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Year One
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 14 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 61 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Adventure | Horror | Suspense/Thriller
Written by:
Danny McBride (story)
Robert Orr (story), Len Wiseman (story)
Howard McCain, Dirk Blackman
Danny McBride
Directed by: Patrick Tatopoulos
Release Date:
Theatrical: January 23, 2009
DVD: May 12, 2009
Running Time: minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for bloody violence and some sexuality
Starring Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra, Steven Mackintosh, and Kevin Grevioux
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans delves into the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires, known as Death Dealers, and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves). A young Lycan, Lucian, emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor, the cruel vampire king who has persecuted them for hundreds of years. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, the beautiful vampire Sonja, in his battle to free the Lycans from their brutal enslavement. (Sony)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
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...
Variety Joe Leydon
First-time helmer Patrick Tatopoulos (who designed creatures for all three pics) offers a satisfyingly exciting monster rally that often plays like a period swashbuckler.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen
Thanks to sturdy performances by holdovers Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy as well as tidy, unfussy direction by first-timer Patrick Tatopoulos, the creature designer who is taking the reins from originator Len Wiseman, the third installment in the successful franchise should be to the fan base's lycan.
Read Full Review >USA Today Claudia Puig
The highlight of this fantasy/horror hybrid is watching a pair of the best British character actors --- Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen -- shed their thespian respectability and unleash their inner beasts.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Manohla Dargis
Although the presence of Mr. Sheen is initially distracting, it soon becomes the movie's greatest asset. There is, as it turns out, some benefit to having a real performance even in a formulaic entertainment like this.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Clark Collis
Sheen and Nighy do their best with the material, but this is easily the worst Underworld so far.
Read Full Review >ReelViews James Berardinelli
The first film was significantly better and, therefore, is the place to start for anyone with a modicum of interest. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is an also-ran that is likely to be appreciated only by completists.
Read Full Review >Time Richard Corliss
The enterprise is sluggish when it's not grinding toward the preposterous.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Jeremy Wheeler
While it may not be "Citizen Canine," Rise of the Lycans tells its tale competently and without the derivative nature of its predecessors.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Jim Ridley
Mincing around like a bored old glam rocker and hissing threats from behind electric neon eyes, Nighy seems to be the only person on set who found a glint of amusement in his part. He fares better than poor Sheen, a scraggly Wolverine who made a more credible vampire-slayer opposite Frank Langella’s Nixon.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
It's a testament to Bill Nighy's cadaverous panache that this third entry in the ongoing exsanguinators vs. lycanthropes franchise (that's vampires and werewolves to anyone not weaned on Famous Monsters) is as tolerable as it is.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Cliff Doerksen
The movie is humorless and monotonous, but watching the talented Sheen (Frost/Nixon, The Queen) give his all to such throwaway material is weirdly diverting.
Read Full Review >Empire Kim Newman
A needless threequel. Note to director: avoid 'rise of the' titles.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 61 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Carlos F. gave it a6:
All I can say is that this movie was a total surprise ! The first Underworld movies were nothing more than plotless funny trash. But this movie was surprisingly good, with REAL good acting from Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen. And, opposite to the other UW movies, this one has a PLOT. This epic forbidden love tale was really interesting. The action scenes were just more of the same. I'm glad Beckinsale was not part of the cast.
Sam M gave it a3:
Cgi was awful, the story overwhelmingly bad. not one good thing to say. underworld 1 & 2 you just cant compare to this trash.
mike k gave it an8:
I just watched this and it is really good ..the story that was talked about in the first film is their plus visually as well and the casting was perfect though it had a slow start which is the only problem i had with it.
George M gave it a7:
I've never been a HUGE fan of the Underworld series...always loved the concept but was indifferent with the execution. The films have been a combination of soap opera-like drama and over the top borderline absurd action, but for the most part they were "fun". Rise of the Lycans is probably the better film of the series...while the 2nd film was the most polished of the 3, this one has the most "oomph" behind it. The action seems a bit bigger and borderline epic...given the material, but it still comes off a bit flat. It tells the story of a Lycan (Lucean is his name, I believe) and how he rose from being a slave to the vampires, to a sort of leader. He dosen't really hate the vampires..at first...just tolerates them, but when its exposed that he is having secret "meetings" with one particular female vampire...well...the worst happens, and he quickly becomes veangful and hate-filled. The action is over the top, which is to be expected...the FX are nice one minute and Nintendo 64 graphics the next, which is ALSO to be expected...overall...entertaining as an action film. I've always hated the use of color...these films are like "Visual Sleeping Medication"...the use of blacks and blues makes my eye-lids heavy, but its the "mood" of these films. In the end...its a worth a look if youre a fan of the series and a buy for the more hardcore. I had my fun with this film...but its nothing im gonna plunk the money down for. Recommended as a RENTAL.
James O. gave it a10:
A very good prequel movie. I definitely hope they make a 4th in the series sometime after the events of the 2nd movie. Definitely a must watch movie!
Logan E gave it a10:
Excellent film, great effects. I don't know why the critics did not like this one. I personally like the first one the best but this fills in much of the mere flashbacks in the first Underworld. They brought back some great characters and tied things together nicely with a dark romanian bow.
jesse n gave it a10:
Most reviews where bad i believe this movie really captures the concept that everyone can get along lol. but the battle between the vampires and the lycans is a good mix.
