In 2003, director and co-writer Len Wiseman introduced us to his vision of a vampire/werewolf war in Underworld. That feature brought us such memorable characters as Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire Death Dealer (soldier in the war on the werewolves), Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), a vampire/werewolf hybrid and romantic interest of Selene, Viktor (Bill Nighy), a diabolical elder vampire, and Lucian (Michael Sheen), the vengeful leader of the lycans (what they call the werewolves in this world). While the film was not the best written, it did open a number of doors as it laid the groundwork for its universe. When it ended, we were left with much bloodshed and our heroes on the run from both sides of the war.
2006 brought us Wiseman's second go-round as director with the arrival of Underworld: Evolution. This film picks up right where the first one left off, with Selene and Michael on the run from both the vampires and lycans in the wake of Viktor's and Lucian's death. They know that Kraven, the double-dealing vampire who was working with Lucian, will be heading back to the mansion to take care of Markus before he wakes up. However, he is a bit late as Markus is already awake and turned into a hybrid, having been wakened by the blood spilled by Sing, a lycan killed in the first film.
Now things are picking up steam. We learn of the Corvinus brothers, Markus (the same) and William, sons of Alexander and the first vampire and lycan, respectively. The story tells of further political dealings involving the brothers, the imprisoning of one, the fear of killing either, and more about the dawn of the war between the races.
Throughout, we do not get much time alone with Selene and Michael for their budding relationship to grow, what with the oncoming monsters from all directions. However, the story is a bit more solid and complex as the interactions leading to this very day are explained in more detail.
I am sure many of you have already seen the film, so I will not bore you with the play by play. Suffice to say, the story builds very nicely from what we got initially. The world has become even larger in scope and we learn much of where these races came from and what they have put each other through for centuries.
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