it's a ZERO.

Jay K. gave it a1:
I'll give it a 1 because i like the color. other than that its just blood and guts with ridiculous storyline and characters. underworld 1 is much much better.

Per E. gave it a10:
Hello makers of Underworld Evolution! With a risk of being drowned in other posts, I have just finished Underworld Evolution and i just have to say: -Great work! :DDDDD I love this series because of the epic battle between good and evil, and with a twist :) The good guys and really evil themselves! Or sort of, just like us human beings :D I was aroused when the film ended and I though I could not wait to see the third film! Then I went online and discovered that Kate would not be in the third film... curtains down... I feel really sad that she will not be in another Underworld film because she is the film!!! It is her struggle towards becoming good again that is the essence of Underworld! Or so I thought! I understand that if she has other goals in life, she must of course be able to pursue them, and I wish her all the luck in the world! But still, egocentric as I am, I would be happy to see her continue as the Queen of the Underworld. And here is my point! There is no point of a third film if she is not in it! It is better to leave it as is, with Evolution ending with a question, rather with a tainted third, forth and fifth film decaying like the Police school series. That said, I thank the producers, actors and all involved personnel for a work well done! :D I hope she reconsiders, but if she is not, all power to her! Most humbled, Per Engstrom of Sweden!

Ken W. gave it a10:
I cant help it. I loved the movie and of course Kate Beckinsale. I think with her accent, outstanding good looks, and charm she would make any movie enjoyable.

Nicole T. gave it a10:
Underworld and Underworld:Evolution are the 2 best ever vampire movies. I and a buch of friends have been waiting for Underworld 3. If #3 is a prequil, then there must be a #4 also. You can't just end the 2nd one with Selene standing in sunlight not getting fried, kissing Michael and finally in love and together. You can't end it that way!!!! These are the most beautifully shot and realistic vampire/warewolf movies made. All of the actors are brilliant! I don't care what the critics say, Vampire/Warewolf movies are extremely popular and always do well. Once a good one comes out, everyone goes to see it, or buys the DVD. This particular story-line could go on for many movies. PLEASE make at least two more!!!! The chemistry between all the character is great, The prequil would be the older characters, and #4 has got to have Scott(Michael) and Kate(Selene) in it. I'm sure you will come up with some new characters to join them. Len Wiseman is a creative perfectionist. I know he is rather busy these days, but if he can't direct it, he needs to write it and be closely involved with the movies. GO UNDERWORLD!! LOVE YA & THANKS!!!!

Pat C. gave it a5:
From a plot standpoint, unengaging to the point of inducing naptime. Despite the colorless light, some pretty precise special effects work. The two romantic scenes between Kate & Scott where actually quite tasteful, with good music and no dialogue. Could have fooled me, but it was almost like the two of them had some kind of chemistry going.

Keith J. gave it a2:
Beckingsale looks great in the outfit. Otherwise, this movie is very weak. I thought the first was pretty cool, but this one wastes all of its power. Victor was "the oldest and strongest of us" - except, NOPE, he's the third-oldest ... er, make that the fourth-oldest. And the sixth strongest now, by my count. When the movie continually tops itself, it makes it hard to take seriously. The final battle was a foregone conclusion. We already know Kate's stronger than Marcus going into it.

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