The Underworld Awakens ...

Underworld: Awakening 3D brings the vampire warrioress Selene back to the darkness of the underworld. Returning to her lead role, Kate Beckonsale flees imprisonment to find all humans have discovered the existence of both vampire and Lycan clans. In this chapter, the humans have decided to conduct a war to eradicate both immortal species. 

In the first installment, Underworld (2003), the main plot revolves around Selene, a Death Dealer vampire hunting Lycans. Selene falls in love with Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) who has been targeted by the Lycans. After a Lycan bites Michael, Selene must overcome her responsibility to kill him or go against the clan to save him.

In Underworld: Evolution (2006), beginning where Underworld left off, a fearless army led by the vampire elders arrives at a rundown Lycan village. The warriors Viktor and Amelia kill several werewolves and capture their target: Markus’s brother (William Corvinus). The film goes back to the beginnings of the old feud between the two tribes where Selene and Michael try to unlock the secrets of their bloodlines. This takes them into a horrid battle to end all wars as the immortals must face their reckoning. 

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) starts us off with a monologue by Selene. She tells us the story of the Lycans and the vampires. After twenty years, Viktor (Bill Nighy) has thrown together an army of vampires to reduce the threat and exterminate the Lycans. Unfortunately, when someone is infected by a lycan, they turn into werewolves but do mot change or behave like one. Enough said.

For all you special effects geeks, (like myself) Underworld: Evolution 3D has Joel Whist as Special Effects Coordinator. Joel’s credits include Man of Steel (2013), 2012 (2009), Watchman (2009), Possession (2009), Underworld: Evolution (2006) and many others films. 

Underworld: Awakening 3D is the second sequel in the underworld series (with Rise of the Lycans being a prequel to Underworld and Underworld: Evolution being the first sequel). Confused? I was too. But, however, I must add, after watching all the films in sequence, the stories merge together quite nicely. Bjorn Stein and Mans Marland are the directors with a splendid screenplay by Len Wiseman. Kate’s reprise to the role will bring excitement to her fans from her star role in Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. Also, Sandrine Holt, India Eisley, and Michael Ealy, will bring their talents to the series. The Underworld legacy lives on at your local theater on January 20, 2012. A Yippy ti' yo' for this one!

                                                                                                                         The Sci-Fi Cowboy

CHRONICLE ...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have super-powers? What would you do with them? Would they get you into trouble? Chronicle tells the story of three teenaged friends with super powers who pull pranks until things take a drastic turn. Michael B. Jordan, James Dehaan, and Alex Russell star as high school kids who develop super-powers after being exposed to an unknown object in a cave. Their powers direct them to various discoveries of which they use to their advantage. But as their ego and self-centeredness spins out of control, their darker side takes over. 

The film was written by Max Landis. For all you movie buffs out there, you may recognize the name Landis. Yes, Max is John Landis’s son. John, as we all know, has brought us such great films as Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and An American Werewolf in London. Max Landis has written the episode “Dear woman” for Masters of Horror and “Something With Bite” the episode from Fear Itself.  He has also written a film coming out in the near future based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Chronicle is in a found footage format. The found footage genre has been getting a heavy workout, a workout that would make Arnold Schwarzenegger turn his head. In the last year, there have been sixty films done with this technique. Here are a few in the sci-fi and horror genres: The Blair Witch Project, Quarantine, Cloverfield, Trolljegeren, and Diary of the dead. I am sure we will be seeing many more in the near future. Although found footage and super hero films have been over-exposed and rehashed, Chronicle is not only unique, but, according to inside information, has twists and turns that feel quite real and thought provoking. Oddly enough, there is another film with the same title coming out at the same time. This is something that happens very rarely, but does happen. 

We have all seen the horrors of what real villains can accomplish by the abuse of power. In the fantasy world, the villains can do little harm, but in the real world, such abuse can be devastating. In the real world, unfortunately too numerous to mention, many dictators have abused their powers. I think the underline theme of this film goes beyond fiction, and personally, I like that in writing. After all, that’s what good writing is about. Josh Trank directs the sci-fi fantasy film for 20th Century Fox. Chronicle will be in theaters February 3, 2012.

                                                                                                                         The Sci-Fi Cowboy