“Underworld: Awakening” induces sleep

Bullet holes and blood cover the screen in the newest installment of the "Underworld" franchise. "Underworld: Awakening" is jam-packed with expensive action sequences and gore for days, but lacks when switching over to story mode.

The cold-hearted vampire Selene, played by Kate Beckinsale ("Van Helsing", "Pearl Harbor") has a new set of enemies on her plate this time around and they are human. This film takes place 12 years after the events that transpired in "Underworld: Evolution." Selene is taken captive by humans and is put into a cryogenic sleep. While held captive, she is experimented on in hopes to find a cure for the "diseases" of being a vampire or werewolf (also known as "lycan").. After she is set free, Selene finds out that her lover, Michael, is missing and a "cleansing" of lycans and vampires has nearly wiped them all out. Selene escapes and runs into a young girl named Eve, played by India Eisley ("The Secret Life of the American Teenager"), who turns out to be of extreme significance to ending the war.

The giant elephant, or lycan as it were, in the room throughout this entire movie is the confusing and low-quality storyline. Those who were pulled into theaters by the trailer or their significant other might get lost after the opening monologue explains the events that led up to this current film. The storyline is quickly shoved aside as heads begin to roll and blood starts to squirt all over the nearest wall, but comes crashing right back in when a sentimental scene flops into the picture. A somewhat touching moment is shared between Eve and Selene as their characters express their new found connection. But, the relationship seems rushed and forced in an hour and 45 minute movie.

Poorly-done CGI partnered with 3D elements added to the headache this movie seemed to cause. Over the years, the budget of the franchise has grown, and, with it, the amount of CGI effects has risen. The movie takes place mostly at night and has a cold blue color palette, like the previous films. This makes for a very murky and ugly 3D experience. When only Selene was fighting in a scene, it was easy to follow along with her and see everything she did. Unfortunately, when it came to trying to follow her, seven lycans, and dozens of vampires – including one wielding a silver embedded whip – it became a little over the top and clustered.

However, the excessive gore and wall-to-wall action do assist in keeping the audience's attention in a confusing and shallow plot. Selene goes toe to toe with those who captured her and shows them that they picked the wrong vampire to mess with. The elongated fight scene that snaps the audience to life in the opening scene is around five minutes long and packs as much death in as possible. The 3D definitely adds a bit of flare to these scenes, but does nothing more. Simply seeing the film in 2D would have been just as good.

Despite the fact that Selene definitely gets a little too in touch with her feminine side, she still manages to destroy a couple of bad guys in her fits of rage.  The dialogue may be better on mute, but the action definitely makes up for this lackluster horror-fantasy film.

"Underworld: Awakening" receives 2 out of 5 stars.

Originally posted HERE