Without the story to deliver the real goods, we are left with the look, action, and performances to pick up the tab, so to speak. For the most part, it delivers. The action is fierce and frequent. The look is right in line with what we have come to see, and the performances, well, they are delicious.
The performances are not great, but the two male leads know exactly how to deliver what is needed. Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen chew ravenously through every scene. In particular, Bill Nighy is marvelous as he adopts the clipped, vicious manner of speaking he began in the first Underworld. The man is simply amazing to watch as he takes his performance and pushes it clear over the top. Michael Sheen is likewise wonderful as the wild-eyed charismatic lycan leader. Rhona Mitra is fine, playing the equivalent of the Kate Beckinsale role.
Len Wiseman, director of the first two films, stepped aside from the chair, allowing production designer Patrick Tatopolous to step up and make his directorial debut. Tatopoulos does a fine job of keeping the film moving forward, but the film feels incredibly short. It clocks in at 92 minutes, but feels less than that. I have to wonder how much was chopped and if we will ever see a longer cut?
Audio/Video. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio is preserved on this Blu-ray release, and just like the first two films, the dark, blue-tinged look is represented in fine fashion. There is great detail in every scene, although the high definition image reveals some of the effects work. This film's budget was less than that of Evolution and it shows, particularly early on when there are a lot CG werewolves on the screen, and in the forest background, which looked like a reject from Sleepy Hollow. Not really bad, just noticeable. As a whole, the film retains a slick look that is hard to fault.
On the audio side of the coin, the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track sounds spectacular. This disk truly shines whenever there are whistling whips, arrows flying through the air, creaky doors opening, and chains rattling. Combine that with the effective score by Paul Haslinger (returning to the franchise, having scored the first film) and you have an audio track that will draw you in. I particularly liked the climactic battle sequence with the thundering approach of the lycans on the right, and the lighter, shoe-wearing clatter of armor-clad vampires on the left, culminating in a clash of roars and metal clangs.
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