Underworld Awakening

Selene: For 12 years I was held captive by the humans. The world I once knew has changed. Vampires and Lycans are now the hunted.

Unnecessary is the term I would use to describe the latest entry in the highly successful Underworld franchise. Prior to viewing Underworld Awakening, I had not seen any of the previous films, so I went into this fairly fresh. To my surprise, it turns out that you must be a devoted fan to fully enjoy this franchise. The action sequences are undeniably well-handled, and 3D is put to fine use. What we have here is an emotionless Kate Beckinsale reminding audiences that Kristen Stewart is not the only glum face around, an abysmal plotline wrapped around an unimpressive script, which all sounds pretty normal for a film with a January release.

Underworld Awakening takes place six months after the events of Underworld Evolution (which I watched after viewing the fourth film), where Selene (Kate Beckinsale) and Michael (Scott Speedman) were planning on leaving the city, until humans and the government learn about Vampires and Lycans, where they are ambushed. Government agents kill Michael and takes Selene under arrest. When Selene wakes up from cryogenic suspension, she discovers that she had been imprisoned for twelve years. 

Using the skills she remembered, Selene successfully escapes the Antigen facility while eliminating a large quantity of rogue government agents ordered to keep her captive. The man responsible for this imprisonment is Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), who is the main culprit who revealed the very existence of Vampires and Lycans, and is a new breed of the Lycan species. After meeting up with another Vampire (Theo James) whom has been following Selene through a number of mental flashes, they realize that the Lycan’s live underground, and find a little girl there. Throughout their journey, Selene has mental flashes between this little girl and realizes how important she is.

I can understand and appreciate that this film was not going for a brilliant, well-written extravaganza, but the thick plot-points are so incredibly badgering to the film, that we really lose interest. At the end of Underworld Evolution, Selene drinks Alexander’s blood and becomes more of a Hybrid. In Underworld Awakening, the writers seem to have forgotten about that major plot point, because Selene seems to be back in the physical form that she was in at the beginning of Evolution, which was a major fault for myself, which ultimately lowered my enjoyment of the film.