REVIEW: 'Underworld: Awakening'

Underworld 4, in 3D, sees Kate Beckinsale's Selene escape imprisonment to find humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans. Now, man is conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. Now playing nationwide, click for movie times and trailer.
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The first Underworld merged edgy fantasy action with the dramatic dullness of a Spanish soap opera while the second was overstuffed with those same drab story elements. The third instalment, Rise of the Lycans, provided a somewhat entertaining yet shallow back story. Suffice it to say, I never really took to the franchise.

With Awakening, they hand the filmmaker’s whip over to Swedish directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, who seem to care less about expanding the Underworld universe and more about seeing vampires and werewolves mess each other up. I’m all for that. Kate Beckinsale also returns in her skin-tight leather outfit that relinquishes practicality for sex appeal.

Within the first minute, we’re given a Saw-esque overview of the past three films. After that, story elements are kept to a three-minute minimum, unapologetically eclipsed by the action sequences, which vary from junk-food brutality to hilarious absurdity.

The visual effects aren’t going to win any awards but they admirably cater towards the violence, making some decent use of the 3D. While the musical score is about as bland as a tofu sandwich, the relentless sound design is phenomenal, making you duck at every fired bullet and shiver at every Lycan’s growl.

Running under 90 minutes long, Underworld: Awakening has the mentality of a straight-to-video sequel, the body of an ADD child and the pulsing veins of a meth addict. It’s the cinematic equivalent to a mudslide: quick-n-dirty forgettable fun.

• Watch trailer for Underworld: Awakening 3D
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