Underworld: Aufstand der Lykaner

Wiseman may be a tragedian who steals from where he can, but against Tatopoulos he is a virtuoso. Or I’ll film lightning, raindrops, sword swings, someone’s face, and a splash of blood on the wall, cram it all into a single second, and repeat it several times in a row... and now I have an action scene! As an added bonus, it will have a demented plot that wouldn't even succeed as a non-committal B-movie, bored actors (Nighy’s demonicness and Rhona's sex appeal nowhere to be found), the absence of a single moment worth remembering, or at least one to help you snap out of stereotypical lethargy. And this is the result. This is the most moronic thing with dudes in leather rags holding swords since Pathfinder, and it puts its two predecessors to shame, though we could actually say that it’s not really even possible anymore. (14.02.2009)

When vampires and werewolves go at each other's throats in a medieval world, the love between two of them is definitely not going to have a nice ending. This prequel to Len Wiseman's action horror film offers very chaotic action, mediocre visual effects and a feeling that it doesn't belong in the cinema. (22.01.2009)

This is bad. It’s lost its mojo. I quite liked the previous two installments (the first more than the second), but I didn't like this one. Boring. And the dubbing?! Why did she call him “darling"? And why was he wearing the same coat he had been wearing several centuries before? And what was the black guy doing there? And why....? Never mind. A weak installment, a bad script, and overall a big disappointment. (01.02.2012)

Die Idee, die ganze Serie als eine einzige große Rückblende zu gestalten, ist nicht völlig abwegig, und die schauspielerische Leistung hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Rhona Mitra ist seit Staffel 3 von Nip/Tuck cool, ich habe The Gates ihretwegen in Betracht gezogen. Ich freue mich immer, Elizabeth Hawthorne außerhalb einer Serienproduktion zu sehen, und der größte Hit von Aufstand der Lykaner war natürlich das Spiel "Finde alle Einstellungen mit Craig Parker". (31.07.2012)

As a prequel, it's not completely bad. Rhona Mitra was a safe bet and the rest of the cast is more or less consistently good. What didn't work as well in the third vampire adventure was the atmosphere and overall visual execution. After all, darkness and booming music work better in a modern city at night, where it's much more appealing and attractive, rather than in a medieval castle surrounded by walls and catapults. The special effects weren't particularly impressive either, but from the first moments, it was clear that they were cutting corners wherever possible. There are a few original scenes (with the wooden spears) and the final quarter of the film surprised me with its unexpected twists, which fit well into the story. If there's a fourth one, I wonder what it will be about. It feels like a closed trilogy that barely meets the standards of quality. (08.05.2009)

I welcomed the idea of making a prequel to the first and second Underworld with open arms, as it was good to go back to the origins of the conflict between vampires and Lycans. I also welcomed the return of Bill Nighy, whose performance as Victor, one of the oldest vampires, was simply spot on. I was a little uneasy about the casting of Rhona Mitra in the lead role, as I don't really like her, but on the other hand I have to admit that the casting team managed to choose an actress who is very similar to Kate Beckinsale, which was the point – they really do look almost like sisters or cousins. The film doesn't lack for action, a few good scares and in this case a numerous horde of properly bloodthirsty werewolves. There was a jarring scene here and there – for example, the sex on top of the castle or Lucian's speech to the other Lycans in the cells – but that's kind of part of the franchise. All in all, a decent sequel (or rather prequel) to the first two parts, with a really good atmosphere thanks to the setting in ancient times. (04.09.2016)

Ich habe für die Serie Underworld 3 - Aufstand der Lykaner, und der dritte Teil war wohl der schwächste, trotzdem habe ich mich amüsiert. Ich sehe nämlich in diesem ewigen Kampf zwischen Lykanern und Vampiren ein gewisses Übergreifen, das mir nicht auf den ersten Blick zu sehen und so stupide erscheint wie in anderen Streifen ähnlicher Prägung. Doch fehlte mir hier Kate Beckinsale, am Ende vergegenwärtigte ich mir jedoch, doch sie hier nicht spielen konnte, deshalb freue ich mich auf Teil vier. (19.06.2010)

Rise of the Lycans is actually a prequel to the previous two installments, so if you had seen the original Underworld you knew how things would turn out. Even without it, the plot was clearly predictable. I get that vampires aren't allowed to go out in the sun, but still, I don't think the darkness needed to be so impenetrable, and it certainly didn't need to rain. If it had at least snowed, it might have brightened it up a bit. I was only going to give it two stars, if it hadn’t been for Bill Nighy and Rhona Mitra. (18.04.2017)

Although it is nice that the world of "Underworld" has grown to include a proper action fantasy, it does not mean that it is something worth paying much attention to. It is a classic mainstream film that does not put much effort into the story, it is not scary at all, and unfortunately, even the effects are not something worth noting. If you like "Underworld", it might please you a little, but maybe not even that. (05.02.2014)